I went to an Apple store for a repair and was blown away by how disorganized it is now

A few years ago, I permanently switched from the iPhone to Android. I still use a MacBook Air personally, and I'm writing this on a MacBook Pro I use for work every day.

I'm only saying this because, nowadays, I go to Apple stores far less than I did in the past. My memory of going is still rooted in the Golden Era of Genius Bars and best-in-class customer service.

But, this week, I scheduled a repair at the Apple store across from our main office. My mother-in-law has a Mac Mini that was acting up, and needed a look.

Scheduling the repair on Apple's website was as easy as always. I even had to reschedule it a few times, and the system was extremely accommodating.

When I actually got to the store, though, things quickly changed.

When I walked into the Apple store for my repair, it was completely unclear where I was supposed to go.

Various Apple employees milled about, helping customers at desks or rushing from one part of the store to another. Products were lining the tables, able to be used by interested customers.

I looked around for any sort of sign that would direct my attention to a repair table or employees who could check me in for my scheduled appointment, knowing I would find none.

Admittedly, Apple stores have never been big on signage, but the flow of the store usually directed customers naturally toward what they wanted. I hadn't come in to browse, or give the iPhone XS Max a shot — I was just there for a straightforward repair.

Instead of going to, say, a repair desk, I awkwardly interrupted two employees who were animatedly engaged in conversation.

Waiting in lines isn't any fun, I realize, but lines serve a purpose: They visually demonstrate the order in which you'll receive service.

You may be last in line, but at least you know there are X number of people in front of you. There's nothing ambiguous about your position. By replacing service desks with roaming employees, going into Apple stores now is a question of which customer is least polite about demanding attention.

"Where I do even begin?" was the first question in my mind when walking into the Apple store I visited yesterday.

After walking around for a few minutes looking like an idiot (and feeling like an idiot — I write about technology for a living!), I gave in o frustration and interrupted two employees who were talking so that I could move on with my life.

The help I received was great, I'm glad that Apple has a store across the street that I can easily go to if I need help with Apple products. But the experience in the store was bafflingly disorganized and stood out even more against the history of Apple's stores making retail experiences feel better than ever.