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Genius Appointment for Earpods?

E

erio

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 20, 2004
129
70
Did anyone else have to make an appointment to have their Earpods replaced.

I'm asking because I walked into Apple Store Pasadena and asked for a replacement. However, the Apple Specialist near the Genius Bar indicated there weren't any available appointments to see a Genius. Instead, he told me I need to setup an appointment tomorrow.

I asked why I need an appointment for a replacement. Apparently, he said a Genius has to check and do diagnostics for the Earpods. Really? A full diagnostics! Is there a computer in my Earpods? So, I said no thanks and left fuming.

The last time I replaced an earbud, a Specialist looked over it carefully and gave me a new on on the spot. I guess, Apple is losing a lot of money on those Earpods :confused:
 
The same thing happened to me with a ruptured lightning cable. I just went to another "genius" who was more than happy to assign me an appointment for later that day, but took me right then and there and switched the cables after he got my info. I think it comes down to the luck of the draw with the "geniuses".
 
No offence, but if the guys were busy with people who had booked appointments, then why should you jump the queue?



Also perhaps you should be a bit more careful with your earpods. If you have already got through 2 sets. I still have mine from my first iPod that work fine.


Just book an appointment.
 
Check out how much those Apple earpds are selling on eBay. I wouldn't even bother to drive over.
 
My original EarPods were faulty, after a week the left one just cut out randomly. I didnt make any appointments i just called apple and they sent me replacement ones completely free
 
erio said:
Did anyone else have to make an appointment to have their Earpods replaced.

I'm asking because I walked into Apple Store Pasadena and asked for a replacement. However, the Apple Specialist near the Genius Bar indicated there weren't any available appointments to see a Genius. Instead, he told me I need to setup an appointment tomorrow.

I asked why I need an appointment for a replacement. Apparently, he said a Genius has to check and do diagnostics for the Earpods. Really? A full diagnostics! Is there a computer in my Earpods? So, I said no thanks and left fuming.

The last time I replaced an earbud, a Specialist looked over it carefully and gave me a new on on the spot. I guess, Apple is losing a lot of money on those Earpods :confused:
Click to expand...

luck of the draw. but i was just as outraged, my charger wasnt working, and i could prove it right away by simple plugging it in. i live in hong kong and the customer service there is great but its also really crowded so an appointment would have to be scheduled for a few hours later. at least they replaced it though. it does sound so ridiculous though, an appointment to have a look at earphones that cost 30usd...
 
Virginaustralia said:
My original EarPods were faulty, after a week the left one just cut out randomly. I didnt make any appointments i just called apple and they sent me replacement ones completely free
Click to expand...

CHMK said:
luck of the draw. but i was just as outraged, my charger wasnt working, and i could prove it right away by simple plugging it in. i live in hong kong and the customer service there is great but its also really crowded so an appointment would have to be scheduled for a few hours later. at least they replaced it though. it does sound so ridiculous though, an appointment to have a look at earphones that cost 30usd...
Click to expand...

They still need to verify what the problem is, check your warranty, and run the replacement through their system. It's not like you walk in, say your headphones aren't working, and they just toss you a new pair. It's "harder" now due to the increase in popularity of apple and the associated ass hats who keep ripping them off. If you really want to complain tell it to all the people on here who try and get new phones for free after they throw theirs in their pool/bathtub/toilet.
 
I've never been happy with the sound quality of Apples ear buds. Are the Ear pods that much better?

I usually just use some inexpensive, sound isolating, in ear Sony buds.
 
cmichaelb said:
I've never been happy with the sound quality of Apples ear buds. Are the Ear pods that much better?

I usually just use some inexpensive, sound isolating, in ear Sony buds.
Click to expand...

Very subjective but for the cost I think so.
 
cmichaelb said:
I usually just use some inexpensive, sound isolating, in ear Sony buds.
Click to expand...

