| |
For a variety of reasons, Christi and I have both moved our blogs to wordpress. If you head to the URL of my old blogspot blog, you will be redirected to the new URL.
If you're a subscriber, please remember to adjust your feed so it points to the new wordpress blog (all previous posts and comments have also been moved.)
New URL's:
http://jeremymulder.wordpress.com
http://purplelilacs.wordpress.com
Thanks, and happy reading!
|
| read full story (from Struggles in Thought) |
| |
| |
So after my initial morning confrontation with the so called Genius, who turned out to be the spawn of Satan, I had another conversation with a VERY helpful Apple employee who we'll refer to as Robert from now on. While Elizabeth hated me and all things Apple and only worked there to apparently convince people to spend their money elsewhere, Robert was an incredibly insightful and helpful gentleman who inspired me to continue on with my purchase, talking me through my anxiety, listening when I broke down to tears, laughing with me, offering assistance in my marriage, my life, and even coming over to change a tire on my vehicle. Robert was the supreme example of Customer Service.
When I was through talking with him, my heart was beating faster--I had now made my decision. All that was left was to garner emotional support from my wife, allowing her one more opportunity to change her mind and say "you know what, you're an idiot. This is a dumb idea. Buy a Dell." The anticipation was unbearable. Her response was unremarkable. At this point, even if she had though I was an idiot, she was so annoyed that I continued to pester her with questions like "which one should I get" and my continual descriptions of machines which she cared little about that she said yes so that I'd shut up. So she just said "okay, good. So order it." And I said "really? Should I? Can I put you on speaker so that you can be here when I order it?" She said "well, it isn't going to do anything for me if that makes you feel better." For you single fellows, that's wife-code for "you're an idiot. I have no emotion attached to this purchase whatsoever".
A wife is as emotionally attached to you buying electronics as you are to her buying shoes or getting her nails done. As in, she doesn't care. At all. Or, if you care about her getting her nails done or her shoe shopping, then, well, politely, and respectfully, get a life.
So I hung up with Christi and made the call. 1-800-MY-APPLE.
I will only transcribe the relevant parts of the conversation for space. We shall call this helpful Apple employee Kristen.
Kristen: (with glee) Thanks for calling the Apple Store! My name's Kristin!
Me: (reflecting her joy) Hey Kristin! Well, I just went to order a computer online and I ran into some difficulties, and I was hoping you can help me.
Kristin: (Chipper) Sure! Have you ever bought a Mac before?
Me: (The anticipation mounting) No, this is my first one!
Kristin: (with immense joy) Welcome to the other side!
Me: (Finally feeling like I'm home) Thanks!
So we went on with our conversation, she helped me out, it only took a couple of minutes. And then I said to her:
Me: So is it finished?
Kristin: Yep, we're all ordered here and I'll give you the confirmation number.
Me: So you already put the order in?
Kristin: Yep, you should be getting a confirmation email.
Me: Okay, so you're sure that you ordered the right computer.
Kristin: Yep, sure did.
Me: The 2.4 ghz one.
Kristin: Yep.
Me: 15 inch display.
Kristin: Yep.
Me: Refurbished.
Kristin: Relax sir, you're with Apple.
Me: I know, I'm just nervous, you know?
Kristin: You're here now, sir.
Me: I know, but when I was on the website, I added and deleted it from my cart like 4 times so I made sure I got the right one.
Kristin: Now you're just being neurotic.
Me: I know! I just don't want to mess it up and make sure I got the right one.
Kristin: You did. Look at our stocks. People are happy with their computers. You got the best laptop we have.
Me: Alright, so it's the 2.4.
Kristin: Shut up sir.
Me: Yes Maam.
Okay, so those last two lines didn't happen. But the point remains that Kristin did a remarkable job with my order, and my Mac is on the way! One slight problem, she entered my email address incorrectly. She spelled my last name with a "B". As in, "Mulber". No worries. I got it fixed. And my mac is still shipping to the right address. Hopefully. Otherwise my neighbor will have a SWEET Christmas.
|
| read full story (from Struggles in Thought) |
| |
| |
I read a blog not too long ago that described the Mac buying experience. Although humorous, it was not at all like my experience. Because of the extreme emotion involved in this event, I have decided to post the experience so that you can share in the memories. One more caveat: some elements that did not affect the outcome of the blog have been removed for time.
