My wife suggested that I read Washington Post story, “The Elite Apple Corps: A Hundred Million Strong, Every One of Them Cool.” I live in California! I don’t read the Post anymore, which is why I didn’t see it. The story appears in today’s Style section.
Reporter Hank Stuever hits on what’s wrong with the Apple retail stores. They’re too busy, and so they’re no longer fun.
Choice quote:
“Eight different kinds of music blare from all those iPod stereo docks, which are being monopolized by the very same touch-don’t-look customers who were once fond of cranking up the volume knobs in a Circuit City car audio department.”
Even better:
“The specialists and geniuses are in their black Apple T-shirts, wearing name tags (Adam, Matt, Luis and the endless supply of Ryans, and an occasional Jen). And talkingrillyfast. Rillyrlyfst. Allfthem. Glare-eyed, too happy with themselves, like Jesus people holding up one finger on 1970s street corners. They know you aren’t One of Them, but they forgive you. Nothing expresses both virtue and contempt like forgiveness. That’s life in church. They know what Steve Jobs wants of them, and they live to serve.”
Do read this one.
Do you have an Apple, Apple Store or other retail story that you’d like told? Please email Joe Wilcox: joewilcox at gmail dot com.