how do you make a genius bar appointment?

You need to describe - in detail - what you mean by "site not letting me in"

I was able to get to the page where I could choose reservation times in under 30 seconds of going through the triage process at my favorite Apple Store - FOUR days in the future

What Apple Store?

I can make a reservation in under a minute starting from my nearest apple Store page

To see available reservation times, begin at the link on the Apple Retail Store which you wish to visit

Any popup like that is a SCAM
Phony "tech support" / "ransomware" popups and web pages

Save you some searching > https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6675953?answerId=32024108022#32024108022

Yes it has and it's a bit more complicated. Click here:

http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

Then on "get help now". This will result in a page listing your products; choose your product and follow the prompts from there. It will wind up with a page offering various choices such as a chat session, calling them, Apple calling you, and/or the Genius Bar.

That appears to be the only way now - they seem to be encouraging other types of support first.

If you have an IOS device and the Apple Store app (not the App Store app) you can use it to make a Genius Bar appt without any of the new extra steps.

Select Stores, find your store, select it and then Genius Bar and you will be shown the appts available

regards

YOU are a life saver!!!!!!

This does not work for me. But the Apple Store app DOES work!

I'm glad to hear it - I actually just tried that myself and it works (thanks Frank).... unfortunately, the other process may or may not result in offering an appointment as it appears they want you to explore other support options first.

I guess they might be overloaded with people signing up for the Genius Bar.

I tried that 5 different times and, until I entered "won't power on", I was only offered chat or phone options - the won't power on did it and the calendar popped up for me to choose a day/time. So, it may be they are concentrating on letting iDevice users have first choice at the Bar and computer people second.....

This is infuriating. This is why people pay a premium for Apple products. I could have bought a new laptop every year for the price I paid for this Mac and now they make it impossible to make a Genius bar appointment?! How are people not freaking the f out about this everywhere?!

Thank you Frank. I've been trying to figure this out on and off for more than a week. I'm completely disgusted.

Thanks to Frank and the Apple Store App I was able to get an appointment...that's the good news.

The bad news is that there are no appointments available until a week from now!

I have also struggled to find the "hidden" Genius Bar...what are they thinking???

..Steve is spinning in his grave! The geniuses themselves are having trouble. I can't even change my devices, it keeps an computer I don't have anymore and will not let me add my new one. I have to walk in and make an app't in the store.!