By giving credits, Apple gets credit
The iPhone 3G S is having some activation troubles.
(Credit: Apple)Some iPhone 3G S customers are having trouble getting their new handhelds activated.
An Apple e-mail sent to those being affected by the issue said that it could take up to 48 hours to complete the device's activation. The e-mail claims the delay was due to "system issues" and "high activation volumes." It started after the iPhone 3G S was released last Friday.
But not all is lost. Apple told affected customers that it would offer them a $30 iTunes Store credit for "the inconvenience this delay has caused."
Apple has a proven record of trying to do what's right after it makes mistakes; this is no exception.
Last year, when the writers' strike brought the entertainment industry to a halt, Apple issued a refund to all customers who purchased season passes for their favorite television shows. It didn't refund them for the entire season, but it paid them back for the episodes that were promised but not delivered.
After making the controversial decision to drop the price of the first-generation 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399 in 2007, Apple gave early adopters who paid the original price a $100 Apple Store credit.
"Even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone, and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price," Apple CEO Steve Jobs wrote at the time. "Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these."
When iPod battery lives weren't as long as Apple claimed they would be in 2005, and class action lawsuits were filed, the company offered extended warranties and $50 store credits to consumers who issued complaints.
Apple has shown a track record of responding to its mistakes. A $30 credit might not be ideal for customers, but it's better than nothing, isn't it?
How many times have we dealt with tech companies that do nothing to make a situation right? On numerous occasions, I've called tech support on Windows PCs, and after trying to perform some basic troubleshooting, representatives from Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and others told me to install the Windows Recovery disc and start anew.
When Twitter was down so often last year, all we heard were excuses and promises of better service. It came, but in the meantime, we were left wondering what other alternatives were available.
The tech industry is filled with too many companies offering too many products that don't offer what we expect. In many cases, those problems are ignored. But Apple is one of few companies that doesn't ignore its problems.
Unlike Palm, which has stayed relatively silent on its Pre's battery problems, Apple generally addresses issues with its products and gives a little something back for our trouble. It might not be ideal, but it's better than the alternative.
So say what you will about the iPhone 3G S activation problems, but in handling issues like this, the company should generally get credit for giving it.
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Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
1. They wiped my phone clean (said the firmware could be the problem)
2. Said I had no battery data on my phone (hmmm i wonder why that could be)
Apples poor support is why i'm now on a blackberry bold...
Well I kind of fail to see your point on this. If thats the only option and they have done all they can what more do you expect them to do?
Having said that, I once went to an Apple store because my iPhone was not booting up.. and the only option was to replace the phone with a new one.. I lost all my settings and data on the original phone, which is bad as well.. but they did give me a new iPhone.
Of course, it's not like the good old days when you could bang on something real hard to get it working again - like the Fonz did...
I know you like Microsoft and all !
but C'mon there should be a limit for you too !
Not defending just pointing out lol. I know there customer service is **** but you gotta be fair about it.
seven7dust, as for defending the OEM helpdesks? Naaa... not me. The only reason I've never had problems with them is because I know more than they do. I can understand why the OEM helpdesks do it. 1. They're not trained to troubleshoot every detailed issue and reloading the OS works 99% of the time for software issues, 2. It's the most cost effective fix for them (not you), 3. (this one I truely beleive) Talking Redneck Bubba through making changes to even the most simplest of settings is a challenge.
Although the road for service was bumpy and i had to ship it back and forth (an apple store wasnt nearby), Apple REALLY owned up to their mistake and treated me well. This is why I'm a loyal customer.
1 Multimedia messaging does not support sculpture, macrame, or interpretive dance.
2 Voice memo recordings totally don't sound like me. I don't sound like that, do I? Seriously?
3 Turned on adult content filter but everybody in my videos still has their clothes on.
4 Adding a task to calendar did not result in task getting done.
5 Clicked this blue "compass" icon but kept getting some stupid web browser.
6 Still no apps to cure the nagging feeling that I should've bought a Palm Pre.
7 The touchscreen is now on the back of the phone instead of the front.
8 Gone to the bathroom four times already today, and Remote Wipe hasn't worked once.
9 Spotlight search crashed with memory overload error trying to index my Harry Potter cosplay photo collection.
10 Tried out tethering, but I think I broke my finger smacking that phone around the pole.
11 Apple still hasn't fixed the no-hardware-keyboard bug.
12 "Cut" function does not apply to monthly AT&T bill.
