Why I am un-switching

[5300cs]

I suppose you need to take the good with the bad. I've had both kinds of experiences with Apple. It's somewhat of an emotional roller coaster ride at times.

I had an Apple Pro mouse that died on me right after the warantee expired, my TiBooks paint chipped away & the AC adapter cable frayed. I also sent in an old Wallstreet to get the display hinges repaired and it took 3 weeks!

On the other hand, I sent off my iBook to get the logic board replaced: the shipping company came on a Saturday evening at 6, and it was ready by Monday night. I bought a 1.6Hgz G5 and the store gave me a nice G5 t-shirt. Also the user experience usually makes up for any blunders on Apples part

Yeah it sucks that Apple dropped the ball on your order, but I hope it doesn't forever tarnish your opinion of them. I hope after using your G5 everyone will get to say "I told you so"

Enjoy it!

 

[w00tmaster]

It shipped

Well, my refurb Rev A dual 1.8 shipped today. I should have ordered this to begin with. All this fuss because Apple's default video card sucks. Maybe if I count my pennies I can get a better one when Doom 3 comes out. I am still going to file a complaint on Monday so nobody else has to go through this bs like I did.

 

[zakee00]

damn u wootmaster, lol i want that dual 1.8 sooo bad for D3...i should sell my pb on ebay
btw, dont listen to the smellypants people that badmouth u just cuz ur really p-oed. i have gotten mad at apple a lot too, this is the 3rd time i need to send my pb in for repair in 6 months!!!!
have fun with your machine, and doom III ,
Nick

 

[Mechcozmo]

that sucks

Sorry that you gave up on Apple computers. I built a WinTel to help me with some Windows-Only homework (Virtual PC is rather sluggish on my three-year-old iMac). I need to run virus software every week, check for spyware eveyr week, or sooner if I open up Internet Explorer. IE IS HORROR!!!! GAPING HOLES!!!! GAH!!!! Thankfully, Mozilla helps a tad bit. Now, at least I don't have to worry about "an attacker gaining control of your computer." Thank you, Microsoft.

Unfortuanatly, it is true that you were treated like a dead, rabid, rat. So, call Apple up and give em an earfull! Talk to them about how your troubles, and I'd bet you could get that G5 overnighted.

 

[Kenny Pollock]

Sounds similar to my story..

Last year I really wanted an iPod, and Apple was shipping it to me, due 3 days from when I purchased it to ship. 3 days came, no word. Order status: 2 more week wait. I was pissed, but I waited two more weeks. 2 weeks came, 1 more week. I was furious. Cancelled the order, bought it from Amazon, got it same week.. That's why it's better to order from a reseller.

If I hadn't used my developer discount on the Dual 2.5GHz I just saved $700 on, I would've bought it from a reseller.

 

[Macs R Us]

What, PC's only... Macs will serve you best! ... Hope you change your mind.

 

[plus_c]

Well, to me quality includes everything from the order, to the shipping process, to after the sale. And frankly, Apple has nailed the last one, but in my opinion, fail badly at the first two. I shop at a discount store, if they don't have what I want, I simply buy another brand. That simple. If I wanted to ensure that my favorite brands and whatnot are stocked, I will go to a more expensive store. A store where I pay for quality. Same thing with Apple. Since I did pay a decent amount of money, I expected quality from the time I placed my order till 1 year or 3 years(depending on whether or not I get applecare) after the sale. I didn't get that, and I paid for it. That is why I am upset.

You've nailed it on this point. Over the last two years, I worked at a campus computer store that happened to be one of the largest on the East Coast. I've dealt with some VERY irate Apple customers, thanks to shipping delays of all sorts. Apple's got the most incredible products, but they've really got to get their logistics act together. For a company of Apple's size - and even though their relative size compared to Dell, et. al. are tiny, Apple still produces in large volumes - to have such problems with delivery is unacceptable.

 

[ozone]

wOOtmaster is right on

I'm really kind of surprised by all the people belittling wOOtmaster's complaint.
I recently bought a Mac for our personal use at home and was told that it would qualify for a warranty despite being an older model (unsold demo). I checked three times with the reseller prior to purchasing: the reseller even indicated they contacted Apple. Paid, got the paperwork, and was called by the reseller that I should fax in my purchase information. Sure enough, I get a curt email from Apple two days later saying my request was denied. I was very upset: the whole point of buying it was so that it would qualify for a warranty. As it turns out, there was some miscommunication and that additional paperwork had to be sent in by the reseller Human error? Sure. However, when you as the customer make a point to check several times to make sure there will be no problems, this is the last thing you expect or deserve.

