Um...ok.

After deciding that I would just take my computer in and be sick about not having a computer (or Internet access) for up to four days, I took it to the Apple store in one of our malls. Applecare told me to take it to a retail store and drop it off.

So that's what I did.

Or that's what I tried to do.

Once I got to the Apple store, I had to fight through the crazies who were there for the iphone. Apparently they sell out every day and they were getting a new shipment in the morning I was there. After I convinced the iphone fanatics that I was NOT there to cut in front of them or their line to phone utopia, I found my way to an Apple employee--a Genius--that's what they're called.

Anthony, the genius I talked to, told me that I couldn't drop my computer off without a reservation.

"A what?"

"A reservation."

"I don't want lunch. I just want to drop my computer off. I have a fix-it ticket number and everything. Applecare told me to bring it here."

"Yeah, they do that a lot, but we can't take your equipment without a reservation."

"Fine. Put me down for now."

"Oh no. You have to sign in with our concierge and make the reservation that way."

"Your concierge?"

"Yes. Your reservation will be sometime in the next 48 hours."

"Yeah, but I'm here now. I won't be here in the next 48 hours."

"Well, that's how our genius' work and we can't take your equipment without doing a diagnostic first."

"This doesn't sound too genius to me. In fact, this is the lamest thing I have ever heard of."

"Ok. Well, you can make that reservation right here on this computer."


...After I signed in with "the concierge" (a website) I attempted to make my reservation. The concierge came back and told me all appointments were booked and to check back later. I looked at Anthony...

"Yeah, sometimes that happens. It means we are really busy and you'll have to keep trying."

Genius.