Apple Store Disappoints, Reaffirms My Feelings

As I said in my last post, my problems are not with Apple. Apple told me in February that it would swap my phone for free, which was surprising because my phone was six months out of warranty at that point. I'm not sure if the store rep hooked me up simply because I had dropped so many calls, or if it was my smashing good looks.

All I had to do was go home and back everything up and come back. Well, I delayed this return trip until finally going into the store last week. Of course I forgot the paper given to me in February that quoted the swap as being free. This representative told me he would not swap the phone for free, but I could do it at $199 because I was so far out of warranty. (I was almost six months out of warranty in February and I'm almost ten months out of warranty now.)

I left the store in a salty mood. When I returned home, I picked up the work order and it almost looked like a contract from Apple with the $0.00 price quote. Thing is, I revel in situations like this. I was prepared to get into it with the manager, noting they had virtually gone back on their price quote. What kind of business is that? Then I could mention this blog, that several people come to me to ask about technology purchases, that I myself would be in the market for a computer soon and was considering Mac vs. PC, that I would contact other media.

Turns out I didn't need any of that firepower. It took a few moments for the manager to understand the situation, but he said, "If we said we would do the free swap then we will do the free swap." He was very professional and it was a good experience. Also had a good experience with my representative, who happened to be the same representative I had last week. He also had some advice for me when I told him I would be in the market for a computer soon.