Lack of apple service options in Kansas City

Limnos wrote:

I think the issue with the batteries is everybody is rushing to get replacements so the parts are backlogged. That would apply to anywhere.

I think the OP's question is why there are only two places at all (both Apple Stores) that will perform iPhone service in the KC area. I looked it up and that's actually the case. It's a metro area with over 2 million people. You'd have to go over 100 miles away to Columbia, Springfield, Wichita, Lincoln, or Omaha for an Apple Store or AASP.

I'd just say that depending on the phone you have, you're not simply looking at waiting for an appointment to get it evaluated and installed the same day, but will need to make a return trip because you would only be getting a spot on a waiting list. Supposedly you should be able to call it into AppleCare and then request a battery service at a specific location near you, where they will contact you. That would save you a trip.

If you can't get an appointment at an Apple Store because they're filling up too fast, the trick is that if you can make it to a store you can get an appointment in person with a longer two-week window of appointments. That might be more feasible if you just happen to be there or it's not terribly out of the way.

However, a lot of the independently owned Apple Authorized Service Centers aren't participating in the reduced battery price program, although it's pretty well known that Best Buy is doing that. I'd be shocked if there are no Best Buy stores in the KC area, but not all are AASP repair places. There are none in Kansas, and the ones in Missouri aren't in the KC area.

alexfromholt wrote:

Thank you for saving me a trip. I just contact Apple Support and they will be sending a battery to the store closest to me.

Apple couldn't tell me why all the local Best Buys aren't AASCs, but your comment did save me a trip which I am thankful for!

Cool. I can't really take credit since I only heard about calling it in to "make a reservation" here. I'd personally go to an Apple Store in person, but I've got about a dozen with 25 miles of where I live.

It's really up to Best Buy. Most BBs around here are AASPs.

Most of the stories are that the 6/6+/6S/6S+ are the phones where the batteries have been heavily backordered. Apparently people who came in early for this promotion got batteries installed same day before the supplies ran out.

I think the issue with the batteries is everybody is rushing to get replacements so the parts are backlogged. That would apply to anywhere.