It began Tuesday Night. The night of Christmas. Christi said the magic words: lets go purchase your computer tomorrow morning. My heart lept with excitement and anxiety as I considered that the moment of decision had come. I needed to narrow down my options and make my choice: which Mac would I buy? Although I had been doing my research and had pondered this moment for months leading up to this event, starting on October 10th, I now knew what my budget was and so I could narrow it down to that price range. So the final search began.
Much of Tuesday night was spent researching prices and doing comparisons between various Mac stores. Macmall was running a pretty good special on previous generation Macbook Pro's. I could get an education discount on a new machine from the Apple store, though. I could also buy a refurbished model. What to do? I decided to sleep on it.
Wednesday morning I woke up with a better idea of what computer I was going to get, but I also woke up with acid reflux and discovered I had another predicament. The computer I wanted, a refurbished newest generation Macbook Pro, was only available online, but since I was paying with a couple of gift cards from the Apple Store and an AMEX gift card, I wasn't sure if it would work. We figured that problem out, and we were ready to go.
So I entered the final stretch.
My heart raced as I drove to work, knowing that upon my arrival I would prepare to make the purchase. I still had unanswered questions, but I figured I'd see if I could get someone to go to the Apple Store with me to play with the computer I wanted, just to be sure, and have all my questions answered by one of the geniuses who lived, er, worked there. After heading to the website, however, and doing some more research, the little words I needed to see suddenly came into focus: "Have questions? Need advice? Click here!" Yes! That was ME! I had questions, I needed advice. And so I dialed. 1-800-MY-APPLE.
Within minutes, I was on the line with a woman who we'll refer to as Elizabeth. Now, lest you believe that all Apple employees are kind, smiling, and intelligent as I did prior to this phone call, let me enlighten you--they are not. Apparently Elizabeth was just downright angry to be working at Apple. Not only that, apparently she hadn't done much reading on the current Apple line of products. Here is my conversation, edited for space.
Elizabeth: (with disgust) The Apple Store, this is Elizabeth.
Me: (chipper, excited, anxiety evident in my voice) Hello Elizabeth, I'm looking to purchase a computer today, but I have a couple of questions first and I'm not sure if I called the right place, but hopefully you can either answer them or direct me to the right place.
Elizabeth: (silent for a moment, apparently wondering whether she wanted to talk to the dolt on the other end of the line. Then responding with a tone like "what do you think, you idiot. You called the helpline. I answered.) Yeah, I can help.
Me: (Curious) Great! Well, this is my first Mac and I'm a little bit nervous about making such a big purchase, so I'm just trying to get all the information.
Elizabeth: (uncaring, cold, non-compassionate) okay.
Me: (with a furrowed brow) Anywaysss.....so I'm currently borrowing a 17" Macbook Pro with a 2.4ghz processor. I would like to purchase the 15" Macbook Pro with a 2.4ghz processor. Can you tell me if there are any differences between the two machines other than the obvious screen size?
Elizabeth: (with all the dispassionate hate she can muster) lets see....
INTERJECTION: Now, at this moment, you must understand that open in front of me on the computer is the Tech Spec Comparison from the Apple Store comparing the 15 and the 17 inch Macbook Pro. I can read it. What I'm looking for is the intangibles. The thing I can't read. As in, are there any internal components that are different? Will I notice a performance difference? What I hear on her end is someone moving their mouse, typing into a computer, and saying "lets see..." I know what you're doing, Elizabeth. You're looking at the website!!! You Dummy!!! I'm calling you for help and you are reading from the website!!! I can read the website!!!! I want answers from a so called "genius"!!!!!! I was a tad peeved...
Elizabeth: (continuing on in a hateful tone) well....it looks like the 17 inch has a bigger display...
