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Nice Gesture by the local Apple store

I applaud the manager, for going above and beyond to make a customer happy, but it really wasn't their fault. I get several people have said that the rep should have mentioned that, but anyone who knows enough about AppleTV to make the 30 mile drive to go buy one, should have taken the time to read about it a little first. Not really what I would call an "impulse buy" now is it?

They don't include the cable because they would have to include several kinds of cables for different ways you might want to hook it up. Do you want them to add to the price an HDMI cable (what length should be standard?), a component cable, audio cables, and a fiber optic audio cable. Decent length cables of each will add at least $100 or more to the price for everyone.

Not even printer companies provide a cable anymore, so why do you expect Apple to do so? Your satellite or cable provider may give you a bunch of cables, but they recoup the cost by charging you lots of fees for years. The last DVD recorder I bought only had the cheapest RCA cables included, not component or S-Video or HDMI.
 
I prefer cables to devices NOT BE INCLUDED for the following reasons:

1) I am usually upgrading a device, hence I already have the necessary cables.

2) Cables included are usually low quality and I buy my own anyways.

3) Why pay for something you may not need?
 
saltyzoo said:
I'd disagree. When a cable hits $20 minimum price it starts making sense to let people buy the length / quality they want.

It's no different than saying that your $4000 flat screen should include a DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD cable box. Without those it's useless right?
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The length point is a good one, the only problem is that the majority of HDMI cables are 6' in length anyway.

It doesn't really bother me all that much that many electronics do not come with the required cables, so as long as the store has them available for purchase, but I can see how it would upset some people. Buying a DVD player with the cables not included is sort of like buying a car with no tires, they're both practically worthless without that one component.
 
gnortenjones said:
Last night I got a call from the manager at the Apple store apologizing for my inconvenience, and offered to reimburse me 25% of the cables value.

I doubt I'll make the trip out to the Apple store to collect since it's only about $15,
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You paid $60 for an HDMI cable?
 
nick9191 said:
You paid $60 for an HDMI cable?
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It doesn't appear that money is too much of a concern for the OP. He willingly paid his self-proclaimed "impatience tax", doesn't care too much about an easy $15 refund for simply returning to the store, and threw away his original receipt for the AppleTV, so should there be any need to refund, repair or exchange the unit I guess he's willing to just toss it out or buy another one... :)
 
notjustjay said:
It doesn't appear that money is too much of a concern for the OP. He willingly paid his self-proclaimed "impatience tax", doesn't care too much about an easy $15 refund for simply returning to the store, and threw away his original receipt for the AppleTV, so should there be any need to refund, repair or exchange the unit I guess he's willing to just toss it out or buy another one... :)
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That seems a little unfair. A 30 minute drive x 2 would negate much of the $15 refund, not to mention the fight he'd probably lose from not having a receipt.

$60 isn't that unusual a price for this type of cable.
 
I don't think its unreasonable to expect some type of cable. I have never bought any device that didn't come with something... And yes, even my sony blue ray player came with an HDMI cable. I didn't use it, but it came with one.

The analogy about the computer coming with a printer, iphone, etc is just weak. The computer can still work and function as a computer without a printer or other accessory. An apple TV cannot do much of anything with out a video/audio cable. Same goes for the people making snide comments about the TV coming with a blueray player. Jeez, he didn't think a 65 inch plasma screen HDTV was in the box. Exaggeration is one thing, being ridiculous is another...

I love apple stuff as much as anyone else, but some of you guys on here are just over the top, really.

Lastly, and I guess I am just as guilty for posting too, but the OP has said several times now, he wasn't mad but his past experiences led him to think the cable was in the box. Not everyone watches unboxing photos of products and reads every bit of fine print on the box. You people have even gone so far as to chastise him for what he paid for a cable. Sheesh.
 
Tallest Skil said:
Neither is $6. Or $3, for that matter.
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Are you asserting that having not realized that a device you are going to buy doesn't have your needed cable that you would sit there for 3 to 4 business days looking at your useless device rather than paying more so that you can enjoy your device?

