Why I hate Apple stores

[AIT]

But can you do the equivalent to the Buckle Challenge?

:biglaugh: I didn't realize the Buckle Challenge was so widely known.

 

[BigBake]

I do understand what you're saying about the service but...

1. You can schedule your appt ahead of time and save the waiting.

2. You could give props to the 1st guy for "trying" to help you. He easily could have just sent you to the desk and not tried anything. My guess is many times he DOES fix the customers problem because said customer isn't tech savvy.

3. Walking out with a replacement unit that same day is something to be happy about. (see xbox examples)

 

[dmclone]

You could have. Before you even went in, you could have made an appointment online, walked to the genius bar at your appointment time, and only had to deal with the one guy. He would have done the reset check, and given you your new iTouch.

I wasn't aware that this was an option but it looks pretty slick. I'll try to remember this next time it breaks.

 

[drum1306]

Overpriced and crappy service.... yep that's apple.
I'm still using a creative labs mp3 player for almost 3+ years. At the time it was about $50 cheaper that the comparable model to ipod. I don't think I know a single person that has their same mp3 player from that long ago that has the apple logo on it.
Apple = Trash

I love them for getting some of the new technology out their, but their sheep followers need to wake up from time to time and at least recognize that they are not the best.

I had the same iPod for 5 years before getting a new one since I had more than 30 GB of music. That was a year ago, and my old one still works perfectly.

 

[clone2011]

Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

Go here, make an appointment at a time and day that's convenient for you. Most I've ever had to wait beyond my scheduled time was 5-10 minutes (which is very good IMO for a busy place) and that was on a Saturday--go during the week and you're likely to even get in early.

The first issue was thinking the sales guy could do anything. They're not trained to fix anything, just show how they work. When I walk in with my computer or iPod and they stop to ask if they can help I give them a polite "no thanks, have an appointment" and we go our separate ways.

Like others said, what other place will give you a free replacement on the spot? A few years ago, my roommate knocked her beer onto my laptop--not good. Took it in, not really expecting much because that's not exactly covered under warranty. We laughed about it, guy tried to fix it and told me to come back in an hour so they could tinker with it since I hadn't tried to turn it on and maybe they just need to open it up and dry it out. Went to Scheel's for an hour, came back, and they had a brand new macbook sitting there, hooked up to my old one and they did a complete hard drive transfer--all for free. Never had a bad experience with Apple's Customer Service. Even called them one time from Colorado when my airport(wireless) card stopped working, they gave me directions to the Denver store and made the appointment for me. Next day, took it in, apparently it got tossed around pretty good in checked baggage on the airline (and now I always carry it on) and the card was dislodged I guess. 10 minutes later had a new airport card in there.

 

[flynnhicks03]

You could have. Before you even went in, you could have made an appointment online, walked to the genius bar at your appointment time, and only had to deal with the one guy. He would have done the reset check, and given you your new iTouch.

Thanks for the advice. I was going to take my iPod into the store today because I've been having problems with it. I followed your advice and made a genius bar appointment first. Probably saved me a lot of time. Rep to you.

 

[jdoggivjc]

My iMac is running on 4.5 years without any issues. It's like the day I bought it. I gave my iPod mini to my father because I wanted a new iPod. My iPod is 3.5 years old now... both it and the mini are still working great. I wouldn't call it trash. The only reason I replace them is because I want to, not because I need to.

Wow, like that's some major accomplishment. My Gateway that I purchased back in late 2001 (back when they made decent PCs) lasted more than 6 years without major incident until the power supply and video card both crapped out on the same day last February. Replacing the two would have been quick and easy, and adding more RAM would have made it perform better than it ever had, and likely would have allowed it to last me several more years, but by the time I had done all that it would have been simply cheaper to replace the computer. In the computing business, stating that a computer has lasted 4.5 years without incident is hardly a statement that proves that you bought a quality PC.

Now, I do hear you on the iPod argument - I love my almost-2-year-old Nano.

 

[cyclonenum1]

I'm on my 3rd Ipod. My first one was a mini and it performed fine, my second was a standard Ipod it gave out about 6 months after warranty, and my Ipod touch which is 6 months old gave out yesterday. I have a ton of electronics and nothing else that I've ever owned has broke.....ok one power supply was bad in my PC.

You would think I would have a problem with the Ipod's themselves but my beef is with their service.

They have this "edgy" practice where you don't stand in line. You find a salesperson to schedule a time for you to walk up to the front desk for help. So here is an example of how that worked for me.

#1 Go into the Apple store with my broken Touch

#2 Find a sales guy to help me out

#3 Tell the sales guy that the Ipod has a black screen of death and that I've also tried to plug it into the wall power outlet adapter and did the reset command.

#4 Sales guy does the reset command and the power outlet adapter thing. Neither works. "I need to schedule you a time with one of our technicians. It's going to be 45 minutes"


#5 Came back in 45 minutes and saw my name on their LCD. Still stood in line until everyone was done. Had to repeat the whole story to the "tech guy". The tech guy tried the wall power outlet adapter and the reset command. He then said "hmmmm looks liek you'll need a new one, here you go". Gave me a new Touch (may be referbished).


So why did I have to go through 45 minutes of that crap? I will never buy another Apple product in my life.

If only PFG was in the computer business...they would put Apple out of business!!

AAPL - 10/01 approx $8 per share, 6/09 approx $135 per share (with a 2:1 split in 2005)

PFG - 10/01 approx $20 per share, 6/09 approx $20 per share

Sorry to "yank your chain"...but I just could not help myself. Have a wonderful day!