And i've heard my fair share of Leopard horror stories to..
I hear there are good discounts for Vista users who wish to upgrade to 7... the leaked Bestbuy memo .... hope its true :)
or Bing+ "vista problems"
there's enough results to go around for all
anyone defending Vista even after Microsoft themselves conceding to their mistake
is the biggest fanboy ever !
The thing is Vista wasn't that bad.
And i've heard my fair share of Leopard horror stories to.."
Yet you don't see or hear of a lot of people wanting to downgrade back to Tiger now do you?? You can believe whatever you want, but the Leopard satisfaction rate is a lot higher than Vista, I promise you. Of course, I know it's more convenient to wear blinders to the obvious, so believe whatever you want if it helps you get through the day.
Credit where it is due.. MS fixed by 5 year old XBOX with RROD issue... what other company would do that?
I hear there are good discounts for Vista users who wish to upgrade to 7... the leaked Bestbuy memo .... hope its true :)"
OMG NOT APPLE! Or Sony thats for a fact.......
As for the upgrade V====>W7 lleak its not a leak its being offered around the world in electric shops that specialze in computers. I know i been seeing the same offers here in my home country.
If you were to do a real article you would include other products along side the apple's.
Then you would point out that apple controls very little of the market.
Then you would point out that Microsoft's products run on practically any mainstream hardware around, even apples and powerpc.
While apples, well lets just say you cant go to new egg and upgrade your mac. Good luck getting a mac motherboard, and they cant even write drivers for other hardware that is not apple.
Then you would also point out, like they did in the 1995 documentary triumph of the nerds that even back in the 80's apple was marking up their products by $1,000.
So I keep my 1k and get 2 new systems, while you get your warranty on an old system and the half aborted mouse.
"paid them back for the episodes "
Oh yeah and what companies charged people for them? Are you saying all the other companies did the opposite?
"Apple has shown a track record"
you have only shown examples of the the Iphone, you fail to note that an iphone is an on going money pit. You have to set up an account with them in order to even get free apps. Also the fact that itunes bought music only works on apple products, or that they overprice their music. Just ask DVD john about the solution he has made. Or the why the pre would want to think about being itunes compatible.
"When iPod battery lives weren't as long"
Apple didn't fix it did it? that was false advertising. A class action suit should have brought about some kind of settlement to compensate the companies that play by the rules, not that many do.
"How many times have we dealt with tech companies that do nothing to make a situation right?"
Yeah including apple, it took them 3 versions of the same phone to get mms, copy and paste, landscape screenboard the second version to get 3g, then they haven't fixed the reception issues, put an sd slot, no usb mass storage support, real bluetooth . Or how about the fact that cycorder "Saurik notes that (the) reason for the large variance in fps (6 to 15) is due to iPhone(and 3g)'s camera. Since its a non-video recording camera, the native iPhone app is basically taking pictures as fast as it can.
No multi tasking, thats why you have to get your email every 15 minutes. Like people use to do it back then they were on dial up.
"In many cases, those problems are ignored. But Apple is one of few companies that doesn't ignore its problems." This applies to the above. You're right after charging people for 3 phones, they finally get what they finally have been wanting since day one. a 3g iphone that is fast enough, oh wait maybe in the 4th one they will have usb mass storage and you can really use those 16 gigs.
"Yet you don't see or hear of a lot of people wanting to downgrade back to Tiger now do you"
First take a look at the numbering, its still mac os 10.x.
Thats lame! compare windows vista to vista sp1 or winxp to winxp sp2/sp3. Microsoft doesnt charge for their servica packs and the added features that sp2 and sp3 added (firewall, etc).
i see your point but again, if you compare os9 to os10 it would be like win95 to winvista. I am glad mac finally got a decent bsd based os, and i am glad they finally went out and made the hardware a little more pc compliant.
The thruth stings, now the macfans turn. Just remember.
