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Donkey Butter wrote:

I wouldn't care. they paid more they get more. there is nothing to get upset at.

I would care. But I would at that point wish I had paid the "exclusive" fee. It's like the "speed passes" at amusement parks. I'd initially be pissed off. Then I'd be jealous.

My suggestion is find a different Apple-certified shop. That's where I'm going to go should I have a problem. And it's still covered under Apple Care.

Last edited by Graphic Autist (2008-09-02 8:28 pm)

If you have a quick technical question or need to drop off a repair, just flash your ProCare card. You’ll skip right to the head of the line at the Genius Bar — and we’ll take care of the rest.

It does say "skip right to the head of the line" which seems like a total douchebag move, but it also says "quick question" or "drop off". Does that not seem reasonable? I mean, there's like 3 or 4 geniuses sitting there and usually one or two of them are watching a progress bar. I think they should squeeze in MORE quick questions.

And you say it's "a shame Apple chooses to do" what, exactly? Offer a premium level of support to those willing to pay for it? That seems completely reasonable to me.  I've never seen or heard of anybody getting totally snaked by a ProCare customer. Granted, I don't live in an an AppleStore, but I don't think you do either.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but there are thousands and thousands of people who have gotten exactly the help they needed quickly, easily, and FREE. I still think that's one hell of a smurfing deal.

Fair enough. My comments were not based on my bad experience. My bad experience made me look closer. If everyone likes this concept, who am I to argue. But the quote posted above about the "quick question", or "drop off for repair" is exactly the 'triage" we were wishing Apple had in the other thread. That fix alone added to being able to make appointments 14 days ahead instead of 48 hours would make the thing tolerable to me.

The idea is actually good, except for:

An added service, not made part of the original sale, and which costs other customers their 'place in line" so to speak, just doesn't pass the smell test, as Lawyers fondly describe something which is perfectly defensible, but not right. It should be at the point of sale, like Apple Care, and I would have to agree that it is a premium that everyone knew about before they bought their Mac. In fact, I thought that was what Apple Care was. Now I find out that's not enough. Note that the membership is introduced and sold only at the point where you are trying to make an appointment for help.

Back to the question, has anyone bought it? Actually, I would have, had I known about it. Call it Apple Care Premium. If you think Apple is proud of it, consider why they do not introduce it at the point of sale. In fact, I will probably buy it, but now it is a bitter pill, not a step up. That is the effect of presenting it this way.

PLEASE: Keep in mind, this is not a vendetta based on my "bad experience". I am simply trying to find out how Mac users think of it once they know about it. Different subject, but same kind of discussion we have all the time.

They'd have a ton of time to answer questions if they were watching the progress bar of my G-Speed ES create a RAID 5 array...

I typically try to avoid the geniuses since they generally never believe a single thing anyone (other than employees) tell them.

-mark

I'm forced to be my own Apple genius.

Last edited by user (2008-09-05 9:40 am)