Apple now requires Apple IDs to schedule Genius Bar appointments online
In a minor policy change regarding how customers schedule Genius Bar appointments via Apple's online support webpage, the company now requires users to sign in with a valid Apple ID.
When customers looking to make a Genius Bar appointment visit Apple's online reservations system, they are now met with the screen seen above, which notes that an Apple ID is needed to proceed. The new rule was reported by TechCrunch on Wednesday, though it is not clear when the shift in policy first rolled out.
According to the publication, Apple instituted the policy to ensure higher levels of control over support appointments, including payments. In addition, customer information tied to an Apple ID, like outstanding support tickets, can be accessed by the Genius Bar staff before a customer comes in, streamlining the process for both parties.
Apple has been busy revamping its customer support infrastructure over the past months, including a recent price hike to the AppleCare+ for iPhone deductible. While the plan remains priced at $99 and covers two incidents per device, the accidental damage service fee now runs $79, up from a previous cost of $49.
When customers looking to make a Genius Bar appointment visit Apple's online reservations system, they are now met with the screen seen above, which notes that an Apple ID is needed to proceed. The new rule was reported by TechCrunch on Wednesday, though it is not clear when the shift in policy first rolled out.
According to the publication, Apple instituted the policy to ensure higher levels of control over support appointments, including payments. In addition, customer information tied to an Apple ID, like outstanding support tickets, can be accessed by the Genius Bar staff before a customer comes in, streamlining the process for both parties.
Apple has been busy revamping its customer support infrastructure over the past months, including a recent price hike to the AppleCare+ for iPhone deductible. While the plan remains priced at $99 and covers two incidents per device, the accidental damage service fee now runs $79, up from a previous cost of $49.
Comments
And that stops the scalpers. Doesn't stop being stupid enough to scalp appointments in the first place, but it stops the scalpers.
And that stops the scalpers. Doesn't stop being stupid enough to scalp appointments in the first place, but it stops the scalpers.
There are Genius Bar appointment scalpers? Is that...lucrative?
There are Genius Bar appointment scalpers? Is that...lucrative?
There were, at least. Those crazy Chinese will do anything.
It shows advertisers (via iAd) there are that many more paying eyes/ears to consume their ads. iAd is a very small component of their bottom line today, but they have learned well from Google that it is an extremely lucrative business. Apple can’t compete with Google/Facebook for vast amounts of personal data, but instead can strike at the heart of what advertisers are after in the first place – user’s wallets (Credit Card Numbers).
While it would cut down on scalping, I think the true purpose is to draw more users into the Apple ecosystem. This benefits Apple in the obvious ways such as being able to sell content and improve loyalty, but also in a more subtle Google-like fashion.
It shows advertisers (via iAd) there are that many more paying eyes/ears to consume their ads. iAd is a very small component of their bottom line today, but they have learned well from Google that it is an extremely lucrative business. Apple can’t compete with Google/Facebook for vast amounts of personal data, but instead can strike at the heart of what advertisers are after in the first place – user’s wallets (Credit Card Numbers).
Um, what? This is for genius bar appointments.
Um, what? This is for genius bar appointments.
They now force users to create an Apple ID to make an appointment, which gives Apple their personal information and credit card data. Your exact reaction is why this is so subtle and clever on the part of Apple.
They now force users to create an Apple ID to make an appointment, which gives Apple their personal information and credit card data.
Apple ID don't require credit cards.
An iCloud account = an AppleID = free. An iTunes AppleID can be started with an iTunes gift card.
They now force users to create an Apple ID to make an appointment, which gives Apple their personal information and credit card data. Your exact reaction is why this is so subtle and clever on the part of Apple.
I see that you're new here (well not exactly new, but new to me, your post count is in single digits). You should stick around and read for a while, because you clearly don't know much about Apple, based on your wild speculations.
Apple already has one of the largest credit card data bases on the planet, and people who own devices are already registered with Apple. Most Apple users probably have multiple devices already registered with Apple. What you write makes no sense at all. Hundreds of millions of people trusts Apple with their personal data and credit card data.
Apple requiring Apple ID's to schedule a Genius Bar appointment has nothing to do with Apple trying to gain more personal info from people. If somebody owns a device and they need a Genius Bar appointment, then chances are that they'll already have an Apple ID.
This puts a stop to it.
The scalping is especially a problem in China (Though I wouldn't be surprised if it happens in other countries too) where there are only a few Apple stores, but millions of customers. Some of these customers have paid well over a thousand or two thousand dollars for a black market iPhone, so paying five bucks for a Genius Bar appointment, that's otherwise impossible to get, is a no brainier.
A credit card is not required for creating a valid Apple ID. Don't make things up.
Yeah, they'd rather trust Google with their personal and payment info. Because, you know, it's only evil when Apple does it.
Wether you create an apple id or not apple are still legally obliged to honour their warranty obligations.
I'd be interested to see the ensuing argument when apple fanboy refuses to use the new scheme and apple refuses to repair his "under warranty" device.
I see that you're new here (well not exactly new, but new to me, your post count is in single digits). You should stick around and read for a while, because you clearly don't know much about Apple, based on your wild speculations.
Apple already has one of the largest credit card data bases on the planet, and people who own devices are already registered with Apple. Most Apple users probably have multiple devices already registered with Apple. What you write makes no sense at all. Hundreds of millions of people trusts Apple with their personal data and credit card data.
Apple requiring Apple ID's to schedule a Genius Bar appointment has nothing to do with Apple trying to gain more personal info from people. If somebody owns a device and they need a Genius Bar appointment, then chances are that they'll already have an Apple ID.
And I see you are new to the world. Only because a company (or a state for that matter) has collected a massive amount of personal information and not used against anyone yet does not guaranty that they are not going to do that exact thing in the future. Apple today does not have to be Apple in 10 years. But the information collected remains in their hands. Apple could pass on sensitive info (think NSA or FBI) and it can just be nicked from Apples servers. That all happened before. Suddenly someone is after you for illegally downloading music or stretching software licenses. You being investigated because someone from your address book deals in drugs or you start having a hard time renting a place because something flags up, ... So to force users to register for every little thing is not very sympathetic from Apples side.
Question :
What's stopping scalpers from registering multiple Apple ID's , allowing them to buy out Genius Bar appointments ?
Wether you create an apple id or not apple are still legally obliged to honour their warranty obligations.
I'd be interested to see the ensuing argument when apple fanboy refuses to use the new scheme and apple refuses to repair his "under warranty" device.
Interesting point. Probably Apple will provide another entrypoint.
Question :
What's stopping scalpers from registering multiple Apple ID's , allowing them to buy out Genius Bar appointments ?
Registration of devices. You don't need a Genius Bar appointment if you don't have a device, so it makes sense to filter out any person who cannot show an ID linked to an existing device.
Can't you still walk in and wait? For hours?