In my opinion, Apple receives way too much credit for their retail experience.
Going to the Apple Store is almost always an unpleasant experience. First, the small number of locations means that getting to an Apple Store can be onerous. Moreover, the majority of stores are massively overcrowded. On weekends, I literally can't get into my local Apple Store because of overcrowding. There are simply too many people to physically navigate the store. Imagine riding a crowded public bus. That is the level of crowding.
Moreover, the setup of the Apple Store encourages people to linger and leisurely use the devices. In practice, this means that people (particularly little kids) will spend upwards of thirty minutes playing some asinine game on the display devices. There are no limits enforced, and the chronic overcrowding means that even getting to look at a device is difficult.
If you happen to go during a weekday when there isn't overcrowding, you get overwhelmed by Apple staff. Effectively every time I enter an Apple Store I get accosted by no less than three employees, not to mention the "concierge" that guards the entryway to the store. When shopping, I don't want to be berated by staff. It's very reminiscent of the episode of The Office where Dwight gets fired and takes up a position at Staples. When a woman comes into his department to shop, Dwight stands five feet away from her and just glares at her the entire time.
Deciding whether or not to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a device is already mentally taxing; having Apple staff constantly interject does not make the experience any easier. I don't think I've ever heard anyone I know speak positively of an experience at the Apple Store, particularly because they feel absolutely overwhelmed by the way the staff treat them.
I'm not sure if these problems are pervasive or specific only to my local store, but in my experience, the notion that the service at the Apple Store is "magical" is downright laughable.
Typical hate from the HN crowd: Assume that everyone is as technically competent as you are and that your outlook on a product or experience is the only one that matters.
Receiving too much credit? Are you asinine? Perhaps you don't remember the days before the Apple Store. Purchasing a computer involved going to retail outlets like CompUSA or Circuit City that cared more about their bottom line then paying attention to the dilapidated surroundings. If you did choose to go to a slightly nicer place like Best Buy, good luck buying a computer that didn't come with tons of manufacturer adware that the "GEEKS" felt the need to either clean for a ridiculous fee or install more on top of. Or my favorite, you could go to Gateway Country, and get the worst of retail annoyances and overpricing with the annoyance of waiting provided by online shopping!
In fact, the misguided nature of your post is pretty well evident if you simply replace all instances of [Apple Store] with [holiday shopping]. It's difficult to get into most any shopping center retailer, especially those that have a single location in a major metro area.
Oh, and how dare any retail store allow potential customers to spend time getting familiar with the devices they're about to drop hundreds of dollars on. Nope, some self-entitled guy on HN thinks your game is asinine, yet lacks the basic social cues to politely ask to see a device or god-forbid queue for it, so curse Apple for not enforcing limits. (For the record, they do enforce limits in highly specific circumstances where people are actually abusing the privilege, but I'd like to see you try to deal with angry shoppers during the holidays).
And yet, when Apple staffers do approach you, to ya know, maybe inquire if you'd like to check out a device yourself, they're berating you.
Which is the whole point: Apple gets credit in retail because they do the best job of providing a great buying experience to customers in an industry that is inherently difficult, whereas MS, Samsung, Google and others just seem to copy poorly. Since your own insecurities seem to be the problem, just neckbeard it up for some online shopping at home, which is the most pleasant experience anyway.
I don't go to Apple stores nearly as much as I used to, partly because of the salespeople (I usually see more of them than customers), but mostly because they don't carry anything I need anymore.
I buy a computer once every three to five years, which I usually do online, except in the rare case that the store carries an upgraded model. What I really want from an Apple store is stuff for my Mac: software and compatible accessories. They used to have racks full of software, Wacom tablets, MIDI interfaces, etc.
On a long shot, I went in one day to ask whether they carried audio interfaces (to connect a decent microphone or guitar). The salesperson didn't understand what that was or why you'd want it. This from the company that makes Logic Pro.
You sound like you're mistaking your dislike of crowds as dislike for Apple Stores. I have none of those issues. The stores are always crowded, but there are always enough devices that I do not have to wait to try the desired device. And I tell the store employees "just looking" if I don't want to talk to them.
The Microsoft Store on the other hand.... that needs work. I've been a few times now and the balance of staff:customers:devices was way off. As one of the few customers in the store, I was repeatedly asked if I had questions. Finally I decided to ask what QuadHD+ is (3200x1800 if you're curious)... the store rep didn't know, then dragged me over the computer so she could look it up and "explain" it to me and how it's "better than retina".
Going to the Apple Store is almost always an unpleasant experience. First, the small number of locations means that getting to an Apple Store can be onerous. Moreover, the majority of stores are massively overcrowded. On weekends, I literally can't get into my local Apple Store because of overcrowding. There are simply too many people to physically navigate the store. Imagine riding a crowded public bus. That is the level of crowding.
Moreover, the setup of the Apple Store encourages people to linger and leisurely use the devices. In practice, this means that people (particularly little kids) will spend upwards of thirty minutes playing some asinine game on the display devices. There are no limits enforced, and the chronic overcrowding means that even getting to look at a device is difficult.
If you happen to go during a weekday when there isn't overcrowding, you get overwhelmed by Apple staff. Effectively every time I enter an Apple Store I get accosted by no less than three employees, not to mention the "concierge" that guards the entryway to the store. When shopping, I don't want to be berated by staff. It's very reminiscent of the episode of The Office where Dwight gets fired and takes up a position at Staples. When a woman comes into his department to shop, Dwight stands five feet away from her and just glares at her the entire time.
Deciding whether or not to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a device is already mentally taxing; having Apple staff constantly interject does not make the experience any easier. I don't think I've ever heard anyone I know speak positively of an experience at the Apple Store, particularly because they feel absolutely overwhelmed by the way the staff treat them.
I'm not sure if these problems are pervasive or specific only to my local store, but in my experience, the notion that the service at the Apple Store is "magical" is downright laughable.