Have you actually ever used the Genius Bar? They will accommodate walk-ins, but the appointment system exists to prevent long wait times. The appointment system is pretty awesome, because I know that when I show up, there's no waiting--they are ready to see me.
The Genius Bar is happy to answer your questions or get repairs underway. They don't care where you bought your Apple product. Most problems are solved within 10-15 minutes. I once had a dead iPhone and walked out of the store 10 minutes later with a replacement that looked brand-spankin' new. Since the original was under warranty, I paid nothing. With typical computer companies, warranty repairs would require getting an RMA, packing it up, shipping it to some repair depot in New Jersey, and a 6-8 week turn around.
I think what the ads are showing is One on One for $99. The regular genius bar isn't going to help you edit video in iMovie or help you make a coffee table book. Could be one reason they don't specifically mention that Genius Bar is free because it is not designed for the type of training that is shown in the ads as much as it is for issues of stuff not working as expected. Apple's expansion of the Genius Bar may be targeting the training aspect because all of the users in the ads are somewhat clueless about computers and/or application functionality.
When I saw that part of the programme, the only thing going through my mind was, "I cannot believe they gutted and destroyed a vintage NeXT MegaPixel Display to put some stupid yellow light into it to make it look to the idiot masses like it's being used."
Now, I could be wrong, it might actually be on and just showing a screen of yellow, but the way the color is being displayed, I seriously doubt it.
Really did not care for those adds at all. When Apple lost its way, Jobs was able to bring it back from near death. The first step in doing that was the think different add campaign with the "crazy ones". As Steve said, they don't need to market the products. They need to market what they stand for. Nike ads are not about shoes, but about athletes.
Apple is at a all time high. They are no longer the odd one out. They are main steam. But, I think NOW more than ever Apple needs to come out with a classic ad campaign that will go down in the history of marketing, like there others in the past. They need to bring everything they have done back to the humble concept they began with. Think Different.
The ads in past have been art (just like the products). They sold themselves. (according to S. Jobs) both product and the advertisements. They Didn't have to be "marketed" to any specific group. Just make it a fascinating and compelling "thing" (the product or the ad). This has always applied to Apple's ad campaigns up till now. These ads are no better / different than the ads for Wendy's hamburgers. (which are fine, but for Apple, it's a whole different caliber than in the past.
It's a step down for Apple.
"They sold themselves." "They Didn't have to be "marketed" to any specific group."
These statements are incorrect! Some Apple ad campaigns were quite targeted "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" and "Wheels for the Mind" to name 2 -- they were targeted at quite specific groups and didn't sell themselves... they didn't sell anything... other than the concept of a better way.
One of our part-time employees in the service department worked full time at Apple -- and he would bring us every new Apple poster and T-Shirt (he was wired into the advertising department). Some of the Mac ads were filmed in our Sunnyvale store.
I can think of hundreds of Apple ads over the last 34 years, that were targeted to specific groups -- most people that were not in the target group never knew these Apple ads existed!
IMO, The best Apple ad was this:
And my second fav was this from the Jul 1978 Playboy:
No, They didn't make the foldout but they were close -- and Regis McKenna (himself) had an article about the Apple ][ placed in the same issue.
This ad, and its placement, are particularly meaningful to me...
We were planning to open our first store, and we found the "ideal" location in Cupertino at the Oaks Shopping Center on Stevens Creek (about 1/2 mile from Apple HQ). The mall was upscale and the owner wasn't interested in any "Radio Shack" electronics store. We convinced him to at least hear us out. We gave a very thorough preso, but the thing that "clinched the deal" was showing him this issue of playboy with the ad and article. (We eventually chose a larger location with lots of parking in Sunnyvale -- 7/10 mile from Apple HQ).
I'm sure these new ads will be effective. They're fine. The problem, if it's fair to call it a problem, is that the Get A Mac ads weren't just effective. They were iconic, and they changed the way other companies advertise products. They're still being mimicked today and will be for years to come. By comparison, these new ads are boring. But judged by themselves, they're probably quite effective.
Yes, but a newcomer wouldn't know that. So she comes in and says she needs to talk to a genius cause of the ad, gets told she has to make an appointment etc.
