are you the type that takes any surveys that don't turn out the way you want them to 'with a grain of salt'?
sure sounds that way
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Apple Falls Behind Microsoft, Samsung, and Sony in New Consumer Experience Survey
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are you the type that takes any surveys that don't turn out the way you want them to 'with a grain of salt'?
sure sounds that way
Apple Stores are a zoo and I avoid them as much as I can. I agree they are a victim of their own success but that is not doing any good to their brand and customer experience. I had couple appointments at a Genius bar in the last year and they were always late and when they finally started to look on my issue they were kind of multitasking and helping others at the same time. Also. If you want to buy anything there you will have to be patient and ope to get someone that can answer your questions. You get better advice in this forum than at an Apple Store.
I think you're spot on. (I might be hijacking this comment for ranting) I will personnally be giving Android a shot when I upgrade from my old trusty iPhone 4. Android has really caught up in terms of apps, at least where it matters when speaking of phones. I can't seem to spot any difference in how fluid the Nexus 5, for example, is compared to newer iPhones. Google has really simplified the interface a lot, while providing a lot of customizability in Android.
From what I can tell, they're still suffering from some fragmentation. It appears the different screen-sizes and resolutions is not causing that much issue (it's an issue faced by iOS developers to some degree as well for the time being), but the issue remains that the distribution of software upgrades isn't anywhere close to how well Apple does it.
There's one thing in partucular that Google has implemented in Android 4.4 that I really like: a very good file system and cloud storage support. There are now API's that let developers register apps as file repositories, so when an app supports opening a file, you can easily choose between local, Google Drive-, Dropbox-, or Microsft Skydrive-files.
On iOS there is no way to do such things. Sure you can go to respective app and email things from there, but I can't do that when I've started writing an email already (or replying). Or apps must specifically use service specific API's for grabbing files, but that most often leaves me to either save the file in the app itself or specifically use Dropbox.
That seems to be the way Apple wants it, and a lot of users don't want anything more than that, but I think there are a growing amount of users that will accept the deminishing drawbacks of Android in order to be able to do these things.
Interesting that Microsoft is up there. Though lately their marketing does seem really good. Their website now is fantastic compared to what it used to be. And I suppose the new Xbox helps.
If only they'd sort out Windows
If only they'd sort out Windows
I used to always loved my shopping experiences at Apple Store (and I still do, most of the time). But the last time I went to exchange my (60 days old) earbuds, they sent me to the Genius bar - waiting for 15 min, only to be told that I had to make an appointment and come back later... To exchange a $30 earbuds! It blew my mind... I know that replacement is now handled by the technicians instead of the floor employees but still... I can't really call this an pleasing experience.
But I had worst at Best Buy, so...
I guess you missed this article by long-time MS supporter Paul Thurrott:
Anecdotally, ask any normal, non-techy user their feelings about Windows 8. Every one from my dad to my friends at work will tell you that "Window 8 sucks and you should stick with Windows 7". The public has NOT accepted the new UI and it is a huge problem for MS. Any survey that shows the experience of MS customers improving over the last year is highly questionable.
Curious - how are you "beaming" to your Apple TV from your Moto G? And how are you syncing with iTunes? These were two problems I couldn't solve with my GS4 (Keis was a POS on my Mac and The Missing Sync was $50; I never imagined there was Airplay support).
Meh. Look at the graph. All of the other companies moved by the same amount, Apple didn't. This is testing error or some other statistical effect, otherwise they would not move identically.
The main issue with an Apple Store isn't the store itself; nor it's employees' who I have always found to be pleasant.
It's the customers or rather, bleating children/ teenagers who sit on the iPad's/ iPhone's posting Facebook updates.
If Apple give a ***** about their image; they need to get shot of that right now.
It's the customers or rather, bleating children/ teenagers who sit on the iPad's/ iPhone's posting Facebook updates.
If Apple give a ***** about their image; they need to get shot of that right now.
I switched to Apple products about 5 years ago. I live in Pittsburgh, PA and have 2 Apple stores within 1/2 hour of where I live. I have never had a bad experience whether buying, returning/exchanging, seeing a genius re a problem or just browsing. The stores are bright, clean and fun to visit. The staff are knowledgeable, helpful and always friendly. I have always been greeted on entering regardless of how busy the store is and if I say I am just looking I am left alone - no one pushes products. After reading all the negative comments here I feel compelled to give my opinion. I would give Apple stores a 5 star rating based on my experiences.
I take any claim with a grain of salt, and a much bigger grain if it appears to contradict observable reality. I then ask questions. Which is the only logical way to be. (All of which would be a lot easier if media/blogs--including MR--would offer full context and nuance over catchy headlines and soundbites.) See my further posts for clarification.
