Apple Store Worker Says Staff Routinely Get Death Threats From Customers

[notjustjay]

Death threats at an Apple Store? why would someone get that mad at a place that sells tech devices? I would have to guess since its Europe it's something to do w the way apple has handled warranties there.
Either that or they are thought to lie to up sell which causes problems w return customers that have issues.

Imagine you have been taking photos on your iPhone for years, and not backing them up. Precious, irreplaceable family photos.

Now imagine you do something stupid (that is, apart from not having a backup plan) and you lose it all.

Now imagine there's a poor Apple employee trying desperately to find the right words to break it to you gently that, well, you screwed up and Apple can't get your photos back...

 

[tgwaste]

Having trouble believing any of the positives or negatives mentioned in this story. Discount on AAPL shares? I don't even think that's legal in the states but maybe legal in the UK.

Stock discounts to employees are perfectly legal. Learn first. Post second.

 

[SeattleMoose]

Anyone who would threaten another human with death over a consumer item is sick in the head. Apple should be able to report these type of customers directly to police/FBI. Every time I have been to an Apple store with a problem, it has always been a good ending. Being rude doesn't help you get what you want....quite the opposite. Good luck with THAT policy

 

[IJ Reilly]

It may interest you to know that "alleged" does not mean the same thing as "accused", which is why they are spelled with different letters. Hope this helps.

Yes, the meaning of words does interest me.

alleged |əˈlejd| adjective [ attrib. ] (of an incident or a person) said, without proof, to have taken place or to have a specified illegal or undesirable quality: the alleged conspirators.

allegation |ˌaləˈɡāSH(ə)n| noun a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof: he made allegations of corruption against the administration | allegations that the armywas operating a shoot-to-kill policy.

So essentially an allegation is an accusation. No matter, because in this case, nothing was "alleged" to have occurred by any conventional definition of the word. This word is frequently abused in this fashion because it sounds weightier than saying what is meant; in this case, it was used to suggest something illegal, wrong, or undesirable had occurred, in a place where nothing of the sort was otherwise implied.

You might also note that the wording of the story was altered.

 

[bbbb4b]

Whether someone is "entitled" or not seems to be one of those things that's entirely dependent upon your personal biases and political leanings.

Well the issue discussed here is not whether someone actually, truly 'IS' entitled. It's about the culture of 'believing' you are entitled to something just... 'because'. Just because you "say so".

 

[koolmagicguy]

I wonder if anyone buys shares at a discount and immediately sells them for an immediate 15% gain.

 

[CaTOAGU]

The only thing I found surprising in this, is that, in the stores, Apple doesn't promote from within. It would seem like that would make for a better culture than cross hiring from competitors such as Dixons.

The low wages are disappointing though, especially for a company as rich as Apple is. Given the cost of their devices to make, it should be possible to at least give the employees an iPhone and a Mac every other or third release cycle.

 

[Timur]

Apple store employees receive training about new products. As common sense would dictate, they get this training before new products are released. Before the public knows about new products. Not only is this kind of NDA enforcable, it is also essential to keep trade secrets intact. If for example details of an iPhone 7 are a trade secret, then the moment that store employees get training about it without an NDA, the trade secret status is lost.

There is some common sense, yes. But Apple can go quite overboard with its NDA practice in general. To the point where the NDA practice overrules common sense and just seems to be applied for the sake of keeping all and everything under NDA.

I once agreed to switch a Macbook Pro with a supposedly lower model, because I just wanted to finally get something that works properly. Then I got kind of a contract written in English, which included a NDA that disallowed me to talk to anyone about anything concerning this agreement, except with my lawyer. English is a foreign language for me, but even native English speakers were expected to ask their own lawyer to assist in understanding the terms laid out in the letter. One part of the letter asked me to accept that jurisdiction is set in California, USA. I am German, I live in Germany, my native language is German and I bought the Macbook Pro in Germany. I did not sign this abomination of customer p*ss-take over my dead corpse.

That being said, once an Apple Store finally opened here I could take the Macbook Pro to the Genius bar, make it freeze completely by touching its USB port with an external HD and have a real person in front of me handle the case. That much better than of having to deal with some people over in Ireland over phone, over weeks and months. Well, the weeks and months part remained. The latter is the reason why I suggest to any business user to either stay away from Apple computers or get an extra unit as reserve. Downtime is the Apple tax when you have to get a computer serviced by Apple.

On another occasion I had to carry my 30" display into the store to demonstrate/test how it would not work properly with my current Macbook Pro, but did work properly with the next model (new GPU chipset). Not exactly the kind of ordeal I want to be put through to get a properly working device, but with the stores the opportunity is at least there.

Sometimes said store is mostly filled in the Genius bar area, not in the product areas. This leaves kind of a questionable impression for someone looking to buy into "superior" tech. Good thing is that after years of hype people turn to a more pragmatical approach. This hopefully also helps Apple Store employees by lowering people's expectations from unworldly to more reasonably.

