My laptop’s airport card died the other day - I just couldn’t get a wireless connection, and it said I had no airport card installed.
So I made an appointment to see a genius at the Genius Bar at the new Apple shop in Sydney. It couldn’t be easier to book an appointment, it was one of the most usable sites I’ve ever used. I am going to use this as inspiration on a single-minded website that does one thing brilliantly well. The easiest functionality I’ve ever used.
My appointment was for 1:40 today so I got there at 1:30 (yes, I’m a time-nerd). There were loads of people being served by “geniuses”, and about 6 people sitting waiting on benches. My first gripe is there was no clear call to action - did I need to tell someone I was here? Or should I just sit down and they’d have me on record?
I sat down, and then could see my name on screen with 4 people before me - so that’s good, they knew I was coming.
But then I watched other people walk in and do the same as me - look a bit confused, but then they went up to a “genius” who then served them. This happened twice, which left me pretty antsy and anxious - why bother making an appointment if other people could just walk in and get help?
Anyway I finally got help and unfortunately my Genius was more “of average intellect” than genius. He stated that my airport card couldn’t be fixed and as it was out of warranty, he’d have to quote me to fix it. Bummer. He also mentioned it was expensive. Double bummer.
Actually while we’re on the topic of warranties, I wish companies would realise that a warranty means the manufacturers will fix it free while the product is under warranty, however it is not my fault that it broke while after warranty. It still shouldn’t break - it just means the first 12 months are guaranteed and they will fix it if it does. If it breaks after 12 months, don’t look at me like I drove over my computer with a truck. It really wasn’t my fault.
He was struggling to find the right code to use for my quote, and he eventually asked the guy next to him… who reached over to my computer, flicked the airport card and it sprang back into place. Fixed. I could have kissed him! He just saved me $300.
So my experience was good in the end, but I was pretty underwhelmed by the experience up to that point. It would only take a few tiny changes to have made it brilliant. Have a sign or a person directing you when you first walk into the genius bar. I guess you can’t do much about different personalities but it would be great if you could rate your genius afterwards. That way the top top top geniuses could then become yogis, whereas you’d know if you were getting a mere “genius” (or one of average intellect).
Anyway I thought I’d leave you with a tip my genius told me. Apparently if you get the sad face on your ipod (I get it at least 2-3 times per day. Poor ipod), you can just kind of bend or squeeze your ipod and it works - that usually kicks the hard drive back into action. I’m going to give it a go tonight…
This post is tagged under: random thoughts
Great - it’s the 21st century and we fix our iPods in the same way our grandparents fixed their televisions - by whacking them with a shoe.
Well I mentioned that the middle button had slipped again on my ipod.
The last 2 times it happened, I used a guitar pick to prise it open, then unscrewed the scroll-circle thing, and moved the “dot” back into place.
He told me they can’t fix ipods there (and god forbid, nothing no longer under warranty) so the guitar pick was my best bet.
So high tech.