i just purchased a new mac pro yesterday...

[calderone]

Are you really that distrusting? Maybe you have had bad experience with retail outlets, or maybe the suing culture of N.America. Either way, people do look out for others, and certain statements in a policy are more guidelines rather than rules. I have worked in retail (in the UK that is) and the manager is able to make a promise, he is the one running the store - if the store does not benefit from it and loose money it's their job on the line.

But in this case, it doesn't even make sense. Letting someone use and then return merchandise sometime in the future? What if it is 6 months? A year? Would you allow someone to do that if you ran a business?

And the situation may be more complicated than that. What is the new Mac Pro's cost less for a comparable configuration? The OP will then want a refund, but that wasn't in the verbal agreement. The verbal agreement was for an exchange.

What if the new Mac Pro's cost more for a comparable configuration? The store will likely want more money and since they have the power in the situation they can demand it or simply make you keep the one you have.

The manager could have told him he would hand deliver it, set it up and make him dinner because at the time it required no action.

It isn't about distrust, it is about doing what makes sense and this doesn't make sense. If the OP did not get it in writing, you would have to a fool to believe this would play out the way it has been described. That isn't to say it won't happen. But what is it they say? If it sounds too good to be true...

 

[JustinBW]

i just wanted to add that im not too concerned with having the "latest" mac pro... but ive saved my money long enough and if there is a new one coming soon then i might as well wait just a little longer.

i can continue to use my G4 if need be

So you do care about having the 'latest' mac pro.

 

[ithinkitsnice]

Even if the manager has gone off-message with that offer and gets a kicking from his boss, it's massively unlikely his boss will make him renege on the deal with the customer. That would be a customer service travesty.

Like the poster above says, in my experience in retail the store manager can generally do whatever he likes as long as he makes his targets.

 

[spencer elliott]

I don't trust someone who tells that they will break their policy for me.

You think his boss is going to praise him? Are you that naive?

naive? hardly

im in the customer service industry as well and policies like this get broken ALL THE TIME. sometimes you have to go around rules to keep a customer more than satisfied. that is pretty basic customer service really. when it makes a customer this excited about their company then im sure his boss is going to be very happy.

trust me, Micro Center going to lose any money by taking this one back and getting me the new one. they will simply send it back to apple for a credit (for whatever reason). then apple will look it over and sell it at a discounted price.

this is the epitome of exceptional customer service... period

So you do care about having the 'latest' mac pro.

not at all, but i want the most for my money so if that means waiting just a little longer then that is what i will do, but now i dont have to.

its not like mine is 8 months old and now im upset...

so you were saying?

Even if the manager has gone off-message with that offer and gets a kicking from his boss, it's massively unlikely his boss will make him renege on the deal with the customer. That would be a customer service travesty.

Like the poster above says, in my experience in retail the store manager can generally do whatever he likes as long as he makes his targets.

exactly

textbook really

i see it all the time within the company i work for

 

[calderone]

exactly

textbook really

i see it all the time within the company i work for

Getting a written agreement is textbook too.

 

[spencer elliott]

Getting a written agreement is textbook too.

ive never had a customer ask me for anything in writing when doing something similar to this situation... and ive come up with all kinds of solutions for customers that break the rules.

having said that... getting it in writing would be great. i may call or email him this week to get something written up. i have no doubts that he will do it if i ask.

btw this MP is fantastic so if it takes longer than 2 months for the announcement then ill likely keep it.

 

[jjahshik32]

Return it and wait. If you waited this long, couple weeks to a few months wont kill ya.

I wouldnt completely trust that manager either, what if the new mac pros are released with an extremely good value (much faster performance, cores) for the same amount of money you spent right now along with better stock gpu as well and it gets released 45 days or 60 days?

But the real question is, you dont mind if a new mac pro is released outside of 30 days? What about 60 or 90 days? Its still going to be a much better mac pro than the current model that you bought while being the same price. Outside of the 30 days wont change anything, imo.

