Apple Retail Store Staff Set to Gain Raises of Up to 25%

[fitshaced]

Firstly, you made an incredibly negative generalisation about staff that work their tails off. There are plenty of Apple employees and im pretty sure a high % of them are not as you describe.

Did it ever occur to you that when you assume people have an "i love apple face" it may be because they're doing their job or just being positive? Describe what that face looks like please?

Then you have the audacity to "wow" when someone else calls you out. Dear God, did you expect everyone to think youre a nice and decent person? When do we get an oppurtunity to see you be good at what you do?

You're proof they deserve the raise.

I'm amazed at you missing the point there. I stated I made a generalization. I think you're smart enough to work out for yourself that I haven't met every single apple employee and what I said was base on my experience. Or are you sergeant PC brigade? I 'wowed' because you responded to my comment with the exact same type of response you accused me of. Yet, had even less proof to base it on.

Fake smile, it looks like what I'm doing now. You seem to like to make assumptions so work out for yourself what this looks like.

 

[calderone]

A Genius only gets $30 an hour? Not sure why they do that over a systems admin job that would pay a lot more.

Most of them don't have the skill.

 

[Mr Bigs]

I saw one "lady" completely lose her mind at the Genius bar when she was returning her new iPhone. The Apple store employee wouldn't give her a refund for all the accessories she bought at an AT&T store because they were AT&T products. I even tried to reason with her. She just kept yelling until the manager finally just gave her the money. As she walked away he asked if any one wanted the cheap rubber case, no one spoke up and he threw it in the trash.

That manager was weak because she should have gotten arrested.

 

[derrranged]

See what you did there? I gave a generalization of some apple staff who I've seen in person give me a very fake 'hello' and not be very helpful on my questions. You respond to me by giving a very wild description of what you think I'm like as a person based on a short paragraph I wrote.

Wow.

I'm amazed that you think I missed the point, to the extent that it amazes you.
So,

No, I responded to your direct statements "I hate Apple store staff". and "with a fake'i love working for Apple' face." and "when you need advice on a product, they haven't got a clue".. No mention of greeting at all let along the specific "hello". and you interpret a standard greeting as deception and btw "haven't got a clue" is a far far cry from "not very helpful."

So, you see what *I* did there.. YOU generalized a few isolated experiences and applied them to all Apple Store staff everywhere, which is a ridiculous thing to do. I illustrated that point by doing the very same thing with limited experience of you to all aspects of your personality and wildly exaggerated them so that you can see just how ridiculous and inappropriate those behaviors are. Since you are attempting to call me out on it, you prove the point that the behavior is inappropriate. This is called holding up a mirror.

I'm glad you learned something.

You still owe all the apple store employees with whom you have not directly interacted, an apology.

 

[Robinator]

Poor Americans

Man I didn't relies Americans had it so tough. I feel really bad for those workers, I can't imagine living on that sought of money in Australia and I presume America has a similar cost of living. The minimum wage in Australia is about $16 an hour and I thought that was pretty bad. Apple should give you guys a big pay rise you helped get them where they are and you deserve it. What is the minimum wage in America and do you get tips at the Apple store ? Most Americans I've met give tips for everything.

 

[derrranged]

The law doesn't always operate on definitions found in the dictionary. It's based on a complicated number of things not limited to politics, precedents, etc. Simply put, the government isn't going to pursue a retail employee because they accidentally sold an iPhone to someone sending it to Iran. The first time someone was charged with federal treason in the 21st century was in 2006 for aiding al-Qaeda, and before that, there wasn't a treason charge since the McCarthy era.

THis may very well be true. I am not a legal professional. However, this position is unchanged, and definition was called into question. This definition represents the spirit if not the actual effect of the law as I understand it and as, large fruit theme electronics manufacturers could possibly explain it to their employees.

You had better believe however that if an iPad or macbook were discovered in an Al-Queda camp that was raided, and found to have ANY information on it that might possibly even hint at supporting some sort of attack that the government would throw the book at apple, who would be forced to reveal the individual who broke that law.

 

[finnns2000]

About time. Making $10.50 to work that job was disgraceful, especially in upper scale Bethesda. Too bad this didn't happen 5 years ago.

By the way, that girl in the middle is a babe.

 

[derrranged]

firstly, you made an incredibly negative generalisation about staff that work their tails off. There are plenty of apple employees and im pretty sure a high % of them are not as you describe.

Did it ever occur to you that when you assume people have an "i love apple face" it may be because they're doing their job or just being positive? Describe what that face looks like please?

Then you have the audacity to "wow" when someone else calls you out. Dear god, did you expect everyone to think youre a nice and decent person? When do we get an oppurtunity to see you be good at what you do?

You're proof they deserve the raise.

well said!

