Pet Peeve: The Stupidit of Apple Employees

[strausd]

I am a fairly big Apple fan and often visit the Apple Store because I have made friends there. I've noticed that most of the employees there are complete idiots. For example: When one does something as simple as inverting the screen, an employee would go up and say, "I think it's broken!"

My last visit to the Apple Store was on Monday right after the announcement of the new iPhone 3G S. I was outside the store by Starbucks and saw some Apple employees talking. One said to the other, "Apple just released a new product called the iPhone 3G S, no idea what the 'S' stands for, probably super or something like that." Now this just came out and people selling this product should probably know what exactly it is. Is it just this store, or do all stores have complete idiots working there?

 

[JDee]

lol!!

The Apple Store where I live is really smart actually. They are outgoing but at the same time serious with their job.

 

[miffed]

Pet Peeve: The Stupidit of Apple Employees

Irony ?

 

[michael.lauden]

I am a fairly big Apple fan and often visit the Apple Store because I have made friends there. I've noticed that most of the employees there are complete idiots. For example: When one does something as simple as inverting the screen, an employee would go up and say, "I think it's broken!"

My last visit to the Apple Store was on Monday right after the announcement of the new iPhone 3G S. I was outside the store by Starbucks and saw some Apple employees talking. One said to the other, "Apple just released a new product called the iPhone 3G S, no idea what the 'S' stands for, probably super or something like that." Now this just came out and people selling this product should probably know what exactly it is. Is it just this store, or do all stores have complete idiots working there?

honestly if you're not passionate about your job somewhere.. you don't really care. it may sound really dumb but when i was a mechanic... and i did a 'good' job and was told that i didn't really care - and when a new part came out it wasn't really that exciting, just more work.

imagine hating computers and working there, that might explain it a little more for ya.

 

[JDee]

Irony ?

I was just reading the thread title and was about to post the exact same thing.

 

[daonesteven]

apple store usually hires those with more retail experience and customer presence than those with more computer savvy or knowledge. I know from personal experience as well as all of my friends who were also denied jobs there. It's definitely understandable as to why they would do that from a business standpoint, but it's the consumers who get shafted.

 

[miffed]

I have noticed that in most walks of life , people who work in shops know precious little about their "wares" compared to a passionate enthusiast , this is true of all kinds of product lines - After all , I suspect most of them simply Applied for a job in a shop , rather than subscribing to a product "religon".

I have encountered some very knowledgeable and enthusiastic people in the past - along with some total numpties !

 

[strausd]

The best part was i think one of them was a "Specialist"

 

[coolwater]

If you are smart and knowledgeable on computers, wouldn't there be a better job than working at an Apple store? Well, I don't know their pay structure or their job satisfaction level, so I may be wrong.

 

[sammich]

It would be interesting to know what the pay structure is at an Apple Store. Someone else mentioned on this forum that finding someone who is experienced in retail, helpful to customers AND knowledgeable with Apple computers AND keeps up all the happenings within Cupertino AND reads MR constantly AND will work for whatever they're paying them might be rare.

 

[Eddyisgreat]

It would be interesting to know what the pay structure is at an Apple Store. Someone else mentioned on this forum that finding someone who is experienced in retail, helpful to customers AND knowledgeable with Apple computers AND keeps up all the happenings within Cupertino AND reads MR constantly AND will work for whatever they're paying them might be rare.

Yeah its pretty hard to find a sales person who likes to use macs (over simplification of your statement)

I'd do it but I got out of retail because of all the stupidity that walks through the door during business hours.

 

[iVeBeenDrinkin']

I just want you to know OP, you can, and should change the title of this thread.

 

[chrono1081]

I can't speak for the apple store but heres how it is in electronics retail in general:

Myth: Employees should know everything about "the products they are selling".

Fact: A new product comes out on the shelf, maybe someone who works there looks at the back of the box. The price tags come out that may have specs listed on them. The employees generally know what the specs mean and sell you the product based on that. There is no magic training or sales guides from the manufacturer, just the tags and the box.

Myth: The employees fixing my computers for $10 an hour should know everything about computers.

Fact: You get what you pay for. If someone has a computer science degree they are not going to be working at best buy or apple store etc. The people who fix your computer GENERALLY know a decent amount about repair but are still learning. After all the people who know everything inside and out are making much more money elsewhere.

Myth: The genius (or geek, or wherever you go) is stupid! My computer has this problem and they said nothing is wrong.

