Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Replacement without genius appointment ?
- Thread starter Hudzilla
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It's best to get an appointment, but I've always been able to get a replacement without an appointment. They can be pretty busy at times and the wait can be an hour or more at some stores...Good luck
After your product is out of the return period, all replacements need to go through the Genius Bar.
At the store near me, you have to have an appt. to be seen at the Genius Bar.
If the Genius Bar is booked for the day, they have the ability to schedule "standby" appointments, but they only for people who have totally dead iPhones. And with a standby appt, you wait until there's a no-show, which sometimes can take hours.
I'm sure this varies by store, but why not just make an appt before you go?
They will not replace without a appointment.
I know from when I came with my 3G which had real problems (slowing down a lot, crashed whenever you tried to make a call, etc) and they checked it and agreed it was broken and eligible for replacement, but as much as I begged they wouldn't replace it without making a appointment (they had run out of spots for that day so I had to come again next week and keep my broken phone until then) because of how their system works.
I know from when I came with my 3G which had real problems (slowing down a lot, crashed whenever you tried to make a call, etc) and they checked it and agreed it was broken and eligible for replacement, but as much as I begged they wouldn't replace it without making a appointment (they had run out of spots for that day so I had to come again next week and keep my broken phone until then) because of how their system works.
Gawww! Where do you guys live? I've had two 3GS replacements since Launch Day and neither of them required appointments. I'm in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area in California and have never experienced a turn-away because I didn't have an appointment. I walked into the Apple Store yesterday without an appointment, and received a replacement within a half hour....
Maybe your store isn't as busy as the rest of them?Gawww! Where do you guys live? I've had two 3GS replacements since Launch Day and neither of them required appointments. I'm in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area in California and have never experienced a turn-away because I didn't have an appointment. I walked into the Apple Store yesterday without an appointment, and received a replacement within a half hour....
The store near me will do a replacement of an unusable iPhone, even if the person doesn't have an appt (by booking that person a standby appt). So in essence, the person without an appt does end up having an appt before being seen at the Genius Bar.
They will not, however, put someone on the standby list for something like a cracked case.
I've been turned away for a problem with an iMac when I showed up with Mac in tow and no appointment. Had to return the next day. So from then on, I haven't attempted to see the Genius Bar without one, regardless of the Apple product at issue. It takes about as long to make an appointment as it does to post a question here about whether you need to do that.
how about this
call you local Apple store briefly explain your situation and ask the best way to handle it. I am guessing they will suggest a appt. it's easy enough to do though apples site. I have gone twice, both times I was in & out in 15 minutes.
call you local Apple store briefly explain your situation and ask the best way to handle it. I am guessing they will suggest a appt. it's easy enough to do though apples site. I have gone twice, both times I was in & out in 15 minutes.
Well, the SF store on Stockton is the Flagship Store here in the Bay Area, so it's as busy as any other store. I've also purchased AppleCare on all my Apple products....
Again, AppleCare on all my Apple products seems to be a foot in the door for me....
The reason I posted this question was that there was no option for appointments for Sunday, which is the day i'll be able to get there, but i rung the store and they told me there will be appointments for Sunday available online tomorrow.
Should have guessed really
Duh me.
Thanks for your replies everyone.
Should have guessed really
Duh me.
Thanks for your replies everyone.
I have AppleCare on the iMac and was turned away anyway without an appointment.
The store near me (a mall store) only has room for three people behind the Genius Bar.
One or two customers with involved issues can throw the entire Bar behind schedule (on meeting reservation times), which is why they're pretty tight when it comes to adding unscheduled stand-by appointments. If they're running on-time, they're a lot more lenient about helping out when they can. Just seems like those days are fewer and fewer.
I'd guess that if they had the bar the size of a flagship store, it'd be a lot easier to recover from when one of the Geniuses gets stuck with a tough issue.
IIRC, Apple was creating the Family Room specialist position to try and help the Genius bar, as iPod/iPhone work doesn't necessarily need to happen at the bar itself.
Oh, and AppleCare shouldn't matter in regards to being seen, but every store is a little bit different, so maybe that does give you an edge at your store. It wouldn't at the one near me. :?
Apple Genius Bars Are Pretty Useless
APPLE GENIUS BARS ARE PRETTY USELESS
Their main purpose is to try to get u to buy a new mac, OS.
I dropped my mac off for repair, 'with' an appointment, I waited a day for their call back, using 2 x senior managers @ applecare as advocates...I finally got a call back, not as i was told, "To discuss my options", but rather, they had scrapped my computer without my authorisation and now want to give me my HD back in a bag...@ no point was i even given a receipt...
BE WARNED, APPLE'S LEGENDARY OS UPGRADE SCAM IS ALSO AS PRESENT AS IT EVER HAS BEEN!
I'd guess that if they had the bar the size of a flagship store, it'd be a lot easier to recover from when one of the Geniuses gets stuck with a tough issue.
APPLE GENIUS BARS ARE PRETTY USELESS
Their main purpose is to try to get u to buy a new mac, OS.
I dropped my mac off for repair, 'with' an appointment, I waited a day for their call back, using 2 x senior managers @ applecare as advocates...I finally got a call back, not as i was told, "To discuss my options", but rather, they had scrapped my computer without my authorisation and now want to give me my HD back in a bag...@ no point was i even given a receipt...
BE WARNED, APPLE'S LEGENDARY OS UPGRADE SCAM IS ALSO AS PRESENT AS IT EVER HAS BEEN!
What if you dont have a genius bar around you? And the closest is like 8hours away.. YAH Im in Canada...
What happens then?
It depends on that store's policy, how nice the staff are, and how lucky you are I guess.
Ahh, I thought you were talking about going without a appointment.
If you want to book one, you need to call the store or book online on the store's site.
Dude, the closest genius bar is 8hours away.. im supposed to drive for 8hours to get my phone replaced and thats even if they would replace it?
Im not saying i have a issue with my phone, but if it came down to it id have to drive to another province 8hours away to go see some genius?
Im not saying i have a issue with my phone, but if it came down to it id have to drive to another province 8hours away to go see some genius?
Well if there's a store closer to you that's certified with Apple, you should be able to get a replacement there.
Hmm i guess im gonna have to look into that, cause i know when i was on the apple site checking out my warranty and how long i have (july 2010) it gave me options of a few genius bars. and well the closest one was 8hours away.
Guess i might have to look into seeing if there is a apple certified store here
Guess i might have to look into seeing if there is a apple certified store here