Apple Store

not usually as crowded as other HK locations (though every HK store can get crowded) but highly inefficient so everything (purchases, returns, inquiries, tech support) all takes at least 2x longer. Ok if you just need to make a quick purchase and absolutely nothing else. If you need support, brace yourself for agonizing wait & non-​answered questions. Default recommendation of going home & making appointment for Genius Bar online. iPhone faulty out of the box twice, and had to be exchanged both times — each time taking about 2.5 hours with wait for service. This is the closest official Apple Store to my home, but to spare myself the frustration, I now go to TST or a store on HK island instead.

If you’ve ever been to an Apple Store and thought it was a crazy experience, you’ll think it was nothing compared to the Apple Store at Festival Walk. I would describe the Festival Walk Apple Store as… CRAY CRAY to the max times 100.
I came here a few weeks ago to look into purchasing an iPhone 6s with my mom. In order to purchase an iPhone, you have to wait in a pretty lengthy queue. I had my mom stand in line for me as I played with around with the display models. It took me about a minute to look at the models before I met with my mom in like. There I was stopped by a security guard asking me why I was cutting in line in Chinese. I explained to him that my mom was waiting in line while I was checking out what model and color I wanted. He then stated that I was cutting in line and that either my mom or I had to leave the line. Huh? Really?
After giving us a somewhat hard time, my mom and I explained to the security guy that we were together and that my mom was waiting in line while I was testing out the models. We then explained we combined were only going to buy one iPhone, and not 10 phones each, therefore preventing others behind us from purchasing a phone (or 10 of them). He had given us a hard time, as he explained, because apparently each queuing customer can purchase up to 10 iPhones. I assume that many patrons buy the iPhones and then resell them in mainland China or overseas.
I would have to say that my overall Apple store experience was an unpleasant one. First of all, it’s super crowded and busy… so busy that they rarely pick up phone calls when you call their main telephone number. Secondly, I didn’t like being given a hard time after explaining myself to the security guard. I guess maybe cutting happens a lot in this Apple store that they need to implement strict queuing policies? I guess you can say all Apple stores aren’t created equal — each country is different unfortunately.
Of note, Apple’s warranty is country specific. So, while Hong Kong offers unlocked iPhones, which is great and all… However, the warranty only applies to Hong Kong. So if your iPhone craps out (as mine has done in the past), you’ll need to ship your iPhone to Hong Kong for repairs or fly over to get it serviced. This could get to be expensive. So buyer beware! Your warranty will not be valid in the US or wherever your home country is.

I mean, what can you say? It’s a freaking Apple store just like any other one elsewhere in the world. But as far as helpfulness, I would have to rank this store as one of the worst experiences at an Apple store that I have experienced so far. Asked one of the staff a iPhone related question, and not only did she not seem to understand what I was asking (we were both speaking Cantonese for pete’s sake!), she did not try to send me to someone else who can at least attempt to better understand my question. Instead, she just told me to request an appointment with a Apple Genius online. No sh*t sherlock! I could have done that myself!
Oh and there’s always a long line outside for no reason. Probably folks waiting for the iPhone10s or something…

Had a problem with my AC in Shanghai, had not time to set an Genius Bar appointment. Nevertheless I lugged my Mac and TimeCapsule to this place, though there were no Genius Bar.
An Apple Dude helped me backup my Mac though I forgot the password. Of the 4 hours I was there he spent over an hour making sure my concerns were met.

The Apple Store at Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong is the smallest one of all, occupying just one floor, compared to the ones at Hysan Place and IFC that span three floors. I came here today to buy a cable for my iPhone as I had lost mine a week ago.
I’ve actually never been to this Apple Store, and the first thing I noticed is that they were quite short staffed. At the one in Hysan Place, the number of blue shirts — i.e. the ‘geniuses’, is usually more than the number of customers. You’ll see the geniuses just hanging around, waiting for customers to approach them. Here, it was the opposite. Every genius we saw was drawing up a transaction, introducing a product or helping somebody set up their device or computer. This was the busiest I had ever seen an Apple store!
We walked around a little bit more until we finally spotted one that was finishing up with a customer. He was really efficient; I was asked for my last name and payment was done in a minute — after which he was immediately approached by another customer.
Even though the Apple Store looks small on the outside, and it is comparatively smaller than the others, you realize that there’s an inside area that’s hidden, so it’s not actually that tiny. If you can, I would recommend going to the Apple store at Hysan because it’s less busy, and you’ll be able to get the help of a genius immediately.