Live Sales Chat - Too Expensive?

[cosmichobo]

G'day,

Visit many online retail websites these days, and a window will pop up - "Hi, do you need help? Just ask!" - with often an actual living breathing person waiting to answer your question/s, and even help you through a purchase.

Right now, I have ONE question that is stopping me from buying an M1 iMac, and I imagine someone at Apple could answer it, or get an answer fast... yet, I'm nowhere near an Apple Store, and their online store does not offer a living breathing person to answer it.

(Yes, I've done what they suggest - and used the Apple Community forum to ask the question... asked it here, too.)

So - why doesn't Apple offer a live chat system?

My assumption is... they feel they don't need to. They're the world's biggest company, so - getting extra sales - who cares?

Frankly, normally, I actually don't like when the pop-ups appear... kinda like - I'm just doing my thing here, I don't need someone popping onto my screen... But - when I do want that option - it's great to have someone you can ask something.

cheers

cosmic

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Those live chat systems are almost always automated anyway, and largely useless. In the UK you can call 0800 048 0408 to speak to a sales advisor, I'm sure they must have a number in the US as well?

 

[tuccichristopher]

G'day,

Visit many online retail websites these days, and a window will pop up - "Hi, do you need help? Just ask!" - with often an actual living breathing person waiting to answer your question/s, and even help you through a purchase.

Right now, I have ONE question that is stopping me from buying an M1 iMac, and I imagine someone at Apple could answer it, or get an answer fast... yet, I'm nowhere near an Apple Store, and their online store does not offer a living breathing person to answer it.

(Yes, I've done what they suggest - and used the Apple Community forum to ask the question... asked it here, too.)

So - why doesn't Apple offer a live chat system?

My assumption is... they feel they don't need to. They're the world's biggest company, so - getting extra sales - who cares?

Frankly, normally, I actually don't like when the pop-ups appear... kinda like - I'm just doing my thing here, I don't need someone popping onto my screen... But - when I do want that option - it's great to have someone you can ask something.

cheers

cosmic

Apple sales USA
1 (800) 692-7753


hope this helps

 

[hg.wells]

Download the Apple Store App - they have a chat with specialist option at the bottom of each page.

 

[KaliYoni]

why doesn't Apple offer a live chat system?

I just looked at the USA version of this page and there is a "Have questions about buying a Mac? Chat with a Mac Specialist" hyperlink right above the product pictures:

Buy iMac

Get an iMac all-in-one desktop computer with M4 chip when you trade in an eligible Mac for credit. Built for Apple Intelligence. Buy now.

www.apple.com

So if you are not offered the opportunity to chat, perhaps Apple's live chat feature on its website varies by region.

As well, Apple gives a country-appropriate phone number to call at the bottom of every webpage on its site.

 

[Longkeg]

Not for nothing but the only time I’ve had issues resolved by actual people at Apple was after the issue was escalated through a few layers of supervisors. First contact, and a live chat would be equivalent to this, results in some new hire reading to me an unhelpful article I’ve already searched on the Apple Forums page.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

The "G'day" and "Cheers" suggest you may be in Australia. If you're there you'll find a Chat with a Specialist option here: https://www.apple.com/au/shop Same option in New Zealand - https://www.apple.com/nz/shop

While I can't promise that you'll find this option for every country where Apple has an online store, it's highly likely.

 

[Blue Quark]

Right now, I have ONE question that is stopping me from buying an M1 iMac, and I imagine someone at Apple could answer it, or get an answer fast... yet, I'm nowhere near an Apple Store, and their online store does not offer a living breathing person to answer it.

So, would you like to ask your question? Let's see if we know the answer, or perhaps you'll get lucky and stump the chump. 😄

 

[cosmichobo]

So, would you like to ask your question? Let's see if we know the answer, or perhaps you'll get lucky and stump the chump. 😄

I have a MacPro5,1 running Sierra. Can I use Apple's Screen Sharing app to remote access (screen share) an M1 iMac?

(I used to do this with my Dad's 2008 iMac running Mavericks, however it stopped letting me in some time ago. Providing support now as such is VERY painful, given my dad has very limited tech knowledge / patience.)

 

[pmiles]

I have a MacPro5,1 running Sierra. Can I use Apple's Screen Sharing app to remote access (screen share) an M1 iMac?

(I used to do this with my Dad's 2008 iMac running Mavericks, however it stopped letting me in some time ago. Providing support now as such is VERY painful, given my dad has very limited tech knowledge / patience.)

Share the screen of another Mac

On your Mac, use the Screen Sharing app to view and control the screen of another Mac on your network.

support.apple.com

There doesn't seem to be a reason why you could not other than the two machines not being set up properly. Check out the link on the bottom of the page regarding unable to share screens.

 

[cosmichobo]

Share the screen of another Mac

On your Mac, use the Screen Sharing app to view and control the screen of another Mac on your network.

support.apple.com

There doesn't seem to be a reason why you could not other than the two machines not being set up properly. Check out the link on the bottom of the page regarding unable to share screens.

Thanks for the reply - appreciate it.

In theory based on the above doc, I believe I still should be able to access my dad's half dead 2008 iMac... but it hasn't worked for some time, despite numerous attempts and checking through the settings / etc... When it stopped working seemed to co-incide with my brother visiting my parents... (and - much as he tries to help, he can also hinder! lol)

Whilst trying to sort it out, I saw this page saying that "Back to my Mac" was ending:

How to transition from Back to My Mac

Find out how to transition to iCloud Drive, screen sharing and Apple Remote Desktop.

support.apple.com

As far as I recall, the "Screen Sharing" app was part of the Back to my Mac ecosystem..? I know the app itself was inside a system file - not as if it was just sitting around in the Apps folder. So was wondering if the Screen Share app simply was blocked from working..?

I was hoping someone with hands-on experience could confirm success using the app between Intel / "M" Macs...