I think the point he was trying to make (even if he lost site of it) was the fact that they made this comment: "We know that a lot of people are cutting back, but we're doing the opposite," he told the newspaper. "We're investing in the downturn." all while "shedding" those jobs.
They are being a bit misleading in that statement is all.
Hardly, Johnson says further on in that article that traffic through stores is reduced. Which means they wouldn't need as many staff on the floor, no point wasting money employing full time staffers when they could work half time.
I think the point he was trying to make (even if he lost site of it) was the fact that they made this comment: "We know that a lot of people are cutting back, but we're doing the opposite," he told the newspaper. "We're investing in the downturn." all while "shedding" those jobs.
They are being a bit misleading in that statement is all.
I guess the statement could be considered misleading, although I don't think techstuds intentions were that pedestrian. As far as I can tell, his only intention was to elicit the respnses that he got. I almost didn't post when I realized who it was. I don't like feeding the trolls.
where is your analysis of anything relevant? Where are your worthwhile contributions to any discussion? I think most people who read these boards are fully aware of who the joke is. Try using that lame disapproving emoticon on yourself.
What part of that article said the layoffs included Apple Geniuses? Read the article again please. There are many different types of retail workers in their stores, and the article doesn't mention WHO was laid off. They have geniuses, sales associates, specialists, managers, etc.
Does anyone know where the fourth Manhattan flagship is going to be? EDIT:Nevermind, sorry.
I actually live a block away from the Meatpacking flagship. I can totally steal their internet on my iPod Touch. Doesn't work on my mac, though - I believe they limit the signal to their portable devices.
I just hope that, along with the remodeling, that they make sure that the geniuses have proper training before throwing them out there on the 'new&improved' bar. The window dressing will hardly matter if the info that one gets there is either lacking or wrong.
I've read several accounts on different websites over the last few days, where folks had some very uncomplimentary things about the caliber of what passes for 'geniuses' these days. Myself, I've only had two experiences. One was great, couldn't have been better. The guy was obviously seasoned. The other, the guy didn't have a clue. I knew more about the nature of the problem than did he, and spoon fed him enough info that led him to 'discover' the answer that was the fix. Very limited sample size, batting average .500. ;-) Apple hardware is first-rate. OS X is great. Now, if they can iron out the wrinkles and get support first-rate, first time, every time, as well. Don't put someone out there solo until they've been checked good-to-go by the local senior guru. Until then, they need to be shepherded, monitored until they're ready to fly on their own. It's all good.
What part of that article said the layoffs included Apple Geniuses? Read the article again please. There are many different types of retail workers in their stores, and the article doesn't mention WHO was laid off. They have geniuses, sales associates, specialists, managers, etc.
It won't matter...he's always right and everyone else is an idiot!
I actually live a block away from the Meatpacking flagship. I can totally steal their internet on my iPod Touch. Doesn't work on my mac, though - I believe they limit the signal to their portable devices.
Hmm? Does it even show up on your Mac as available?
Every Apple Store I?ve been too had open WiFi, though most of them have been in malls and strip shops where there is no residences in range. I suppose they could limit it by the browser type or how the MAC address starts. You could try changing your User Agent, use your iPod Touch?s MAC address on your Mac, or jailbreak it so you can tether via WiFi.
The article says that Apple is remodeling some 100 store with bigger Genius Bars.
That's true, but what the article didn't say was that some Apple stores are only getting half the remodel.
The store closest to me the Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleigh, NC Apple Store got the Genius Bar remodel but was told by Apple corporate that they would not finish out the rest of the store.
So now wear shelves of products use to be there are now 4 or 6 blank was were banners should be hanging.
When I asked one of the employees there that has been working there for some years, he told me that corporate had said they "need(ed) to cut back on expenses".
So even with the rumored 6 million (billion ?) dollars that Apple has to do with as they please, they are cheaping out at some of the medium to smaller stores.
it sounds like they are combining one to one with the hands on workshop idea. those were 90 minutes and were basically like a group one to one session.
so now instead of a free workshop you would pay to be in a longer but smaller group workshop. it could work. maybe. the trouble is that under the current scheme you can go at your own pace. with 3 folks in a group that is going to get dicey. it will require sticking to the guide book much more.
and how are they going to do the session counts. is it still once a week up to 52 weeks if you can swing it. or will they do an actual count. I think I like the latter actually. for $99 you buy X number of sessions with no date limit and when you run out you buy more (think prepaid phone service v a monthly charge)
Quote:
Originally Posted by chronster
I only ever had to resort to asking a "genius" for help once, and it turned out they couldn't help me.