Yeah no, that's like drinking cheap wines and you have no idea what the good stuff is like. ;)

EVERYBODY say their earpods are sound isolating, but I just shake my head. The good ones comes with nipples (tips) which is kind of stiff, so that they can make a good seal with your ears. People who have used earplugs knows this. Sound isolation makes a huge difference because (1)eliminates outside noise to interfere with your music, and (2)a good seal, like a properly built woofer, will enhance that bass that gives you a sense of a much large driver.

Save$ and plan to spend usd$100+, that's where the good stuff are. I rarely tell people to do this but a rare exception.
 
cmichaelb said:
I've never been happy with the sound quality of Apples ear buds. Are the Ear pods that much better?

I usually just use some inexpensive, sound isolating, in ear Sony buds.
Click to expand...
Much better than the old Apple ear buds, and they've lasted me longer than any non-Apple $30 ear buds I've gotten, and the mic and buttons work perfectly. I bought them when they were announced and haven't regretted it.
 
Apple fanboy said:
No offence, but if the guys were busy with people who had booked appointments, then why should you jump the queue?
Click to expand...

I understand them being busy, but they can tell OP to wait 10,15,20 minutes till they are free and have a couple of minutes to sort it out. Setting up an appointment for another day for headphones seems a bit excessive..
 
Mrbobb said:
Yeah no, that's like drinking cheap wines and you have no idea what the good stuff is like. ;)

EVERYBODY say their earpods are sound isolating, but I just shake my head. The good ones comes with nipples (tips) which is kind of stiff, so that they can make a good seal with your ears. People who have used earplugs knows this. Sound isolation makes a huge difference because (1)eliminates outside noise to interfere with your music, and (2)a good seal, like a properly built woofer, will enhance that bass that gives you a sense of a much large driver.

Save$ and plan to spend usd$100+, that's where the good stuff are. I rarely tell people to do this but a rare exception.
Click to expand...

lol @ wine.... good point.

I spend about $30-40 on Amazon for them with in line controls, in-ear, and they sound great. They create a great seal which of course helps a lot.

I can't see paying that much lol, I'm not that much of an audiophile.

paulbennett95 said:
Much better than the old Apple ear buds, and they've lasted me longer than any non-Apple $30 ear buds I've gotten, and the mic and buttons work perfectly. I bought them when they were announced and haven't regretted it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was never a big fan of the older Apple ones plus they never stayed in my ears well.
 
Mrbobb said:
Check out how much those Apple earpds are selling on eBay. I wouldn't even bother to drive over.
Click to expand...

It's sometimes difficult to tell if they're genuine or not. How do you tell?

I ordered some for $20 on eBay, but there were some that looked real for ~$15.
 
My wife's lightning cable was acting up & you could visibly see one of the gold connectors had fallen out on one side. I walked right into the Nashville, TN store on a Saturday. the store was packed. The first employee I saw at the front asked if they could help me. I showed him the cable, he got on his walkie talkie & another employee walked up with a brand new cable in a retail box he clearly just grabbed off the shelf 30 seconds later. he pulled the new cable out, handed it to me, and sent me on my way. No genius appointment. No waiting. No hassle. I walked out a VERY happy customer.

Your mileage may vary in your local Apple store, but I can certainly see how some stores may have a bit more of a DB factor than others. the good ones still see the customer as #1. The bad ones see :apple: as #1.
 
CAWjr said:
Your mileage may vary in your local Apple store, but I can certainly see how some stores may have a bit more of a DB factor than others. the good ones still see the customer as #1. The bad ones see :apple: as #1.
Click to expand...

Because I have had the unfortunate need to deal with the public... there are many factors. Is the store, the particular employee, but many times is that they are VERY BUSY.

The customer has no idea what is been happening with the store before he walks in. Sometimes you get a few customers that are difficult and take lots of time and want the staff to hear how they "feel" and the guy up front noticing that a few of the staff members haven't had breaks in hours, puts his foot down and "go by the book" and if that's you when you walk in, then well, rather than having you wait for who knows how long, the guys decides he wants you to make an appointment. It's all matter of perspective, your view, THEIR view, and the guy up front, in an ideal world would explain all this to you but he's been "mobbed" all day long, not only that, he's kind of a geek, we know geeks speak in short phrases, and there you go.

