Apple International Plaza — Local services in Tampa

My parents left the house today, excited to buy gifts from Apple. My mother came home from the store and I found her crying in her room. When I asked her what happened, she told me "I don't understand how I spent so much money on Apple gift cards, but was unable to buy anything at the store, and then was kicked out??" I was shocked to hear this and see her reacting this way.

To begin with, they were unable to use Apple egift cards and Apple account balance to make purchases on the Apple website due to technical issues. The online agent told me to visit a physical store instead since they did not know when this issue would be fixed. After arriving at this store and trying to make their purchases, the supervisor told them that the gift cards and Apple account balance could not be used there. He was refusing to listen or help or explain anything right from the start. He said it was their company policy; however, my brother called Apple Corporate and the Corporate stated that the gift cards CAN be used in store, and there is no such policy against using egift cards. My parents then asked the supervisor if this policy is written down anywhere for us to see, and the supervisor said no. The supervisor said that because these were screenshots of the egift card, they could be fraudulent. After hearing this, my mother then signed into her account to show him the gift cards but he refused to look at the phone. After this, the supervisor just continued to repeatedly answer my parents questions with the line "Are you going to buy anything here? You can use cash or card." instead of furthering any conversation to help them. English is not my parent's first language, so my brother then called and spoke to the supervisor over the phone explaining what corporate had said. The supervisor was clearly trying to get off the phone and did not want to help any of us right from the start. He then used the SAME line of "this is the policy, they can use cash or card." to respond to everything my brother said. He interrupted the conversation with my brother by saying "can I help you with anything else or is that all?". My brother responded with "it doesn't seem like you want to help, or are even capable of helping." Apparently this offended him, and he then proceeded to kick my parents out of the store. This situation felt like a racial attack on my parents simply because they are Asian and spoke with accents. I don't see any other reason than that considering my parents never raised their voice or acted in a disrespectful way. The supervisor had zero patience for them even though they are paying customers. Those gift cards combined were worth several thousand dollars that they had PREPAID to Apple, yet they were refused service or even a proper explanation. I am disgusted by what happened to my parents today who were just trying to buy some gifts. I understand that there is not much we can do against such a big company other than contacting a lawyer or the News, but my parents said because we are Asian Americans, they are scared to cause any trouble. I just hope that the money spent on these gift cards don't go to waste, and that this does not happen to anyone else, regardless...

​Disappointing and unnerving experience picking up my new Macbook Air at the Apple store. Because the Apple website stated when you choose to pick up in store you get assistance setting up your new computer and can shop for a case and accessories. I decided to accept an appointment rather than get the convenient shipping. I arrived 10 minutes early for my 15 minute pick up time slot, drove an hour round trip and even took off work early.

Upon arrival the security guard at the entrance directed me to the pick up line on the right side of the store.. My husband asked the security guard if he had to wear a mask inside the store and when told yes asked what would happen if he didn't. He has reasons that prohibit him from wearing a mask and opted to stand outside the store rather than wear a mask inside to decide on what ipad model he wanted to purchase. There were only two people ahead of me standing at the mall railing and I was early so waited with my mask on as those people were directed inside the store and received their items at the front table/register. Two different employees asked me if I was with my husband or knew him. When I was called over I approached alone with my mask fully on and was directed to stand outside their roped off area and NOT directed to the now empty table as the other people before me had done. I wasn't given an opportunity to pick up a case, etc. Awkwardly standing in the mall in front of their rope the Apple employee scanned my code in the email and checked my drivers license. When I asked about assistance I was told to go home and follow the directions online and the reason given was that they were busy and in shock with the rude reception to pick up my Christmas gift just nodded yes. I think we all are busy at work and I would never use that as an excuse to be short with anyone. Oddly the employee had all the time in the world to barrage me with questions in an attempt to hard sell me Apple Care. When I repeatedly declined I was handed the computer in its box with no bag to carry it in which I feel is a security risk especially if you are a senior.

I clearly received disparate treatment by not being invited inside the store and believe it is because my husband asked the security guard if he had to wear a mask reinforced by the two different employees oddly asking me if together. He simply waited at least ten feet from the door entry while I received my computer creating no issue. Shame on the Apple employees actions towards a good customer whose household contains many Apple products. I am rethinking where I want to put my dollars and have not unboxed my computer. I wonder if management endorses this behavior and discrimination based on a simple question rather than focusing on a positive customer interaction. Pull your camera footage from 430 to 5pm on 1/2 and look for the woman in the Lightning shirt calmly abiding by the rules and patiently waiting in contrast to your employees' mania...

Ok I just want to start off by saying I’ve been an Apple owner sense the iPhone 3s and have been buying them sense after this interaction I might become a android user and here’s why !! First I bought a brand new iPhone 16 pro max within a week it overheated to the point where the warning light came on and would burn you if you had it in your pocket so they replaced it for me after receiving the new iPhone which had no original box just a plain white box after a few weeks of use and I’m not the only person with this problem the volume does whatever it wants as far as text messages, calls , apps anything it will not ring or notify you that you have a call or text and there aware of the no ring while text and I’ve had that issue sense my iPhone 11 and they told me they have been working to fix that so after years of being a problem no solution fine whatever I talked to a rep multiple times for hours trying to do troubleshooting steps, install software on my phone to gather information and then was told to reset my phone and I will not loose any of my data nor be signed out so I did after I did my volume sounds very very low no matter what I do, it deletes all my information in my digital wallet, battery drains rapidly, still gets hot, freezes from time to time and signed me out of everything user id every thing also somehow it created another apple account so now I get asked which apple account do I want to use but I only have one so I asked for a replacement that didn’t have these issue I was advised that I’ll have to send my phone in and give them $1,600 and if they don’t find anything they keep the phone and I get charged the full amount when I already paid this phone off in full I begged and pleaded for them to help me as this is my life line as far as work and responding back to customers but now I can’t pay for anything with my phone I can’t hear my phone and it barely notifies me that I have a call u less i physically look at my phone then I was told if I go to the store that they might not give me a new phone seriously Apple ??? I only had this phone for maybe 2 months never dropped never got wet has screen protector on the camera and the front aswell as a very nice case and yall are not giving me any options for a replacement, I find this outrageous as yall were very welcoming on taking my money but won’t do anything to fix my issue besides make me jump through hoops so I’m leaving this review for anyone in the same situation please let Apple know about this as they are aware of it just not enough people complaining I guess, not sure but I’m very disappointed and dissatisfied and I’m needing someone from Apple to actually help me instead of giving me the run around. This is honestly pathetic for such a huge company so please Apple just...