[michaelb]

Okay, here's the deal. Black MacBooks are scarce in my area.

On the day the MacBook was announced I went to my local Apple reseller to place an order. I was told I was the second person to do so. I offered to pay a deposit but the store said it wasn't needed.

Wait, wait, wait. A week and a half later...

On Friday someone from the store phoned. I wasn't there to take the call, but I called back a half hour later, expecting them to tell me my black MacBook was waiting.

Instead, they told me no, mine wasn't there and that they were expecting a shipment next week. When I asked why they had called, there was a pause, then an "I'll check," then some story about the service department must been checking something. (I haven't had anything in for service for months.)

Clearly, they'd offered "my" MacBook to the next person on the list.

Since the store is nearby, I called in later that afternoon to see if maybe they'd let me buy it after all. Slightly different story this time, claiming that they'd only had white MacBooks and that they were expecting a black one to come in Tuesday. Later, I spoke to another customer who had bought a black MacBook from the store that day. Hmm.

Now if they'd held it for me I could have had it over the weekend, with three days of my free time to set it up. Instead, someone has mine and I have to wait until Tuesday.

Normally I'm pretty forgiving about these things, everyone just wants to make a buck, right, and if the store felt it was going to get paid quicker by selling it to someone else, then okay. But between other members my family and me, we've spent quite a bit of money at that store since they took over the management and I feel a bit annoyed at the dishonest behavior. So much for "support your local Apple dealer."

I'm tempted to cancel the order and go to the online Apple Store. It'll probably be much the same delivery time.

Anyone else think I'm right to be angry, or just being petty and impatient?

Are black MacBooks worth making a fuss over?

[analogika]

It's up to store policy.

Generally, I'd probably see that people should get them in the order they signed up on the waiting list.

However, given the 'Books' scarcity, I don't see anything wrong with passing it on if you cannot be reached.

After all, you weren't available, and other people have the weekend off, as well. And it'd be a shame to have the book just sitting around useless, while people are anxious for them, and you're off on a four-day vacation or something.

[msuper69]

Anger is bad for your physical and mental health; it's hardly worth getting all in a tizzy over something as trivial as a store doing what you've described. For your peace of mind, I would suggest you just order it from somewhere else (http://store.apple.com or http://www.amazon.com for example) and find something to keep yourself busy with while you await delivery.

[masugu]

Someone at the store prolly sold it to a friend.

Go online already.

[Railroader]

As I see it they only needed to hold it for you if you had fully paid for it. Otherwise it's first come first served.

[Jawbone54]

I'm still trying to figure out if the black finish is really worth $150.

And yes, you should be upset. Just don't let yourself become irate over it. Report it to Apple, if you'd like (probably won't do much good), and move on.

Hope you get your MacBook soon.

[TETENAL]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

I'm still trying to figure out if the black finish is really worth $150.

I think so. You look like a loser with a white MacBook.

[michaelb]

Thanks guys! You're right, getting angry over buying a piece of electronics is silly, even if it is a Mac.

It just bugged me that I thought I was a loyal customer - over time I've sent parents, cousins, neighbors and friends there to buy iPods and Mac gear - and I suppose I thought they'd be a bit more loyal to me.

(I guess there's no such thing as loyalty in retailing.)

I'll decide next week whether to cancel the order and buy online.

[besson3c]

Go for a white one and save $150

[Salty]

If I wanted a black one I'd be going straight to Apple.

[vmarks]

Unless there's something else that keeps you their customer (service, relationship with owner, etc.) you absolutely buy elsewhere.

And you write a letter to the owner telling him why you and your family won't be their customers anymore. He deserves to know why his employees cost him so much business.

[Wiskedjak]

I'd consider yourself lucky. I suspect scratches show up much better on the black MBs than on the white ones.

[Jim Paradise]

Originally Posted by vmarks

Unless there's something else that keeps you their customer (service, relationship with owner, etc.) you absolutely buy elsewhere.

And you write a letter to the owner telling him why you and your family won't be their customers anymore. He deserves to know why his employees cost him so much business.

This is the answer.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by michaelb

Are black MacBooks worth making a fuss over?

Heck, I don't think they're even worth $150 more than the same computer in white.

[Cody Dawg]

If you're feeling sorry for yourself read Mastrap's thread about his friend who is dying.