Customers always say, but it will take just a second! You may have a point if it's JUST YOU. What about the other customer that is walking in right now, and he too only requires JUST A SECOND? Do we tell you yes, but no to him? He would accuse us of discrimination!

See, we all have to live with each other.
 
RichardC300 said:
It's sometimes difficult to tell if they're genuine or not. How do you tell?

I ordered some for $20 on eBay, but there were some that looked real for ~$15.
Click to expand...


I have bought eBay Apple buds and I don't want to pay more than $5. Serious!

Now you are talking to the guy whose main buds are a set of Etymotic er6, used to retail for $75, so my Apple buds are only for emergencies and they sound "OK" to me. A couple of times I have bought other off-brands and they are truly terrible and I immediately thew them away and wrote off the few bux I spent on them.
 
12vElectronics said:
I understand them being busy, but they can tell OP to wait 10,15,20 minutes till they are free and have a couple of minutes to sort it out. Setting up an appointment for another day for headphones seems a bit excessive..
Click to expand...

I've gone in for a MBP issue and been given an iPod appointment apparently because they were not busy with iPod issues at the time, and usually seen in minutes. Longest was 40 minutes, and I came back early and was seen right away. Did have one day I stopped in and the 'next available appointment' was the next day. I live over 2 hours from 'the nearest' store. They shoehorned me in. It just depends on all of the variables: store, person, attitude, customers, busy, appearance, etc...
 
Like others have said it just depends on the situation at the store. I walked in with a Lightning to 30 pin adapter that only worked in one orientation. They didn't test it or anything, just did a "retail swap" and took down my name and Apple ID from what I remember. No appointment needed.
 
Mrbobb said:
Because I have had the unfortunate need to deal with the public... there are many factors. Is the store, the particular employee, but many times is that they are VERY BUSY.

The customer has no idea what is been happening with the store before he walks in. Sometimes you get a few customers that are difficult and take lots of time and want the staff to hear how they "feel" and the guy up front noticing that a few of the staff members haven't had breaks in hours, puts his foot down and "go by the book" and if that's you when you walk in, then well, rather than having you wait for who knows how long, the guys decides he wants you to make an appointment. It's all matter of perspective, your view, THEIR view, and the guy up front, in an ideal world would explain all this to you but he's been "mobbed" all day long, not only that, he's kind of a geek, we know geeks speak in short phrases, and there you go.

Customers always say, but it will take just a second! You may have a point if it's JUST YOU. What about the other customer that is walking in right now, and he too only requires JUST A SECOND? Do we tell you yes, but no to him? He would accuse us of discrimination!

See, we all have to live with each other.
Click to expand...

I also work in a business where I hear "but it will only take a minute" on a daily basis. And ofcourse, it's usually something that takes more than a minute. That being said, I still use my discretion when deciding when a walk in customer needs to set up an appointment. Something as minor as earpods IMO wouldn't warrant an appointment. Maybe not on the minute assistance, but def not an appointment..
 
Mrbobb said:
I have bought eBay Apple buds and I don't want to pay more than $5. Serious!

Now you are talking to the guy whose main buds are a set of Etymotic er6, used to retail for $75, so my Apple buds are only for emergencies and they sound "OK" to me. A couple of times I have bought other off-brands and they are truly terrible and I immediately thew them away and wrote off the few bux I spent on them.
Click to expand...

This is the link I bought them from. From what I can tell, I'm 99% sure that these are genuine Apple EarPods.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350837564454

I liked the shape of the EarPods, so I just went with another pair. But just before purchasing these, I did a search for best earphones. All the ones that came up with "in-ear" earphones, and from the ones I've tried, I don't like the feel of them. Maybe I tried the wrong ones.
 
Why should you just walk in and get served when others have bothered to make the appointment for that exact time and travel to the store?

And if it was you that made the appointment, would you want to be delayed while they served someone who just walked right in?
 
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