Nikos Psaltopoulos
Upsell - A New iPhone With Your Battery?1/23/2018 "The Apple guy concluded my battery was in fact on its last legs."I’ve been an Apple fanboy since before it was cool. I’ve always loved the contemplated design, functionality and community. In our home you'll find over 30 Apple devices - both retired and currently in use. From an early iPhone to the iPod Shuffle - MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches and everything else in between.
3 years ago I purchased the iPhone 6 Plus shortly after its launch. It took a little while to get use to the larger screen and the bulge in my back pocket but this star piece of tech soon replaced my iPad and reduced the time I spent on my MacBook. I loved it. I was more connected and effective than ever before. Three years down the track and a few iOS updates later the battery failed me. Thankfully, Apple being a consumer focused company had a plan. Apple’s PR machine proudly touted the battery replacement program - $39 AUD for a new battery for the iPhone 6 Plus and it’s almost as good as new! Book me in. So I made my appointment at the Genius Bar on Apple’s website [noting that I needed a battery for the iPhone 6 Plus - an important detail to remember] and patiently waited. A week later, I made the long the trek from one side of town to the other and arrived for my appointment 12 minutes early - as noted by the Apple employee who welcomed me. I happily waited. When my time came, I was greeted again by a cheerful Apple rep and I explained my predicament. “Mmm...,” I see, emphathised the young man. After running a diagnostic test, the Apple guy concluded my battery was in fact on its last legs . “We can definitely replace the battery,” he announced. “Great, let’s do it,” I responded. That’s when his facial expression changed. He explained there were no iPhone 6 Plus batteries currently in stock in Australia! Not one in the whole country! He said I was entitled to order a battery for $39 but it wouldn’t arrive until April. April? It was only January. I was heading overseas the following week and needed a fully functional phone. I couldn’t wait until April! My head was spinning - I was confused. A heavily promoted battery replacement program with no stock availability in Australia until April? Mmm…suspicious. But apparently there was hope. “Given there’s also an issue wIth your volume button, you’re entitled to a phone replacement,” Mr Cheery proclaimed. I could have hugged him. Thank you, thank you, thank you Apple. This is why you rock. “Not so fast,” Mr Cheery continued. The clincher. "The cost of the new iPhone, as a special price to you as a valued customer, is $469 and the good news is, we have them in stock.” He delivered the line like a true sales professional. “I can get you one now.” Bang. He just closed me. “If you don’t want like for like, I’d be more than happy to help you upgrade to an 8 or an X,” he just doubled closed me. So let me get this right. Apple knew I was coming in store for my Genius Bar appointment to replace an iPhone 6 Plus battery - they also knew they didn’t have the batteries in stock. Why let me come in? I was being blatantly upsold. Lure them in and sell them hard. Apple was trying to sell me another phone for over $1,000, when all I wanted was to upgrade my battery for $39. Thank you but no thanks I’ll wait till April. Has this happened to you? Is this an Apple sales strategy? Please say it ain’t so. Either way, as frustrating as the situation is, I'm still hopelessly devoted to Apple. Loyal to a fault or locked in? You be the judge. Pic: TIME Magazine
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Nikos
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