Apple's $99 'One to One' Tutoring Program May Be Coming to an End

[aristobrat]

This is exactly how my 70 years old parent got into the mac world 1 year ago. They paid the $100 to learn about different things in the mac world. Tim cook is just cheap and would like to kill it, he doesn't get that this is the best marketing money Apple will spend.

My experience working in an Apple Store for a few years was that most customers were excited about the concept of One-To-One, but verrrrrrry few would actually spend the $99 to buy it.

When it comes to marketing, how in the heck is not using these trainers to provide a ton of free training to everyone not a better bang for the buck?

 

[Macboy Pro]

Apple may soon end its $99 "One to One" tutoring program for Mac and iOS users, according to a source that has provided MacRumors with reliable information in the past. Our source says Apple is stopping the program to allow retail employees to focus on hosting a greater number of free workshops, which multiple people are able to attend at once.

One to One is a long-running Apple program that allows customers who purchase a Mac to pay an additional $99 for one year of Mac, iPhone, and iPad instruction from Apple retail employees. One to One sessions include 30 or 60 minute Personal Training sessions, 90-minute Group Training sessions, and 90-minute group-based Open Training sessions.

One to One members can get help with a wide variety of topics, like getting started with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac and using Apple services like iCloud, and iTunes. Training sessions on Apple apps, including Photos, Mail, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and more, are also included.Apple is planning to fold its One to One service into free open workshops, amid some larger changes being made to Apple's teaching methods. In the near future, workshops will be restructured around themes like "Discover" and "Create," and will be more accessible on Apple's main website.

Apple plans to honor existing One to One memberships until they expire, but will not sell new memberships to the program going forward. Customers who need assistance will still be able to sign up for dozens of free, open workshops.

Article Link: Apple's $99 'One to One' Tutoring Program May Be Coming to an End

Literally the only reason to buy straight from Apple anymore is the one on one that is only available if you do so. Another bad move by a company that seems to be making them on a daily basis. Eventually this will catch up to them.

 

[kenny allen]

You bring up an interesting point... what happens to the position of Creative? Thats a huge number of people that all of a sudden become what? Red Zone Specialists again? That's gonna be interesting to see how they handle that.

I wonder if the Creatives will handle all the workshops now instead of the Red Zone

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

Former Apple retail specialist here.

I wonder what'll happen to all the Creatives, then. Hmm, hope they won't get downsized/laid off, or given a pay decrease.

 

[Rogifan]

oh that's just perfect...do any of you know who my aunt and two uncles are going to call for help now? you guessed it, ME! XD

Why can't they attend one of the free workshops?

 

[Diaz72]

I wonder if the Creatives will handle all the workshops now instead of the Red Zone

I would imagine that they would, but I would imagine that the number of creatives has to be greater than the number of workshops that they do in a day. Even with the increased amount of workshops, I can't imagine that there would be enough to give the Creatives the hours that they are used to right now.

 

[Tech198]

I'm glad they're making it free since people are already paying a premium for the Mac.

i didn't know why they did not do this from the beginning...

If your getting a premium anyway when u buy their products, why are u charging extra for a one-to-one ?

 

[ElRojito]

No one ever came in to be trained. That's the issue with the one to one service. People came in to have someone do a certain task (copy data, make a slideshow, an iMovie project) for them and then they'd forget it all. The one to one program was supposed to show people how to be self sufficient, but senior citizens used it as a crutch/a reason to leave the house. Not saying that's bad, it's just not helping anyone actually learn.

 

[Blackstick]

Glad I got out of there before they'd make me find out. Best move ever.

 

[AppleBonker]

Former Apple retail specialist here.

I wonder what'll happen to all the Creatives, then. Hmm, hope they won't get downsized/laid off, or given a pay decrease.

Creatives have actually been handling all the workshops for quite a few months now. This includes the free ones which used to be conducted by red zone specialists.