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There's two possible reasons for this:
1. Apple never tires of promoting itself as a "premium" brand. People at macrumors like to call Apple's "Ferrari's" and Android phones or Windows PC's are "crappy" or "cheap." But Apple's totally mass-marketed and nowadays everyone and their grandma has an iphone. But the premium reputation remains, so people expect ... premium products. They get angry when iOS7 safari tabs crash just like bad old Windows IE, they get angry when long hours on customer service 1-800 lines are now replaced by long waits at the Genius bar and expensive repairs. They get mad when their $2000 laptop gets the beach ball of death.
2. In a follow up to #1, all the people who call Android phones or Windows PC's "cheap" or "crappy" might be pleasantly surprised that the bad old days of waiting hours for a customer service representative are over. My mom's Nexus 7's charger had a defect, and I called Google Play, and was hooked up to a Mountainview customer service rep within minutes. No waiting, no fuss, within minutes they sent me a UPS label and my mom got her Nexus charger within days. Amazon's customer service is amazing.
So expectations become disappointment when a premium product acts just like another mass-produced made-in-China product, and other companies like Amazon have stepped up the bar in terms of customer service.
1. Apple never tires of promoting itself as a "premium" brand. People at macrumors like to call Apple's "Ferrari's" and Android phones or Windows PC's are "crappy" or "cheap." But Apple's totally mass-marketed and nowadays everyone and their grandma has an iphone. But the premium reputation remains, so people expect ... premium products. They get angry when iOS7 safari tabs crash just like bad old Windows IE, they get angry when long hours on customer service 1-800 lines are now replaced by long waits at the Genius bar and expensive repairs. They get mad when their $2000 laptop gets the beach ball of death.
2. In a follow up to #1, all the people who call Android phones or Windows PC's "cheap" or "crappy" might be pleasantly surprised that the bad old days of waiting hours for a customer service representative are over. My mom's Nexus 7's charger had a defect, and I called Google Play, and was hooked up to a Mountainview customer service rep within minutes. No waiting, no fuss, within minutes they sent me a UPS label and my mom got her Nexus charger within days. Amazon's customer service is amazing.
So expectations become disappointment when a premium product acts just like another mass-produced made-in-China product, and other companies like Amazon have stepped up the bar in terms of customer service.
To me, this says Everyone else stepped up their game while Apple kept doing what its always been doing: giving decent (not amazing) customer service. Yes, technically everyone else did better than Apple, but I dont think you can insinuate they are LAST. Saying they are last carries a certain connotation with it. If everyone else keeps improving and making it into the excellent category quarter after quarter while Apple stays in the good category, then I see that as a problem.
Something seems odd about this report. Apple is the only one with a large quantity of stores available and my experience with Apple has always been above average for any company in any segment.
Where-as when I had to deal with Samsung when my fridge that had issues on delivery, I had to get the retailer to eat the cost of a door seal because Samsung refused to provide one for the replacement door. They replaced the flawed door with no seal and refused to provide a seal. Maybe they do better on their phone and electronics support?
Where-as when I had to deal with Samsung when my fridge that had issues on delivery, I had to get the retailer to eat the cost of a door seal because Samsung refused to provide one for the replacement door. They replaced the flawed door with no seal and refused to provide a seal. Maybe they do better on their phone and electronics support?
Interesting that Microsoft is up there. Though lately their marketing does seem really good. Their website now is fantastic compared to what it used to be. And I suppose the new Xbox helps.
If only they'd sort out Windows
I love my Apple stuff, but since a couple of months I have to use Windows 8 in the office on a dailey basis and I can only say it"s alsmost perfect.
its an apple circlejerk after all.
it doesnt act like one. it is one. labeling it as premium wont make it premium.
Not really....you used a bunch of general terms to describe a general/vauge term.
So I get it...you don't have any specifics to back up you claim of awesomeness.
That is all you had to say.
Don't know which store you are going too, but in my area they are excellent.
Even after missing an appointment I made online (my mistake) they helped and
took care of things.
The stores are usually to crowded, not my cup of tea, but the help tracks customers who do need to see a sales person.
In general I only go to the store to look at the latest stuff and most of the time I find I know more than the sales people about the product I am interested in.
(Reading up of course in MacWorld and whatever I can find)
It's not "killing their image." Look at the graph, their score is actually higher than it was the past 2 years.
Except that my observation is based on threads here, other Apple related forums, and personal experience, not media reports. That said, the threads and discussions may very well have been fueled by such media accounts.
I know Apple products (with the exception of the Mac pro) are all made by sweatshops in China, the same ones that churn out "crappy" Android phones and "cheap" Windows PC's. But I'm saying the general consumer and the Apple-ubers still believe the premium hype. So thus the anger when premium brand =/= premium product.