<snip>
to the fact that the phone ran windows mobile and the netbook ran windows, and somehow it was something microsoft was blocking. That was their help to me.
am i reading that right. you went to APPLE Genius about a problem with machines that were running Windows and you are dissing them cause they didn't know how to fix it. Do you go to a Certified Microsoft Tech for help with Leopard too?
As for the whole employee thing. note that the drop in "full time equivalent" workers was pre the holidays v after. anyone that works retail will tell you that companies hire on seasonal help in Nov/Dec that is just temp (and knows it) to deal with higher foot traffic and sales. many of those retail workers likely came from the 4-5 per store part timers that were hired under such a deal.
Hmm? Does it even show up on your Mac as available?
Every Apple Store I?ve been too had open WiFi, though most of them have been in malls and strip shops where there is no residences in range. I suppose they could limit it by the browser type or how the MAC address starts. You could try changing your User Agent, use your iPod Touch?s MAC address on your Mac, or jailbreak it so you can tether via WiFi.
The network definitely shows up in the list (as "Apple Network f5ded8") on my Powerbook G4 (yes, laugh at me for my outdated hardware... this is just the computer I use at home). And I can connect to it, but no internet flows through.
It's not really a big issue, I just think it's funny that I'm close enough to gank their Wi-Fi on my iPod from the comfort of my couch. As I understand it, Apple stores are mini-towers 3G towers (I can't find the article, but I think I read that on AI), so I guess if I were on the iPhone I'd also get really great reception here.
I learned about the Menlo Park Mall (NJ) store remodeling on Monday. They will be closed 6/1 until 6/25. Hopefully three weeks means a full remodel. My main complaint about the store is that it's extremely loud. All surfaces, including the ceiling, are hard. That makes it both hard to hear during one-to-one training and somewhat exhausting due to the ambient sound level when the store is crowded, which is most of the time. I'm more likely to take time shopping and to spend money in a store that's fairly quiet. Hopefully the remodel will introduce some sound-absorbing surfaces.
Hmm? Does it even show up on your Mac as available?
Every Apple Store I?ve been too had open WiFi, though most of them have been in malls and strip shops where there is no residences in range. I suppose they could limit it by the browser type or how the MAC address starts. You could try changing your User Agent, use your iPod Touch?s MAC address on your Mac, or jailbreak it so you can tether via WiFi.
have you ever been to NYC? the Soho store has people living on top of it
teckstud, as much as you try to paint Apple in the most negative light possible, it's simply not going to work. For anyone. In light of what Apple has achieved since 2001, esepcially since 2006, and in light of what is about to come, they offer very little, if any, grist for crtics' mills.
The SEC filing indicated that Apple cut back on employee hours, but layoffs were not specifically called out. While the media initially reported this as layoffs, the misinterpretation was rapidly retracted. It is unclear how many people were actually laid off.
So a proper question would be whether this increase in customer support will result in a return of some of those hours. It seems plausible to me, unless the economy gets worse and offsets these increases.
Hardly, Johnson says further on in that article that traffic through stores is reduced. Which means they wouldn't need as many staff on the floor, no point wasting money employing full time staffers when they could work half time.
Reduced traffic can be the result of the economy, which led to their decision. So yes, they were effected by the economy. No point in any store to be wasting money when traffic is reduced as a result of our recession, do you agree?
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna
am i reading that right. you went to APPLE Genius about a problem with machines that were running Windows and you are dissing them cause they didn't know how to fix it. Do you go to a Certified Microsoft Tech for help with Leopard too?
Well if you take a second and read what I wrote, I wasn't going to them for a problem with Windows. Windows was working just fine on the notebook. I only had the notebook because I had left it in my car from school. I used the notebook to prove that there is a wifi connection being started by my phone, it indeed was working flawlessly, and that I did not need to tamper with any settings for it to work in this way, all while the touch couldn't get any data through at all.
I was hoping they would show me that I had some settings wrong or something with the touch, but no. They had no idea that the DHCP allocator needed to be turned off on the phone (or any wifi router for that matter.) This is something they should have known when walking someone through the steps of getting their touch to connect to a network.
So please, read what people write before trying to insult their intelligence, because in the long run you're only insulting your own.
btw, I wasn't dissing them. I acknowledged the fact that it was a complicated issue.
teckstud, as much as you try to paint Apple in the most negative light possible, it's simply not going to work. For anyone. In light of what Apple has achieved since 2001, esepcially since 2006, and in light of what is about to come, they offer very little, if any, grist for crtics' mills.
And yet I could tell you a bunch of stuff I hate about Apple LOL.
I love a bunch of stuff about Apple too (actually it outnumbers what I hate about them by a lot) but the fact remains, nobody's perfect.
