I have a Chromebook I bought in 2018 for something like $200, and it's "fine" for gmail, online banking, youtube, and other casual stuff. I have an ssh app on it to use for work, and that's "fine" as well. Most people don't need more than this.

And a windows 11 craptop for $200. These things are absolutely completely insanely cheap.

It's been widely reported on the internet that Apple salespeople are not on commission, which is what makes the OP's story so curious.

Maybe it's changed since the pandemic.

It has also been widely reported that Apple invented USB-C and gave away for free, and All AirPod were sold at cost or at lost.

The No commission thing were from Steve Jobs era for pete sake. How long ago was that?

Depending on regions all Apple retail employees have KPIs. And we are coming close to 10 years since it’s first introduction.

The first clerk disappears, and some kid who is roughly 19 starts lecturing me about how much better the pro is. I politely respond, I just want to buy the Air.

He insists, 'well , do you want to make music '. I respond, 'please sell me the Air'. At this point he's not budging. I ask a final time, and ask why are you making this interaction so difficult.

Him: 'well you're making it difficult'.

I walk out and go to Best Buy. At Best Buy I simply asked to buy an Air, and I was out in 5 minutes.

Now truth be told, if the kid would have told me he needs to push a certain number of pros per month, I might have said okay and brought one. But instead he decided to insult me, I even explained that as a software engineer I knew exactly what I was talking about. I shouldn't need to explain anything when I'm trying to buy a product, it's none of your business if I prefer an M1 air because I routinely dropped my laptops. If it's a gift for someone else, or in reality it does the job I need it to do.

I'm legitimately never going into an Apple store again after this.

I've also heard stories that while you won't get a commission, you may get more perks at work for higher sales numbers.

In any case, your experience at Apple sounds insane.

Employees are judged on warranty sales, and when I worked at Circuit City back in the days when they, uh, existed, we were also judged based on profitability of sales.

Then end up leaving with a 2500$ computer, no big deal it's only 200$ a month.

That said, I hope my comment and the subsequent upvotes make it clear that your experience seems very unusual. I have never felt pressured to buy anything on my numerous visits, and was even talked into buying a cheaper option of two things I considered once, and another time it was suggested I go to Best Buy rather than buy anything from Apple.

They're not paid commission to avoid situations like the one you described, so it's really strange to me that happened. That's all!

So logically you want to push as many people into buying more if you want to sell the financing.

Regardless, the entire point of BNPL is to encourage you to buy more than you need.

Which is why they nag you. I don't really understand this mindset but there's no question it exists. And there's no question the paperclip machine will have its goddamn paperclips.

Probably the 19yr old will eventually get turned into Solyent and replaced with a more polite/savvy version - and you will succumb and buy a pro you don't need just to be nice. And numbers will tick upwards.

Why bother giving the customer what they want if there’s any chance they’d jump for the big one?

I guess that has changed - I also had several strange unpleasant interactions lately. Either difficulty buying something, or annoyance being sold on something more or something else.