The term is "opportunity cost". He could have gone a week without enjoying his purchase, or pay $60 so that he could enjoy it immediately.

Heck, why stop at the $3 cable? He should have just bought a VCR and saved even more.
 
saltyzoo said:
The term is "opportunity cost". He could have gone a week without enjoying his purchase, or pay $60 so that he could enjoy it immediately.
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I would have paid $4, waited a week, and then spent the other $56 on HD DVDs, ripped them, and viewed them on my Apple TV when the cable came as opposed to having a nice box, an expensive cable, and no content.
 
saltyzoo said:
Are you asserting that having not realized that a device you are going to buy doesn't have your needed cable that you would sit there for 3 to 4 business days looking at your useless device rather than paying more so that you can enjoy your device?

The term is "opportunity cost". He could have gone a week without enjoying his purchase, or pay $60 so that he could enjoy it immediately.

Heck, why stop at the $3 cable? He should have just bought a VCR and saved even more.
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He could have spent 3$ on the cable and maybe $20 to overnight it. Still Over 50% savings.

I think we've been hard on the OP, though it's all in good fun.
 
Chris Rogers said:
He could have spent 3$ on the cable and maybe $20 to overnight it. Still Over 50% savings.

I think we've been hard on the OP, though it's all in good fun.
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And, if on a Friday after shipping time, still wait until the next Tuesday to get what might very well be a complete piece of garbage. Sorry, but for $3 you are risking getting a piece of useless garbage.

The OP screwed up and didn't realize he needed a cable. The Apple store clerk arguably screwed up and forgot to tell him he needed one. Personally, I just want them to take my money and let me out of that new-age hell on earth, so I'd not fault them for not trying to sell me everything in the store, but that's just me. The mistake cost him a few more bucks. The store was nice enough to try to offset it. All in all a happy ending.

I wish the Apple store would give me a discount for having to put up with their sales people when I know exactly what I want and just want to get in and out quickly. :p
 
notjustjay said:
It doesn't appear that money is too much of a concern for the OP. He willingly paid his self-proclaimed "impatience tax", doesn't care too much about an easy $15 refund for simply returning to the store, and threw away his original receipt for the AppleTV, so should there be any need to refund, repair or exchange the unit I guess he's willing to just toss it out or buy another one... :)
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I threw out the receipt for the HDMI cable, which is what they want to see, not the ATV receipt.

But yes, money is of no concern to me. I whipe my butt with $100's, and pay hobos to kiss. It's a good life.
 
No cable? Pah!

I'm surprised nobody's complained about no TV inside the box :D

Especially when all it says on the front is ":apple:tv". In 2.5" high letters.
 
Chris Rogers said:
one time, I bought a computer (actually a few times) and they didn't tell me it didn't come with a wireless router, printer, iPhone, desk, power strip, or DVD player. :mad:
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But it did come with a power cable, did it? ;)
 
To try and get back on topic

I just canceled Dish network and am going over the air antenna and digital downloads. So i moved my current apple tv into the bedroom and wanted another for the living room. No one locally had on in stock so i ordered a refurbished unit from apple and paid 20 for overnight shipping. Later i noticed that my order was scheduled to arrive three days later. I checked amazon and could get one the next day, so i called apple to cancel my order. The Representative i spoke with not only put a rush on the delivery, not sure what she did but it arrived overnight, and refunded my shipping fees. Nice gesture apple.
 
Tallest Skil said:
Tell that to the six hundred titles on Amazon.com. I ONLY buy HD DVDs.
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I'm genuinely shocked at that - why would anyone still buy them (apart from because a lot of them are very cheap)? You'll never be able to get another player when your current one dies, so that's going to be a big stack of useless discs at some point. Also, why is anyone still making the discs? No new players = no new customers, surely? :confused: Maybe they're old stock....
 
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alFR said:
I'm genuinely shocked at that - why would anyone still buy them (apart from because a lot of them are very cheap)? You'll never be able to get another player when your current one dies, so that's going to be a big stack of useless discs at some point. Also, why is anyone still making the discs? No new players = no new customers, surely? :confused: Maybe they're old stock....
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