 

[Alswelk]

While Apple's products do cost more, they are typically significantly higher quality hardware when compared directly to their competitors. For example, when I worked in my school's tech department, we had a lab of 20-some mid-range Dell desktops with approximately a 90% critical hardware failure rate (things like power supplies and motherboards) over a six year life span. On the other hand, the school also owns a large number of G3 iMacs, which have had an approximately 20% critical hardware failure rate in a ten-year period.

 

[ColoradoClone]

Wow, like that's some major accomplishment. My Gateway that I purchased back in late 2001 (back when they made decent PCs) lasted more than 6 years without major incident until the power supply and video card both crapped out on the same day last February. Replacing the two would have been quick and easy, and adding more RAM would have made it perform better than it ever had, and likely would have allowed it to last me several more years, but by the time I had done all that it would have been simply cheaper to replace the computer. In the computing business, stating that a computer has lasted 4.5 years without incident is hardly a statement that proves that you bought a quality PC.

Now, I do hear you on the iPod argument - I love my almost-2-year-old Nano.

Not trying to say it's a major accomplishment. I was just trying to refute the comment that Apple = Trash and nothing lasts more than 3 years. I'm not trying to argue that it's better than PC, but arguing that they're not garbage.

 

[cycloneG]

While Apple's products do cost more, they are typically significantly higher quality hardware when compared directly to their competitors. For example, when I worked in my school's tech department, we had a lab of 20-some mid-range Dell desktops with approximately a 90% critical hardware failure rate (things like power supplies and motherboards) over a six year life span. On the other hand, the school also owns a large number of G3 iMacs, which have had an approximately 20% critical hardware failure rate in a ten-year period.

Isn't Apple using more third-party hardware now?

 

[Alswelk]

Isn't Apple using more third-party hardware now?

That's the rumor I keep hearing, and I keep hoping it's not true. Sometimes I think Apple brought the wrong Steve back, but that may just be the engineer in me talking.

 

[C.John]

someone trying to sell software because it makes swooshy noises .

A swooshy noise? I am jealous now. I want a swooshy noise on my little netbook. I have no idea what this swooshy noise is, but I WANT IT.:cute:

 

[dmclone]

If only PFG was in the computer business...they would put Apple out of business!!

AAPL - 10/01 approx $8 per share, 6/09 approx $135 per share (with a 2:1 split in 2005)

PFG - 10/01 approx $20 per share, 6/09 approx $20 per share

Sorry to "yank your chain"...but I just could not help myself. Have a wonderful day!

Not you again......

 

[jdoggivjc]

Not trying to say it's a major accomplishment. I was just trying to refute the comment that Apple = Trash and nothing lasts more than 3 years. I'm not trying to argue that it's better than PC, but arguing that they're not garbage.

Sorry about the rip then. You're right, Apple is a quality product - if that's your thing. My iPod is by far the best MP3 player I have ever owned, and I'm one of those guys that doesn't mind using their computers, although I prefer to purchase Windows-based PCs.

 

[jdoggivjc]

While Apple's products do cost more, they are typically significantly higher quality hardware when compared directly to their competitors. For example, when I worked in my school's tech department, we had a lab of 20-some mid-range Dell desktops with approximately a 90% critical hardware failure rate (things like power supplies and motherboards) over a six year life span. On the other hand, the school also owns a large number of G3 iMacs, which have had an approximately 20% critical hardware failure rate in a ten-year period.

Why the heck would you want to own a computer for a decade anyway? Sure, it's nice that it can, but computers are pretty much ridiculously obsolete by the time they're 5 years old and need to be replaced if you want to be able to keep up with programming anyway. I was actually kind of glad my 6+ year old Gateway crapped out on me last year because it was beginning to get much harder to find software it could actually run (Vista, Adobe CS3, just about any game) and gave me a good excuse to go out and purchase a new one.

 

[dmclone]

My first MP3 player was not an apple. I think it cost like $200 and held about 10 songs. It was reliable until I threw it into the garbage.:smile:

I have to give credit to Apple for making everyone else step up their game in the MP3 player world.

One more complaint. I hate how I went out and bought a bunch of accessories for my original Ipod and now they've changed the deck connector so none of those things work any longer. I also wonder why they got rid of firewire, but that's not a big deal.

 

[dosry5]

Overpriced and crappy service.... yep that's apple.


I love them for getting some of the new technology out their, but their sheep followers need to wake up from time to time and at least recognize that they are not the best.

I think it's in Apple's best interests to not make a product that lasts too long. If your Ipod lasted too long you wouldn't buy another one often enough. As long as in the beginning the product is great and they keep making improvments...then you'll buy the new one or keep coming back.

 

[bos]

dmclone;1098988 My first MP3 player was not an apple. I think it cost like $200 and held about 10 songs. It was reliable until I threw it into the garbage.:smile:

I have to give credit to Apple for making everyone else step up their game in the MP3 player world. This is true. They do push, and I will pat them on the back for that.

One more complaint. I hate how I went out and bought a bunch of accessories for my original Ipod and now they've changed the deck connector so none of those things work any longer. I also wonder why they got rid of firewire, but that's not a big deal. This is a common gripe and I share it too since I want to get one do to their plethora of accessories. As for firewire? I think its deadski. USB is by far the most popular interface and Apple succombed to that realization.

 

[jdoggivjc]

My first MP3 player was not an apple. I think it cost like $200 and held about 10 songs. It was reliable until I threw it into the garbage.:smile:

I have to give credit to Apple for making everyone else step up their game in the MP3 player world.

One more complaint. I hate how I went out and bought a bunch of accessories for my original Ipod and now they've changed the deck connector so none of those things work any longer. I also wonder why they got rid of firewire, but that's not a big deal.

The simple answer is probably either USB 2.0 or Bluetooth, although I have no clue as to what the future iPod's Bluetooth capabilities will be.