I guess this is them giving up

[fbhjr]

As many of you know, I like the products that Apple makes without really liking the company and especially not liking the store.
I’ve had any number of customer service problems at the stores as I’ve talked about a number of times:
http://fbhjr.livejournal.com/794747.html
http://fbhjr.livejournal.com/337585.html
http://fbhjr.livejournal.com/806430.html

But, despite all that, I was surprised when I got an email from Apple today that included this bit:


That’s right.
They have come to the conclusion that they are so abysmally bad at customer service that it will be better for them just to let me ring things out on my phone myself and go on my way.
I’m very tempted to use this service just so if after being ignored by so many of their sales people I can grab something, process it and head for the door. If they ask me anything about it I can say “I’m sorry, you now serve no purpose here.”
But, that would be mean.
Right?

Comments

[ravena-kade.livejournal.com]

Would the scanning of the code deactivate an anti theft signal...or can I just pretend to scan something and walk away with it?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I wondered the same thing. It doesn't say in the email or on their web site.
I would think you need someone to disable that. But, who knows?

[dewline.livejournal.com]

It would.

Thinking back to the several occasions at the local Apple Store in Ottawa where I got satisfactory service from the staff on duty...but I grant you that was my own experience. Here, in my city.

(And this is a really rotten way to introduce myself as a complete stranger and guest visiting your LiveJournal.)

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

No worries. We've crossed paths on other LJ's before so I would not consider you a stranger. Much less a complete one.

And, to be fair, many of the stores here in Massachusetts have bad customer service. I've had equally bad, or worse, service at other electronics stores:
http://fbhjr.livejournal.com/811528.html

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Points to you there.

[tatjna.livejournal.com]

I'm conflicted about self-service. On one hand, I love the convenience and not having to deal with strangers in order to complete my business. On the other, I see 10 self-service booths taking out three checkouts (and presumably three checkout jobs) at our local supermarket. And I wonder, what happens to those people?

My son is at the age where that sort of work is about where he's pitched, and he's increasingly competing with older, more experienced people for what would be entry-level jobs. Is it fair that he should have to compete with self-service as well? And while I like the idea of a society where all menial work is done by machines, we don't have a universal minimum income to support all those who'd be put out of work by it, and I shudder to think what will happen to those people.

Oops, that was a bit of a brainfart, and I feel like a hypocrite because I still choose self-service if it's available.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

This isn't even a self-serve kiosk. It's doing it on your phone. So, that's even less equipment than a kiosk.

If it is any consolation, I am trying to hire a college age intern at work and am having trouble because they keep getting hired by other companies before I can make them an offer.
Hopefully the one today will take the offer and start working for us Monday.

So, if I am removing a job at the Apple store, I'm adding it back at my day job, right?

[tatjna.livejournal.com]

I wish I could do that.

But yes, it sounds like maybe the economy is picking up now?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Picking up? Sure.
It's all a question of how far up you mean...

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'm sure there will be modifications to this….system….As I'm sure a few people will attempt what you're thinking of, and get
accused of shoplifting, etc.

I got nothing.

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

Interesting - I don't think they have that here yet

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

Well, your grocery store already has the self-scan checkouts, so I guess this isn't much more of a step in that same direction. Any, it enables Apple to layoff more employees and reduce costs by passing the work off onto the customer.

They'd have to have some fairly intelligent software linked with the store inventory system, as most RF based theft protection devices require a strong magnetic field to erase/deactivate the small die that has the ID number that is read/detected by the RF scanner antennaes by the door. Your phone doesn't have such a B-field generator, so it would have to send the product code and serial number to the inventory system, so that the system would abort sounding the alarm when the scanner detected the appropriate ID passing through the doorway. Or, they'd have to have you put the thing on a magnetic pad after paying for it before leaving.