No More Apple Loyalty

[fischersd]

(did a couple cursory searches - didn't find a similar thread, so here you go)
Went to the Apple Store this afternoon - figured it would be dead due to everyone being away for the long weekend. Nope. It was a bit of a zoo. Was taking in my lightning to 30-pin cable, in the hopes that they'd give me a replacement. Yes, it's out of warranty, but it's a $35 cable. And, yes, before you all chime in about how everyone here feels "entitled", I have 3 Mac's, an iPad Air 2, Apple TV, $1400 iPhone 6s and $1600 SB SS Apple Watch at home. So, expecting a loyalty "perk" for what was a $35 cable really shouldn't be much to expect, should it?

The Cable:


After being put in queue (twice), the girl that put me in queue the first time comes up to me and says. "You know, it's out of warranty. I really don't know what you're waiting for. You're going to have to buy a new one anyways." I explained to her that I thought from a loyalty standpoint I was hoping I'd get a free replacement. She said "No, I'm sorry. It doesn't matter if you're a first time customer or a long time customer, we treat everyone exactly the same." I explained how it never used to be that way. She said "Well, that's the way we operate here".

Sorry, that's not what I'm used to. But, the other items I brought in could have been in their warranty period.

I put it out to you (as we have a very diverse community here) - should everyone that walk in an Apple Store be treated with equal grace, regardless of their history with the company?

p.s. The price of the cable (of course) has gone up - it's now a $49 cable. Methinks I'll put some fugly electrical table on it. Oh...also pondering returning the $70 yellow sport band I bought 4 days ago...just out of spite.

 

[AZhappyjack]

(did a couple cursory searches - didn't find a similar thread, so here you go)
Went to the Apple Store this afternoon - figured it would be dead due to everyone being away for the long weekend. Nope. It was a bit of a zoo. Was taking in my lightning to 30-pin cable, in the hopes that they'd give me a replacement. Yes, it's out of warranty, but it's a $35 cable. And, yes, before you all chime in about how everyone here feels "entitled", I have 3 Mac's, an iPad Air 2, Apple TV, $1400 iPhone 6s and $1600 SB SS Apple Watch at home. So, expecting a loyalty "perk" for what was a $35 cable really shouldn't be much to expect, should it?

The Cable:
View attachment 648342

After being put in queue (twice), the girl that put me in queue the first time comes up to me and says. "You know, it's out of warranty. I really don't know what you're waiting for. You're going to have to buy a new one anyways." I explained to her that I thought from a loyalty standpoint I was hoping I'd get a free replacement. She said "No, I'm sorry. It doesn't matter if you're a first time customer or a long time customer, we treat everyone exactly the same." I explained how it never used to be that way. She said "Well, that's the way we operate here".

Sorry, that's not what I'm used to. But, the other items I brought in could have been in their warranty period.

I put it out to you (as we have a very diverse community here) - should everyone that walk in an Apple Store be treated with equal grace, regardless of their history with the company?

p.s. The price of the cable (of course) has gone up - it's now a $49 cable. Methinks I'll put some fugly electrical table on it. Oh...also pondering returning the $70 yellow sport band I bought 4 days ago...just out of spite.

Couple of things. First of all, that is NOT a 30-pin cable... it's a lightning cable. And secondly, if that's the cable you want replaced, Apple will replace it under warranty IF you have a device that uses it that IS under warranty. That's been their practice all along.

However, going into a store expecting a "loyalty perk" is incredibly presumptive on your part...

 

[fischersd]

Couple of things. First of all, that is NOT a 30-pin cable... it's a lightning cable. And secondly, if that's the cable you want replaced, Apple will replace it under warranty IF you have a device that uses it that IS under warranty. That's been their practice all along.

However, going into a store expecting a "loyalty perk" is incredibly presumptive on your part...

It's a 30-pin to Lightning ADAPTER if you want to split hairs.

Does the "supporting devices still in warranty" policy apply to adapters?? Obviously, the 6s and Air2 (which both have AC+) are well within their warranty.

 

[AZhappyjack]

It's a 30-pin to Lightning ADAPTER if you want to split hairs.