Then you would have to go back and try to persuade the manager to remember you. I trust what the back of the receipt saids about the return policy before anyone at the retail stores.

 

[spencer elliott]

Return it and wait. If you waited this long, couple weeks to a few months wont kill ya.

I wouldnt completely trust that manager either, what if the new mac pros are released with an extremely good value (much faster performance, cores) for the same amount of money you spent right now along with better stock gpu as well and it gets released 45 days or 60 days?

But the real question is, you dont mind if a new mac pro is released outside of 30 days? What about 60 or 90 days? Its still going to be a much better mac pro than the current model that you bought while being the same price. Outside of the 30 days wont change anything, imo.

Then you would have to go back and try to persuade the manager to remember you. I trust what the back of the receipt saids about the return policy before anyone at the retail stores.

I emailed his General Manager and CC'd him with the whole breakdown of how the conversation went. Got a response from him already thanking me for the kind words and said "he is looking forward to serving me when the announcement is made". im expecting an email from the GM as well.

this should jog their memory if they seem to forget about it.

 

[the editor]

So you do care about having the 'latest' mac pro.

People should just stop thinking that when someone waits or prefers the "latest" machine it simply has to do with getting the "latest Mac Pro" machine and nothing more...nope it has to do with getting a "better" machine and the latest or at least newer "technology" for your money.

@spencer elliot

I do have to agree that you could run into some trouble, best thing is to always be safe and for what its worth, i wouldn't trust the store manager neither, in the end its all business and you never know how its going to play out, seems a bit to good to be true, in most cases when something is too good to be true, it probably is.

 

[spencer elliott]

@spencer elliot

I do have to agree that you could run into some trouble, best thing is to always be safe and for what its worth, i wouldn't trust the store manager neither, in the end its all business and you never know how its going to play out, seems a bit to good to be true, in most cases when something is too good to be true, it probably is.

yeah there is a chance that he is blowin smoke.

i think if it happens within the next 2 months they will do it, maybe even 3, but any longer and i could be up a creek.

he seemed genuine though.

ill be sure to update this after "it" happens... this could all be for nothing if there is no announcement.

thanks everybody

 

[Tronic]

If its not in writing, I wouldn't trust what anyone says and if its too good to be true then even writing won't save you.

What if this person gets fired? Transfers? Dies? What if LP comes in and completely overhauls the store and puts an end to this breakage of policies? What if the GM tells the manager that if he does this he will loose his bonus?

If you know the guy personally, then ya I think your fine but if you just met the guy once then I'd definitely be cautious with your money.

 

[Tronic]

yeah there is a chance that he is blowin smoke.

i think if it happens within the next 2 months they will do it, maybe even 3, but any longer and i could be up a creek.

he seemed genuine though.

ill be sure to update this after "it" happens... this could all be for nothing if there is no announcement.

thanks everybody

If there is an update announced at WWDC, I think you will be fine, but after that it would make no sense for them to keep this offer open indefinitely.

 

[ag55]

even if you were totally satisfied with the one you bought, its common sense to return it. why? because wwdc is like a week away, there is probably going to be a new mac pro coming and it will be better value if not adding new features.

i get that people always do the waiting game, and it is best to just get one when you need it, but we are so close to wwdc, your not losing any money when returning it, so its just common sense to see what is announced.

im doing the same

 

[Cindori]

it's kinda stupid to say "if you need it now, keep it"

never keep it. let's say you want the latest, if you get that then your machine will keep resale value for MUCH longer.
lets say you are satisfied with the current machine. then you will be able to get that spec MUCH cheaper refurbished because then it is officially "one generation old"

so if you need 2010 mac pro or not, either way you lose money by buying the current model

 

[greenmeanie]

I would have waited.
There is no doubt a new one has to come soon.

 

[spencer elliott]

either way ill be getting the new one

 

[ithinkitsnice]

I just spoke to Apple Customer Services (UK) and they confirmed that I can return the Mac Pro for free within 14 days of receipt even if it has been used. They were very clear about this and the only thing that would preclude it would be 'wilful damage' to the unit. They also confirmed there was no need to clean the hard drive, although I'd probably want to for security.