No, it doesn't work that way in practice:
The customer comes in and asks a sales rep, specifically, to speak to a Genius. The sales rep, smiling, says "Yes! There is a waiting line and I'll put you in the queue, but I may be able to help you -- what specifically are you interested in?".
Since most of these are basic questions from non-techies, the sales rep should be able to handle the customer's needs/questions -- and explain the advantage of the Genius system and how it works.
So the sales reps run interference for the Geniuses... just as they do for the Store Manager, Service Manager, etc.
[VIDEO][/VIDEO]
Yes, but a newcomer wouldn't know that. So she comes in and says she needs to talk to a genius cause of the ad, gets told she has to make an appointment etc.
I have found the sales reps to be very helpful. If it's something that does require "escalation" in that's a technical issue beyond some basic advice they just don't tell you to make an appointment they will help you make an appointment with the Macs in the store.
Quiet ineresting! Scrolling through this thread, I see a record number of newbies posting some +/- posts. Seems apple really made an impression. And that's what good advertisement is all about. And of course like other posters mentioned, the message: "with Apple products you can get some of the best support there is for high tech products" really comes through. Besides all this I think the ads are in a charming way funny.
These ads are no better / different than the ads for Wendy's hamburgers. (which are fine, but for Apple, it's a whole different caliber than in the past.
It's a step down for Apple.
Two things ... Firstly, if you think back to the most iconic ads of the past, they have usually been about, dare I say it? ....a revolutionary product. 1984 ad .... The Macintosh , the get a Mac campaign .. OSX & the intel switch ...... 2007 .... IPhone and subsequently the iPad.
The excitement created by the products helped create more interest in the ads. Don't get me wrong, the ads were fantastic but were helped immensely by excitement created by the newness of the products.
Apple has found themselves in a very unique position. They have been so far in front of the pack with their products for so long now everyone expects that everything they do will be revolutionary ....all the time.
Secondly, I think the bar is set unreasonably high by us. You can create " the best thing ever " often ...... Just not each and every time. Apple has such a great track record that, personally, I'm willing to put my trust in them to show me, once again, that they know what they're doing .
I don't understand why people don't like these ads so much.
Yes the smooth and swanky info filled horn blowing of the normal commercials are OK but there is always room for a bit of humor to make Apple look less of a faceless mega-corp.
Mac vs Windows ads; punch line: Mac OS just works Genius ads; punch line: you need a Genius to make it work. I don't think that's clever to the average user or potential switcher. Baseline of 'Mac just works' gets lost here. Someone didn't pay attention what actually happens in these ads.
I think what the ads are showing is One on One for $99. The regular genius bar isn't going to help you edit video in iMovie or help you make a coffee table book. Could be one reason they don't specifically mention that Genius Bar is free because it is not designed for the type of training that is shown in the ads as much as it is for issues of stuff not working as expected. Apple's expansion of the Genius Bar may be targeting the training aspect because all of the users in the ads are somewhat clueless about computers and/or application functionality.
You may well be on to something. There are no Apple stores nearby -- so I am not current on what goes on in the store. Most stores had a training/group presentation area that they used to teach specific things like iMovie, etc. I don't know if they still do this... but I think they should. Apple has several things to gain:
solving problems == satisfied customers
training == more capable customers == reference sell other customers
people in the store == buy things
We called it service and support -- even if the customer bought his Apple elswhere, we would help him exploit it! Instead of Store XYZ's unhappy Apple customer -- he became Computer Plus' satisfied (and capable) Apple customer... And he bought all his high-priced accessories and next computer from us -- because he knew we would support him and the products we sold... And he would tell others about us.
We opened our Sunnyvale store on December 30, 1978. Our first customer, Ed, bought an Apple ][ in San Francisco, and when he got home he discovered that there were no game paddles *... only an Apple chit.
Apple ][s were on 6-month backorder at that time and no one had any stock. Mark and I brought our own personal systems to the store -- that's all we had... no Inventory! Anyway, Ed tried hitting all the stores from SF to Silicon Valley (AIR there were about 8 stores -- we were the 5th store in Silicon Valley). We were closed when Ed knocked on our door, but we let him in. Ed told us his sob story -- how his son was so disappointed ** that he couldn't play BreakOut,,, Long story short, I traded Ed my game paddles for the Apple chit. Ed, who had been pissed at Apple, pissed at CmputerLand SF, pissed at the world in general... left as a happy Computer Plus Apple customer...