[Maflynn]

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Heck, I don't think they're even worth $150 more than the same computer in white.

It is a cool looking computer but I'm having a hard time swallowing the extra cost. I'm confused though. Over at apple.com the white 2.0GHz is selling for 1299 and the black on is selling for 1499. Where is everyone getting the 150 increase?

Anyways I'm still in my grace perriod with my macbook and while I can exchange it (and pay the extra) My MB is near perfect, It doesn't suffer the mooing or any other issue and I have no dead pixels. I just can't seem to justify the exchange, especially when I get home with is and start using it. I'll be - this is worth 200 (or 150) dollars? I'd rather put the 200 (or 150) towards a faster/larger hard drive.

[Peter]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

If you're feeling sorry for yourself read Mastrap's thread about his friend who is dying.

get a white macbook, and order online already!

[chris v]

Well, I think if you offered them a deposit, and they said "no need," then yeah, I'd be pissed. They could have left a message saying "we need to hear back from you today" or somethng.

Buy it somewhere else, and tell 'em why you did.

[ghporter]

If they truly sold the one black MB that they were going to offer to you to someone else, then they should have either told you "if you can't pick it up immediately, we'll go to the next person in line." Lacking that, they violated an understood agreement that you would get the first black MB they got. That's bad customer service.

Angry? No. But "vote with your wallet," and DON'T buy anything from them in the future.

Oh, and do what chris v says-tell 'em where you got your black MB-preferably in front of the head manager and lots of customers. My sister-in-law went to buy a car while her husband was out of town on business, and the first salesdrone that grabbed her had no problem showing her the cars she was interested. But he told her "wait till your husband gets home, and we'll take care of all the business stuff." He practically patted her on the head and told her men would handle the "hard stuff." Wrong way to go! She took her business litterally down the street, bought the car she wanted (she was preapproved for a great loan) and came back to show her new car to the sales MANAGER. Told him why, too. Karma is so much fun sometimes!

[chris v]

Originally Posted by ghporter

My sister-in-law went to buy a car while her husband was out of town on business, and the first salesdrone that grabbed her had no problem showing her the cars she was interested. But he told her "wait till your husband gets home, and we'll take care of all the business stuff." He practically patted her on the head and told her men would handle the "hard stuff." Wrong way to go! She took her business litterally down the street, bought the car she wanted (she was preapproved for a great loan) and came back to show her new car to the sales MANAGER. Told him why, too. Karma is so much fun sometimes!

Excellent story. What a dumbsh*t. He got a good nose-rubbing, which is what he deserved.

[IFLY2HIGH]

Small stores with small user bases might care, but larger stores with one complaining customer they prolly won't give a hoot. Now if 10 people walked in and said they wouldn't bring their buisness that granted them big money every month, that'd be a different story. One person or family, prolly not worth the time. I understand your fustrtaion, it's happened to me, but just one customer being mad doesn't constitute anythng to a store like that. They didn't take a deposit so they are not responsible for who gets it. They called, your not home, they made a sale, how retail works these days, anything to make a sale right there and then, sometimes it sucks, I know.

[michaelb]

Thanks for all the good advice!

I think I know what I'm going to do: When they finally get one for me, I'll go in and let them know I was a bit disappointed by their behavior and feel I need a gesture of goodwill to keep me as a customer.

So I'll ask them to throw in a Mini-DVI cable.

It's not much and if they're willing to do that, I'm happy. If they don't, it lets me know how much they value me as a repeat customer and I'll buy elsewhere. And I'll tell my friends.

Originally Posted by ghporter

he told her "wait till your husband gets home, and we'll take care of all the business stuff." He practically patted her on the head and told her men would handle the "hard stuff."

Wow, where was he from, 1950 or something?!

[harrisjamieh]

Originally Posted by TETENAL

I think so. You look like a loser with a white MacBook.

I actually think you look like a loser with a black MacBook, because people in the know will think 'wow, look at that loser, he wasted $150 to buy a different colour laptop that is actually the same colour as most generic laptops'

Apple = white, and thats why I bought a white one. I want to stand out from the crowd, not blend in hoping that someone is looking at my laptop from behind so they can see the white Apple logo on the blackbook

[paul w]

You do realize that in the same time frame you could have ordered online and received one by now. I'm all for supporting brick and mortar businesses, but only on the condition that they don't dick around with me - which appears to be what happened in your case.

