DON'T you dare outsource like Apple.

18 replies
http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...-i-bought.html

I noted yesterday that I bought my first mac in years, but in a follow up conversation with support, I discovered that the "ships within 24 hours" didn't apply to my iMac because I had reconfigured it.

The problem is, in my mind I basically bought the top of the line iMac and didn't reconfigure anything - and the service rep on the phone agreed with me and asked for a moment to clarify the reason for delay of my delivery, which now Apple was saying would be about 2 weeks!

A manager came back on the phone and said because I added iWork pre-installed, that was considered a reconfiguration. "Are you kidding me?" I said, (jostling for something free ;-)). She went on to explain that even though iWork is Apple designed software, they send my iMac to CHINA to get iwork installed, then its shipped back to them, then to me in Toronto!

After expressing sincere shock at this monumental waste of time, and misleading shipping information, she reverted and said she would send iWork separately for me to install for free, and has expedited my delivery to express, also for free.

I outsource as a regular part of my business, but I cannot come to grips with the logic that leads a corporation in sending large pieces of hardware around the world in order to have someone install a CDROM.

That is simply outsourcing USA/CDN jobs without cost savings - while adding an unnecessary burden to the customer service cycle. Not very thoughtful in these economic times.
#apple #dare #outsource
  • Profile picture of the author sadiver
    I am speechless....
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  • Profile picture of the author Barbara Wilson
    Granted that they probably get a discount on their shipping, it is still hard to believe that this is cheaper than having someone within the company do it. Or - at least - out-source to someone local that could turn it around in a decent length of time.
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  • Profile picture of the author kevinw1
    Shipping things back and forth ridiculous distances - because it's cheaper that way - is one result of subsidized fuel costs.
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  • Profile picture of the author R Hagel
    Thank you for your forum post.

    Since I outsource all my forum replies, please be prepared to wait 2-6 weeks for my proper reply. Here's how forum reply outsourcing works:

    1. Print off your post.

    2. Snail mail your post to a remote village in China (snail mail is used due to Internet restrictions).

    3. Mail is intercepted by the government. They visit this URL to see if it's acceptable.

    4. If all is well, my freelancer forum replier writes a reply.

    5. Freelancer snail mails reply back to me.

    6. If I need changes, those too are conducted by snail mail.

    7. Once reply is to my satisfaction, I snail mail the written reply to my typist in India. He then logs into the forum and posts the reply to this thread.



    Thank you for your patience. I have many great things to say about this post, so I'm sure you won't mind waiting.

    Cheerfully,
    Becky
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  • Profile picture of the author Ken Leatherman
    Becky, you the man...err girl. Wait I have to outsource to my outsourcer who will outsource to the tiny vill in china to have it typed in Chinese sitting next to your outsource guy who can then translate it and sent it for approval to the government to make sure it was translated into a translation no one can understand. And then forwarded to Homeland Security to check for subversive activity that showed the whole thing had to be done again. Sheesh! now we have to back and the OP to see if the whole thing of the imac was a good idea or not.

    Ken
    The Old Geezer
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    Ghost Writing Services Coming Soon


    So Check Out My WSO
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Reeves
    WOW...who would have thought? I can't believe they don't have a better solution for pre-installing software..what a waste. Glad they helped you out at least...

    - Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author Devan Koshal
    Technically having custom software installed does equal a reconfiguration.

    It's not as simple as unpacking a model, starting it up and installing it...if you take in all the variables it's not that simple.

    So what happens is that the order gets sent to the warehouse in China where when they roll of the finished iMac of the production line and install the OS on the computer it installs iWork with it.

    Then it's sent straight to your house.

    If you think about it a little deeper than just installing a piece of software it isn't as simple.

    Apple's products are designed and developed in America but are manufactured in China.



    hope that makes sense
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  • Profile picture of the author laird
    Stock configurations are sent to customers direct from US distribution centers (SoCal for instance), I'm not sure about Canada. In any case, CTO's (Custom-To-Order) usually take 2-4 days additional for most products and, depending on the product and customization, can ship directly from either US distribution hub or china to the end customer.

    Del

    PS - My CTO MacBook Pro came from China in about 7 days.
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  • Profile picture of the author Devan Koshal
    Originally Posted by Justin_Kim View Post

    Dell, Intel, Microsoft are all basically made from the same company. Only difference is the preferences and the logo
    Eh?

    Microsoft only create software.

    Excluding the Zune.

    Dell & Intel develop their products internally then outsource the production for mass production. Well intel does. Dell assembles inhouse.
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    • Profile picture of the author trent20
      That is crazy. I work at an apple specialist store and we special order items for people through the apple website all the time. Even the most extensive custom orders usually get to our store within standard shipping time (3 -5 days). Maybe she was quoting 2 weeks just to save her butt in the long run when your product didn't arrive on time?
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      • Profile picture of the author Devan Koshal
        Originally Posted by trent20 View Post

        That is crazy. I work at an apple specialist store and we special order items for people through the apple website all the time. Even the most extensive custom orders usually get to our store within standard shipping time (3 -5 days). Maybe she was quoting 2 weeks just to save her butt in the long run when your product didn't arrive on time?
        Well, the new iMac's just came out.

        So i don't think all the stores are fully supplied yet or that Apple is fully supplied.
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      • Profile picture of the author Glenn Grundberg
        Originally Posted by trent20 View Post

        Maybe she was quoting 2 weeks just to save her butt in the long run when your product didn't arrive on time?
        TAH DAAAH! You got it in ONE, dude!

        That's VERY common- in fact it's just smart business. No WAY does Apple ship a box over the pond to have software installed.

        Hell, I never quoted a construction project that didn't have at LEAST thirty percent time lag in it. 30 day job was put on the street at 45...90 at 120. Fact.

        Delays beyond your control are always present, but to many customers it just looks like you're making excuses, unless the cause is insanely clear, like a friggin hurricane or something. Better to build in a cushion up front...

        UPS and the Postal service play this game ALL the time.
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        I'm Baaaaaack...
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh Anderson
    Apple also outsources to Idaho for iphone support to it aint all bad ;-)

    I built my own "mac pro" with a quad core, souped up video card and 8 gigs of ram... I don't get support but it also cost me $2200 less for the configuration I built vs buying it from them... I think I paid $800 total including the OSX 10.5 disk from Best Buy.

    And I did not have to ship it to China to get it "reconfigured" :-)
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