Ed was a regular (repeat) customer for the next 11 years... sure, Ed bought some stuff closer to home, but major purchases were made from Computer Plus... and he sent a lot of business our way.
* missing paddles would have never surprised a Computer Plus customer. We tested/burned- in every computer for 48 hours and took the customer through a checkout [basic training] on his computer before he left the store (microcomputers were pretty wanky in those days).
** Turns out that the reason Ed's son was so disappointed is because Ed never had a son -- the paddles wer so that Ed could play BreakOut.
My point, in all this is for something as mind and capability-expandng as a computer -- after-sales support is a key to a satisfied customer... And you'd be amazed how easy it is to flip after-sales support into before-next-sale support.
P.S. Can we please have more smilelies than this-->
I'd be happy if they could just stop the automatic downloading of those two or three cryptic text files every time you click on a new page here. Sooo rude, and so annoying!
Ever since they changed the forum I intermittently get files with names like "5X5IzObjSt4&showsearch=0" downloading to my downloads folder with every page click. Not cool at all.
Probably some kind of f*cked up tracking cookies that they slipping onto everyone's computers so they can make money off of us.
AppleInsider is completely sucky now, and it was the last semi-good, semi-rational place left on the web to discuss Apple stuff.
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
That's like stealing the Olympics!
P.S. Can we please have more smilelies than this-->
Apparently not you have to make your own in the source code.
devil.gif
biggrin.gif
cool.gif
crying.gif
rolleyes.gif
tongue.gif
mad.gif
wink.gif
happy.gif
blush.gif
frown.gif
Quote:
Originally Posted by MJ4Ev3r
Tim Berners-Lee used Job's NeXT Cube computer in sending a message @ the Olympics --a silent tribute to Steve Jobs!
Very apropos since Sir Tim actually used Steve Job's NeXT cube on designing the original world wide web more than 3 decades ago!
https://twitter.com/nikcub/status/229127613971591168/photo/1/large
I saw that and wondered about it. How cool that Berners-Lee used a Next during the development of the WWW.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
Have you actually ever used the Genius Bar? They will accommodate walk-ins, but the appointment system exists to prevent long wait times. The appointment system is pretty awesome, because I know that when I show up, there's no waiting--they are ready to see me.
The Genius Bar is happy to answer your questions or get repairs underway. They don't care where you bought your Apple product. Most problems are solved within 10-15 minutes. I once had a dead iPhone and walked out of the store 10 minutes later with a replacement that looked brand-spankin' new. Since the original was under warranty, I paid nothing. With typical computer companies, warranty repairs would require getting an RMA, packing it up, shipping it to some repair depot in New Jersey, and a 6-8 week turn around.
I think what the ads are showing is One on One for $99. The regular genius bar isn't going to help you edit video in iMovie or help you make a coffee table book. Could be one reason they don't specifically mention that Genius Bar is free because it is not designed for the type of training that is shown in the ads as much as it is for issues of stuff not working as expected. Apple's expansion of the Genius Bar may be targeting the training aspect because all of the users in the ads are somewhat clueless about computers and/or application functionality.
Originally Posted by MJ4Ev3r
Tim Berners-Lee used Job's NeXT Cube computer in sending a message @ the Olympics --a silent tribute to Steve Jobs!
Very apropos since Sir Tim actually used Steve Job's NeXT cube on designing the original world wide web more than 3 decades ago!
https://twitter.com/nikcub/status/229127613971591168/photo/1/large
When I saw that part of the programme, the only thing going through my mind was, "I cannot believe they gutted and destroyed a vintage NeXT MegaPixel Display to put some stupid yellow light into it to make it look to the idiot masses like it's being used."
Now, I could be wrong, it might actually be on and just showing a screen of yellow, but the way the color is being displayed, I seriously doubt it.
Nike ads are not about shoes, but about athletes.
