LM
La'Shey Marie
Sep 9, 2026
This was my first time visiting an Apple Store for in-person AppleCare assistance. When my son and I entered, the store was understandably busy. However, no employee was positioned near the entrance to greet customers, explain the check-in process, or direct us to the appropriate area. We were left standing near the front, looking around and trying to determine where to begin.
I noticed several employees gathered toward the middle of the store. Although I made eye contact with multiple employees, no one acknowledged us, waved, greeted us, or offered assistance. It was especially frustrating because it was clear that employees had seen my son and me standing there, yet no one took the initiative to approach us.
While we were waiting, an older gentleman and another customer approached and asked whether we were standing in line. I explained that I did not know because no employee had greeted us or explained where we were supposed to go. One of the customers told me that visitors normally approach the employees standing in the middle of the store. I responded that a first-time visitor would have no way of knowing that and that someone should be available to welcome customers and explain the process.
What stood out to me was that employees had already seen us standing there without offering assistance. It was only after other customers came over, began speaking with us, and everyone was standing together trying to figure out what was happening that an employee finally took the initiative to approach the front. This made me feel that my son and I had been overlooked and that employees only decided to acknowledge us after our interaction with the other customers became noticeable.
The employee who approached confirmed that I needed to speak with the employees standing in the middle of the store. My son and I followed those instructions and walked over to that area. However, even after we approached the employees directly, no one immediately greeted or acknowledged us. We stood there for another period of time before a male employee finally asked how he could help.
Before explaining the AppleCare service I needed, I raised my concern about the lack of acknowledgment and direction. I specifically told the male employee that both he and Store Manager Carmen had already made eye contact with me while my son and I were standing there, yet neither of them greeted us, waved, approached us, or explained the store’s check-in process.
It was immediately after I pointed out that both the employee and Carmen had seen us without acknowledging us that Carmen looked me up and down and gave me what felt like a hostile, judgmental, and unnecessary stare. Her reaction was noticeable enough that I asked why she was looking at me that way.
Instead of introducing herself, asking what had happened, or acknowledging the concern I had just expressed, Carmen warned me that if I “continued,” the store would not be able to assist me. When I asked what she meant by “continued,” she told me to let the male employee speak and assist me.
I found Carmen’s response inappropriate, dismissive, and unprofessional. I had not threatened anyone, used abusive language, or refused to cooperate. I was a customer expressing a legitimate concern about being repeatedly overlooked and receiving no guidance in an unfamiliar and busy store. Rather than listening, offering an explanation, or extending a simple apology, Carmen treated me as though I were causing a problem and threatened to deny me service.
I should not have been made to feel that I had to remain silent about poor treatment to receive assistance. Customers have the right to respectfully express concerns without being met with hostility or threatened with the denial of service. As the store manager, Carmen should have been capable of listening, acknowledging what occurred, explaining the store’s process, and professionally de-escalating the situation. Instead, her conduct escalated it and reinforced the feeling that my son and I had been unwelcome and overlooked from the moment we entered.