iStore blasted by 2oceansvibe

Jees and the number of comments on the post.... :eek:

I've had the same experience at the store in Durbs just looking for a set of iPhone headphones.....

Gave them a fake address and phone number.... didn't feel like fighting/going elsewhere since i was in a hurry
 
ToxicBunny said:
Jees and the number of comments on the post.... :eek:

I've had the same experience at the store in Durbs just looking for a set of iPhone headphones.....

Gave them a fake address and phone number.... didn't feel like fighting/going elsewhere since i was in a hurry
Click to expand...
Only rivalled by the number of ads :eek:

It's amazing - overseas people look forward to going to apple's stores.
 
So I cruised in and waited for a few minutes for anyone to notice me. I did two laps of honour, to be honest. there was one other customer in the shop and three members of staff - one of them helping that customer.
Click to expand...

:eek: Kinda mirrors my experience when I was there. And were were buying a MacBook!

bwana said:
It's amazing - overseas people look forward to going to apple's stores.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the difference is if you don't get noticed immediately in the Apple Store here, it's because there are 20 employees and 200 people in the shop...
 
This reminds me of something a scene from Jerry Seinfeld:

[...phone rings...]

Jerry: Hello?
Voice: Hi, would you be interested in switching over to TMI long distance service?
Jerry: Oh gee, I can't talk right now. Why don't you give me your home number and I'll call you later?
Voice: Uh, I'm sorry, we're not allowed to do that.
Jerry: Oh, I guess you don't want people calling you at home?
Voice: No.
Jerry: Well, now you know how I feel.

:D
 
istore clearwater is no better, i resent having to go there for anything.
Last thing i bought was a minidisplay > dvi adaptor - the staff didn't even know what it was or if it would work...
 
Me and my old work colleagues made a couple of comments about the Waterfront iStore.
 
I had good service there 2 years ago when I bought my iMac, but the 10 trips I made there since then, I also got crap service.
They really aren't good at answering their phone, or following up.
Their staff aren't to well trained either.

I prefer Digicape myself, bought a few things there and had great service.
 
assagai said:
istore clearwater is no better, i resent having to go there for anything.
Last thing i bought was a minidisplay > dvi adaptor - the staff didn't even know what it was or if it would work...
Click to expand...

Thats always the case. Most of the time the tech guys have no clue if the accessories work or for which mac they are. Anyone have good service from Cresta WW Computers? www.megagraphix.co.za :cool:
 
The V&A iStore is really crap.....also did a few laps of honour, salespeople not interested to help me....so I left and decided not to visit again in the future.
 
I really dont think the article was that great, but it hit a nerve with the general consumer.
I have had Istore employee's (when helped) tell me a large variety of BS and expect me to believe it because they have a t-shirt with an apple logo.....or flatout ignore me when i make any kind of request/observation. Its sad that the ppl there have no real passion for their product.

Will core do anything about it? I doubt it, to get decent sales guys who offer the kind of service and expertise ppl want/expect would simply cost to much. Any of them who have any kind of technical knowledge would probably end up in their understaffed workshop.

Bottom line, dont bother with the istores, we all know they are crap, technically they should not be allowed to sell anyway anyway, since core should not be screwing the resellers like that.
 
Seth is continuing his campaign against Core and the iStores today. http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2009/05/19/core-group-insiders-come-forward/

I think all of us who have been affected by Cores level of service should write to Steve Jobs and tell him about it. If enough of us take the time to write you never know we may actually make a difference. http://appleza.co.za/2009/05/19/rotten-to-the-core/

Steve's address is [email protected] or [email protected] (both have been known to work). Although Steve does occasionally reply personally he is on sick leave at the moment. But at the very least you should get a response from Apple PR.

This was my letter:

Dear Steve

As both an Apple fan and user of many Apple products I thought you should know the damage your official distributor (Core Group) is doing to the Apple brand in South Africa.

I have recently returned to South Africa from the UK and I have been shocked by the Apple retail experience in SA. Unfortunately there is no official Apple retail presence in SA. The iStores (owned by Core) are the closest thing to it. Unfortunately they are poor imitations of the genuine article. The staff know next to nothing about the computers they are trying to sell and have zero passion for the brand. Overall service levels are incredibly shoddy. A recent blog post in South Africa about Core's service has provoked a phenomenal response. You only have to read through the comments here: http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2009/05/19/core-group-insiders-come-forward/ to see the incredible damage that Core is doing to Apples reputation.

I know that SA is only a small, small part of the world market, but the Apple users here are as passionate about the brand as any others worldwide. The growth in Apple's popularity in South Africa has been immense over the past few years but this is due to the products themselves and despite the poor levels of service offered by Core.

Please would you consider increasing Apple’s presence in SA and opening an official Apple Retail Store here? I have no doubt that it would be every bit as successful as the others around the world.

Kind regards

Paul
 
Paul,

You should also forward that mail to apples customer service, consumer affairs, corporate affairs, marketing dept just incase it does not get read.
 
cc [email protected], he does one of the biggest Mac podcasts in the world.

Hope you dont mind PaulMark, I used a bit of your e-mail.

My letter to Steve.

Dear Mr Jobs,

I own 3 Mac's, an iPhone an iPod touch and a 80 GB iPod Classic.

I'm a fan and I love my Apple products. I've gotten 34 people to switch from Windows to Mac.

However...

You only have to read through the comments here: http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2009/05/1...-come-forward/ to see the incredible damage that Core is doing to Apple's reputation in South Africa.

I know that SA is only a tiny part of the world market, but the Apple users here are as passionate about the brand as any others worldwide. The growth in Apple's popularity in South Africa has been immense over the past few years but this is due to the products themselves and despite the poor levels of service offered by Core.

Please would you consider increasing Apple’s presence in SA and opening an official Apple Retail Store here? I have no doubt that it would be every bit as successful as the others around the world.

Kind regards
 
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