Apple is at a all time high. They are no longer the odd one out. They are main steam. But, I think NOW more than ever Apple needs to come out with a classic ad campaign that will go down in the history of marketing, like there others in the past. They need to bring everything they have done back to the humble concept they began with. Think Different.
Quote:
Originally Posted by isaidso
Missed my point.
The ads in past have been art (just like the products). They sold themselves. (according to S. Jobs) both product and the advertisements. They Didn't have to be "marketed" to any specific group. Just make it a fascinating and compelling "thing" (the product or the ad). This has always applied to Apple's ad campaigns up till now. These ads are no better / different than the ads for Wendy's hamburgers. (which are fine, but for Apple, it's a whole different caliber than in the past.
It's a step down for Apple.
"They sold themselves." "They Didn't have to be "marketed" to any specific group."
These statements are incorrect! Some Apple ad campaigns were quite targeted "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" and "Wheels for the Mind" to name 2 -- they were targeted at quite specific groups and didn't sell themselves... they didn't sell anything... other than the concept of a better way.
One of our part-time employees in the service department worked full time at Apple -- and he would bring us every new Apple poster and T-Shirt (he was wired into the advertising department). Some of the Mac ads were filmed in our Sunnyvale store.
I can think of hundreds of Apple ads over the last 34 years, that were targeted to specific groups -- most people that were not in the target group never knew these Apple ads existed!
IMO, The best Apple ad was this:
And my second fav was this from the Jul 1978 Playboy:
No, They didn't make the foldout but they were close -- and Regis McKenna (himself) had an article about the Apple ][ placed in the same issue.
This ad, and its placement, are particularly meaningful to me...
We were planning to open our first store, and we found the "ideal" location in Cupertino at the Oaks Shopping Center on Stevens Creek (about 1/2 mile from Apple HQ). The mall was upscale and the owner wasn't interested in any "Radio Shack" electronics store. We convinced him to at least hear us out. We gave a very thorough preso, but the thing that "clinched the deal" was showing him this issue of playboy with the ad and article. (We eventually chose a larger location with lots of parking in Sunnyvale -- 7/10 mile from Apple HQ).
I'm sure these new ads will be effective. They're fine. The problem, if it's fair to call it a problem, is that the Get A Mac ads weren't just effective. They were iconic, and they changed the way other companies advertise products. They're still being mimicked today and will be for years to come. By comparison, these new ads are boring. But judged by themselves, they're probably quite effective.
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna
Yes, but a newcomer wouldn't know that. So she comes in and says she needs to talk to a genius cause of the ad, gets told she has to make an appointment etc.
No, it doesn't work that way in practice:
The customer comes in and asks a sales rep, specifically, to speak to a Genius. The sales rep, smiling, says "Yes! There is a waiting line and I'll put you in the queue, but I may be able to help you -- what specifically are you interested in?".
Since most of these are basic questions from non-techies, the sales rep should be able to handle the customer's needs/questions -- and explain the advantage of the Genius system and how it works.
So the sales reps run interference for the Geniuses... just as they do for the Store Manager, Service Manager, etc.
I have found the sales reps to be very helpful. If it's something that does require "escalation" in that's a technical issue beyond some basic advice they just don't tell you to make an appointment they will help you make an appointment with the Macs in the store.
Hey Sol...
This is post 150 to this thread!
Edit: #151... you beat me to it!
Besides all this I think the ads are in a charming way funny.
Two things ... Firstly, if you think back to the most iconic ads of the past, they have usually been about, dare I say it? ....a revolutionary product. 1984 ad .... The Macintosh , the get a Mac campaign .. OSX & the intel switch ...... 2007 .... IPhone and subsequently the iPad.
The excitement created by the products helped create more interest in the ads. Don't get me wrong, the ads were fantastic but were helped immensely by excitement created by the newness of the products.
Apple has found themselves in a very unique position. They have been so far in front of the pack with their products for so long now everyone expects that everything they do will be revolutionary ....all the time.
Secondly, I think the bar is set unreasonably high by us. You can create " the best thing ever " often ...... Just not each and every time. Apple has such a great track record that, personally, I'm willing to put my trust in them to show me, once again, that they know what they're doing .
