The whole buying process of my first Apple started off well, but just when things were looking like smooth sailing, Apple screwed it up. I talked to a customer service rep about a week ago about ordering a 12" PB that was supposed to be billed on or after Dec. 20th. This month Ive put ALOT of money on my credit card and didn't want to get in any credit troubles, so I wanted to put it on my next pay period. At the time, the customer service rep ensured me that my credit card would be billed on or after the 20th, the start of my next credit card period. I must have stressed this 15 times during our conversation. Apple processes the credit card transaction right before the product is shipped. Time went past and I was curious to see how the whole process was going, so I called them today. It appears that it is in the shipping process! The new customer rep told me that he could do nothing about it. So after I stressed to Apple that I wanted it billed on or after Dec. 20th, they go on and ship it before that date. And since my product is custom configured, I cannot return it. In the end, this could end up giving me horrible credit. I feel that I should deserve something from Apple for their mistake. What do you think?
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Apple really messed up order and maybe my credit
- Thread starter b0nehead
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Some people would say that the customer service rep did tell you that it would be billed when it shipped, "Apple processes the credit card transaction right before the product is shipped."
The customer service rep can do nothing about changing the billing day and/or usually cannot change Apple's current billing policy, execpt to tell you to call back after December 20th to place your order.
The customer service rep can do nothing about changing the billing day and/or usually cannot change Apple's current billing policy, execpt to tell you to call back after December 20th to place your order.
As long as you make your minimum payment for the month, all you have to worry about are the finance charges (interest -- should be around 1-2% of the balance if carried over for a single month). You will not be considered 'late.'
BTW, being late even once IS a big deal. Stay away from even the most minor deliquencies. Firstly, you retain the confidence that comes with truly 'perfect' credit. Secondly, and most importantly, you will stay in the very top percentile as far as credit worthiness is concerned. Then, one day you'll get an invitation to put this piece of plastic in your wallet (you can't apply for it; it's invite-only):
http://www.101-creditcards.com/amex-black.htm
BTW, being late even once IS a big deal. Stay away from even the most minor deliquencies. Firstly, you retain the confidence that comes with truly 'perfect' credit. Secondly, and most importantly, you will stay in the very top percentile as far as credit worthiness is concerned. Then, one day you'll get an invitation to put this piece of plastic in your wallet (you can't apply for it; it's invite-only):
http://www.101-creditcards.com/amex-black.htm
I would have waited until the next billing cycle to place the order. You have it in your power to dictate when you get billed by not ordering until you know you have the money.
Again, you turned over control of when the payment would go through to someone who most likely had no control of when it would go through once they entered it into the system.
They probably had no business making the promise, and a verbal agreement over the phone doesn't carry much weight. Good luck getting it resolved and consider it a lesson for the future.
They probably had no business making the promise, and a verbal agreement over the phone doesn't carry much weight. Good luck getting it resolved and consider it a lesson for the future.
Who at Apple defines where the control lies? As a customer, I only have the opportunity to speak to a customer sales rep. Who else can I put my faith in? This is who the company assigns to deal with customers. They should know what is feasible and what is not.
Having no idea if this is even a possibility (posted for the next person how may want to order in advance) Perhaps a visit to the local apple store, see a person, and get a document in writing might help? (I imagine that due to the custom build you wanted to get the order rolling during a busy holiday time?) Of course, this only works if you're within spitting distance of an Apple store....
You know how many people on this board would have wished their mac shipped early? I know you made an agreement and whatnot but still for a general rule earlier is better.
The holiday comments are correct, every company receives a bit of why isn't this under my tree complaints and unsatisfied mac users so they do their best to fill every order for the holidays.
The holiday comments are correct, every company receives a bit of why isn't this under my tree complaints and unsatisfied mac users so they do their best to fill every order for the holidays.
It's cold, It's hard. cn you guess what it is
It's CASH, Someone very wise once told me only spend money that you can see. As yet I have had no trubles following that line.
It's CASH, Someone very wise once told me only spend money that you can see. As yet I have had no trubles following that line.
I have always paid in cash for everything that I have ever purchased. But recently I have discovered the importance of having good credit. Even if you are very well off and can afford to pay all of your expenses with money you currently own, having good credit is still very important.
Credit is basically financial trustworthiness. You might want to consider paying off a long term credit purchase inorder to build some credit. It doesn't happen over night and you don't want to be stuck with no credit when you really need it.
Agreed, that is very wise. I've heard this said: "Debt is the enemy of wealth." If you wish to be wealthy, you cannot have even minor debts.
I like the convenience of credit cards, but I pay them off completely every month. Even so, the siren song of debt can be hard to withstand. "Go ahead, buy that Athlon64 Shuttle! And the G5 iMac too!" Don't do it, Batman, it's a trap!
Rower... I'm guessing they didn't even MAKE the promise. b0nehead's screen name is fitting for a reason:
* He wants the laptop billed after 12.20
* He calls apple and asks when the laptop will ship. They tell him X days, which when he checks his calendar, shows, say, 12.21
* He asks "how the billing process works" to which the sales rep replies "we bill a dollar to initiate the order and the rest on shipment"
* He parrots this, plus the quoted delivery date back to the rep a few times, and asks if this is correct. Sales rep says "Yes".
That's where, in his mind, the "promise" in made. She promised that the delivery would be after 12.20 and that he wouldn't be billed until after the machine was shipped.
