california has an executive order that basically says Apple can't open their stores. i believe new york is the same.
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People Who Left Devices at Apple Stores for Repair Can't Get Them Until Stores Reopen
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really? They asked people to come in and pick up their crap, and they didn’t.
Many would disagree. In-store sales is non-essential but getting devices back to owners is essential and that function doesn't require opening the store to customers. If they allow auto repair exception then they should allow telecommute repair especially since it has lower risk of public exposure.
To all the people criticizing Apple for not getting the devices back to their owners: read the article. Apple gave customers several extra days after the announcement for said customers to pick up their devices. If the devices were really that important to their owners (eg. for work), they would have found a way to pick them up. In this case, it seems Apple has done what should be reasonably expected of them. Pandemic or not, customers shouldn't be leaving their property in a store for an extended period of time (due to liability reasons for the store).
I side with Apple on this. The logistics of managing the return of equipment in-store would be so complicated given the ordinances in place. And it could be a sick person that comes in to grab their laptop or whatever, putting everyone else at risk. One person can infect a thousand. It's not worth the risk.
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I just went to a Walmart that hasn't published any reduced hours, and the McDonald's inside was also operating normally, although they may have blocked the seating, I didn't notice.
But I didn't see a SINGLE person wiping down surfaces! This is what I'd expect to see during this type of situation... extra staff quickly going around wiping down handles and other common surfaces that customers are touching. I was going to grab a burger on the way out, but changed my mind as I never saw anything that gave me confidence that the place was being santized in any way during the opening hours.
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I just went to a Walmart that hasn't published any reduced hours, and the McDonald's inside was also operating normally, although they may have blocked the seating, I didn't notice.
But I didn't see a SINGLE person wiping down surfaces! This is what I'd expect to see during this type of situation... extra staff quickly going around wiping down handles and other common surfaces that customers are touching. I was going to grab a burger on the way out, but changed my mind as I never saw anything that gave me confidence that the place was being santized in any way during the opening hours.
Did you poll everyone who didn’t pick up their device?
seems more likely that if someone needed their device they would have picked it up when Apple called.
If the device being repaired is essential in running a city and such, yes, it is essential to the good of the community.
Individual "essentials" so you can work from home don't fall into this category in almost ALL cases.
It sucks. I know.
Months from now (if we're lucky).
Sucks for people who need these devices to telework, to do tele-schooling for their kids who are home, or frankly just be entertained in these shaky times. Apple really should have done and should now do _everything_ in their power to get devices back to customers. Access to devices is literally access to income and schooling for many people now.
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This says otherwise. At this point it's better to get clarification from government than second guessing.
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/whats-open-during-bay-area-shelter-in-place-order/2255828/
"Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home; "
It does and I feel bad for people in the sinking boat.
But, how many posts are here on the boards about people not being able to pick up their machines?
I don't recall seeing even one in the MacBook Pro forum here.
Given that Apple gave people two days and many people that urgently needed their machines heeded the two day window and likely did get them, I gotta guess Apple doesn't have a hell of a lot of stored machines at this point.
Not saying they don't have a good amount, just not an amount that would make anyone here go holy S*&%!!
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So because Gamestop sells keyboards they are now essential? Nope.
Apple should sell hand sanitizer and bleach so they can declare themselves essential. Sigh.
Don't get me wrong, it's good that Apple did that, and they're in a touch spot here.
But two days is not enough time. I don't agree with the notion that "if the device was essential for work, they would have gotten it by then anyway." What if you're out of town for those days? What if you had a slight cough and were following public health recommendations to stay home out of an abundance of caution? Now you're just stuck without your essential computer because there was a couple day period you couldn't get to the store.
Gamestop should be allowed to ship but not allow in-store purchase. Same for Apple to be allowed to ship back devices to owners but not allow in-store pickup. Apple is shipping new products to customers, are they not?
And that's the result of never having 100% perfection in an extraordinary situation that has not been encountered by the United States in recent history.
After being advised of the situation by Apple and the importance of picking up the repaired product timely, it's up to the owner to step up and take responsibility to make sure it is picked up or alternate arrangements have been made.
Apple stepped up and met its responsibility to have the product repaired timely; likely dealing with a ton of last minute repairs under a ton of pressure. The owner, assuming they're adults, similarly need to step up and meet their responsibility.
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How is that “playing” the system? Lol. Apple’s return policy states “has to be returned in the same exact condition”. It doesn’t say you can’t use something and return it.
It doesn’t say “you’re not allowed to use it everyday for 2 weeks and then return it.”
Actually, employees recommend customers to buy and then return if their main device is being repaired.
I just think Apple should have mailed off the products before they closed the stores. And if Apple in fact didn't record down the customer's address before taking ownership of gear worth thousands of dollars, that's a policy Apple really, really ought to reconsider once the dust settles.
Ya well. There are a lot of people that got one day notice that their jobs were closing indefinitely so we can start a back and forth on how essential some things are in life. And I mean a LOT of people.
Everybody is in the same situation and I am going to go out on a limb here.
The number of computers "essential" to someone being able to work from home sitting in Apple Stores definitely dwarves the number of people that don't even have the option to work from home.
?
You actually could...Apple extended their return period to 14 days after stores reopen.
Apple's policy exists so that people can purchase a product with confidence, knowing it can be returned if the product doesn't meet their requirements or expectations. And that's an awesome policy. Especially right now, in this uncertain situation where it is not known when Apple will reopen their stores. I'm guessing it will be at least two months.
Apple's policy doesn't exist so that people can rent a laptop, say for three months, rent free.
I understand you, and likely many others, may not understand the difference between the two situations.
I'm sure Apple realizes there are people who will play the system. In which case Apple will eat the costs and not make a fuss about it.
...I don't understand the relationship.
Yeah, it's really sucky that a lot of people lost their jobs. It's also really sucky that a lot of people are going to die of the Cornovirus. It's also really sucky that a bunch of people are stuck without their laptops. It's also really sucky that I forgot to put my ice cream back in the freezer.
The fact that one of those problems is worse than the another does not somehow mitigate the other problems.
This kind of highlights a problem in Apple's tight grip on servicing and parts... Most people get their devices fixed in an Apple store. That gets shutdown, there aren't many options for people.
A lot of devices are gonna break or people will break them during this time, can you imagine the lead times on repairs once things reopen?
A lot of devices are gonna break or people will break them during this time, can you imagine the lead times on repairs once things reopen?
Yeah, so far that's happened once in 40 years. I can live with those odds.
This looks bad on Apples part but its not, every other store that closed its doors that provide similar services went about it the same way if not worse. For example but less significant, I dropped film off at a photo lab on Thursday, went to pick it up Monday to find out they are closed till April 7th, good thing these were just photos from a trip and not paid client.... Don't blame apple for this kind of stuff blame the virus, we are all going thru big inconveniences right now.