The SEC filing indicated that Apple cut back on employee hours, but layoffs were not specifically called out. While the media initially reported this as layoffs, the misinterpretation was rapidly retracted. It is unclear how many people were actually laid off.
So a proper question would be whether this increase in customer support will result in a return of some of those hours. It seems plausible to me, unless the economy gets worse and offsets these increases.
Comments
I think the point he was trying to make (even if he lost site of it) was the fact that they made this comment: "We know that a lot of people are cutting back, but we're doing the opposite," he told the newspaper. "We're investing in the downturn." all while "shedding" those jobs.
They are being a bit misleading in that statement is all.
Hardly, Johnson says further on in that article that traffic through stores is reduced. Which means they wouldn't need as many staff on the floor, no point wasting money employing full time staffers when they could work half time.
I think the point he was trying to make (even if he lost site of it) was the fact that they made this comment: "We know that a lot of people are cutting back, but we're doing the opposite," he told the newspaper. "We're investing in the downturn." all while "shedding" those jobs.
They are being a bit misleading in that statement is all.
I guess the statement could be considered misleading, although I don't think techstuds intentions were that pedestrian. As far as I can tell, his only intention was to elicit the respnses that he got. I almost didn't post when I realized who it was. I don't like feeding the trolls.
You who posts only 50 layoffs- you're a joke.
What headline? Put the pipe down already.
where is your analysis of anything relevant? Where are your worthwhile contributions to any discussion? I think most people who read these boards are fully aware of who the joke is. Try using that lame disapproving emoticon on yourself.
No, you're an idiot.
April 24, 2009 Apple (NASD: AAPL) laid off 1,600 employees from its retail stores during the second quarter, according to an SEC filing.
The number represents more than 10% of the company's retail workforce.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10226486-37.html
What part of that article said the layoffs included Apple Geniuses? Read the article again please. There are many different types of retail workers in their stores, and the article doesn't mention WHO was laid off. They have geniuses, sales associates, specialists, managers, etc.
I actually live a block away from the Meatpacking flagship. I can totally steal their internet on my iPod Touch. Doesn't work on my mac, though - I believe they limit the signal to their portable devices.
I've read several accounts on different websites over the last few days, where folks had some very uncomplimentary things about the caliber of what passes for 'geniuses' these days. Myself, I've only had two experiences. One was great, couldn't have been better. The guy was obviously seasoned. The other, the guy didn't have a clue. I knew more about the nature of the problem than did he, and spoon fed him enough info that led him to 'discover' the answer that was the fix. Very limited sample size, batting average .500. ;-) Apple hardware is first-rate. OS X is great. Now, if they can iron out the wrinkles and get support first-rate, first time, every time, as well. Don't put someone out there solo until they've been checked good-to-go by the local senior guru. Until then, they need to be shepherded, monitored until they're ready to fly on their own. It's all good.
What part of that article said the layoffs included Apple Geniuses? Read the article again please. There are many different types of retail workers in their stores, and the article doesn't mention WHO was laid off. They have geniuses, sales associates, specialists, managers, etc.
It won't matter...he's always right and everyone else is an idiot!
I actually live a block away from the Meatpacking flagship. I can totally steal their internet on my iPod Touch. Doesn't work on my mac, though - I believe they limit the signal to their portable devices.
Hmm? Does it even show up on your Mac as available?
Every Apple Store I?ve been too had open WiFi, though most of them have been in malls and strip shops where there is no residences in range. I suppose they could limit it by the browser type or how the MAC address starts. You could try changing your User Agent, use your iPod Touch?s MAC address on your Mac, or jailbreak it so you can tether via WiFi.
That's true, but what the article didn't say was that some Apple stores are only getting half the remodel.
The store closest to me the Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleigh, NC Apple Store got the Genius Bar remodel but was told by Apple corporate that they would not finish out the rest of the store.
So now wear shelves of products use to be there are now 4 or 6 blank was were banners should be hanging.
When I asked one of the employees there that has been working there for some years, he told me that corporate had said they "need(ed) to cut back on expenses".
So even with the rumored 6 million (billion ?) dollars that Apple has to do with as they please, they are cheaping out at some of the medium to smaller stores.
3 hour one to one's? Yikes...
it sounds like they are combining one to one with the hands on workshop idea. those were 90 minutes and were basically like a group one to one session.
so now instead of a free workshop you would pay to be in a longer but smaller group workshop. it could work. maybe. the trouble is that under the current scheme you can go at your own pace. with 3 folks in a group that is going to get dicey. it will require sticking to the guide book much more.
and how are they going to do the session counts. is it still once a week up to 52 weeks if you can swing it. or will they do an actual count. I think I like the latter actually. for $99 you buy X number of sessions with no date limit and when you run out you buy more (think prepaid phone service v a monthly charge)
I only ever had to resort to asking a "genius" for help once, and it turned out they couldn't help me.
