iStore blasted by 2oceansvibe

Core prices

The simple fact of the matter is that we live in a era in which companies do want to build up a customer details database.

My bigger issue with Core is the ridiculously high prices they charge in SA. This goes for both Apple and Nintendo. The reason the Wii is so successful overseas because of one thing - its PRICE.

Overseas Apple tries to justify its high price, but in South Africa it is plainly a rip off. Here is some prices comparisons I have done:

Computers:

Baseline unibody Macbook in SA: R15999

Baseline unibody Macbook in US: R11041 ($1299)

Price difference: 30%


Baseline New iMac 20 inch in SA: R14999

Baseline New iMac 20 inch in US: R10191 ($1199)

Price difference: 33%


8 Core Mac Pro in SA: R40000

8 Core Mac Pro in US: R28050

Price difference:30% (or more than R10000 on a single computer)


iPods:


iPod Nano 16GB in SA: R2699

iPod Nano 16GB in US: R1699 ($199)

Price difference: 38%

iPod Touch 32GB in SA: R5800

iPod Touch 32GB in US: R3400 ($399)

Price difference: 42% !!!!!


Peripherals:


Mini Displayport to DVI adapter in SA: R510

Mini Displayport to DVI adapter in US: R246 ($29)

Price difference: 52%!!!!


Now as long as there is one importer in this country, it will always be this case.

Read more here: http://www.mpieters.com/2009/05/just-how-expensive-is-apple-in-sa.html
 
PeterCH said:
The customer has a right to become agitated. He should not, but then again the clerk started it - he should have handled the customer better. For example: "I'm sorry sir but we need your email address for xxx."
Simple - Mr Salesman, get better training and don't take things personally. If someone is angry at a product they're angry at the company and not at you, unless you were the one who messed up - in which case you should't have issues.
Click to expand...

I agree completely, but there does tend to be a line when a rude customer gets too much. I am not saying that is the case here, since i was not there..

As for better training, i doubt it. Anyone who has better training ends up in cores overstrained workshop or leaving for a reseller.
 
How much training is required to teach their staff to answer the telephone?
Or to follow up, and call you back when they said they would?
 
alf101 said:
How much training is required to teach their staff to answer the telephone?
Or to follow up, and call you back when they said they would?
Click to expand...

Again, Core is to blame, I worked at that store as the "Genius" when dealing with 5 clients at the same time and trying to do research on how to install a Linux game's Library on a Mac because the frikken idiot of a regional manager demanded that you help this student install this game, then, well sorry for you, you fall to the back of the line when it comes to help or telephonic support. (True Story)

Understaffed, overworked, blame Core, not the staff, they try their best, I know, I was one of them. I actually booked in Compl33t's ipod touch when he brought it in because of issues. You can ask him what service he received from me when I was still working there.
 
alf101 said:
How much training is required to teach their staff to answer the telephone?
Or to follow up, and call you back when they said they would?
Click to expand...

Sadly, it's not just Core which messes this up.

The solution people is to vote with your wallets. DON'T BUY LOCALLY SOURCED APPLE PRODUCTS. Import or buy grey imports. Teach those responsible a lesson. When they see their profits drop and the overhead costs eating into their savings, then we'll see some changes - if they're into self-preservation ;).
 
StbA said:
Again, Core is to blame, I worked at that store as the "Genius" when dealing with 5 clients at the same time and trying to do research on how to install a Linux game's Library on a Mac because the frikken idiot of a regional manager demanded that you help this student install this game, then, well sorry for you, you fall to the back of the line when it comes to help or telephonic support. (True Story)

Understaffed, overworked, blame Core, not the staff, they try their best, I know, I was one of them. I actually booked in Compl33t's ipod touch when he brought it in because of issues. You can ask him what service he received from me when I was still working there.
Click to expand...

There was one nerdy oke with a ponytail there when I bought my iMac there 2 years ago.
He was reasonably clued up, but since then I've only encountered twits working there.
 
StbA said:
I actually booked in Compl33t's ipod touch when he brought it in because of issues. You can ask him what service he received from me when I was still working there.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was quite impressed at the time. No questions asked (even though I didn't buy from them), and got a replacement in less than 3 days.

Seems like things have changed since my last visit (aaaages ago).
 
Using the above exchange rate, $1,999 = R15,869.16. That’s a difference of R8130.84 which is 51% markup. Do you apply 51% markup to all of your products?
Click to expand...

Do this:

Go to www.xe.com
Convert 29.99 USD = 245.172 ZAR (at this time)

Quicktime Pro - which is an electronically shipped serial number costs $29.99 in the US from Apple's online store. Seconds after purchasing, your unlike is available and merely needs to be entered into the Sys Pref for Quicktime to enable Pro

Now, head on over to ZAStore.co.za and click the Upgrade to QTPro banner:

Quicktime Pro 7 (For Mac) Please note that this license is temporarily unavailable - Price = R583.37

R583.37 is MORE THAN DOUBLE the US price for a serial that is instantly available there and is still unavailable here.

To me this is Core's darkest moment and worst shame.

BTW: Anyone wanting QTPro should email me. I know how you can buy it from overseas but I do not want this knowledge to get to Core because they will stop that...
 
QT Pro is gonna be free with Snow Leopard if that makes you feel better.
 
51% markup on Macs lol. And that's on a product which Apple makes 30% profit from in the USA already!!

Core put up their prices a lot a while ago when the exchange rate dipped & just never brought them back down again.
 
It absolutely amazes me that after the barrage of critisism Core has recieved over the last few weeks there was not been any official response.
 
Not mentioned yet at the actual keynote itself, but a press release just went out on the wires saying that Snow Leopard will ship in September for…$29! (that’s not a typo!) Wow.


Let's see what core charges for it. Anywhere between R1K and R2K I wager...
 
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