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Lied to by an Apple Store Employee Stanford Mall

D

dsm2gst

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 11, 2008
39
0
I called the Stanford Mall Apple store to check if they have any iPhone 4 32GB available. The guy that answered told me that they had limited stock but if I come to the store tonight I should be able to get one. I rushed to the store and got there 45 mins later. I walked in and the sales lady with glasses and short hair asked me how she can help me. I asked politely if they have 32GB iPhone 4 in stock and she quickly answered no. I told her that I called earlier and they told me they have some in stock and she still said no. By then I was confused and walked out the store. Just to confirm I called the Stanford Mall Apple store and asked if they have 32GB iPhone 4 in stock and the guy on the phone confirmed they do. So I walked back in to the store and approached a male sales person. I asked again if they have 32GB iPhone 4 in stock and he replied yes. So by then I knew the lady lied to me. I was able to buy the phone, but it just upsets me that people would lie like that especially to customers. I would understand if the store was busy but it was half empty.

My question for everyone how would you handle the situation if you were in my shoes? I was upset at the time, but I didn't want to cause a scene at the store. I obviously wouldn't want anyone else to experience what I just experienced.


Quote:
Originally Posted by kernkraft View Post
Was it a white lie? Did you specify that you wanted a white iPhone?

Yes I specifically asked for a black 32GB iPhone 4. Her reply was no 32GB just 16GB. I also noticed during the checkout process she kept walking by me, and when the guy went to the back to grab the phone she also went back there. I'm pretty sure she felt guilty getting caught by me.
 
dsm2gst said:
I called the Stanford Mall Apple store to check if they have any iPhone 4 32GB available. The guy that answered told me that they had limited stock but if I come to the store tonight I should be able to get one. I rushed to the store and got there 45 mins later. I walked in and the sales lady with glasses and short hair asked me how she can help me. I asked politely if they have 32GB iPhone 4 in stock and she quickly answered no. I told her that I called earlier and they told me they have some in stock and she still said no. By then I was confused and walked out the store. Just to confirm I called the Stanford Mall Apple store and asked if they have 32GB iPhone 4 in stock and the guy on the phone confirmed they do. So I walked back in to the store and approached a male sales person. I asked again if they have 32GB iPhone 4 in stock and he replied yes. So by then I knew the lady lied to me. I was able to buy the phone, but it just upsets me that people would lie like that especially to customers.

My question for everyone how would you handle the situation if you were in my shoes? I was upset at the time, but I didn't want to cause a scene at the store. I obviously wouldn't want anyone else to experience what I just experienced.
Click to expand...

That is a little messed up. I felt that way too when I always called my local Apple store. Some days I would walk-in too just to double check. Got lucky yesterday, called and they had some, walked in 10 minutes later and had one.
 
I would have let her know that she was, at best, wrong to tell me they were out of stock without checking. On the other hand, what if they only had one for you because she was intercepting potential sales ahead of you?
 
dsm2gst said:
I think she was being selective who she should sell it to or saving it for herself/friends/family.
Click to expand...

As I said: It's a conspiracy!


Look, they don't all know everything that goes on at the store at all times.

I bumped into a friend who works at an Apple Store and asked her if they had any in stock that day, and she said no way. I went to the store later that day, and they had 32 GBs in stock.

When I got my iPad, I went to an Apple Store and asked for a pogo sketch. The first guy told me they don't sell them there, and the second guy told me he'll be right back with one from the back.

They aren't forced to memorize the store's stock-list when they punch in.

Move on, you're over-reacting.
 
You know after reading the other persons post above mine - that makes more sense. I did call yesterday and was told they had walk-in stock but were going fast. When I walked in I asked the guy for a 16GB iP4 and he said "do you have a reservation?" I said No but I called and they had stock. He walked back and confirmed. Still they all need to be on the same page, more or less. Don't have to know exactly how many..
 
My guess is she had the wrong info or was too lazy to verify the stock. Nonetheless, I would have been tempted to show her my new iPhone as I walk out of the store just to see how she explains herself.
 
Surely said:
As I said: It's a conspiracy!


Look, they don't all know everything that goes on at the store at all times.

I bumped into a friend who works at an Apple Store and asked her if they had any in stock that day, and she said no way. I went to the store later that day, and they had 32 GBs in stock.

When I got my iPad, I went to an Apple Store and asked for a pogo sketch. The first guy told me they don't sell them there, and the second guy told me he'll be right back with one from the back.

They aren't forced to memorize the store's stock-list when they punch in.

Move on, you're over-reacting.
Click to expand...

I would understand if the store was busy but there was only a few customers there. She had enough time to check inventory. Maybe she was just being lazy.
 
I would've probably walked up to her afterwards and politely tell her she needs to doublecheck before telling people there aren't any phones in stock.
 
I'm a teenage girl so of course I'd b***ch at her or shove the damn phone on her face and say "so what do you think this is? An Evo?!" haha :)
 
DanggxAmanda said:
I'm a teenage girl so of course I'd b***ch at her or shove the damn phone on her face and say "so what do you think this is? An Evo?!" haha :)
Click to expand...

If you're trying to spell the word I think you are, with b and ch, there's only two other letters.

I don't like to tell people (directly) when they've screwed up, even when I know inside that I should. When I checked out, I'd probably ask the specialist (or whoever checked you out) to speak with the manager real quick. I'd just mention to him that the lady up front is telling people they're sold out, and I'm pretty sure he'll take care of it quick fast and in a hurt. That lady is hurting sales in his store. (Political correctness: Manager might also be female)

The thing is, the iPhone 4 is -the- major product in Apple stores right now, probably dwarfing the iPad launch. At least in the store I visit, the employees are all wearing radio headsets. I wouldn't be surprised if a quick announcement is made to all employees whenever iPhone 4's go in and out of stock.