Fact: If they cannot reproduce the problem its pretty much impossible to fix. A lot of the time customers blow things out of proportion and say things like "My blah blah is crashing all the time" so the tech runs blah blah for 3 days straight with no crashes. Looks to the tech like a one time deal. Unless the problem is re-createable its really tough to diagnose.

Sorry I know its a little off topic to the OPs post but thats how electronics retail works in a nutshell. And, more and more companies want their techs to sell also to increase profitability which REALLY frustrates the technician because instead of working and fixing computers they have to sell too which puts them behind their work.

I'm so glad I left retail long ago.

 

[TRAG]

Oh man I feel the exact same way. I'd say about 75% of the people only actually know how to use the iPods. Besides that, 15% are very knowledgeable, and the other 10% are true Mac enthusiast. It's like a farce.

 

[polishmacuser]

heck talking about not being a "specialist" i talked to an employee about blu-ray, since my dad wished he could have blu-ray in his 17 inch macbook pro he mentioned out of context. The employee asked what is blu-ray. Me and my dad though he was kidding well he wasnt.

 

[Michael CM1]

These people probably make $10/hour tops if they're part of the sales team. The ones I have dealt with before all had ample knowledge of the products, and the Genius Bar guys are top-notch and friendly.

To complain about some employee not knowing what the "S" in 3G S means is like complaining about some McDonald's employee not knowing what the third ingredient in the Big Mac special sauce is. Jesus, some of you act like people are born knowing everything. If you had not been an uptight jerk and just told them "I heard on the keynote that it stood for speed because the hardware and 3G connection is faster," you have the entire problem solved.

 

[Pooshka]

OP, fix the freakin' thread title!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chrono1081]

Back a while ago when Circuit City was commissioned based I worked there and we had customers constantly complimenting on our knowledge of products. Why? Because as a commissioned person if you sold the customer the wrong thing and they returned it you lost any money you made on it so only the most knowledgeable survived.

When CCity took away commission knowledge levels plummeted (the best salesguys were cut too cause they made the most) and ever since then that company was in a downward spiral ever since until it closed.

We had people making close to 6 figures a year in our store and the store was always busy. All that ended when people realized they werent getting the expert advice or care they were used to getting.

Now each electronics store sticks a few employees on a sales floor filled with customers and expects everyone to be taken care of and sold the best stuff. Unrealistic...

 

[Nor*Cal]

Thanks. Not all Apple employees are like this. Way to generalize.

 

[olisones]

I went to the Apple Store in Brent Cross here in the UK the day after the WWDC Keynote hoping to have a look at the new 13" Macbook Pro. Not only did the Employee not know about the updates, she had to look on Apple's website and recite back the info I could see infront of me (and knew already!). I asked her if she even knew about WWDC and she said 'what's that'!!

I reckon the users here should set up a new store selling Macs - it would be a much easier experience!!

 

[fireshot91]

It would be interesting to know what the pay structure is at an Apple Store. Someone else mentioned on this forum that finding someone who is experienced in retail, helpful to customers AND knowledgeable with Apple computers AND keeps up all the happenings within Cupertino AND reads MR constantly AND will work for whatever they're paying them might be rare.

I'm all of those!


I've had retail experience since about 2 years ago. I'm a Mac Fan. I have Windows and OS-X experience. I will also work for pretty much anything above Minimum Wage (7.25 I think it is).


HIRE ME APPLE AT TYSON'S CORNER, VA!

 

[Nor*Cal]

I'm all of those!


I've had retail experience since about 2 years ago. I'm a Mac Fan. I have Windows and OS-X experience. I will also work for pretty much anything above Minimum Wage (7.25 I think it is).


HIRE ME APPLE AT TYSON'S CORNER, VA!

good luck. took me forever.

 

[Eyedn]

The best part was i think one of them was a "Specialist"

God forbid an Apple employee maybe made a joke?

The stupidit thread to me.

 

[darngooddesign]

The best part was i think one of them was a "Specialist"

Did he specialize in spelling?

 

[NewGenAdam]

My Apple Store is the London Regent Street one.

When I was thinking about buying my first Mac, I went in, approached a random specialist and said "tell me why I should buy a Mac."

As it turned out, the guy SERIOUSLY knew his stuff, and was a convert of two years, so he understood my unenelightened perspective. I left the shop over an hour later, and with a pretty decent, if basic, knowledge of the OS.

And then, a week or two later, I bought my first Mac,
and I can no longer imagine buying anything but =)