This Ever Happen to You?

[Angelo]

I hope Anthony (who workED at the Apple Store in the Woodlands Texas) is around to read this...

Ever have the wish or the opportunity to buy a top of the line muscle computer, like the 8-core, all Xeon 3.0GHz MacPro?

Well, I'm getting my wish (I have the best wife in the whole wide world), that is, if Apple will allow me to own one

I went on-line Friday and tried purchasing the equipment last week. The guy took my order and said that the computer would be shipping June 13-14. About an hour later I received an email informing me that they do not sell their products for export or to overseas customers. WHAT????:

How did they ever get the idea that my purchase was for export purposes? I thought, maybe they think Texas has seceded from the United States!!!

I found out several calls later that the problem is that I am having them ship the computer to my office which is at the airport and I am a Domestic and International freight forwarder. Well, I called them back to assure them that this computer is for my use within the US and it would not be sent anywhere but to my office.

The sales guy says "no, no - that's not the reason - they probably encountered a problem with your credit card and that's what it is. It happens all the time". I think to myself, "why would they not send me an email telling me that they encountered a problem with my credit card". So, I called the CC company and they tell me that my account has NO problems and that the only thing they have seen come through (on that day) was two $1 pings, probably just checking the account. They assured me that when the order came through they would process the purchase without any problems.

I called the sales guy again who told me to call someone else in their credit department. I called, and NOW they tell me that my CC billing address is different from the shipping address. "I know, I know, because the CC company bills to my PO box and I want the @#$% computer shipped to my office.

I have now spoken to the sales guy four times and he assures me not to worry that everything is OK with the order. I tell him to send me an email confirming the order and showing an itemized list of the purchase. He finally breaks down and tells me that this computer can be used for illegal purposes (don't want speculate uses) and that's "probably" why they are investigating the purchase (they have a team that does this), but not to worry that once they OK the item it will by shipped.

To-date I have not received an email confirming my order and I'm getting more and
more #$%% off about the whole ordeal. I wasted several hours trying to give them business and they are accusing me of.....(who knows what).

The sales guy even asked whether I would prefer to change the ship address to my home? I could do that, but I will NOT because I don't want to!!!!!!! It's now a matter of principle....

I still have not received an email confirming my order. I'm sort of tempted to cancel the order... SERENITY NOW!!! LOL

This ever happen to you?

[Daniel Bates]

Not yet (crosses fingers).

Perhaps you could cancel the order and reorder from a different retailer?

[Edg02]

this maybe a stupid question but here goes...

Did you add with your credit card company, your work address as an alternate shipping address? (use those exact words when you call your cc if you haven't) I've run into this problem several times and I just tell the business to call the cc company and it usualy gets cleared from there. Just a suggestion. Hope it all works out for you!

[Angelo]

Daniel,
The day before I went to the Apple store nearest my home and could not speak to a sales person. They were all too busy with other customers. Every time I thought I caught someone eye, they'd turn around and visit with someone else. I spent 30-40 minutes playing with their MacPro hoping that someone would come over but it was not to be... so I walked out planning to come in the next morning, when they open up, and instead decided to call them (800 #). I would have preferred doing that since when/if I get the computer I would have to lug both computers to get the files transferred over.

Maybe someone OR SOMETHING is trying to tell me "DON'T BUY THE MACHINE".

Nope, It's now a matter of principle. They will either sell on my terms or they keep the machine.

[Angelo]

Christina, I did that 8 years ago. The CC company has all addresses associated with the way I do business. Apple did not even call my CC company to verify anything.
Yes, I've had that problem and took care of it sometime ago.

[pippin]

you have way more patience that me my friend.

i would have cancelled the order after the third hassle.

[Angelo]

Lisa, I'm weighing my options. I am real heavy into Apple products for 6 years now (love Aperture for my photo needs).

To change now would be hard (what do they say about old dogs and new tricks?). But, I'll give it a few more days and see, because if I blow-up I'll start looking into the PC world. Anyway, SERENITY NOW!!!!

[NathanJK]

Yeah, you definitely have patience...I'd have been screaming at customer service people after the FIRST incident!

[pippin]

I guess its because I work retail I'm a little more lenient. But to outrightly help someone else rather than you is wrong. I'd have had words with them at that point. Or asked to speak to the manager.

[Angelo]

I guess an update is in order:
I called Monday and they told me that, again, the computer "3.00 GHz Quad-core" was incorrectly ordered. The order only showed ONE Quad, so, here I go again!!! Can't these people get this right?

Well, Spoke to another "Apple order taker" and he profusely apologized, and would make sure the order would be correct this time. Twenty minutes later I receive the confirmation email.

WHAT????? Again it showed "Processor #.... 3.00 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon". The person that had taken my order told me that I'd be seeing on my email order "Two 3.00 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon".

I called him again and he checked his order which showed "TWO..." He could only guess that the database field was not big enough to add the word "two", so I told him to email me his page so, at least, I'd have proof.

Well, It looks like now everything is OK and shipping date is today or the 15th.

Should I cancel the order now????

Daniel, you still have your fingers crossed?
I have a G-5 2-core with 1TB HD and 4GB of Mem for sale!? Interested????

[Toad]

Turn to the dark side of the force...