 

[springsup]

I have no idea how it works in the UK. In the US where I reside it is not unheard of for companies to try and minimize the need for employees to take health related leave by trying to maintain a young, healthy workforce.

Boy you sure read a lot of crap into a simple post and are extremely rude and patronizing when you could have explained it to me in a civil manner. And I would have thanked you for explaining it to me, as I have done with other members who corrected misperceptions for me in a polite and adult fashion.

If I'm patronising, it is because that is a horrific situation. In many ways your country seems medieval to me.

Actually, before you go nuts at me, consider that I was making a joke about how backwards your country is (and, to be fair, I still think I've got a point). In fact, on some level it's actually patronising to me that you'd expect other countries to work in the same cruel and unfair way as yours does, and start making claims without even the most basic information you need to understand the topic.

As you rightly admit, you don't know the very first thing about how public health works in the UK. Yet you comment on it. And then you start criticising me for joking about how your entire perspective seems outlandish and bizarre to a native. I don't consider making jokes to be rude - there's a line and I didn't cross it. If you can't laugh about some of the ridiculous things that happen in every country, including your own, you're taking yourself too seriously.

Maybe you should consider what rudeness and politeness mean in a broader context. It's not just saying 'please' and 'thank you'.

 

[Matthew.H]

Imagine you have been taking photos on your iPhone for years, and not backing them up. Precious, irreplaceable family photos.

Now imagine you do something stupid (that is, apart from not having a backup plan) and you lose it all.

Now imagine there's a poor Apple employee trying desperately to find the right words to break it to you gently that, well, you screwed up and Apple can't get your photos back...

I've worked in tech retail and although I've never had the scenario of a customer losing data with no back up, I personally am not the type of person who would try to sugar coat the bad news. I would be truthful that because they hadn't backed up their phone the photos are gone and can't be recovered.

 

[mcdj]

Apple retail employees have always struck me as rather intern-like. You get a stipend, and a discount on stuff you can't afford, and not much else. But you get to say you worked for Apple.

With little room for growth or prosperity, like interns, Apple retail employees seem to move on quickly.

 

[groovyd]

In one aspect yes. However, when you have a family to feed, rent to pay each week, whilst some may say "just leave your job and find something else" in the cold harsh reality of the real world, people feel trapped as they have people who depend on their wage, so simply throwing the job away and looking for something better, whilst a great idea, in reality is not a simply option for many.

i think we would all agree living with a family on retail sales budget is difficult if not impossible. at least in america there are always many competitive options. i guess my point is why are these people choosing to work there if it is so bad and not applying somewhere else?

 

[pat500000]

Retail is usually for people straight out of high school

i think we would all agree living with a family on retail sales budget is difficult if not impossible. at least in america there are always many competitive options. i guess my point is why are these people choosing to work there if it is so bad and not applying somewhere else?

Because there are people who are incapable to hustle (independent employment) or don't have the capacity to get higher education and get a respectable job...OR....they have no idea what they want to do with their lives.

 

[gavroche]

Not likely, if you read the Macrumors summary ...

I think that there is a lot going on that the article does delve into. For example, a large majority of the Apple Store employees do not have a college degree. This makes it very hard to advance in ANY company. My father in law runs a smaller sized plant for a major corporation. They told him long ago that they would love to advance him even higher within the corporation... if he was willing to return to community college part time nights to finish a degree, as policy is to require one. He wasn't willing, as he was already in his 50s at that point.
I would be money that if more Apple Store employees were pursuing college degrees, they would have opportunities for advancement. Particularly if the degree was in management or Finance or something that higher corporate positions would need you to have knowledge in. Corporate positions have no need of sales floor experience... which is all that most of those employees have any experience in.

 

[jwdawso]

I wonder if anyone buys shares at a discount and immediately sells them for an immediate 15% gain.

All the time!

 

[76ShovelHead]

With all Apple's billions of savings, Apple should be treating its staff much better-- better pay, better conditions. Steve Jobs had been noted to have spoken highly of the way Hewlett Packard used to treat its staff when working for them as a teenager. A bit more of this old fashioned genuine appreciation for employees is required. When I think of Apple, I often think of McDonald's and the poor way they conduct their business and treat their staff.
Saying this, death threats is not a tolerable situation and Apple should be reporting these customers to authorities.

One thing to consider is Jobs' didn't hold a retail position at HP... Retail sucks, everywhere. Some more professional positions/departments may receive higher compensation, but unless you're the owner your still just another retail worker amongst millions of other workers and those vying for employment.

P.S. In pharmacy, we get death threats too! but they're a little different in that patients will threaten us with their own lives when a prescriber hasn't promptly responded to one our refill requests! #Drama

 

[gnasher729]

I wonder if anyone buys shares at a discount and immediately sells them for an immediate 15% gain.

That's the idea. Except according to the article, the share price is 15% below the lowest price in the last 6 months. So if the shares went up from $90 to $130 in the last 6 months, you are given shares for $90 minus 15%, and sell for $130. On the other hand, if the shares drop from $130 to $90, you are also given shares for $90 minus 15%, and sell for $90. Except HMRC will tell you that for non-UK shares, the difference between the purchase price and the real price (for example $130 - $76.50 = $53.50) is income and you pay tax on it.

alleged |əˈlejd| adjective [ attrib. ] (of an incident or a person) said, without proof, to have taken place or to have a specified illegal or undesirable quality: the alleged conspirators.