 

[gnasher729]

The report notes that sales staff at Apple retail stores are currently paid between $9 and $15 per hour before the forthcoming raises are factored in, ...

Just saying: Cost of living is very different depending on where you live. I'd assume that the salary for doing the same job would likewise depend on your location.

----------

Did it ever occur to you that when you assume people have an "i love apple face" it may be because they're doing their job or just being positive? Describe what that face looks like please?

You were responding to someone who picked "fitshaced" as their username.

 

[chrono1081]

Also, "Anyone with an education knows better than to make sweeping, absolute, generalized statements."

I have a Master's degree. I'm currently stuck in retail. Hopefully not forever, but it is the reality right now. Please retract.

I don't mean that as a slam. What I mean is customers expect too much. When I sold computers and such and often got asked what my degree was in and a few customers would get mad that I was selling them a computer but I didn't have a computer science degree. Most people with a degree aren't going to be working a barely above minimum wage job.

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

today I overheard a Geek Squad and reg. best buy employee explaining the ipad to customers with more knowledge about the product than just about all of the apple employees I've met in the DC area. For example: Apple employee, "no firewire doesn't power the hard drive it has to come from somewhere else"

Doesn't shock me. There was a period in 2008ish area when just about anyone in the store became a Genius.

 

[kazuhide]

just one more thing...

oh, and to put another misinformation campaign to rest:

Apple does not hire based on any sort of technical knowledge, or even familiarity with apple products. It hires COMPLETELY based on the person's personality, demeanor, and capability of providing friendly, positive service in a fast-paced environment, day after day.

I agree with this strategy, as apple can always train geniuses, and specialists will familiarize themselves with the products soon enough, since they will be dealing with them 8 hours a day for months. But no matter how intelligent or knowledgeable some folks are about apple products, many of them would make HORRIBLE sales staff in the service and personality department, and apple can't fix that.

finally, a word about geniuses. Many geniuses are indeed incredibly knowledgeable about apple products, repairs, software, and so forth. However, cheesy as it may sound, geniuses are there to 'repair relationships'. This is MUCH harder to do than replace a hard drive or broken screen. Some geniuses I've seen have skills on par with UN ambassadors. The primary goal of apple's genius bar is not to fix computers, but to restore confidence in the apple brand.


my two cents

 

[kingtj]

re: $9/hr retail wages

Perhaps, but most retail jobs don't require nearly the amount of effort and dedication to the job that Apple expects of one of their store employees.

I mean, let's take a relatively high-end clothing retailer like Nordstrom's, for example. Every time I set foot in the store in our mall, it's far from crowded. Often, I'll be one of maybe a dozen or fewer shoppers walking around in there, and I'm only cutting through the store to get to the rest of the mall. I'm not even shopping.

The retail employees there are generally just standing around, looking for the occasional chance to walk up to someone who looks like they're actually in need of something, to ask "Can I help you?"

They're not bombarded all day and night long with customer after customer asking technical questions, often starting out upset/irate because a problem with their expensive equipment is what brought them in, in the first place.

I agree that it's sad that $9/hr. is considered "pretty good" for retail... I would have agreed it was fair pay about 10 years ago, but not so much with inflation since then. But the same can be said in all manner of American jobs today, IMO. Every week I see job postings in my own city for computer network administrators, systems analysts and PC support people, demanding a slew of specialized skills, and they often want to pay something outrageously low, like a $32,000/yr. starting salary.

Sadly $9 is actually pretty good for a starting wage in retail in America.

 

[dziewuliz]

please be true, please be true, please be true....

 

[finnns2000]

Actually, Apple pays the crappiest salaries in the industry. The company believes that working for them ought to be payment enough.

Yep. I laughed when management tried to use that one, or that commission kills integrity. So does ripping off your employees.

 

[fitshaced]

I'm amazed that you think I missed the point, to the extent that it amazes you.
So,

No, I responded to your direct statements "I hate Apple store staff". and "with a fake'i love working for Apple' face." and "when you need advice on a product, they haven't got a clue".. No mention of greeting at all let along the specific "hello". and you interpret a standard greeting as deception and btw "haven't got a clue" is a far far cry from "not very helpful."

So, you see what *I* did there.. YOU generalized a few isolated experiences and applied them to all Apple Store staff everywhere, which is a ridiculous thing to do. I illustrated that point by doing the very same thing with limited experience of you to all aspects of your personality and wildly exaggerated them so that you can see just how ridiculous and inappropriate those behaviors are. Since you are attempting to call me out on it, you prove the point that the behavior is inappropriate. This is called holding up a mirror.

I'm glad you learned something.

You still owe all the apple store employees with whom you have not directly interacted, an apology.

It's amazing because you still missed it. If you're being honest you'd accept that generalizations are a necessity in the world. Sure, racism etc is a wrong use when directed negatively. But generalising the way I did assumes some common sense on your part which you either don't had or just choose not to use.

