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the macimum · Jan 31, 2006, 07:35 PM

Just a word of advice, if it is possible, try not to purchase your PowerMac via CDW, it is a lot harder, it doesn't offer education discounts it doesn't install airport chips for you no matter how many times you ask...

I'm not saying this will happen to everybody, but the worst thing that happened to me was...

I asked for an extra 512 MB of RAM, and since it was cheaper for self-install I asked them to send the 512 Megs un-installed so I could install it. Well what they did was send me one 512 stick, which will not work, because the RAM in a G5 must be installed in pairs. When I reported it to them the only thing they said to do was for me to have it shipped (which means I pay) back to them. So I went off and got another 512 stick.

This may not seem like a lot to you, but I have a very busy schedule, so if you are like me, just order from Apple, it's so much easier and they offer education discounts.

bowwowman · 05:43 AM

you need to call them back, pollitely but FIRMLY demand to speak to a Manager, and demand that they refund you the cost of the 512mb chip, since it is useless to you by itself (DO NOT tell them you already bought a 2nd one).

Also tell them that you consider this situation to be extremely poor customer service, and that if their sales people are gonna sell Macs, they should be fully trained & know all the specs & requirements for ram that goes in them......

Keep it polite but firm, and do NOT back down. If the first person you talk to doesnt want to help you, continue to ask for a higher-level manager until you get satisfaction.......

Trust me, I know..........I have been in Retail/Sales Management for over 20 years, and thats the way the game is played

Chinasaur · Feb 1, 2006, 06:18 PM

And if they don't blink...tell them to give you an RMA number for shipping it back because you want your money back. It's not as ordered.

if THAT fails, file a complaint with the BBB. Old and corny..but often produces results.

bartman00 · Feb 3, 2006, 11:40 AM

I've worked for several IT shops and we alwasys used CDW and CDWG. Though I really hate there web site and it's not easy to find stuff but the CS people have always been great. I just recieved 6 new Intel iMacs this Monday that I ordered on Friday at the Edu price. I don't know Apples pollicy for allowing 3rd party sellers to give Edu discount. As in how do they verify you qualify. Any way I'm sure the ram thing is because you asked the sales person to include 512mb of extra ram and you'd install it. How is the poor person who takes phone orders to know you really wanted 2 256meg sticks? Did you ask for 2 256meg sticks?

Bart

Maflynn · Feb 3, 2006, 12:05 PM

I suppose I've been fortunate in that I always had good luck with them, but then of course I never bought a Powermac from them.

It makes sense that they don't offer an educational discount, infact I believe you can only use an educational discount at apple.com (or at the apple store). Unless your lucky enough to have a university that sells them but they may be the exception rather then the rule.

bowwowman · 04:33 AM

How is the poor person who takes phone orders to know you really wanted 2 256meg sticks?

Because it is their FRIGGIN J O B to know the machines' specs & requirements, and to make sure customers get what they need/want, by ASKING ALL relevant/necessary questions !!!!

If they cant/wont do that, they have absolutely NO business answering the phone or taking orders in the 1st damned place! Plain & simple, no ifs, ands or BUTTS

And remember, I have hired, trained, supervised, evaluated, promoted, disciplined, & if necessary, fired, customer service people at some of the biggest retailers in america every day for the last 20+ years.......I know the REAL deal, and it AINT rocket science

Maflynn · Feb 4, 2006, 06:09 AM

Originally Posted by bowwowman

Because it is their FRIGGIN J O B to know the machines' specs & requirements, and to make sure customers get what they need/want, by ASKING ALL relevant/necessary questions !!!!

True but I wouldn't have put it that way but it's also the buyer's responscibility to make sure he know's what he's buying. There's such a thing as personal responcibility and the OP made the mistake of assuming they knew what they were doing. I'd never make that leap of faith especially now with the level of phone support being outsourced. Your correct the person should have asked if this was for a G5 then it had to go in as pairs and he wanted to 2x256 not 1x512.

Mike

the macimum · Feb 4, 2006, 09:33 AM

Originally posted by: Maflynn

True but I wouldn't have put it that way but it's also the buyer's responscibility to make sure he know's what he's buying. There's such a thing as personal responcibility and the OP made the mistake of assuming they knew what they were doing. I'd never make that leap of faith especially now with the level of phone support being outsourced. Your correct the person should have asked if this was for a G5 then it had to go in as pairs and he wanted to 2x256 not 1x512.

Mike

When you are a noob and buy from Best Buy, do you know what the heck you are buying? no you just want it to work. And wheather i'm a noob or not CDW should consider that I may not know what the heck I am talking about, that why they should know the right parts to supply me with.

Jason Bourne · Feb 4, 2006, 10:55 AM

Frankly I think the CDW people did you a favor.

You ended up having to buy an extra 512MB but you still got 512MB free. Having 2x256 is useless anyway, you wouldn't really want to use your slots for those tiny RAM modules. Now you have 1.5 GB for the price of 512MB which is still too little ram for the G5 anyway. So, I think you are better off this way. Now just buy another 2x1GB or 4x1GB and you'll have enough RAM (and won't run out of slots).

the macimum · Feb 4, 2006, 01:04 PM

Woah , how did I get 512 megs free?

new newton · Feb 4, 2006, 02:13 PM

A person shouldn't expect others to take care of them, in any aspect of life. When it's trivial to look out for yourself, a person should do that.

the macimum · Feb 5, 2006, 07:11 PM

Dude, thats not what I am saying, geez you guys are turning this whole thing into somekind of life lesson! This wasn't supposed to happen, I can look out foir myself, thats how I discovered the problem in the first place.