My experience buying a new iMac today at the Apple Store, Kingston

[terryblyth]

I feel compelled to write this because of the excellent service I've just had.

I went to the store today to pick up a new iMac, and the guy that sorted me out (Stu) was fantastic. He was dead flexible, knew his stuff and more importantly when I said I would probably need to make two trips to the car (I got a printer at the same time) he said that he was knocking off in 5 minutes, and if I could wait he would get changed and give me a hand. It turned out the car park was entirely the opposite direction to where he was going.

So a big thumbs up to Stu and the store at Kingston (despite it being rammed with Saturday Photobooth players!)

Oh, and I forgot to add: When I got home I realised I failed to mention that i was after the trackpad rather than the mouse. I gave them a call, and I can just pop in tomorrow with the mouse for a straight swap.

 

[dh2005]

... he said that he was knocking off in 5 minutes, and if I could wait he would get changed and give me a hand. It turned out the car park was entirely the opposite direction to where he was going.

Top effort, that man.

 

[simon567]

I've just picked one up from the Trafford Centre and was also very happy with the service. One thing though, I told him I was undecided whether to take the pad or the mouse and he told me that for now, in store, they were offering both with new iMacs for no extra cost! You might want to check that out when you go back.

 

[dh2005]

I've just picked one up from the Trafford Centre and was also very happy with the service. One thing though, I told him I was undecided whether to take the pad or the mouse and he told me that for now, in store, they were offering both with new iMacs for no extra cost! You might want to check that out when you go back.

Yeah, I got mine from the Trafford Centre last October. The staff - although they (and I mean this affectionately) looked like skaters and reprobates - were very polite, and seemed to know their jobs.

I had a less edifying experience at the Arndale Centre, a couple of weeks earlier. Some rrrrrright wideboy giving it the 'hard sell', trying to push me to buy lots of additional software. I mean, what - is £1,500 not enough for me to spending in your Store, buddy?!

 

[smiddlehurst]

Gotta say I've used Apple's retail stores a lot in the last five years (mainly down to a 17" 2007 MBP that had been utterly crap in every way, to the point I was on first name basis with the store manager) and their customer service has almost always been excellent. Most recently my wife bought the white iPhone and the after-sales service was superb, not only activating the phone but making sure the case fit properly (it did) and even transfering her number to a MicroSIM (which failed owing to T-mobile being a bunch of greedy blankity blank blankers). All in the sale took maybe ten minutes, including picking the case, and the after-sales (off which Apple makes no money directly) about 30. And that, despite some bad luck with Apple products, is why I'll keep going back to them, simply in a different league than anyone else when it comes to customer service.

Oh, just in case people don't know, if you're eligible for an education discount take proof of your particular institution along with you and Apple Stores will often (always in my experience but can't guarantee that) give you whatever the education discount is as if you were shopping on-line via your campus network.

 

[johnhalsted]

I've just picked one up from the Trafford Centre and was also very happy with the service. One thing though, I told him I was undecided whether to take the pad or the mouse and he told me that for now, in store, they were offering both with new iMacs for no extra cost! You might want to check that out when you go back.

Did you get one today? and if so were you served by a black guy?

 

[Dresevski]

I ordered mine without the trackpad but now feel like that might be the direction I want to go. What do you think the chances are that I can talk them into giving me the trackpad? I ideally want to go in and tell them that I made a mistake/changed plans and would like the trackpad. I guess I'll see if they will demand that I bring in the mouse for a trade-out

 

[dh2005]

Oh, just in case people don't know, if you're eligible for an education discount take proof of your particular institution along with you and Apple Stores will often (always in my experience but can't guarantee that) give you whatever the education discount is as if you were shopping on-line via your campus network.

They did for me, yes.

 

[Badger^2]

He was dead flexible, knew his stuff and more importantly when I said I would probably need to make two trips to the car (I got a printer at the same time) he said that he was knocking off in 5 minutes, and if I could wait he would get changed and give me a hand.

he just probably thought you were cute and wanted your number.

 

[terryblyth]

He wasn't bad looking actually. I was tempted

 

[dh2005]

... were you served by a black guy?

Is this 'confidential' demographic research, or do you think you know the guy...?!

 

[Jon the hat]

I feel compelled to write this because of the excellent service I've just had.

I went to the store today to pick up a new iMac, and the guy that sorted me out (Stu) was fantastic. He was dead flexible, knew his stuff and more importantly when I said I would probably need to make two trips to the car (I got a printer at the same time) he said that he was knocking off in 5 minutes, and if I could wait he would get changed and give me a hand. It turned out the car park was entirely the opposite direction to where he was going.

So a big thumbs up to Stu and the store at Kingston (despite it being rammed with Saturday Photobooth players!)

Oh, and I forgot to add: When I got home I realised I failed to mention that i was after the trackpad rather than the mouse. I gave them a call, and I can just pop in tomorrow with the mouse for a straight swap.

Yeah I got mine there on Wednesday, the first new one out of the store! They were great and I walked out with both the Trackpad and the Magic mouse for no extra cost. Maybe when you go in, forget your magic mouse, and you might find they give you a trackpad anyway...