Buying any good includes the whole retail experience. It's up to wOOtmaster to decide whether to continue with Apple and in this case, it looks like the tradeoffs are still in Apple's favour. Where I work, I am in a position to influence the buying habits of quite a few people, and more than once, co-workers have bought IT equipment based on my recommendation, and personal experiences heavily influence professional and corporate decisions. Lousy customer service does not translate to larger market share.

 

[zv470]

I don't believe that the University required you to buy a dual G5 in-order for you to work for them. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Apple, you were probably dealing with students Apple had hired for some summer work. A bit of patience and good communication goes a long way.

edit: Maybe you should get a job at a call-center this summer instead, see what life is like on the other end of the phone. No sympathy. I'm sure you weren't looking for it either when you posted.

 

[solvs]

I'm not going to belittle you for being mad, but posting a complaint like that on a forum like this is just begging to get a flame war going. I think the part that got everyone riled up was where you said you're never going to buy another Mac again and build a PC. Now Newegg is great and all (most of the time, we all have horror stories), but a response like that isn't going to win you any sympathy on a board filled with people waiting for G5 iMacs (any day now Apple).

The good thing about ordering from someplace like Dell is that if you don't like it, you can go buy from Compaq or (shudder) Gateway, or build one yourself like you were going to. Problem being, they are all Windows. Even that Gentoo Opteron could have problems with it. Linux comes with it's own issues. But if you want OS X, you buy a Mac from Apple. That's why I like resellers, but I guess that wouldn't work for you, wanting the Dev discount (or student discount).

That being said, I'm sorry you had such a bad experiance. Don't be afraid to call and complain. You might get something nice for being screwed over.

 

[w00tmaster]

I don't believe that the University required you to buy a dual G5 in-order for you to work for them. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Apple, you were probably dealing with students Apple had hired for some summer work. A bit of patience and good communication goes a long way.

edit: Maybe you should get a job at a call-center this summer instead, see what life is like on the other end of the phone. No sympathy. I'm sure you weren't looking for it either when you posted.

I worked at McDonald's, I know what life is like in a customer service job. Even at McDonald's though(at least the one I worked at), we always explained to the customer why there was a delay, and if we royally screwed up, we would always try to compensate the customer for our screw up, either a coupon for a free meal next time they come in or a free pie or something. The managers would always be the ones who did this.
If McDonald's can do customer service right, I don't see why Apple can't.

 

[iGav]

If McDonald's can do customer service right, I don't see why Apple can't.

But not all McDonalds are like that... And this is where the problems lies.

Does one blame the entire McDonalds corporation for the attitude of one spotty 16 year old when one visits the 'Drive-Thru'??

I'm glad to hear that you're complaining, after all my run in's with Apple, I make a note of firing off a well constructed, polite but firm letter in the hope that it'll contribute to an improvement in Apple's overall service. It's certainly a bitter pill to swallow after spending umpteen thousand on their products only to have to deal with the odd person who doesn't have a f**kin' clue.

 

[zv470]

I worked at McDonald's, I know what life is like in a customer service job. Even at McDonald's though(at least the one I worked at), we always explained to the customer why there was a delay, and if we royally screwed up, we would always try to compensate the customer for our screw up, either a coupon for a free meal next time they come in or a free pie or something. The managers would always be the ones who did this.
If McDonald's can do customer service right, I don't see why Apple can't.

Yeah true. I guess it's a training issue. Every call-center has its newbies, maybe he was unlucky to talk to some of those? I worked in a call-center a few years ago, and remember the huge amount of material you had to remember, and the pressure to handle as many calls as possible. Was a stressful time, but a valuable experience

 

[MrSugar]

Hey man, sorry to hear you had so much trouble. I have heard so many good and bad claims with apple's sales team and customer support... but trust me once you are on the new G5 you wont be sad.

If it helps, I ordered a Dual 2 refurb a while ago, it came in about a week. Here's to hoping you get yours soon too.

 

[Cohiba]

I understand your frustration! I also am a recent "convert". I bought a brand new G5 1.8, when I got home and took it out of the box it was DOA!! You can imagine my disappointment, I returned it the next day and got a new rig that works... fantastically! I am so glad that I made the switch to Apple! You really need to reconsider your decision, for if you do, you can only deduct that Mac is the way to go!