My experience with apple staff is my experience. Not something you have an ability to assume knowledge of other than what I've said here. Yet, you think you know better. Plus, my expectancy of customer service is clearly different to yours.

I owe no one an apology and you suggesting I do is quite comical.

I used to work directly with customers and I understand that customers need a bit of space and prefer to see genuine assistance. I also know when a customer representative is being less genuine and over excited. That's not me being over sensitive or even grumpy. I'm nice to them. But prefer them to allow a bit of breathing space.

My comment on their knowledge of their products has been echoed on this thread a few times and by other people I have spoke to. Theyre not expected to know these products perfectly but often don't know much about many of them. Yet, they do know how to swipe your card.

I don't see them as poor workers. I do see them as unskilled labour workers.

 

[brandair]

A Mac user since 1986 says it once again: Apple is a greedy company. And ironically, the more successful the more greedier and monopolistic they have become. The egoistic US economy model is doomed, anyway.

 

[jonnysods]

They see so many people per day. Each time I see them they are super friendly!

 

[BMNB1tch]

Its amazing how stupid some of my fellow customers are, just looking at the new macbook pro retina the other day, some lady was yelling at the poor sales guy because she couldnt remember her own password. how does that happen in the modern world? I have 8 email address, 3 different work passwords, not counting all the social media site logins.

If you cant get a license for your car you're not allowed to drive...

25% increase is hardly enough compensation in cases like those.

 

[darkazcura]

People think 60k a year for a genius (potentially without a college degree) is low? Do you guys realize that's basically the average starting salary for an engineer after 4 years of schooling? Then again I haven't looked at the average salaries for a couple years, but I'll be freakin' estatic if I get 60k a year when I graduate (mechie engineer).

High school teachers don't even make 75% of that in some cases (which requires a masters degree in most cases)! Neuroscience majors who help us in huge ways trying to find causes for so many diseases would be happy to make 20 - 25 dollars a hour in a lab setting, and here people are complaining that a tech at an Apple store that requires little to no experience ONLY has the potential earning of 60k a year? Wow.

My brother who has a masters in epidemiology barely makes that salary.

60k is amazing for a retail store employee. Give me that job, geez. If Apple can afford that, I'm starting to possibly believe the salaries they give their engineers is too low (know someone who gets roughly triple that).

I do agree that $9/hour is a bit low for the entry level employee. I think $11 - $13 (starting) is probably appropriate for that.

 

[BMNB1tch]

A Mac user since 1986 says it once again: Apple is a greedy company. And ironically, the more successful the more greedier and monopolistic they have become. The egoistic US economy model is doomed, anyway.

Trollolol ^^^

and you have a secure low cost environmentally friendly opensource-hardware alternative ???

 

[britboyj]

This of course means Apple employees won't be getting their normal raise of 2-4% depending on performance in September as usual.

 

[vartanarsen]

Does anyone know where the link is to that disgrunttled apple employee who had a blog? I think it was something like crapple or something lol

 

[jterp7]

oh, and to put another misinformation campaign to rest:

Apple does not hire based on any sort of technical knowledge, or even familiarity with apple products. It hires COMPLETELY based on the person's personality, demeanor, and capability of providing friendly, positive service in a fast-paced environment, day after day.

I agree with this strategy, as apple can always train geniuses, and specialists will familiarize themselves with the products soon enough, since they will be dealing with them 8 hours a day for months. But no matter how intelligent or knowledgeable some folks are about apple products, many of them would make HORRIBLE sales staff in the service and personality department, and apple can't fix that.

finally, a word about geniuses. Many geniuses are indeed incredibly knowledgeable about apple products, repairs, software, and so forth. However, cheesy as it may sound, geniuses are there to 'repair relationships'. This is MUCH harder to do than replace a hard drive or broken screen. Some geniuses I've seen have skills on par with UN ambassadors. The primary goal of apple's genius bar is not to fix computers, but to restore confidence in the apple brand.


my two cents

that's not necessarily true. Just as you can't force someone to become personable, the same can be said for product knowledge. I would gather that just about everyone who posts here regularly knows tons more about the product than the typical blue shirt apple employee. Tons of them I would bet are great salespeople (and were hired as such) but in my area they were no more personable nor knowledgeable than your typical BB, *insert electronics store* employee. To be honest it almost seems that with Apple's popularity in recent times you have a lot of people that want to work for them that don't really know anything about the product except that that its the status thing to own.

 

[ixodes]

I knew they were underpaid to begin with, but it must have been like wages of slave labor. Glad to hear they're getting a small bump. $4 in today's economy is pathetic. But then again, that's what one gets for being too lazy to get a good education. Before the haters jump in, I paid for every penny of my Masters. No one gave me a cent.