 

[tampageek]

This is exactly how my 70 years old parent got into the mac world 1 year ago. They paid the $100 to learn about different things in the mac world. Tim cook is just cheap and would like to kill it, he doesn't get that this is the best marketing money Apple will spend.

It sounds like they are trying to get more people into the stores by offering "free" classes. However, that makes little sense when there seems to be an opposite trend to offer fewer accessories on the shelves and get people out of stores and buy online.

This has Angela's bad fingerprints all over it. She seems determined to destroy the entire store experience...you know, the one that helped create 's higher quality image and superior customer service.

 

[jc1350]

I disagree. This is about streamlining and simplification. The ultimate end-goal for Apple internally should be to charge only for hardware and have all its tangential services built into product pricing. This means you buy an iPhone or Mac or both and Apple takes care of you. Even Apple Care should be included.

Are you suggesting everyone should pay $2000 for a $1500 computer because some out there might need training or hand-holding? I believe just the opposite. Sell the system at a fair/reasonable price. If people need training, they can seek it out (in-store, youtube, whatever at whatever price they are willing to pay).

 

[kingtj]

Yeah.... unfortunately, I can completely believe this. Working in a company where about 60% of our workforce uses Macs and doing I.T. support for them, it's clear that even when one's paycheck depends on it -- only a select few people take any initiative to learn something new.

What MOST people want is what you said; a contact to ask about a very specific problem/issue, to get past it and continue on with their day. Actually learning how to fix the problem in case it happens again? Very low on most people's list. "That's what the help desk is for!"

No one ever came in to be trained. That's the issue with the one to one service. People came in to have someone do a certain task (copy data, make a slideshow, an iMovie project) for them and then they'd forget it all. The one to one program was supposed to show people how to be self sufficient, but senior citizens used it as a crutch/a reason to leave the house. Not saying that's bad, it's just not helping anyone actually learn.

 

[darkknight14]

Do they still have the red phones in the genius bars, SJ said in the promo video way back when if the guys in the store didn't know how to fix an issue they could ring straight to HQ and get the answers from the developers?

 

[sualpine]

It's a huge waste of time. There really isn't any excuse to not know how to use your iPhone at this point in time. It's been out for 7+ years, etc.

 

[2457282]

Funny thing is that after buying Apple since the 70's including at least 5 computers, 10 phones, 3 pads, 2 watches and 2 ATVs, I don't ever remember being offered 1-on-1 option. Then again, I always turned down apple care. If I would have known about this I would have certainly bought it for my mom and my wife, both of which have a really hard time with technology.

 

[palmfox]

You bring up an interesting point... what happens to the position of Creative? Thats a huge number of people that all of a sudden become what? Red Zone Specialists again? That's gonna be interesting to see how they handle that.

My guess would be that Apple is going to expand on their free workshops, which would be the Creative's new job. I hope that the trade off in eliminating the One to One, would be a larger catalog of free workshops. Apple could expand the workshops to include some of the more complicated software, or even offer a more in-depth look at iTunes, iPhotos, etc. .. Maybe even offer different levels in the free workshops

 

[Alumeenium]

All the Boomers that can't use computers are aging out of the market , thank god

 

[paross]

As a former Creative at R288 I'm sad to see this program coming to an end. It seems the "Apple Magic" opportunities are slowly fading with the memory of Steve Jobs.

I feel that more and more this is being run as a typical business now. All about profits, not about people...

Release schedules are more important than releasing products that work. Innovation is based on what is good for content creators, not consumers. The store experience is being shaped towards maximizing profits, not building relationships.

I guess you either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

Apple may soon end its $99 "One to One" tutoring program for Mac and iOS users, according to a source that has provided MacRumors with reliable information in the past. Our source says Apple is stopping the program to allow retail employees to focus on hosting a greater number of free workshops, which multiple people are able to attend at once.

