Matthew Townsend Bloomberg

When Covid-19 erupted 21 months ago and upended retailers around the world, it looked like just another chapter in the sad story of an industry's decline. The reality of the pandemic era, however, hasn't played out that way.

It's a sentiment shared by legions of Apple customers who vent on social media, customer forums, and in conversations with reporters.

When Covid-19 erupted 21 months ago and upended retailers around the world, it looked like just another chapter in the sad story of an industry's decline. The reality of the pandemic era, however, hasn't played out that way.

It's a sentiment shared by legions of Apple customers who vent on social media, customer forums, and in conversations with reporters.