: Customer Service
When it comes to computers at home, I’ve been an Apple user since the mid 90s. Now I’m not one of these Apple “fanboys”. I don’t wait in line eagerly awaiting the next technical toy, and I don’t salivate looking at CPU specs or how much RAM I can get inside. I started using MACS mostly because they were marginally easier to use than PCs and because they had a reputation for being more reliable. After using them for 20 years I’m not so sure about the whole reliability thing. Perhaps it’s just me. I have a propensity for trashing hard drives. It seems like nearly every Mac we’ve ever owned has had hard drive issues at one time or another. I’m not sure how to account for this. At my day job I have a reputation for being a “bug magnet”. If a piece of software has a bug in it, it seems like I stumble across it in a matter of minutes, so perhaps this is related.
Anyway, recently we started having problems with our year old kitchen compute – the back ups weren’t working. I called up the Apple help line, we went through some tests, and I was told to bring our machine into the Apple store to be checked out. If you’ve never been in a Mac store, you need to try it out at least once in your lifetime. It’s one of those things like going to a race track or the Grand Canyon. Put it on your bucket list. From my perspective it’s a something bizarre out of body experience. The place is brightly lit and clean to a fault. The expression ‘you can eat off the floor’ comes to mind. In this case you can eat off the laptops. The staff all look like pre-teenagers to me and they are annoyingly cute, enthusiastic, helpful, and cheerful It’s sort of a techno Munchkinland. Anyway, their “genius bar” guy put it “on the scope”, and sure enough, yet again, the hard drive was shot. I have long since learned to buy the 3 year AppleCare warranty, so everything was covered. However the hard drive was not in stock, and it would not be available for at least 4 days. What are ya gonna do? I had no choice in the matter.
The Korn-Heilner household spent 4 whole days without our trusty kitchen computer. I can report that we all survived. It was like being in the 20th century all over again. We had to watch TV and read books and talk to each other. After 4 days, the Apple people called up and said, “OK, it’s working, but….” But what? “We spotted a few pixels out on the monitor, so would you mind waiting another day and we’ll replace the monitor.” OK. So a day later I had my Mac back with a new hard drive AND a new monitor. Now that’s outstanding customer service. In spite of everything, I think we’ll stick with Apple.
BTW – Simultaneous to all this, the hard drive also went out on my work computer. And one week later, the backup hard drive at home also failed.
Bug magnet.
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Jan 17, Saturday, 8:00PM-10:30PM – Shuffle, Jump, and Moan at Hat City, 459 Valley Street, City of Orange, NJ 07050 (862) 252-9147
You will get excellent customer service at Hat City, along with some excellent folks on stage. If you want a table, reservations are suggested as the front area typically gets sold out. You can also hang out at the bar if you’re not in the mood for food. Hat City is clean, it has a good sound system, and it has excellent New Orleans style food. I believe there’s a cover charge of $10, but call ahead to confirm.
http://www.hatcitykitchen.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shuffle-Jump-Moan/379081422265206
Jan 30, Friday, 8:00 PM-11 PM – Shuffle, Jump, and Moan at Maxfields on Main, 713 Main Street, Boonton, New Jersey 07005 973-588-4450This will be SJ&M’s third visit to the neat little place nestled in the middle of historic downtown Boonton. I am told that this location was once the fire house for Boonton. The owners are enthusiastic blues fans and the vibe is great.
http://www.maxfieldsonmain.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shuffle-Jump-Moan/379081422265206
