Won't Send Quad Core to Store for inspection

[Bucharoo1]

Many of the Quad's are arriving fit, some are not. My local stores do not stock the i7 version and made me purchased it online. I did and then was told I could not pick it up at a local store. I wanted to open it in their midst and power it up to check for trouble. This would save a potentially big logistics problem should any of the now infamous problems present themselves.
THEY REFUSED. They have owned up to the glitches and still want me to jump through hoops when and if they occur. Seems like I'm drifting into the land of Microsoft-style Customer Care.

They would not publish this criticism in "Apple Discussions. "Off topic", they said. They do not provide a topic that deals with Apple relentless degeneration from a customer friendly, approachable enterprise to a tight-assed monolithic self-serving empire. Apple.com has become so maze-like as to be utterly ineffective. They ought to spend a few of those bucks "helping" customers rather than insulating themselves from them.
CONGODoG

[eelpout]

I'm not surprised. A while ago they put up a definite wall between stores and online. They use to deal with refurbs in the stores too, no more.

I'm sure they're separate business units now and you don't mess with competitive, same level management at Apple. ;)

[VanNess]

The i7 is considered to be a "custom configuration" which is why it is only available for order online (as an upgrade to the i5) and not stocked in Apple's store. The i7 iMac isn't the first in the this regard, and it's unlikely Apple will ever stock every permutation of processor/memory/display/storage etc., in stores.

[archipellago]

The i7 is considered to be a "custom configuration" which is why it is only available for order online (as an upgrade to the i5) and not stocked in Apple's store. The i7 iMac isn't the first in the this regard, and it's unlikely Apple will ever stock every permutation of processor/memory/display/storage etc., in stores.

missing the point,....

[iSee]

missing the point,....

To be fair, the OP didn't really make a clear point.

[Bucharoo1]

The i7 is considered to be a "custom configuration" which is why it is only available for order online (as an upgrade to the i5) and not stocked in Apple's store. The i7 iMac isn't the first in the this regard, and it's unlikely Apple will ever stock every permutation of processor/memory/display/storage etc., in stores.

Not surprised a mac-zombie would completely miss the point. In which store do you work?
The i7 model is an upgrade, no question. But many of them need trips back to Apple via the stores for repair or outright return. I wanted to open it at the store (which I will do now at genius bar appointment) for inspection.
A nearly $3K outlay deserves scrutiny particularly in light of the problems. If Apple were more forthcoming about the extent of the production glitch, consumers would be more confident. I would not own a Windows machine under any circumstances. That kind of loyalty should be recognized by "no questions asked" customer service not blind lemming-like behavior.
Congodog