Intel inside idiot outside.
you have only shown examples of the the Iphone, you fail to note that an iphone is an on going money pit. You have to set up an account with them in order to even get free apps. Also the fact that itunes bought music only works on apple products, or that they overprice their music. Just ask DVD john about the solution he has made. Or the why the pre would want to think about being itunes compatible.
@missingxtension2--I don't have all morning to explain to you why you only have half a clue but I will start with this little paragraph above. You do know that iTunes music is DRM free now right. You can technically put them on whatever device you want. FUD debunked part 1.
The rest of your post just illustrates that you obviously are a "build your own" type of person, so why you over here trying to convince everyone of your superiority? You start to make a good point about something (motherboards), and then you discredit yourself by stating non-sense regarding iTunes. You "jailbreak" iPhones. Do you do them for free?? If not, then you are just a bad as Apple, based on your gripes.
30 cents per track to upgrade from your older music?
that is not free, so if you have an ipod full of music.
It would cost about 200-400 dollars?
and why did it take them so long to do it anyways?
At first they charged more for itunes plus music.
This is something new to the itunes and you should know that.
Then there is the new price scheme, yeah you know that was coming.
now tracks are going to cost $1.29
notice i omited importand information just like you did "iTunes music is DRM free now right".
In other words like usual, their business practices are questionable and you defend them.
"You can technically put them on whatever device you want."
Itunes does not have support for any other mp3 player, most media player can go with a vast array of players.
Heck WMplayer.exe even lets you sync an sd card, although songbird is working on getting Iphones to the open sourcers.
"Do you do them for free"
I do all my tech support for free.
If people feel the need to give me any money, i will take it depending on how far away they are from me (5.9l magnum) and if i had to buy something (dsl modem) or if it was something i had in the closet. Either way i never ask for money, and i always use open source (7zip, frostwire, oo, burnnn, vlc, etc).
You can ask anyone I know, you will forgive me if i dont provide references.
I also jailbreak Iphones
As for this activation issue...HOW MANY TIMES does this have to happen for Apple and AT&T to get their act together...everytime a new iPhone is out, it is the same story....this is not just on AT&T..it is also Apple's fault as it is their chose ecosystem/partner and they have done nothing to prevent it.
I do dislike the long hours spent on the phone with dell's tech support for my 5 year-old laptop.
it is what it is, Apple offers a great service regardless.
when you don't sell oranges, you can answer any apple questions easily.
First take a look at the numbering, its still mac os 10.x.
Thats lame! compare windows vista to vista sp1 or winxp to winxp sp2/sp3. Microsoft doesnt charge for their servica packs and the added features that sp2 and sp3 added (firewall, etc).
i see your point but again, if you compare os9 to os10 it would be like win95 to winvista. I am glad mac finally got a decent bsd based os, and i am glad they finally went out and made the hardware a little more pc compliant.
The thruth stings, now the macfans turn. Just remember.
Intel inside idiot outside."
Once again, you have no clue what you are talking about. I am comparing Win 95 and OS9. Keep the facts straight. I was pointing to the other poster that people running Leopard were not downgrading to Tiger the way that people were dropping Vista for XP. As far as service pack updates, prove it for once. You say Microsoft didn't charge for service pack updates while adding features (firewall, etc.), but they really didn't have much choice with that. Some of these "features" were originally planned for Longhorn, but we all know that story. You think Microsoft doesn't hit people up for cash regarding service updates. I could go back to old Win98 SE, but just throw Window XP Media Center edition ($119 for the OEM disc from tigerdirect). So they added some multimedia features that one use a remote and a different UI to control their media? Wow! Please explain that one to the people. Seen the pricing for Win7 BTW (which some people consider a service pack update for Vista)? It is matter of perspective I guess, but I will leave the FUD to people like you, monkeyfun14, and AppleSuxLeo.
Really? what is the numbering on the tiger relase? 10.4 Tiger
what is the numbering on the leopard? 10.6 snow leopard.
what is microsoft? xp 5.1, vista 6.0
What is the time lapse? Xp October 2001, January 2007 (retail)
But you knew this already right?
