My Apple Bluetooth Keyboard experienced some technical difficulties over the winter holidays. For two weeks I was coding without a V on my keyboard. I had two options. 1. Press the rubber nub. 2. Press the V on my laptop. Trivial yes, but when you are typing <div></div> many times a day, it becomes a real pita.
I bought my MacBook Pro at a great little local store in Vermont, so have not had to deal with the Apple Store too often, but as I read frequently… it tends to suck. A quick Google search on getting a single replacement key from Apple seemed unlikely. I happened to be in a mall with an Apple Store this weekend and decided to go in. *&#^$#*@(@#)()!. I dwaddled around. Played with some packaging. Tried to look like I needed help. Tons of people in blue shirts with ginormofreakinlously huge iPhones were buzzing by, but on a mission (as a person who hates people without manners, hates being interrupted, and tends to be shy, I assumed that if they looked busy, they were.) I finally pinned down someone in a blue shirt.
The “genius’” first response to my queue, “I don’t think so.” Oi! I buy an absolutely overpriced piece of battery draining metal and naturally break it, and now you are telling me I have to buy another one!?! (I didn’t actually say that.) Well, I explained what my research online returned. He actually went to a computer (Man the 27 inch iMac is sexy and I want one!!!) and researched it as well.. on Apple.com and then Google. Still nothing. Instead of being told, “Sorry…” My genius went out back to do some more research (I finally started to feel like I might get a new key!).
5 minutes FLY by when you are in an Apple store. If you like to people watch and or eavesdrop on people, this place is ripe. So many brilliant things to be heard, “Apple TV is the best!” etc. Anyway. Guy returns. “Do you have it with you?” “Yes, I always carry it with me…” “Ok, can you bring it back today?” “To this hell hole?” “I’m working tomorrow, if you bring it in, we’ll replace it.” Next day, after the similar, trying-to-look-like-i-need-help-dance, some smurf tracked down my “contact” and the transaction was completed. Total Cost: $0.00.
Not as easy as I’d have hoped. But DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?! I didn’t actually do anything, BUT I DID get what I wanted! Which, apparently, unless you have warranty, and the item in question has never seen moisture, you may not get! Cheers Apple of Northridge, CA!
Tags: Apple, Apple Store, Apple Success Story, Bluetooth, Customer Service, Keyboard
