There is one reason why Apple stands out from the crowd which none of the techie writers have mentioned in their review of the company since Steve Jobs announced he was stepping down as its CEO – they way they look after their consumers. In fact, they cunningly nurture them from a very young age.
My first Apple product was an iPhone which I bought about three years ago when my Nokia mobile contract ran out. I used to admire my blogging mentor Geoff’s iPhone, but thought its interface looked very complicated compared to what I was used to. During a visit to the Apple store in Cambridge when I was still undecided, I mentioned this to an assistant who swiftly booked me in for an hour’s one-to-one shopping session when he demonstrated how it worked, and I could see it was simplicity itself. I was instantly bowled over by it.
It is the Apple stores and their terrific service which make Apple stand out from the crowd. They have iMacs set up for toddlers while their parents buy MacBooks and iPads. One day those kids will be Apple consumers too. In fact, I don’t know why they don’t make mini Apple products for kids.
Their friendly stores provide lessons to their consumers to show them how to get the most out of the features on their purchases – from iPhone novices to would be Oscar-winning video editors, catering for beginners to the more confident. I know of no other company which provides this user-friendly service for free, or for a very small charge after purchasing one of their computers or laptops. For only £89 a year, the purchaser is able to have a one-to-one lesson with a trained Apple staff member for every week within a year. It’s incredible value. I used to be a Sony fan and have been to their Cambridge store too, but it didn’t have this kind of experience, you had to ask before you could try there.
The service in the Cambridge Apple store is wonderful and its Genius bar has helped me out on a couple of occasions when I have turned to them in despair for an urgent repair. It goes without saying that the quality of their designs is stunning too and it is a pleasure to use their innovative products.
The Cambridge store is always heaving – even during heavy snowstorms last winter when the rest of the city was deserted. There are always hordes of language students there checking emails on the MacBooks and using the internet, but nobody there minds. The store really make owning an Apple product a pleasurable experience; you know you can get the most out of it, that their stuff is not just for geeks, and they really want you to get the most out of their products.
If this is due to Steve Jobs – thank you Steve!!!
“why they don’t make mini Apple products for kids” They do, my two year old grandson has his own iPod touch to play games & watch movies on! In fact he gets quite upset with normal telly’s that don’t have touch screens 🙂
Amazing. I don’t know of any other 2-year-old with his own iPod!
I expect TVs will soon be touch screen – and your grandson will be first to own one.
Oh and many thanks for the link too 🙂
My pleasure, it’s been a while now.
Now that Steve Jobs is no longer working…will he been only known as Steve? or Isteve? hahahah! ;O)
A one-on-one shopping session! This reminded me of the late department store genius Stanley Marcus. My thoughts are with Steve Jobs for a return to good health.
Yes, of course, we all wish Steve Jobs the best of good health.
I have never owned an apple product, this is not the first time I am reading about how Apple takes care of their customers. Maybe I’ll buy my first Apple product this year.
There is a Apple Shop in my city (50,000 inhabitants) and the Apple shop is almost always empty.
I’m thinking about buying a Mac Book Air, however their phones are overpriced and deliver little. How can anyone possibly accept a phone with a battery that doesn’t have juice for at least 48 hours of use.
I really admire this man. The way he gives speech during the launch of any product is just so amazing.
amazin… very nice
Very nice.
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