Comment Re:Apple also violates European warranty laws (Score 1) 270
ohhhh, OfficeLine... That combination of words makes my blood boil. We had OfficeLine in Tromsø (place I was born), and, goddamn, more pricegouging weasels is harder to find. A mysterious X% on top of every retail price. When a game costs 527NOK you know that its something fishy about their pricing schemes. I remeber the total shock of walkin into "Eplehuset"'s first store in Trondheim (where I live) and actually meeting a compentent person.
As an illustration, When i bought my iBook, I first went into OfficeLine in Tromsø with a long time mac user friend of mine, asked about the iBook, and I knew from the same friend that i could get a 20-something% discount fof the apple sales price if i paid 100$ for a one year ADC student menbership.
OfficeLine:
Me: Does MATLAB run on OS X (I really didn't know, turns out it did)?
The OfficeLine guy: [blank stare] ... goes to check on the computer, takes his time. Comes back with "I dont know"
Me/My friend: Is it possible to buy form you and get the ADC discount?
The OfficLine guy: [blank stare again] "What is ADC?" (I kid you not)
Eplehuset, about a month later
Me: Im thinking of buying an iBook (my opeing line at OfficeLine as well)
Eplehuset emplyee: Show me the iBook, and _really_ stresses that it is the exact same price as on Apple's webiste
Me: Asks about the ADC discount
Eplehuset emplyee: "No, you can only get ADC discounts directly from Apple, you should gove them a call", and hands me a buissness card with Apple Store's norwegian phone number.
Me: Completly baffled by good customer service and knowledge of the sales person goes home and orders from Apple. And returned later for an iPod
Since then Eplehuset has opened in three new cities, and at least the shop in Trondheim is a certified Apple repair centre, making owning an iBook bought in 2003 right in the middle of a certain SN range a lot more pleasant.OfficeLine in Tromsø decided that a retail store accessible for the public was a waste of time. Closed the shop. moved to a warehouse and sells to buissness and educationl sector (they cant buy directly from apple) and sells overpriced Apple products in a corner of the DVD section in a bookshop.
As an illustration, When i bought my iBook, I first went into OfficeLine in Tromsø with a long time mac user friend of mine, asked about the iBook, and I knew from the same friend that i could get a 20-something% discount fof the apple sales price if i paid 100$ for a one year ADC student menbership.
OfficeLine:
Me: Does MATLAB run on OS X (I really didn't know, turns out it did)?
The OfficeLine guy: [blank stare]
Me/My friend: Is it possible to buy form you and get the ADC discount?
The OfficLine guy: [blank stare again] "What is ADC?" (I kid you not)
Eplehuset, about a month later
Me: Im thinking of buying an iBook (my opeing line at OfficeLine as well)
Eplehuset emplyee: Show me the iBook, and _really_ stresses that it is the exact same price as on Apple's webiste
Me: Asks about the ADC discount
Eplehuset emplyee: "No, you can only get ADC discounts directly from Apple, you should gove them a call", and hands me a buissness card with Apple Store's norwegian phone number.
Me: Completly baffled by good customer service and knowledge of the sales person goes home and orders from Apple. And returned later for an iPod
Since then Eplehuset has opened in three new cities, and at least the shop in Trondheim is a certified Apple repair centre, making owning an iBook bought in 2003 right in the middle of a certain SN range a lot more pleasant.OfficeLine in Tromsø decided that a retail store accessible for the public was a waste of time. Closed the shop. moved to a warehouse and sells to buissness and educationl sector (they cant buy directly from apple) and sells overpriced Apple products in a corner of the DVD section in a bookshop.
