GeekHampton Gears Up For Busy Summer

GeekHampton, the only authorized Apple retail and service center on the East End, is gearing up for an expected rush this summer as people try to put the coronavirus pandemic behind them and return to some sense of normalcy.

The store, at 34 Bay Street in Sag Harbor, has announced extended hours on Fridays, indoor or curbside “white glove” service to accommodate different comfort levels of its customers, monthly raffles, and an expanded recycling program.

Sheryl Heller, the co-owner and president of the business, said GeekHampton, like so many other businesses, has struggled during the pandemic to find staff and get regular shipments of the Apple products it sells.

An ongoing staff shortage means the store remains closed on Saturdays, but is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and will now be open until 8 p.m. on Fridays.

Both Heller and her partner, Vice President and co-owner Mike Avery, stressed the 8 p.m. closing hour will not be a hard close. Customers in the store will be helped until they are satisfied.

“We aren’t selling widgets,” Avery said, adding that buying a product like a MacBook or iPad takes some serious thought and someone to provide sound advice. “It’s not like jeans at J. Crew.”

Plus, he said, the staff at GeekHampton knows that when people have trouble with a computer, it can be more than a little stressful. “We want to make sure everyone who walks in anxious walks out relieved,” he said.

Although the store remains well stocked, Heller said supply chain delays remain an occasional issue. She joked that when one computer becomes available, but only in silver, she will order several only to discover “everyone wants it in space gray.”

To encourage shoppers to visit the store, GeekHampton is going to hold monthly raffles for $100 gift certificates.

In addition, a recycling service, which used to be offered only around Earth Day each spring, is now offered regularly. So if you have an old Mac or PC that is no longer useful, you can bring it in, and GeekHampton will make sure the hard drive is property disposed of and any recyclable metals are repurposed.

Geek Hampton sells all Apple products, from computers and iPads to watches and Airpods, with one exception: iPhones.

Although the store sells accessories for the popular cell phones and can repair them, it does not sell them, Heller said. “Phones are all about the provider,” Heller said, noting that it would require agreements with Verizon, ATT, and other phone service providers to do so.

Customers with technical questions about their Apple products are welcome to visit the GeekBar, which is available during store hours with no appointment necessary. The store also provides remote support services for customers who prefer to have their computer issues diagnosed in their home. And for folks who are a little overwhelmed by their Apple computers, phones, and other products, GeekHampton provides one-on-one tutoring lessons at the store or in the client’s home or office.

GeekHampton is located at 34 Bay Street and can be reached at 631-723-3660 or by visiting geekhampton.com.