Genius Bar Appt

[peterlobl]

I guess most regulars and then some know all about the "Bar" - and its wonders - but to a newcomer it seems kinda cool

Is there an etiquette to it? Beer or bourbon would be a nice sideline... do u just wait there seated? in the store? should i let him/her "play" with it for a while and disappear for an hour or do they like you chilling on the other machines? idle chatter - keep it relevant i imagine

Am used to mail order, build-your-own, left-to-your-own-devices... bestBuy then never return to store type "service" ... unsolvable problems were relegated to the telephone only.. or the ebay bin

made appointment in store for Wed -
problem:my battery is discharging when powered down! very strange - no matter if I shut down in XP or OSX - if i let it sit til morning - I wake with 0% ---- and the clock is reset, to a few hours off...
(minutes are aligned correctly, just the hour is about 4-6 hrs behind...)
did the appropriate COPS procedure, I think, meditated, crossed fingers - no luck

No matter - MBA is really really fine - and ability to go into Apple clinic like I would a watch shop (if I wore a watch) is really cool... comforting that it exists... feel a bit bad I have to use it. i dont want to see everyones insurance premiums go up cause of me

Hope I can report back success, after properly explaining my distress to the doctor in a way not throughly embarrassing nor foolish...

i guess the doc has heard it all a million times before

 

[TEG]

When you arrive, if it is a busy store, there will be someone out in front of the bar to confirm your appoinment and let the geniuses know you actually arrived. Regardless, just hang around until you're called. They will run some diagnosis on the spot and maybe take it in the back, however they usually do the work right in front of you.

Good Luck,

TEG

 

[jdcrow711]

my first time -- was within days of the MBA being out and the first one the genious had used. so i just talked to him and let him play for a few. then we talked about what it was doing he tried a few things while i sat there and i took off with a new superdrive.

 

[dahcheet]

my first time -- was within days of the MBA being out and the first one the genious had used. so i just talked to him and let him play for a few. then we talked about what it was doing he tried a few things while i sat there and i took off with a new superdrive.

Wait, you walked away with new superdrive? Did you get yours replaced or did you just walk off with one?!

As this is my first Apple Computer I imagine that I will be frequenting the closest Apple store and visiting the Genius bar. Unfortunately, the closest one is about an hour away so lets hope I don't have too many problems with mine.

 

[jdcrow711]

i wish i were slick enough to slide it in my coat ... sadly just a replacement for a broken one

 

[tMac85]

if you walk into an apple store without an appointment will they see you?

Like for a problem with your magsafe/ battery?

 

[TEG]

if you walk into an apple store without an appointment will they see you?

Like for a problem with your magsafe/ battery?

If someone is available. Some stores are so busy that you HAVE to have an appointment. You can make the appointment from home or in the store. It is just safer to do it, just in case.

TEG

 

[peterlobl]

thanks!

When you arrive, if it is a busy store, there will be someone out in front of the bar to confirm your appoinment and let the geniuses know you actually arrived. Regardless, just hang around until you're called. They will run some diagnosis on the spot and maybe take it in the back, however they usually do the work right in front of you.

Good Luck,

TEG

Much confidence in the folks there, they seem on the ball - I figured morning appt should be less crowded/hectic.

I imagine if it's slow many geniuses will converge on my MBA and in parallel diagnose its ills quickly & impressively.

I won't worry if a genius does take my SSD MBA to the "back"/cellar, that I'll get a refurb 20gb hd in its place..

Unless it really is in my best interest!

PS Will download update now - perhaps that is the proper medicine

 

[eliteAndrew]

Hey,

When you go into the store there are normally members of staff hanging around. You may notice some with a different coloured t-shirt. A light blue should show concierge staff.

Make yourself known to the concierge staff who will normally take you (or direct you) to the bar, and depending on how busy, will book you in as being present.

If you are early you will no doubt see your name displayed on the screens behind the bar in a list style.

After that a Genius will see you and hopefully sort you out. They are normally extremely helpful and will answer your main problems along with any niggly ones that might pop up.

 

[Phantom Genius]

genius bar etiquette

as a person who's "in the know" there are a couple of things that customers do that are great, some not so much.

1. Did you back up?

It's a simple question and a no-brainer answer. The answer should be yes. If you didn't, you better start doing it. A Genius can't really do anything for your data if it's corrupt. There are only 2 types of hard drives in the world: those that have failed and those that will fail.

2. Let someone know you are here.

If you walk in, let someone know you are checking in for a Genius bar appointment. Don't say you are here for and appointment. I've worked with some people who may not understand what you need or forget to ask if you're here for the Studio One-to-One instead. Avoid confusion and be direct to the point. After a minute or so the Geniuses should know you are here

3. Be nice...

You are in a bad mood. Your screen is cracked. Your Super Drive won't mount media but it's out of warranty. Your dropped your phone in the toilette but it's not your fault. You don't have an appointment. Guess what? So were the other 30 people the Genius saw that day. They were all pissed just like you. So what will make your appointment better than theirs? You're gonna be nice. Geniuses are people, too. They have to abide by rules. Some are sympathetic, some aren't.

There was that scene in Fight Club where Tyler tells the old guy not to f*** with them because they were the people who serve their food, clean their pool and etc, etc. Same principle here, folks. These people repair your macs or replace your iPhone. I know I've got my personal data on my Mac. I'm gonna be nice for my own good.

4. ...Because they sometimes reward you

I know there are 4 liquid indicators on my phone. I have been nice and had my phone replaced because I was nice. I've also had a macbook pro replaced (ran over by a car) because I was honest and nice.

5. Be Honest. Period.

They have a BS meter. I swear they have a tool that detects that. Might be in the iPad...

6. Don't bring a jail-broken phone to the bar. I swear they don't care.

7. Stop whining.

They don't care if you have been a stock holder since '85. Don't really care if you dropped $5000 on a mac pro. They want to take care of you. Make it easy for them and don't be a douche. Let the do their job. Be a douche and they won't.

So there it is. Bottom line, don't be a douche.