While I've never been an Apple customer, there are Apple stores here in the Netherlands, at least, and a (Dutch) friend of mine got his Macbook repaired pretty quickly (no idea of the details - it's his Macbook...)
These "Apple stores" in the Netherlands are official retailers, not official stores. This means that they are allowed to sell them, but they are just general stores selling Apple hardware. You'll have some knowledgeable people there most of the time, but not something like an actual Genius Bar where they can repair your laptop or ipod on the spot.
Applecare does not cover any repair done by official retailers, it has to happen at a Authorized Apple Service Provider, which almost all of the time means sending it away.
The first official Apple Store in the Netherlands is opening soon in the center of Amsterdam.
Hm, that’s not my experience in Germany. All retailers which sell only Apple products are also Authorized Apple Service Providers and there is one in every mid-sized city. They won’t do repairs on the spot, though.