<snip>
to the fact that the phone ran windows mobile and the netbook ran windows, and somehow it was something microsoft was blocking. That was their help to me.
am i reading that right. you went to APPLE Genius about a problem with machines that were running Windows and you are dissing them cause they didn't know how to fix it. Do you go to a Certified Microsoft Tech for help with Leopard too?
As for the whole employee thing. note that the drop in "full time equivalent" workers was pre the holidays v after. anyone that works retail will tell you that companies hire on seasonal help in Nov/Dec that is just temp (and knows it) to deal with higher foot traffic and sales. many of those retail workers likely came from the 4-5 per store part timers that were hired under such a deal.
Hmm? Does it even show up on your Mac as available?
Every Apple Store I?ve been too had open WiFi, though most of them have been in malls and strip shops where there is no residences in range. I suppose they could limit it by the browser type or how the MAC address starts. You could try changing your User Agent, use your iPod Touch?s MAC address on your Mac, or jailbreak it so you can tether via WiFi.
The network definitely shows up in the list (as "Apple Network f5ded8") on my Powerbook G4 (yes, laugh at me for my outdated hardware... this is just the computer I use at home). And I can connect to it, but no internet flows through.
It's not really a big issue, I just think it's funny that I'm close enough to gank their Wi-Fi on my iPod from the comfort of my couch. As I understand it, Apple stores are mini-towers 3G towers (I can't find the article, but I think I read that on AI), so I guess if I were on the iPhone I'd also get really great reception here.
Hmm? Does it even show up on your Mac as available?
Every Apple Store I?ve been too had open WiFi, though most of them have been in malls and strip shops where there is no residences in range. I suppose they could limit it by the browser type or how the MAC address starts. You could try changing your User Agent, use your iPod Touch?s MAC address on your Mac, or jailbreak it so you can tether via WiFi.
have you ever been to NYC? the Soho store has people living on top of it
No, you're an idiot.
April 24, 2009 Apple (NASD: AAPL) laid off 1,600 employees from its retail stores during the second quarter, according to an SEC filing.
The number represents more than 10% of the company's retail workforce.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10226486-37.html
The SEC filing indicated that Apple cut back on employee hours, but layoffs were not specifically called out. While the media initially reported this as layoffs, the misinterpretation was rapidly retracted. It is unclear how many people were actually laid off.
So a proper question would be whether this increase in customer support will result in a return of some of those hours. It seems plausible to me, unless the economy gets worse and offsets these increases.
Thompson
Hardly, Johnson says further on in that article that traffic through stores is reduced. Which means they wouldn't need as many staff on the floor, no point wasting money employing full time staffers when they could work half time.
Reduced traffic can be the result of the economy, which led to their decision. So yes, they were effected by the economy. No point in any store to be wasting money when traffic is reduced as a result of our recession, do you agree?
am i reading that right. you went to APPLE Genius about a problem with machines that were running Windows and you are dissing them cause they didn't know how to fix it. Do you go to a Certified Microsoft Tech for help with Leopard too?
Well if you take a second and read what I wrote, I wasn't going to them for a problem with Windows. Windows was working just fine on the notebook. I only had the notebook because I had left it in my car from school. I used the notebook to prove that there is a wifi connection being started by my phone, it indeed was working flawlessly, and that I did not need to tamper with any settings for it to work in this way, all while the touch couldn't get any data through at all.
I was hoping they would show me that I had some settings wrong or something with the touch, but no. They had no idea that the DHCP allocator needed to be turned off on the phone (or any wifi router for that matter.) This is something they should have known when walking someone through the steps of getting their touch to connect to a network.
So please, read what people write before trying to insult their intelligence, because in the long run you're only insulting your own.
btw, I wasn't dissing them. I acknowledged the fact that it was a complicated issue.
teckstud, as much as you try to paint Apple in the most negative light possible, it's simply not going to work. For anyone. In light of what Apple has achieved since 2001, esepcially since 2006, and in light of what is about to come, they offer very little, if any, grist for crtics' mills.
And yet I could tell you a bunch of stuff I hate about Apple LOL.
I love a bunch of stuff about Apple too (actually it outnumbers what I hate about them by a lot) but the fact remains, nobody's perfect.
The SEC filing indicated that Apple cut back on employee hours, but layoffs were not specifically called out. While the media initially reported this as layoffs, the misinterpretation was rapidly retracted. It is unclear how many people were actually laid off.
So a proper question would be whether this increase in customer support will result in a return of some of those hours. It seems plausible to me, unless the economy gets worse and offsets these increases.
Thompson
Thank you. Geesh!