INTERJECTION: Really? Wow. I must be the most frigtarded (courtesy of FSJ) person that's ever called 1-800-MY-APPLE. Or you are, Elizabeth. No, scratch that. It's definitely you. You are the most frigtarded person at Apple. Hello, Elizabeth, I'm about to drop a couple G's at your store. Do you care? I have an idea, why don't you check the website and let me know. Dummy.
Elizabeth: (now spewing smoke like Satan.) and the 15 inch only has 2 USB ports. Annnnddddd....the 15 inch has a little bit longer battery life, so that's better, actually.
INTERJECTION: Speechless.
Me: (Wondering why I called) Okay, that's great. Thanks. The other question I have is that the major programs I use are the Adobe Creative Suite 3 and Final Cut Express. I'm wondering how much of a performance difference I'll notice between the Macbook Pro and the Macbook? I am currently using a Macbook Pro that I'm borrowing, and I just don't know if these programs will even really run on the macbook.
Elizabeth: (thinking "I hate you" in her head) So what programs are you running then. (Not a question, mind you. A statement. Of annoyance.)
Me: (Wondering why she seems to be unfamiliar with the Adobe products and Final Cut Express, an Apple product) Adobe CS3, you know, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, and Final Cut Express.
Elizabeth: (quickly, looking to get rid of me now) oh yeah, they'll run. Upgrade the ram. But they'll run.
Me: (thinking "I hate you" in my head) So I won't notice a difference in performance.
Elizabeth: (considering homicide) No.
Me: (baffled, angered. Dreaming of punching her in the mouth.) Okay, well, I guess that's all the questions I have.
Elizabeth: (thanking her master Satan that I'm finally leaving.) Well thanks for calling Apple once again my name is Elizabeth. CLICK.
And that was it. Conversation over. Two questions. Zero Answers. Thanks, Elizabeth. You wasted both of our times. How you got a job at Apple I'll never know.
Thankfully, I tried again later, and recieved an incredible amount of assistance from another guy. Enough assistance to where I said to him "Sir, do you receive any benefit if I buy a computer from you today?" He said to me, "I don't receive a commission, if that's what you're asking. I'm here to make sure we find the solution that best meets your needs." WOW. Talk about a difference! Elizabeth hates me. This guy thinks I'm the bomb diggity! This is why I'm buying a Mac.
Okay, I'm only half way through this story. I will post the second conversation, equally as humorous, in the next blog. Therefore, the first blog will be subtitled "The Dark Night before the Dawn". The second blog will be subtitled "the Dawn, the morning of Delight".
|
| read full story (from Struggles in Thought) |
| |
| |
22
It helps to know that, if the situation arose, I could wipe out an entire mob of 5 year olds.
In the event you take the test yourself, please don't think less of me for admitting that I would, if it became necessary, use a 5 year old as a weapon to either club or throw in the general direction of my enemies.
|
| read full story (from Struggles in Thought) |
| |
| |
After months of dialogue, discussion, discourse, and debate, I have finally pulled the trigger and purchased my first Mac with the support of my family and friends. Mostly, however, the ability to make this purchase is owed to my wife, who gave me an over-the-top unexpected and gracious Christmas gift that enabled the transaction to take place. I have the best wife ever :-), especially since she has no idea why I spent all of last night and today fretting over which Mac to buy, where to buy it from, in what configuration, and then even after deciding why I took several more hours before even making the purchase.
But then I made the move.
She also did not understand why all morning I was complaining about acid reflux and why I kept going back and forth and stressing. And then she did not understand why when I called her after making the purchase I was screaming like a school girl.
Nevertheless, the computer has been shipped and will be arriving in the next couple of days. Yippy!
My next blog will be about the details of the purchase and how the lady I ordered it from called me names and thought I was crazy. Essentially, I will describe my Mac-Buying experience. Be warned, it's not all hugs, artistry, and saving the earth! Contrary to popular belief, the employees that work for Apple can be rude and disingenuous as well--not to mention stupid!
|
| read full story (from Struggles in Thought) |
| |
|
