Why I hate Apple stores

[dmclone]

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.

 

[bos]

Speaking against Apple will get you dissapeared.

 

[keepngoal]

Two things:

1. I am not an apple guy.
2. Seems to me they handled your problem and did it in a timely matter.. less than an hour.

What's the problem here? Just need to let off steam? thats cool.. I can understand that.

-keep.

 

[4429 mcc]

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.

Waiting does suck, but they gave you a new touch...they just gave it to you. Most companies would make you mail it in and in 4-8 weeks you'd have a new one.

 

[Wesley]

You have just been jobbed by Steve Jobs.

Cm'n, you will come back. This is Apple, home of the alternative and innovator from beyond.

 

[ColoradoClone]

I'm kind of confused here... what other store do you expect to get better service from? Are you going to take your new Zune in to the Microsoft store when it breaks? I hope that works out for you.

I should note that I also get frustrated when I have to make an appointment at the "genius bar" ( I hate that name ), but I also remember that if I have a PC, there is no option for face to face help at all... certainly not for free. I've just decided to start looking at the ability to make an appointment as a nice thing, rather than be pissed off that I have to wait to get help. At least I get it.

 

[DaddyMac]

Two things:

1. I am not an apple guy.
2. Seems to me they handled your problem and did it in a timely matter.. less than an hour.

What's the problem here? Just need to let off steam? thats cool.. I can understand that.

-keep.

Agreed

Try getting that type of service (or any type, for that matter) out of Best Buy. You'll spend 20 minutes trying to find somebody who can somewhat understand the problem, drop it off at the service counter (if they don't outright deny responsibility) and then you may get it back in about 2 weeks.

I love Dell computers - all I buy. But I've spent longer on the phone with them to get a new keyboard shipped.

 

[jpete24]

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 you have to complain about a 45 minute wait at Apple, you should get some real problems. At least they gave you a new iPod Touch, how many tech. product companies allow you to go to a store to exchange a broken product. (Don't even say Best Buy...) You would be mailing it in.

 

[benjay]

Speaking against Apple will get you dissapeared.

funny

 

[AIT]

I bought a microwave from Best Buy once with the extended warranty. When it stopped working, I took it back to the store. An in-store tech looked at it, confirmed that it didn't work, and told me they'd have to send it to their repair center. A few days later the repair center called me, told me it would cost too much to repair it, and had me go back to the store to get a new microwave.

I understand why the OP would be frustrated that he had to wait around for a tech to do the same thing the sales rep did, but it's still better service than most stores.

 

[ISUKyro]

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.

 

[d4nim4l]

I'm with keep on this one. They did for you what everyone wishes Best Buy could do.

 

[jpete24]

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.

You love them? And you hate them?

Apple is making better products CHEAPER than the next guy. If you want to spend money on a Zune or Creative Player, be my guest. If it doesn't break then you are one of the luck ones.

 

[DaddyMac]

Here we go - the BashAppleFanatic.com rears it's ugly head once again.

Who is this mysterious person who goes around with what I can only assume is some sort of firearm, and tries to force some of you to purchase Apple products?

 

[benjay]

Apple is making better products CHEAPER than the next guy.

They are? Try not to go all fanboi on me, but Apple is usually more expensive...

 

[bos]

They are? Try not to go all fanboi on me, but Apple is usually more expensive...

Yes, they are more expensive. There is no Apple product that you cant find a cheap alternative to.

 

[benjay]

I bought a microwave from Best Buy once with the extended warranty. When it stopped working, I took it back to the store. An in-store tech looked at it, confirmed that it didn't work, and told me they'd have to send it to their repair center. A few days later the repair center called me, told me it would cost too much to repair it, and had me go back to the store to get a new microwave.

I understand why the OP would be frustrated that he had to wait around for a tech to do the same thing the sales rep did, but it's still better service than most stores.

I have to agree. What the OP is complaining about actually seems like good customer service to me.

 

[ColoradoClone]

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.

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.

 

[cycloneG]

Yes, they are more expensive. There is no Apple product that you cant find a cheap alternative to.

They have to pay for the Mac vs PC advertising campaign somehow!

 

[benjay]

Yes, they are more expensive. There is no Apple product that you cant find a cheap alternative to.

But the cheap alternative is not hip.