Shame on apple, microsoft is not charging for windows seven preview.
but then the beta 10.0 came it cost $29.95, or was the shirt that expensive?
Mac OS X v10.0, "was riddled with kernel panics", 'was slow, incomplete, and had very few applications available", but then again it had "been underway since 1996".
Again you know that right? how many people do you think wanted to downgrade at that point? or better yet upgrade?
2001) Mac OS 10.
02) Then there was 10.1, "It had better performance and provided missing features, such as DVD playback", for $129.99
03) Mac OS v10.2, "It brought great performance enhancements", "including Quartz Extreme" the graphics that people though were disneish.
According to cnet "No upgrade pricing for copies of OS X purchased before July 17 (2003)" and a price tag of $129.99.
05) Mac OS v10.3 again "improved performance" better graphics, and dropped support for older macs. another US$129
05) Mac OS v10.4, again even older hardware support dropped, firewire mandatory
(after dropping it recently on some machines), along with more apps $129.95
06) Mac OS v10.4 X86, the ultimate have to upgrade strategy, but also the best any company has done. Makes me wonder why apple wants you to run windows along side OS 10. Hard to find the price but amazon has it for $295.99, although i suspect it is more expesive due to universal binaries. Witch by the way, FreeBSD has great support for other platforms, its called Application Binary Interface. I am %100 sure that's why OS10 supports both powerpc and X86 so good.
07) Mac OS v10.5, brought a universal binary release, G3 processor was dropped, G4 processor required a minimum clock speed of 867 MHz, and the most important thing (in my mind) UNIX certification. Its too expensive for BSD to get it :(((, but its still a BSD milestone!!!
Then we get to snow leopard, "removes support for the PowerPC architecture" among other performance increase. It will be interesting to see an OS with parallel processing support.
And yes you are comparing the wrong OS.
Im not saying MS "doesn't hit people up for cash", read the post again. Then you can comment, after reading it.
Windoes 98 and windows 98 SE and Windows millenium are all incremental updates your right. I was able to get all the inf files from Xp to work in ME, thats because ME is a mix of XP and 98.
Again i am telling you that apple is worse by any standards, not that Microsoft is better.
If you dont think i am, then thats your opinion. Its up to you to prove me wrong.
But then again its kinda hard, whenever i ordered a windows XP SP2 cd for free and people pay $19.99 for shipping and handling if they qualify for mac os 10 upgrades.
Oh and windows media Center edition is interchangeable with XP Pro.....
Unlike the apple tv, you remember that one? "The initial release of the Apple TV used a modified version of Tiger with a different graphical interface and fewer applications and services."
Then any version of windows XP turns into tablet edition by default, as long as the hardware is there.
Sources: Google owns your fruity @$$
I have no comment on windows seven, i last time i tried longhorn(the first release) i never installed vista because of that.
:D
Seriously?
Btw do you own any apple products that "YOU" believe u paid too much for?
The majority of people who buy apple products find it well worth the money other wise they would not be spending so much and they wouldnt be so loyal to buy again from the same company.
And considerin they Sold over 1 million iphone 3gs's in 3 days they are apparently very good at marketing and creating a product that many desire.
And for the record I own a macbook pro and a mac pro (previously owned a sony vaio and a hp) I made the switch about 4 years ago and I can tell you for 100 % certain apple does not make crappy hardware I have yet to have any serious problems due to apples quality infact I have had NONE. And the problems I have had, some of which are my fault such as my lil bro stickin a playin card in my disk drive, have been met with excellent apple customer service and an onsite repair 100% under warranty in under 30 mins. Now thats what I call service. Please do not comment on things u obviously have no first hand experience with.
Also looking at your past reviews there is an obvious windows bias there. please stop bashing apple for things you've obviously never bought, and they've never wronged you with
- by missingxtension2 June 23, 2009 10:47 AM PDT
- again, because you paid a premium.
- Reply to this comment
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (68 Comments)You paid for those two macbooks with one.
You got your moneys worth, lets make another point.
not even close to computers but youll get the point.
You buy a $50 mouse,then you buy a $25 regular mouse.
same hardware, just software difference.
One breaks down
Which do you think is more like to give you a free mouse?