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Why does Apple treat their customers so badly?!
- Thread starter vickalamode
- Start date
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Apple's customer service is a mix-match of good and bad.
My support history:
After my warranty had run out, Apple replaced my broken 3G iPod with a new one, even though the problem seemed to be caused by me pulling the iPod out when it said not too.
Fast forward three years and my Macbook has the random shutdown. Apple claim its my fault. After a while, Apple officially recognize the problem and take two weeks to fix it. Then I go through six other problems over the next few months, overall taking around 3 months in repair, and each time Apple telling me that I cannot get a replacement.
Eventually, I have a minor DVD drive issue, and my complaints (around 4 hours on the phone over two days, with many different people) land me with a C2D Macbook!
My support history:
After my warranty had run out, Apple replaced my broken 3G iPod with a new one, even though the problem seemed to be caused by me pulling the iPod out when it said not too.
Fast forward three years and my Macbook has the random shutdown. Apple claim its my fault. After a while, Apple officially recognize the problem and take two weeks to fix it. Then I go through six other problems over the next few months, overall taking around 3 months in repair, and each time Apple telling me that I cannot get a replacement.
Eventually, I have a minor DVD drive issue, and my complaints (around 4 hours on the phone over two days, with many different people) land me with a C2D Macbook!
I've never had a bad experience with Apple customer support or the Geniuses. But those Apple guys in Chestnut Hill have always gave me the creeps. 
My greatest success story is when my PowerBook went in for repair, and was taking FOREVER (well over a month). I called Apple to (politely) complain, and before I knew it, I had a brand new MacBook Pro on my doorstep. All you have to do is be polite about it, just that can go really far.
BTW, I also got a free battery using that technique. So remember, politeness can get you free stuff.
My greatest success story is when my PowerBook went in for repair, and was taking FOREVER (well over a month). I called Apple to (politely) complain, and before I knew it, I had a brand new MacBook Pro on my doorstep. All you have to do is be polite about it, just that can go really far.
BTW, I also got a free battery using that technique. So remember, politeness can get you free stuff.
When I was a kid I learned an important lesson from Ferri's Bueller Day Off movie:
"If I ever gonna get screwed, is not gonna be by some one like him"
If I am gonna be kicked from any store at least and specially by a manager like that I would brake his face with teh damn Mac Book.
I had a similar problem with some one who worked in a production company and I got enough evidences for the to fired him. Period.
Next time bring your camera and post it on youtube.
"If I ever gonna get screwed, is not gonna be by some one like him"
If I am gonna be kicked from any store at least and specially by a manager like that I would brake his face with teh damn Mac Book.
I had a similar problem with some one who worked in a production company and I got enough evidences for the to fired him. Period.
Next time bring your camera and post it on youtube.
I suppose that will get you a nice little stretch of jail time. Maybe you should try to fight it out with the judge in court.
Fixed that for you
I don't think that violence is the way to go; if anything, that will only make your life worse.
Also, where in the world did you get the idea that that movie encouraged violence? If you watch the movie again, you'll see that you should have learned that being clever gets you a lot further. Having a positive attitude also helps. Those were the lessons of that movie; please don't distort them by claiming that they taught you to strike someone with your macbook. You're insulting one of America's greatest Cult-Classics
this all sounds positive and i hope you get a repair or replacement soon. don't worry about some of the responses in this thread. some people around here think apple is a beloved family member that can do no wrong!
Thanks. It seems like the repsonses have veered towards my side of the issue since I calmed down and posted an update with more information about the situation.
I'm just really ticked about this. I am not trying to screw Apple, I just want my computer to be fixed. This is seriously the raddest computer ever. I love it! The only thing keeping me from potentially not purchasing another Apple computer is the customer service and useless warranty. I understand that cracked LCDs do happen, but it shouldn't have happened with no pressure at all being applied to the laptop which was sitting on my desk minding it's own business with nobody else in the room and nothing falling on it or anything. I wish they'd just bite the bullet and fix it. Right now I am on a rented laptop from a rent-a-center in the middle of the ghetto and I miss my MacBook
I think you will get your computer fixed and you probably won't have any other problems after that.
Did you buy Applecare? I don't know if you mentioned it earlier, but if you haven't, see if your mom's credit card (I'm assuming it was either on yours or hers) offers extended warranties for free. Most do. If you've already bought it, then just have some comfort in knowing that you have three years of potential hardware defects covered.
Who told you the warranty is void? All macbooks come with a free 1 year warranty. Just because the screen broke doesn't mean the warranty has been voided, esspecially since it wasn't your fault (you haven't admitted such have you?). It hasn't been a year yet right?
If it has been more than a year, and you bought Applecare, there are still restrictions on this. If Apple does void the warranty, they have to prorate the cost and give you a partial refund based on the time that was remaining.
Once you escalate the problem by complaining to other customers, it is you, not Apple causing problems.
The manager was perfectly within their rights to have you tossed from the store.
Cannot put all the blame on the manager, and him being the one trained to maintain control. Every now any then they do let things get away from them and have to rely on other methods to control the situation.
Imagine the number of frustrated people they deal with a day.
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Hopefully, everyone can calm down and the people at Apple can help you.
vickalamode, it's good to hear a young person like yourself willing to protest and stand up for yourself if you've been treated unfairly. However, you didn't have the right to do it on private property, as you've learned. Despite this, if what you said about the situation is true (not saying you're lying -- but sometimes our memories can do funny things under stressful circumstances), then he acted even more irresponsibly than you. It was not okay for the store manager to try to physically remove you if you didn't present a threat to others around you. That's called assault, which is a crime. There's probably a serious internal investigation going on at the moment over this issue, and the manager is likely worried for his job. And he should be (assuming your recollection is accurate).
Sorry, but isn't assault the threat of physical force and battery the actual physical force itself?
</off topic>
Literally, assault is a synonym for "attack." Although in law, I believe it can be both the threat of harm or the act of harm itself.
However, assuming my dictionary is legally correct, battery might be even more apt...
Battery:
the crime or tort of unconsented physical contact with another person, even where the contact is not violent but merely menacing or offensive
the crime or tort of unconsented physical contact with another person, even where the contact is not violent but merely menacing or offensive
Well the poster was refering to criminal action, so I'd assume the legal definition is the one we're looking for. And I am pretty sure that assault is a threat of physical attack and battery is the actual physical contact. Kind of like how burglary is trespassing with the intent to commit a crime on the premisis, not larceny, which is the definition most of us like to use with burglary.