Stump the Apple Store associates

Delvida, I'm going throught the same thing, but I'll get to my situation in a minute. My hd crashed about a week ago. a co worker of mine suggested either disk warrior, or data rescue 2. With google you can find either. Both are under $100. I used a demo version of data rescue 2 (booting off of an external) and had all my data (74 gigs) back up within 30-45 mins. Applecare, and our Apple store in Novi, MI are both getting on my last nerves lately. As I said, my hd crashed, confirmed by the telephone tech support through applecare. He suggests that I take it in to the store. So I call up there, make a genius appointment for the next day and take my system in...to be dropped off with a sales guy? He says that a tech...err...genius will call me within a few hours to talk about what is wrong with it. 3 days later and I'm still contacting applecare to find out what is going on with my computer. The girl says, "Well sir, it isn't under warrenty," when I ask why I hadn't received a phone call. Huh? I did write down the applecare protection plan number on the work authorization agreement. And, why does that mean that I haven't gotten a phone call? So I play the, "I'm an avid editor for NBC in Detroit," card (which I am), and tell her that my station is looking at my experience to help them decide if they want to switch over to Final Cut Pro (which I would love for them to do). Suddenly, now I'm getting somewhere. While on hold for a few minutes, she calls the store and comes up with a "diagnosis". Well sir, it won't boot up, it looks like there may be a problem with your hd. Really? I'm sorry, did you say genius? Anyway, I have to call again yesterday (3 days later) to try again to find out what's going on with my system. I get home from work last night to a message that they recovered my hd, but it's making a noise and it's most likely that it'll crash again. they need to charge me $275 to replace it. I'm currently banging my head against the wall while I wait for the store to open. Why would they EVER return a computer, that's under warrenty (been confirmed numerous times), with issues and a note that says be ready for it to happen again? I've never been so frustrated with Avid, or windows and I'm questioning why I ever bought a Mac. JS

HELP!! My computer, which I use for work, crashed inexplicably on Wed. I took it to the SoHo apple store and they told me they could not retrieve any of my information from my hard drive. I have apple care but they are saying if they send it in all they will do is replace the hard drive and I won't get any of my info. They suggested that I take it somewhere else, but said it could cost between 500-3000 dollars. I really can't afford that, but I would like to get my information. Does anyone have any suggestions? And if I do take it somewhere else is that going to void my apple care protection. I've only had the computer 16 months.

HELP!! My computer, which I use for work, crashed inexplicably on Wed. I took it to the SoHo apple store and they told me they could not retrieve any of my information from my hard drive. I have apple care but they are saying if they send it in all they will do is replace the hard drive and I won't get any of my info. They suggested that I take it somewhere else, but said it could cost between 500-3000 dollars. I really can't afford that, but I would like to get my information. Does anyone have any suggestions? And if I do take it somewhere else is that going to void my apple care protection. I've only had the computer 16 months.

Glad that cracking my iBook open served as a nice dry run for ya ;)

If your in NYC, go to Tekserve on 23rd & 6th Ave. They don't have to meet Apple's sales goals, so they only sell you what you need. Plus they're almost always cheaper for repairs. P.S. Doing anything to your computer besides what Apple's calls "user installable parts" (RAM & Airport Card Only) will void your warranty. AND if you mess up your logic board installing the RAM incorrectly, they DON'T have to fix it. So if you are cracking it open yourself, go though an authorized repair center instead of Apple and don't mention that it's your fault. Anything done by a certified technician or Apple Depot will NOT void your warrenty.

I just went to the apple store in downtown sf yesterday. Second time ever for some repairs on my power book (hopefully get it back tomorrow, god I hate using windows) The guy behind the genious bar seemed a bit stumped with my problems, that I had already diagnosed. So he just took my word for it and left. Also they don't carry any usb to serial adaptors, and never know what it's useful for.

I work near the SOHO Apple store and i enjoy going in to browse, but there are several SERIOUS problems with it. Everytime i go there are half hour lines for the cashier. And the reason for this is not simply too much business. There is serious mismanagement of resources. The cashier should be STRICTLY for paying. A recent time i was there there were 3 cash registers open and one of them had a women occupying the cashier for the better part of an hour. I complained to a service person and they said "they are spending over $1000 on a machine, they have questions." And the cashiers sell the person "have you considered getting a photo printer with that iBook?". it really pisses me off to the point where i think trying to buy a machine at the SOHO store actually makes me want to SWITCH BACK. (but instead i just buy online).

The lines are for paying. If you want to buy more go talk to someone other than the cashier. AppleStore managers should enforce this so that the rest of us don't slit our wrists in frustration.

There are plans for a second NYC store on 5th ave in the works, (the old Andrews diner btwn 18th & 19th) but I still think Tekserve on 23rd is always good for a first stop to get anything Apple. (Now, how they feel about an Apple store around the corner after serving us Mac-heads for so many years is another story).

Concerned Citizen: Absolutely, props to Kody. He was a great help, and a stand up guy. I never meant to imply anything else.

Hahah, that is great. I used to work at such a store, and man, how they want to sell apple care. http://www.tigercompatible.com