Do Apple stores have online communications?

TidBITS Talk
1

Like online text chats or e-mail addresses. I wanted to ask them if they had batteries in stock to replace before making appointments and going in. I tried texting (no blue color for secured iMessages) the store’s phone #, but no answers. Online generic (shopping and technical support) chats couldn’t help with this part. I also have speech and hearing impediments so I can’t call them. :(

2

I can’t help with your actual question (on-line contact with specific stores), but with respect to battery replacement, here’s the procedure:

  • Request battery replacement from the Apple web site. As a part of this, you’ll be asked which store you want to perform the install.
  • Apple will ship a battery to the store. When it arrives, you’ll be contacted to schedule an appointment to have it installed.

So, if you ask any store if they have batteries in stock, the answer will always be “no”. But they will be given one when you begin the process.

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3

Also, I haven’t done this for awhile but I think the battery replacement process described by @Shamino can be initiated in the Apple Support app in iOS/iPadOS.

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As best as I can recall, you can request a battery replacement either through Support on appple.com or through the Apple Support app on any Apple device. It is all text, you’ll be prompted which store to send the replacement battery to. Subsequently you’ll get an email telling you when the battery will arrive at the store and prompting you to make a reservation to go there. Pretty sure that’s also when you can request ASL support at the appointment.

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So, is its availablity schedule telling me that they will have the batteries in stock like in a few hours? I remember years ago with iPhone 6+’s batteries during their batterygate, the local Apple retail store did NOT have the batteries in stock! They told me to the other far away store to get them. :(

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Is that what you’re seeing? Because every time I’ve done this, it took about a week to get a battery shipped to my store.

I don’t think it works that way anymore. You pick the store, Apple ships a battery from a central warehouse to that store. You schedule an installation appointment for some time after it arrives at the store.

7

This is what I see in my iPhone 12 mini (iOS v18.7.2)’s Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging’s Service → Find Your Service Options → iPhone → Battery service → Battery Performance’s Check Now (77% health since it’s under 80% requirement) → Continue to Service Options → Bring in for Service’s View Locations → picked my local Apple retail store → Schedule → .https://matrix.zimage.com/_media_proxy/v1/media/download/ARokuklPZLQK7xgqlLBCzNsENpv8Poll6quXkfRbKFE5Ebn%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tkAmrf8_xzeVNPlwF8J37Xu4d0RDpNoAnel9x9PRCeayLltvwAHppbWFnZS5jb20vSXZxZ0ZsclBlSGFQQ0NZZGFOYW9NSHdu screen shot. I noticed the same results with my old iPhone 6+ (does Apple still do battery replacements for that old model?)!

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As a former Apple Store employee, I can tell you that the store phone system is for incoming & outgoing phone calls only; no text messages, no chat, etc. It’s a voice over IP phone system. It’s also Apple’s policy not to give out stock info of any kind over the phone, whether that’s service parts or sales floor items. This is actually for the customer benefit; since the store cannot “hold” items for anyone, no one gets disappointed.

If you are hearing/speech impaired, I can tell you that the stores do accept relay calls if that service is offered in your area.

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Thanks all!