iATKOS | United Kingdom: Apple Stores Have Become an 'Exercise in Branding' and No Longer Serve Customers Well [Report]

Apple employees say the company's retail stores have become an 'exercise in branding' and no longer service customers well, according to a Bloomberg report.

Current and former employees tell Bloomberg that a combination of factors have led to a customer service decline at Apple Stores. They say it's become increasingly difficult for visitors to quickly purchase an item or get support for their device by stopping at their local Apple Store.

“It took me forever to get someone to sell me the product,” says Web Smith, who runs 2PM Inc., an e-commerce research and consulting firm. “It’s become harder to buy something, even when the place isn’t busy. Buying a product there used to be a revered thing, now you don’t want to bother with the inconvenience.”