I did say by noon PT which is nearly 3 hours past. ~Apple is doomed!~
YES! YES! YES! We're finally done with the dismembered hand! Thanks Apple, great stuff!
I don't understand why people don't like these ads so much.
Yes the smooth and swanky info filled horn blowing of the normal commercials are OK but there is always room for a bit of humor to make Apple look less of a faceless mega-corp.
Originally Posted by Ewan
YES! YES! YES! We're finally done with the dismembered hand! Thanks Apple, great stuff!
Take that back; my father was a dismembered hand.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evilution
…there is always room for a bit of humor to make Apple look less of a faceless mega-corp.
That's what the Santa Siri ad was. That was very well done. This is cheesy, big-box crap that could've been done by Best Buy.
Genius ads; punch line: you need a Genius to make it work. I don't think that's clever to the average user or potential switcher. Baseline of 'Mac just works' gets lost here.
Someone didn't pay attention what actually happens in these ads.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mstone
I think what the ads are showing is One on One for $99. The regular genius bar isn't going to help you edit video in iMovie or help you make a coffee table book. Could be one reason they don't specifically mention that Genius Bar is free because it is not designed for the type of training that is shown in the ads as much as it is for issues of stuff not working as expected. Apple's expansion of the Genius Bar may be targeting the training aspect because all of the users in the ads are somewhat clueless about computers and/or application functionality.
You may well be on to something. There are no Apple stores nearby -- so I am not current on what goes on in the store. Most stores had a training/group presentation area that they used to teach specific things like iMovie, etc. I don't know if they still do this... but I think they should. Apple has several things to gain:
solving problems == satisfied customers
training == more capable customers == reference sell other customers
people in the store == buy things
We called it service and support -- even if the customer bought his Apple elswhere, we would help him exploit it! Instead of Store XYZ's unhappy Apple customer -- he became Computer Plus' satisfied (and capable) Apple customer... And he bought all his high-priced accessories and next computer from us -- because he knew we would support him and the products we sold... And he would tell others about us.
We opened our Sunnyvale store on December 30, 1978. Our first customer, Ed, bought an Apple ][ in San Francisco, and when he got home he discovered that there were no game paddles *... only an Apple chit.
Apple ][s were on 6-month backorder at that time and no one had any stock. Mark and I brought our own personal systems to the store -- that's all we had... no Inventory! Anyway, Ed tried hitting all the stores from SF to Silicon Valley (AIR there were about 8 stores -- we were the 5th store in Silicon Valley). We were closed when Ed knocked on our door, but we let him in. Ed told us his sob story -- how his son was so disappointed ** that he couldn't play BreakOut,,, Long story short, I traded Ed my game paddles for the Apple chit. Ed, who had been pissed at Apple, pissed at CmputerLand SF, pissed at the world in general... left as a happy Computer Plus Apple customer...
Ed was a regular (repeat) customer for the next 11 years... sure, Ed bought some stuff closer to home, but major purchases were made from Computer Plus... and he sent a lot of business our way.
* missing paddles would have never surprised a Computer Plus customer. We tested/burned- in every computer for 48 hours and took the customer through a checkout [basic training] on his computer before he left the store (microcomputers were pretty wanky in those days).
** Turns out that the reason Ed's son was so disappointed is because Ed never had a son -- the paddles wer so that Ed could play BreakOut.
My point, in all this is for something as mind and capability-expandng as a computer -- after-sales support is a key to a satisfied customer... And you'd be amazed how easy it is to flip after-sales support into before-next-sale support.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
That's like stealing the Olympics!
P.S. Can we please have more smilelies than this-->
I'd be happy if they could just stop the automatic downloading of those two or three cryptic text files every time you click on a new page here. Sooo rude, and so annoying!
Ever since they changed the forum I intermittently get files with names like "5X5IzObjSt4&showsearch=0" downloading to my downloads folder with every page click. Not cool at all.
Probably some kind of f*cked up tracking cookies that they slipping onto everyone's computers so they can make money off of us.
AppleInsider is completely sucky now, and it was the last semi-good, semi-rational place left on the web to discuss Apple stuff.