Shopping at Apple in the time of Corona

Apple stores are actually meeting places – not only do you look at the company’s new products, buy them right away or get support, but you can also attend free seminars and events. All this became completely different in the crown era: the shops are like well-guarded fortresses which can only be accessed by appointment. In fact, the measures have strengthened again – Apple has their own system here, where their respective local COVID-19 numbers and other key figures are taken into account.

However, it is entirely possible to get your products if you know how. The example of the shop on Kurfürstendamm in Berlin, recently visited by a Mac & i publisher, shows the new system.

Buy in the app, collect in store

Actually, we just wanted to buy a new MagSafe charger, which is currently only available online with a waiting period. It should be available on Kudamm, as announced by the Apple Store app. However, you can’t just walk into the store and take the product with you. You could try, but you are regularly turned away because to do the shopping – even if you don’t know what you really want – you actually need an appointment with a “specialist” that you have to book in advance through the app or website.

Since we knew what we wanted, we were able to order the 43.85 euro part to collect. In Berlin this usually happens on the same day; Alternatively, products that are in store can also be delivered to your home at short notice, which was even offered to us on the same day in two attempts with accessories (delivery time 7pm to 10pm).

Make a note of the check-in time

The purchase is made entirely in the app, including payment by credit card and the like, then you will receive a QR code that you can upload to the wallet app. This all existed before, but the collection system itself changed in the days of COVID-19. Then look for a “check-in time” in the app, which with us was a good three and a half hours into the future. At this point you must be (and not initially) in the shop. And, very important: photo ID is required despite the QR code.

There were a lot of queues at the store we were headed to. The distance marks on the floor are meant to ensure social distance and masking is required outside (the Kudamm is an MNS zone). The queue was fast forward, Apple had well-oiled logistics that day. After a good 5 minutes we came to a security guard who scanned our temperature without contact, which Apple is still doing despite criticism of data protection.

Sophisticated queue logistics

So he moved on to the next line, the one for the actual collection. He guided us to the side entrance of the former cinema, where the Berlin Apple Store is located. Here we went up two flights of stairs and passed the meeting room. Halfway there is a small station where you might see new products – in this case iPhone 12, 12 Pro and iPad Air 4.

After another five minutes in the social removal queue, we arrived at a last Apple employee – in the meantime we had our code scanned at least four times – who pointed us in the direction of a room where the actual pickup takes place at the counter. . Again, it took less than 30 seconds. What we failed: to enter the actual shop. Here we would have to queue again, they said, and without an appointment with a specialist there is no guarantee that it will work.

(bsc)