"Purported" is the same without negative implications. For example "the purported witness".

 

[gijoeinla]

Judging by how angry people get on these forums are meer rumours, that doesn't surprise me!

It's because Apples "replace anything and keep the customers happy stance" of yesteryear has come back to bite them in their a***s as people in general have become so much entitled driven AHOLES that they feel that even when THEY driven their cars over their iPhones, iPads, or Macs and destroy them themselves they run right to an Apple Store and expect them to cow down to them as Apple worshippers and just hand them a free -- easy exchange no questions asked...

No.

Brits I'm sorry to say in some respects are getting as greedy as Americans materially.

And I'd also REALLY like to point out that the general WORKFORCE out there are LAZY and a customer service disaster all to themselves NO MATTER WHERE THEY WORK. It's the employees themselves that don't care about who they work for.

For the record -- here in Los Angeles Ive personally seen tons of Apple Store employees carrying Samsung phones. Many of them have been at one particular store for years. ******** that they face any retaliation except clearly it's the EMPLOYEE that shows their EMPLOYER that THEY have NO PASSION for the products sold by the EMPLOYER.. If it was MY COMPANY why would I face legal repercussions for NOT promoting people that don't show interest in my products? This world is so screwed to think otherwise.

No way no how would I want or trust for that matter an employee that isn't into my products or services. It defeats my business duh. That's like saying I want to fill the U S Army with Russian soldiers and oh well I'll get sued for discrimination if I don't. Insane.

Apple like ANY business has the right to run its business any way it sees fit under the law and if YOU don't like it -- find another job.

Strange how the article misses the stock options, vacation time offered, FREE training, clean eco friendly stores in high rent districts worldwide ...on and on.

Oh yes -- Apple is such a tyrant driven business.

The sense of ENTITLEMENT is epidemic today.. This generation has NO CLUE what REAL WORK is.. Older folks would have given their right and left arm to "suffer" such "atrocities" working at an Apple Store.

This is insane. Get real people. This is suffering???????????????????

 

[groovyd]

perhaps it is my misinterpretation but of all the times i have visited apple stores all of the employees seemed to honestly enjoy their work and had a sense of pride in what they were doing. i've been to many stores across the country and also in other countries. i don't remember seeing anyone seemingly dissatisfied with what they were doing.

 

[AxoNeuron]

It is absolutely disgusting that Apple treats their retail employees with so little respect and human decency. Pay them a livable wage and promote them when they do a good job. Is it that difficult?

 

[Peter Franks]

I went to look for the guy I'd seen the week before, when I bought last week in UK, in case they were on commission. He told me they aren't, but was quite happy as he said they get very good perks and incentives, so this doesn't compute with what this employee has said. Who knows, a possible bitter ex employee?

 

[littyboy]

last time i checked accepting a job offer was entirely your decision lol

My thoughts exactly. Also, quitting is entirely your decision too. All these people in the news complaining are just entitled and feel the need to shame the previous company and working conditions.
[doublepost=1464567813][/doublepost]

It is absolutely disgusting that Apple treats their retail employees with so little respect and human decency. Pay them a livable wage and promote them when they do a good job. Is it that difficult?

Well, they are actually making more than I thought they made. With their "skills" and "expertise," that's more than enough.
[doublepost=1464567979][/doublepost]

£8/hr is disgusting for such a wealthy company. It's barely above the minimum wage. You could earn more stacking shelves in a supermarket. Shame on you Apple. Your employees deserve better. They're the people who make the sales and generate your obscene profits. I feel ashamed to be an an Apple customer sometimes.

Don't get me wrong here, I do agree with you that the Apple company is greedy af... but employees at grocery stores make more money because the job is more physically demanding

 

[Rafterman]

Imagine you have been taking photos on your iPhone for years, and not backing them up. Precious, irreplaceable family photos.

Now imagine you do something stupid (that is, apart from not having a backup plan) and you lose it all.

Now imagine there's a poor Apple employee trying desperately to find the right words to break it to you gently that, well, you screwed up and Apple can't get your photos back...

I would hope anyone with such precious photos would rely on their own backup plan, like a simple USB drive (or two backups if its super-important) and not a third party.

 

[niun]

Except HMRC will tell you that for non-UK shares, the difference between the purchase price and the real price (for example $130 - $76.50 = $53.50) is income and you pay tax on it.

Shame my employer failed to mention that and I was none too savvy when it came to selling.
30 seconds of idiocy = large tax bill :/

 

[FreemanW]

Having a modicum of personal experience and knowledge of those who write articles that get published . . . . . I have to look upon this article with extreme suspicion and skepticism.

When run through the intelligence filter known as "Common Sense" it amounts to little more than anecdotal story telling over drinks at a local pub.