Does the "supporting devices still in warranty" policy apply to adapters?? Obviously, the 6s and Air2 (which both have AC+) are well within their warranty.

OK, my bad on the cable/adapter type... I just read "30-pin cable" and then saw the photo.

The policy, as I understand it (and have used it) is that Apple warrants accessories purchased WITH the device (read "in the box) for the duration of the device's coverage - including original warranty and and AppleCare Plus.

However, if you have a receipt that shows the purchase of the adapter AND the device (on the same receipt), you might have some wiggle room.

 

[fischersd]

OK, my bad on the cable/adapter type... I just read "30-pin cable" and then saw the photo.

The policy, as I understand it (and have used it) is that Apple warrants accessories purchased WITH the device (read "in the box) for the duration of the device's coverage - including original warranty and and AppleCare Plus.

However, if you have a receipt that shows the purchase of the adapter AND the device (on the same receipt), you might have some wiggle room.

Yep, I know about everything in the box being in under the same umbrella (including the additional AC+ coverage).
Also extends to the watch - whatever band it has on it at time of damage is covered.

Pretty sure this was a separate purchase. Still. I see it as a perk that we used to have (and still should).

Example for the "small town set" - you buy your vehicles at the same dealership time and time again. They give you a better discount as a reflection of your continued loyalty. How is this any different?

 

[tubeexperience]

That is what you are complaining about?

Reading the heading, I thought this is about someone that has the iPhone 6 with touch disease and is rightfully demanding a free replacement which Apple refused.

 

[RootBeerMan]

Why not buy a third party replacement? They're considerably cheaper and work just as well. Apple is under no obligation to cover things out of warranty, or any other manufacturer for that matter. I've replaced cables many times with cheaper third party ones and never batted an eye.

 

[Brookzy]

I was at the Apple Store a few days ago.

People were streaming in, all complaining about torn Lightning cables, malfunctioning EarPods, and the like. Literally in the space of 15 minutes while I was waiting for my appointment there were 6 people there with cable complaints. (And none had a Genius appointment of course!)

Apple can't and shouldn't just be a free cable distributor. If you've broken your cable, tough luck! They don't spontaneously combust. I've never had an Apple cable break. I've got a MagSafe adapter from 2007 lying around, and it's totally intact.

Why should I bear the cost of someone's out of warranty cable (since all costs are ultimately passed on to customers) just because they couldn't look after their things?

Why people expect a new cable for free when they've broken theirs by overflexing it, pulling it, trapping it in draws and so on is beyond me. You wouldn't crash your car and go running back to the dealer asking for a new one.

Of course loyalty benefits would be nice in theory. But in the end, they screw everybody over. You might have your Gold Apple Loyalty card one day, but you know what, you'll just be pissed at the guy who had the Platinum one!

 

[Flow39]

I don't get how so many people break these cables. I have had some cables for 5+ years that have no indication of breaking or fraying. Just don't yank on the cable/wire part, don't bend them at unreasonable angles, and don't abuse them and they'll last forever.

For the question, no I don't think that there should be a loyalty program. It would probably raise costs for all of us!

 

[maflynn]

I think in all the years of owning a lightening cable, I've only had one break/fray and that's because of it being the car, and getting bent in odd shapes as it was continually fold/unfolded and put into the center console

 

[fischersd]

I think in all the years of owning a lightening cable, I've only had one break/fray and that's because of it being the car, and getting bent in odd shapes as it was continually fold/unfolded and put into the center console

That's exactly where this one is used. Connects my phone to the 30-pin connector that came with the car - there's something proprietary about their (Hyundai) cable - a straight USB to lightning cable won't work in their USB jack.
It only cracked from repeated use (and maybe it got too much sun sitting on the passenger seat?)

 

[Cineplex]

Seeing as I had a Power Mac G5 replaced 7 years out of warranty for FREE due to a cooling leak....I'd say Apple doesn't treat everyone the same...especially since a friend of mine wasn't able to get the same deal....which is why I tried and succeeded.

It is called good will. The cable they pay $.10 for in China would have made this customer happy and would have resulted in positive PR instead of this thread. The Apple Store made a bad choice. The margin on the product alone is enough to justify replacing 1 cable out of warranty per unit. What Apple....not enough billions in the bank?