As far as I know this policy only applies to online and telephone orders (not in-store) in the UK as it it partly due to our distance selling regulations.

So my MP arrives today or tomorrow and I'm just going to get cracking on it and wait and see if anything comes of the WWDC next week.

 

[Murray M]

Spencer:
You've obviously won some friends at the store, however, I have to agree with the majority of the forum members: you should consider protecting your interests more than trusting that other people will put your interests above their own. This is unfortunately the dark side of capitalism.

After all, Micro Center didn't go out of their way to tell you that an update was expected, did they? Of course their manager wants you to get used to the thing you've already bought: he knows he has a stack of them to get rid of before the update is announced. This is biz 101.

You've already gotten in trouble by not doing your homework before purchasing. I think you're getting excellent advise to be cautious about accepting a manager's word over a store policy. What if the manager gets fired before he can help you?

I would reconsider your strategy.

Forum members:
Anyone have popcorn?

 

[iMacprobook]

Maybe something will happen, the UK refurb store is as full as ive seen it in ages for Macpro's. 4 added today, theres only been 1 there for 4K gbp for some time...

 

[pilot1226]

Have to agree with many of the posters above. I worked in an internet telephony service as advanced technical support specializing in issues that couldn't be solved on the telephone with the regular support staff (if you've ever been on the line with tech support and they said they had to create a "ticket", I was the person that the tickets went to, and on occasion did individual callbacks to people.)

That being said, I know first-hand from reading comments on the accounts and hearing agents in the call center lots of empty promises, from the common "Well, I can't place credit on your account because the issue hasn't been solved yet" to the borderline legal "I will extend your money-back guarantee period to 45 days from the original 30".

You want to tread very carefully on this aspect. The good news is, WWDC is between June 6th and 7th of this year, making it possible for you to do a legit return for a new model. However, if it doesn't happen in June, you're looking at some potential problems in returns later.

 

[ithinkitsnice]

Have to agree with many of the posters above. I worked in an internet telephony service as advanced technical support specializing in issues that couldn't be solved on the telephone with the regular support staff (if you've ever been on the line with tech support and they said they had to create a "ticket", I was the person that the tickets went to, and on occasion did individual callbacks to people.)

That being said, I know first-hand from reading comments on the accounts and hearing agents in the call center lots of empty promises, from the common "Well, I can't place credit on your account because the issue hasn't been solved yet" to the borderline legal "I will extend your money-back guarantee period to 45 days from the original 30".

You want to tread very carefully on this aspect. The good news is, WWDC is between June 6th and 7th of this year, making it possible for you to do a legit return for a new model. However, if it doesn't happen in June, you're looking at some potential problems in returns later.

I don't see what most of this has to do with anything — are you referring to me?

 

[xgman]

A lot of you guys are putting to much weight of WWDC. I'm really doubting that it will even get a mention during WWDC at this point. Still might be a June release, but I have a bad feeling about this at WWDC. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[mism]

Maybe something will happen, the UK refurb store is as full as ive seen it in ages for Macpro's. 4 added today, theres only been 1 there for 4K gbp for some time...

I noticed that and I too want to see it as a sign. I'm sure its just coincidence, does seem odd though, nothing much for weeks and then boom. I'd have the 2.26 8 core if it wasn't for WWDC being so close.

 

[iMacprobook]

I agree it may be pure coincidence, though am doing the maths on the 2.93 quad, and sourcing ram and drive myself. Incidentally, do you know whether you can bump the spec of refurb store items?

 

[mism]

I agree it may be pure coincidence, though am doing the maths on the 2.93 quad, and sourcing ram and drive myself. Incidentally, do you know whether you can bump the spec of refurb store items?

I don't think you can, I'm not overly familiar with refurbs though.
From everything I've read you're better off buying RAM and drives from elsewhere anyway.