One to One is a long-running Apple program that allows customers who purchase a Mac to pay an additional $99 for one year of Mac, iPhone, and iPad instruction from Apple retail employees. One to One sessions include 30 or 60 minute Personal Training sessions, 90-minute Group Training sessions, and 90-minute group-based Open Training sessions.

One to One members can get help with a wide variety of topics, like getting started with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac and using Apple services like iCloud, and iTunes. Training sessions on Apple apps, including Photos, Mail, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and more, are also included.Apple is planning to fold its One to One service into free open workshops, amid some larger changes being made to Apple's teaching methods. In the near future, workshops will be restructured around themes like "Discover" and "Create," and will be more accessible on Apple's main website.

Apple plans to honor existing One to One memberships until they expire, but will not sell new memberships to the program going forward. Customers who need assistance will still be able to sign up for dozens of free, open workshops.

Article Link: Apple's $99 'One to One' Tutoring Program May Be Coming to an End

 

[639051]

Are you suggesting everyone should pay $2000 for a $1500 computer because some out there might need training or hand-holding? I believe just the opposite. Sell the system at a fair/reasonable price. If people need training, they can seek it out (in-store, youtube, whatever at whatever price they are willing to pay).

Have you ever priced a comparable Dell or HP to a Macbook or the like? Sure, I can get a cheapo Dell/HP with an i5 in it for less than a Mac, but if you want to reach even close to the full picture including build quality it's generally more expensive than a Mac.

While the upgrade model is a bit pricey (iMac ram is stupid expensive from Apple and anyone can install it themselves), the base pricing is not at all unreasonable. Not for the quality of machine you get. Not to mention you have to deal with Windows 10 on anything new, no thanks (cleaning up a mess from it right now for a friend).

 

[TomMcIn]

With all the Apple Stores in the Lower Mainland of BC, one long-time third party is going under. Not sure how many new Apple owners want to pay for education, given on the internet offerings once one starts looking.

 

[tampageek]

Have you ever priced a comparable Dell or HP to a Macbook or the like? Sure, I can get a cheapo Dell/HP with an i5 in it for less than a Mac, but if you want to reach even close to the full picture including build quality it's generally more expensive than a Mac.

While the upgrade model is a bit pricey (iMac ram is stupid expensive from Apple and anyone can install it themselves), the base pricing is not at all unreasonable. Not for the quality of machine you get. Not to mention you have to deal with Windows 10 on anything new, no thanks (cleaning up a mess from it right now for a friend).

 

[tampageek]

As a former Creative at R288 I'm sad to see this program coming to an end. It seems the "Apple Magic" opportunities are slowly fading with the memory of Steve Jobs.

I feel that more and more this is being run as a typical business now. All about profits, not about people...

Release schedules are more important than releasing products that work. Innovation is based on what is good for content creators, not consumers. The store experience is being shaped towards maximizing profits, not building relationships.

I guess you either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

Well said. I couldn't agree more.

 

[Rogifan]

As a former Creative at R288 I'm sad to see this program coming to an end. It seems the "Apple Magic" opportunities are slowly fading with the memory of Steve Jobs.

I feel that more and more this is being run as a typical business now. All about profits, not about people...

Release schedules are more important than releasing products that work. Innovation is based on what is good for content creators, not consumers. The store experience is being shaped towards maximizing profits, not building relationships.

I guess you either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

I'm going to assume Apple has actual data that no one here does. They wouldn't be ending this program if it was still popular and being used by a lot of people. I doubt Angela comes to work every day wondering how she can screw over consumers and make their experience with Apple miserable.

 

[KdParker]

Free training may sound good on the surface, but trying to teach even a small crowd means dumbing things down to the lowest IQ, not to mention the idiot in every group that loves to hear himself talk and/or show off what he knows to the rest of the group. If I needed training, I'd gladly pay to get 1:1 service ... free would be a waste of time I'm afraid.

Aren't we at the point yet that if you can't figure out how to use a mac/ipad/etc that you probably don't need it or if you need individual training then you pay for it from a third party?