Apple SUCKS!!

I've come to the conclusion that Apple customer care SUCKS!! I thought they had a pretty good customer care, but now I know I was wrong and the hordes of people complaining are right. I did have a good experience with Apple before, but now I have to say it's craptacular. I have to send my iPod in to get the battery replaced. The customer service rep told me I could pay them $29.95 for the privilege of getting the battery replaced on an iPod under warranty or I could just drop it off at any Apple store and not have to pay the "Apple tax". I opted to do the latter since I was going to pass one of the Apple stores today.

I have to say the B&M Apple experience was absolutely craptacular. First they told me I needed an appointment. (Yeah, I make appointments for warranty repair with other companies. I can see why Apple has crappy market share.) They told me that I would have to pay for the privilege, have them look it over, and comeback to sign some paper. I called the manager over and he was no help. They need the change the "Genius Bar" to Peon Bar™. It's obvious these guys have absolutely no authority. They should change the title "Manager" to Head Peon™ since he seem to have no authority either. When you get the manager in other B&M, you usually get things resolved. Obviously Apple doesn't care enough to take care of their customers.

I don't know why companies feel the need to waste my time and patience. They end up paying for it in the end anyway and it just costs them in support costs and negative PR. I guess I need to call Apple back and see if they can just take care of it through the mail at their cost. I guess I might have to escalate this and/or get the BBB involved. I hate wasting time with peons. (>.<)

On a lighter note, the Linksys router thing was settled. I had to escalate and that took care of it. I had to e-mail them again to remind them that they owed me a router. They could have done a much better job. I won't be recommending their gear to anyone.