Screw you Apple and Tim Cook! So much for customer satisfaction...

[Carouser]

Shorter Carouser: I have never done a lick of troubleshooting in my life.


FYI, we can do this all day long. What you are aiming at is something like this. My car engine is making a noise, maybe my dishwasher has a problem?

If I'd done plenty of troubleshooting I would know (1) that I wouldn't be as sure as you are without having the stuff in my hands and (2) that there's always the possibility that the problem isn't what I've expected even if it seems like a run-of-the-mill-issue.

Since we're all about reading posts carefully, you'll see that I never made any positive claims about what the problem would be, but that your convictions about what the problem is and isn't and who is at fault seems unreasonably premature and potentially fallible.

 

[iEvolution]

While I think some people are being silly returning 10 ipads for supposed defects, this is the reason I try to avoid the first few batches, apple does have a track record for hardware defects with new products.

Various monitors over the years
First gen touch inverted blacks
iphone 4 antenna issues
Defective video cards (though to be fair this would be the manufacturers problem like nvidia rather than apple)

Nevermind their x.0 software releases which are like betas. Though they end up fine in the end after a few updates.

I think Apple could improve with better quality control, it seems around 2007 they started using the public for testing their products. The 2007 ipods is when I stopped buying their products right after it's release, that generation was attroachus, the ipod touch had iphone errors with its factory firmware!

Apple makes products with premium materials, appealing to the masses in markets that haven't taken completely off (mp3 players, tablets, mobile apps) has incredible marketing and nothing matches their customer service (well maybe amazon is a close 2nd)... this is how they are where they are today.

If they changed policies on customer service I would think it would hurt their image.

If I am in no hurry to have the latest, greatest I prefer refurbs from Apple actually because they are inspected and verified to be in working order by a technician and saves a few bucks.

 

[stockcerts]

Try adding a little fiber to your diet the day before your next visit. Then go back with a nicer attitude.

I've never had anything other than excellent customer service from Apple.

 

[master-ceo]

I think Apple could improve with better quality control, it seems around 2007 they started using the public for testing their products.

+1 I feel the same way as A first gen iPhone and iPad owner.

 

[Carouser]

+1 I feel the same way as A first gen iPhone and iPad owner.

It's wrong, it's just confirmation bias.

 

[ephemeralreason]

FWIW, since the new iPad has the AppleCare+ option, I think this policy applies to it also:
AppleCare+ to End Informal Free Replacement Policy

If you can demonstrate a problem to them that's covered by the warranty, they'll replace it. But their ability to do frequent "good will" swaps to keep a customer happy appears to be gone (or severely reduced).

Actually, I found this not to be the case: my iPhone 4s had very annoying rattle and dropped by the Genius Bar and the fellow replaced it without my even asking for him to do so, even after he claimed he couldn't replicate the problem. And, I didn't purchase AppleCare+. Perhaps I'm just fortunate?

 

[WeegieMac]

I have to agree with those who say 'lose the attitude that you're entitled' to a replacement.

Two weeks ago my Magic Mouse, a good four months out of warranty, began randomly disconnecting/reconnecting from my iMac. I installed a fresh copy of OS X on an external partition and created a new user on my main hard drive to test it out, same thing occurred on both.

I made a Genius Bar appointment, and was more than willing to pay for a repair or replacement. I knew the issue was intermittent so I recorded the fault on my iPhone 4 and took the footage with me to the store.

The Genius asked me what was wrong, and I calmly explained that my mouse was disconnecting and reconnecting randomly and that I knew it was four months out of warranty, but had the receipt if proof was required. I asked hwo much it would be to take the mouse back behind the bar and repair it, and he said that he would try to recreate the issue first. Unfortunately he couldn't so I asked if my recorded footage was sufficient to show the issue?

He agreed, quite happily, to view the footage and even struck up a conversation about my music taste as the video was recorded while using iTunes and the pointer had stuck during disconnection over my rock/metal albums. "If you're going to get a stuck pointer, that's the music to get stuck over", he said.

He went on to say, "Yeah, clearly there's a blown connection or component in there, let's get you a new one". He took a new Magic Mouse off the shelf, put it into my own Magic Mouse's box, and sent me on my way.

Never feel entitled, these guys will always help you if you give them their rightful place first.

 

[VenusianSky]

Many wifi issues may be due to the area the person with problems is in. Apple cannot control the radio noise of your area. If you are on the fringe of coverage or you are near somebody who chats on their cordless phone a lot, they cannot do anything about these very real deterrents to wifi performance.

Microwave ovens can be a source of radio noise. baby monitors and walkie talkies.

It is not Apple's fault.

Understood, but you are making an assumption regardless that the OP said that other Apple devices do not experience the same problem. I may be making an assumption, but I would figure that the person has tested the new iPad and other devices together (side by side) in several locations. If that person did not, then maybe more testing should be performed.

 

[tigress666]

So because they have replaced for free in the past you feel ENTITLED to a free replacement this time?

Problem is last time he shouldn't have gotten a free replacement. This time he should have (though they had no way of knowing that since the device wouldn't display the problem in the store). But you know what they say about calling wolf all the time?

Maybe they got sick of people taking advantage when they shouldn't have and had to crack down on offering replacements so easily when they got ripped off so much. Happens all the time to any store that has good return policies that people abuse... they eventually find they are losing too much money and have to get stricter.

So, I say this is karma biting the OP in the butt... it's attitudes like his when he dropped his phone in water and got Apple to replace it when they shouldn't have that has probably convinced Apple to get more strict.

And yes, us others should be pissed at him for his iphone incident. Cause it's people like him that cause the rest of us when we need to report a problem to Apple. And then he has the temerity to bitch about them treating him like that when it was stuff like what he did with the iPhone that causes them to get more strict about things rather than just taking the customer at their word.

 

[ZipZap]

I have to agree with those who say 'lose the attitude that you're entitled' to a replacement.

Two weeks ago my Magic Mouse, a good four months out of warranty, began randomly disconnecting/reconnecting from my iMac. I installed a fresh copy of OS X on an external partition and created a new user on my main hard drive to test it out, same thing occurred on both.

I made a Genius Bar appointment, and was more than willing to pay for a repair or replacement. I knew the issue was intermittent so I recorded the fault on my iPhone 4 and took the footage with me to the store.

The Genius asked me what was wrong, and I calmly explained that my mouse was disconnecting and reconnecting randomly and that I knew it was four months out of warranty, but had the receipt if proof was required. I asked hwo much it would be to take the mouse back behind the bar and repair it, and he said that he would try to recreate the issue first. Unfortunately he couldn't so I asked if my recorded footage was sufficient to show the issue?

He agreed, quite happily, to view the footage and even struck up a conversation about my music taste as the video was recorded while using iTunes and the pointer had stuck during disconnection over my rock/metal albums. "If you're going to get a stuck pointer, that's the music to get stuck over", he said.

He went on to say, "Yeah, clearly there's a blown connection or component in there, let's get you a new one". He took a new Magic Mouse off the shelf, put it into my own Magic Mouse's box, and sent me on my way.

Never feel entitled, these guys will always help you if you give them their rightful place first.

Lose the attitude....what?

You went into that store with the attitude that you were due a replacement. The difference was in your approach to getting what you wanted.

If you really felt that you were not entitled, you would have just bought another one.

Now, that said....I agree its approach that wins the day.

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FOR EVERYONE ELSE:

Did I miss someone saying that they ranted and screamed and demanded a replacement in this thread?
Thanks