I’ve always had some sort of beef with Apple. It started off because I use PCs and they were different. Then I started to use Apples and I thought “they’re not bad at all, you just have to get used to them”. Then the whole fanboy syndrome started to get bad, and Apple does everything they can to encourage it (which is good for those that buy Apple, but not for those on the outside). This whole syndrome has caused me to, in varying degrees, loathe Apple. Then you tack on the fact that they are very often twice as expensive as their PC equivalents, and you come out with an unhappy me.
Now on to the reason for this post. I want to buy and iPod shuffle. I know, I shouldn’t buy from a company that I loathe, but the device is not that expensive and it is the perfect size. Well, what do you know, it only comes with the stock Apple headphones that actually hurt my ears because of their size. How much are the alternatives? Seventy-nine dollars! How much is the shuffle itself? Seventy-nine dollars!!!! So I would be paying just as much money to buy the shuffle as I would be for the comfortable headphones? Yikes.
Acting as the negotiator that I would like to become, I fire up the chat to see if there’s something I can’t work out with Apple to make this deal a little nicer for me. Here is the conversation that ensued:
You are chatting with Sophie S, an Apple Expert
Hi, my name is Sophie S. Welcome to Apple!
me: hello
her: Good afternoon.
her: How may I assist you today?
her: Hi.
me: So, I really like the ipod shuffle
me: but i really hate the headphones
her: I understand!
me: and your in-ear headphones that are more comfortable are just as much as the player!
her: Right!
me: is there any way to switch the headphones and not pay the whole $79 more?
her: No, sorry!
me: hmmm
me: so you’re saying that instead of getting any money from me for both items, it would be better to get nothign?
her: Sorry, you get what is included in the standard box.
me: can they do anything differently at one of the stores?
her: You would need to ask the store directly.
me: what about sending the heaphones back afterward for some sort of rebate?
her: I apologize but there are no rebates available for headphones.
me: that really stinks
me: so you’re saying you can’t offer anything to get me to buy these together? Not even a single dollar towards the “these headphones stink’ fund?
her: Unless you can buy another headset from another place that is comfortable and cheaper.
me: but the ipod shuffle has the special remote in the headphones
me: so you can’t really buy them from anywhere else
her: Oh, right. I use different headphones but it is for my iPod touch, sorry.
me: np
me: that’s the deal for me
me: i love the size and stuff for the shuffle
me: but the headphones literally hurt my ears
her: Yes, and the shuffle is so great and portable.
her: Yes, they are rather hard on the ears. I agree.
me: and i really want to buy a shuffle, but i don’t want to pay $160 for it
her: I really do understand. And it is a really good point!
her: I don’t have any authority to make deals though.
me: do you have a manager that i could talk to about it?
her: Let me check with my superior.
me: sure thing
her: Just another minute…
me: np
her: So sorry. I did try but we can’t do this.
me: alright, thanks for trying
me: i appreciate it
her: No problem!
Thank you for visiting the Apple Store. We appreciate your business. If you would like more help, please chat with us again.
Thank you for choosing the Apple Store. If you have any additional questions, please chat us again.
Nothing. They can’t offer me anything to get me to buy the item. And all I want is simple: no stupid headphones.
Stupid Apple.