 

[paxtonandrew]

I understand your frustration! I also am a recent "convert". I bought a brand new G5 1.8, when I got home and took it out of the box it was DOA!! You can imagine my disappointment, I returned it the next day and got a new rig that works... fantastically! I am so glad that I made the switch to Apple! You really need to reconsider your decision, for if you do, you can only deduct that Mac is the way to go!

w00tmaster did purchase a new computer.

It shipped


Well, my refurb Rev A dual 1.8 shipped today. I should have ordered this to begin with. All this fuss because Apple's default video card sucks. Maybe if I count my pennies I can get a better one when Doom 3 comes out. I am still going to file a complaint on Monday so nobody else has to go through this bs like I did.

I am not here to be-little anybody, or to try to defend anybody, but what happened to w00tmaster is UNACCEPTABLE. We all may think that the sun shines out of Apple, but we need to remember that there are real people out there and they DO have problems with companies. I do hope your new computer is what you expect it to be, and remember to take out Apple care, as there may be problems with the computer.

Good-luck, and keep us posted on the whereabouts and your first impressions of your new computer.

Paxton

 

[konaforever]

I'm belittling him because he's proverbially biting of his nose to spite his face.

Sure Apple messed up. But saying you're never going to get another Apple again after this experience is just overreacting.

He can complain all he wants to this forum. That doesn't stop me from giving my opinion on his complaint and response.

belittling w00tmaster directly or indirectly is really quite tiresome. obviously, he was/is simply angry and wants to voice it. he gives some good reasons. why not agree that they are valid, instead of getting hung up on the "never" issue?

i'm a mac user myself, but i find some of you extremely obnoxious when it comes to discussing your favourite computers!

 

[Don't panic]

17 days ago I ordered what I considered to be the system of my dreams. Now I am officially through with Apple.
...
I am 23 years old and was planning on buying a lot of Apple products in my lifetime. Not now, I will never buy another Apple product as long as I live.

Apple lost a lifelong customer because of very shoddy customer service.
...
I saw a refurb Rev A dual G5 1.8Ghz for $1799 and decided to jump on it.
...
Well, my refurb Rev A dual 1.8 shipped today. I should have ordered this to begin with
...

Wow! You surely can stick to you guns!

just teasing, I am glad you un-un-switched, and i hope you get some justice from Apple.
Make sure you do file a complaint, so they can slowly learn to treat us properly.

Oh, and I would also try to throw around those life-long commitments with a tad more attention

(for example, you could use your new beast to fold for macrumors team)

 

[the_wallcrawler]

Yeah true. I guess it's a training issue. Every call-center has its newbies, maybe he was unlucky to talk to some of those? I worked in a call-center a few years ago, and remember the huge amount of material you had to remember, and the pressure to handle as many calls as possible. Was a stressful time, but a valuable experience

I totally agree with you. I spent some time in customer service rep hell and it may have been the worst 6 months of my life. I can almost guarantee that it was a screw up by the call center rep. At the company I worked for the communication was very poor with management, but any rational person when confronted with a question or situation they couldnt properly handle would seek some help. Unfortunately there were many (ie 95%) at this company who wouldn't. This is probably what happened. Next time you have a customer service issue, continually ask for a manager until you find one who as someone put it earlier, can work some "magic". The reps who could actually provide some help may feel slighted, but believe me, it will only be for one second. Literally. Then they get the next call with someone yelling at them.

Make your voice heard. Enjoy your new computer. Move on.

 

[Les Kern]

Apple have treated this guy like crap and all you zealots can do is take the piss!? WTF is wrong with all of you, this blind faith in Apple being managed by saints wares thin

While it pains me to see anyone have ANY problems with any purchase, what the poster described just doesn't constitute enough "evidence" to "never buy Apple again". While some of the replies were brutal, there is a ring of truth to them, and the truth hurts.
Look at it this way: You order a car and the dealer promises delivery in a week. Three weeks go by, you cancel the order, then all of the sudden you proclaim that you'll never buy that model again. It was the DEALER not the CAR dumbass! I think the folks here realize that there is another Apple-basher with all the wrong and untrue reasons.
Frankly I don't care that the poster is switching back, and I find it somewhat funny. We'll see who laughs last... some new Bagel variants are coming!