Bottom line, this lady was wrong. The correct answer would have been "We were out when I punched in and weren't expecting any in today, but you might want to ask one of our iPhone specialists to double check", or "I don't know, but one of our iPhone specialists would know."
 
I wouldn't say lied. She just couldn't be bothered, why, I have no idea. Personally, I would have approached her with the iPhone in hand and say "no iPhones huh"
 
dsm2gst said:
I would understand if the store was busy but there was only a few customers there. She had enough time to check inventory. Maybe she was just being lazy.
Click to expand...

But it worked to your advantage. Perhaps if she'd been doing her job properly all day before you arrived, then the store would've been sold out.

Lesser folks would have given up, but you refused to take no for an answer. Good!
 
dsm2gst said:
I think she was being selective who she should sell it to or saving it for herself/friends/family.
Click to expand...

Lol are you taking the pi$$? You sounds quite insecure....

She was probably just misinformed about stock levels, as someone stated earlier!
 
I bought my phone at AT&T but I had a lapse of reason and went to Apple first to buy a case. A girl at the door with an iPad sneered "What do YOU want?" and I told her I needed a case for my phone. Without touching or looking away from her unchanging iPad screen she snapped "We don't have any" and that was that, apparently. End of conversation. I later found out from a friend who works there that they had about a billion of them but, you know, screw 'em. Given what I've seen from Apple lately, however, Miss Minimum Wage 2010 does seem to represent the company pretty well.
 
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8A293 Safari/6531.22.7)

John89 said:
Lol are you taking the pi$$? You sounds quite insecure....
Click to expand...
WTF are you even taking about?

This whole thread is a gentle reminder that there is a problem with the iPhone that's much larger than any antenna issue. It is dissolving people's brains.
 
dsm2gst said:
I would understand if the store was busy but there was only a few customers there. She had enough time to check inventory. Maybe she was just being lazy.
Click to expand...

One strategy that I have found useful is to get the name of the person I'm speaking to on the phone. That way, when saleslady says they don't have any, and doesn't check, can simply reply that you spoke with so-and-so on the phone, who told you that there was stock. Even better, you can ask for so-and-so to help you, that way he/she gets credit for the sale. (I don't know if Apple Store folks work on commission or some such.)

Saleslady was in the wrong for not even bothering to check though.
 
dsm2gst said:
I called the Stanford Mall Apple store to check if they have any iPhone 4 32GB available. The guy that answered told me that they had limited stock but if I come to the store tonight I should be able to get one. I rushed to the store and got there 45 mins later. I walked in and the sales lady with glasses and short hair asked me how she can help me. I asked politely if they have 32GB iPhone 4 in stock and she quickly answered no. I told her that I called earlier and they told me they have some in stock and she still said no. By then I was confused and walked out the store. Just to confirm I called the Stanford Mall Apple store and asked if they have 32GB iPhone 4 in stock and the guy on the phone confirmed they do. So I walked back in to the store and approached a male sales person. I asked again if they have 32GB iPhone 4 in stock and he replied yes. So by then I knew the lady lied to me. I was able to buy the phone, but it just upsets me that people would lie like that especially to customers.

My question for everyone how would you handle the situation if you were in my shoes? I was upset at the time, but I didn't want to cause a scene at the store. I obviously wouldn't want anyone else to experience what I just experienced.
Click to expand...

Good grief, the persecution complexes these days are ridiculous. The lady screwed up, but you still got your iPhone. I doubt she was intentionally lying to you for some unknown reason. Just let it go and be happy with your new phone.
 
Surely said:
As I said: It's a conspiracy!


Look, they don't all know everything that goes on at the store at all times.

I bumped into a friend who works at an Apple Store and asked her if they had any in stock that day, and she said no way. I went to the store later that day, and they had 32 GBs in stock.

When I got my iPad, I went to an Apple Store and asked for a pogo sketch. The first guy told me they don't sell them there, and the second guy told me he'll be right back with one from the back.

They aren't forced to memorize the store's stock-list when they punch in.

Move on, you're over-reacting.
Click to expand...

You're missing the point.

If the employee took a minute to confirm the inventory rather then just assume/be lazy, the situation could've been avoided.
 
OneMike said:
You're missing the point.

If the employee took a minute to confirm the inventory rather then just assume/be lazy, the situation could've been avoided.
Click to expand...

Agreed. It was laziness.

Having worked retail during a busy season (and launch is a busy season), it is imperative to know whether the "hot" item or items are in stock. And if you're unsure, it's good to check.

Unless she really was trying to keep some around for a friend (not unheard of in the retail world).
 
OneMike said:
You're missing the point.

If the employee took a minute to confirm the inventory rather then just assume/be lazy, the situation could've been avoided.
Click to expand...

I didn't miss the point. I agree that she should have checked. However, she didn't lie as the OP suggests. That was my point.
 
mgamber said:
Given what I've seen from Apple lately, however, Miss Minimum Wage 2010 does seem to represent the company pretty well.
Click to expand...
I think a lot of people tend to forget that the majority of Apple Store employees are just that: Low wage retail workers. They put a geeky shirt on them and call them fancy names, but they're not much better than what you'll find at the The Gap next door (OK - Maybe one notch above, but that's it...). I doubt many of the employees there are planning to make a career out of checking iPhone stock. They're watching the clock and waiting for their next paycheck just like the rest of us. If you go in expecting that level of service, you won't be disappointed.
 
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