Only thing... b0ney didn't realize that sometimes, in the spirit of xmas magic, even Apple can deliver a machine early.
Unfortunately, b0ney took the plunge and now his "credit is ruined". He could've taken many steps to prevent this.
* Apple Loan. Could have had his purchase on a completely separate account.
* Understanding his current account. He should know that even if his bill is $3000, he can probably pay anywhere from $10 to the full amount, with no ill affect. Pay of the Xmas gifts that you have $$ for, leave the laptop on the bill.
* My personal favorite, PATIENCE. I wanted a 12" the day they came out, but the specs were underwhelming compared to my rev b. tibook. I waited until the 1 gHz machines were released, waited until they were in stock so I could play with one, and by that time, I have enough "cold hard cash" that I could pay in full (actually, got a compusa card and paid the balance off five days later. I still don't know why...)
If b0ney were patient, he would have avoided his 12.20 non dilemma, might have a 1.33 G4 12 inch (if he waited until the next year...) and might even have paid less, as maybe his Xmas kitty would have included some 'cold hard cash" that he could have applied to his laptop purchase.
That said, b0ney is TRULY a b0nehead in many ways except one: he's perfectly fit into the role of a model American consumer, overspending his budgets for fabricated holiday traditions and getting himself into credit trouble.
Combine that with a lack of knowledge about the way credit cards work, and b0ney has shown us why, if there were millions more like him in America, we might not be in a recession now. That is, if you believe the republicans. But that's a whole other story.
Sorry b0ney, enjoy the powerbook, and use it to set up an online account with your cardholder's bank, to deduct the minimum amount from your bank account so you NEVER fall prey to late payments.
Oh. And thank god you have parents gullible enough to bail you out of credit trouble. Kind of sad that in America, the banks prey on dumb young kids to start the trend of ammassing debt (as if college weren't enough) as such early ages.
Ah, the power of..... buying power.
That decision wasn't up to the sales rep. >
However he (she) may not of lied to you either. When I worked at Dell's call center, the computer would give us a build time for the order. Sometimes, especially at the end of a quarter (or in this case year end), the order would get buiilt and shipped within a day instead of the 5-7 days we told the customer. The sales rep may have been giving you the best information they had and you got "lucky" getting your order shipped early.
However he (she) may not of lied to you either. When I worked at Dell's call center, the computer would give us a build time for the order. Sometimes, especially at the end of a quarter (or in this case year end), the order would get buiilt and shipped within a day instead of the 5-7 days we told the customer. The sales rep may have been giving you the best information they had and you got "lucky" getting your order shipped early.
I hate to break it to you but it's not typical for a company like Apple to let their sales reps take discretion on when the orders is shipped, when the payment is made, etc. (except for large institutional purchasers maybe). I agree that if the sales rep made such a promise, then this rep is MORE at fault, but you shouldn't have been so believing in the first place. This rep made a promise that shouldn't have been made.
Essentially what you wanted them to do for you is to hold a computer for you until you were reay to pay. You couldn't 'pay' your purchase right now, but you didn't want to wait until you could actually make the payment. Can you imagine if someone pulled a stunt like this when the G5s were just announced? "Yeah I didn't have the money right then but I knew there would be a long wait so I placed my order anyways the moment they started taking orders and told them to 'hold' my order until I had enough change." People would be screaming bloody murder.
b0nehead:
Do not worry about your credit rating. During the time your credit card carries a balance, your credit rating will be slightly lower, but the instant you no longer carry a balance, your credit will be spotless.
The only way you can totally screw yourself over is by not making a payment entirely on your credit card.
Part of your credit score, however, is the amount of credit you have available to you compared to the amount of debt you currently have outstanding. That's why I say that your credit rating will be lower until you pay off the card. However, that rating is not something that stays with you for a long time, like missing a payment or filing bankruptcy does.
In short, don't sweat it.
I can think of one very good reason to purchase something expensive such as a computer on a credit card: purchase protection. If you are not satisfied with a product and the store refuses to take it back, you can dispute the charge with the credit card company and get most or all of your money back.
Of course, if you can't see the money at the time of the purchase, you probably shouldn't be putting it on your credit card either.
IMO, a credit card is a great thing if you use it just like cash. I put all of my gasoline on my credit card and pay it off in full every month. It builds up a great credit rating, which will come in handy when I buy a house someday.
Do not worry about your credit rating. During the time your credit card carries a balance, your credit rating will be slightly lower, but the instant you no longer carry a balance, your credit will be spotless.
The only way you can totally screw yourself over is by not making a payment entirely on your credit card.
Part of your credit score, however, is the amount of credit you have available to you compared to the amount of debt you currently have outstanding. That's why I say that your credit rating will be lower until you pay off the card. However, that rating is not something that stays with you for a long time, like missing a payment or filing bankruptcy does.
In short, don't sweat it.
I can think of one very good reason to purchase something expensive such as a computer on a credit card: purchase protection. If you are not satisfied with a product and the store refuses to take it back, you can dispute the charge with the credit card company and get most or all of your money back.
Of course, if you can't see the money at the time of the purchase, you probably shouldn't be putting it on your credit card either.
IMO, a credit card is a great thing if you use it just like cash. I put all of my gasoline on my credit card and pay it off in full every month. It builds up a great credit rating, which will come in handy when I buy a house someday.