I'll be curious to hear how they respond. Chances you won't end up getting what you want and they'll just shrug and apologise. I'd like to be wrong though.

[Angus_D]

Originally Posted by Maflynn

It is a cool looking computer but I'm having a hard time swallowing the extra cost. I'm confused though. Over at apple.com the white 2.0GHz is selling for 1299 and the black on is selling for 1499. Where is everyone getting the 150 increase?

White 2.0GHz, 80GB HD: $1349
Black 2.0GHz, 80GB HD: $1499

Black - White = $1499 - $1349 = $150

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by TETENAL

I think so. You look like a loser with a white MacBook.

And here I was thinking you just look like somebody using a white MacBook.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by TETENAL

I think so. You look like a loser with a white MacBook.

Actually, if you ask me, the black one makes you look like someone that doesn't understand how much a 20 GB hard disk increase is worth and has way too much money to throw away.

edit: okay, I softened it. TETENAL's comment about being a "loser" just pissed me off a bit, I guess. Screw actual product benefits, let's use peer pressure to sell computers now! Yay for junior high!

[Jawbone54]

I'm not going to say that anyone is an idiot for purchasing a black MacBook.

However, I will say that even though I would like a black one, I likely won't get one. I'm freshly married and my budget is limited. $150 goes a long way, so I don't think it's worth it, and I believe that there are MANY people like myself out there. The black option seems to be a clever jerk idea on Apple's part, and it disappoints me that they'd jack the price up that high on the black model just to make a few extra bucks.

BUT, this is business, and Apple is smart enough to know that its customers (who often are as concerned about aesthetics as they are about performance) will pay out the buttocks just to have something new and cool.

Jerky, yes...but also smart business.

[CharlesS]

Well, if the black model actually had some tangible benefit that could justify the price, then it would make sense. If the black model had dedicated graphics or a matte screen or a 100 GB drive plus a decent amount of RAM or something, then maybe you'd see someone with one and think "Wow, that person has enough money to buy the best." Instead, you think "Wow, that schmuck paid $150 for a black paint job."

[abe]

I agree with analogika and Cody Dawg.

And I'm just wondering if some of the store employees consider your zeal and enthusiasm the same way a theatre employee might think of the folks who wait in line to be the first to be seated at the latest Star Wars installment.

[harrisjamieh]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

matte screen

That would be like Apple saying 'yeh, the glossy screens on the MBs suck, and to get a decent screen you have to pay this much more for the top of the line model'. Even giving the option of a matte screen just on the top end model suggest the same thing

[CharlesS]

^ Uh, you mean just like they already do with the $2000 MacBook Pro being the only way to get a matte screen in a laptop?

[brassplayersrock²]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

If you're feeling sorry for yourself read Mastrap's thread about his friend who is dying.

wtf cody? i mean come on, no need to post that. these are two completly differant things. no need to try and make the op feel bad. shame on you chicka.

anyways, back on topic. if i found out that the store gave someone else the blackbook that was meant for me i'd be upset too. i'd go to the stores manager and tell him or her what happened, and see if that solves anything. if not, than write a letter (e-mail) to Jeanne Toulouse, shes the director of customer relations at Apple. i dont have her address on hand, but i'm sure a google search will help ya out. good luck Mich.


Brass

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

If you're feeling sorry for yourself read Mastrap's thread about his friend who is dying.

Come on cody. this post was clearly wrong.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by harrisjamieh

Apple = white, and thats why I bought a white one. I want to stand out from the crowd, not blend in hoping that someone is looking at my laptop from behind so they can see the white Apple logo on the blackbook

Wow that sounded very fan-boyish.

Mac laptops have been black longer than they have been white. The white is just a "fad"

Not that I would let either effect my decision.

[goMac]

Black Macbook > White Macbook

[ambush]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

If you're feeling sorry for yourself read Mastrap's thread about his friend who is dying.

bitch, if you're feeling sorry about Mastrap's friend, go to Darfur.

[Monique]

What was the darn hurry to call the next person on the list. Just call Apple like some of the posters suggested to make sure that does not happened to someone else.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ambush

bitch, if you're feeling sorry about Mastrap's friend, go to Darfur.

quoting it so you can't edit it later.

Really ambush, was it necessary for you to call her a bitch?

Around here only the "rednecks" say that to women.

[Monique]

Sadly enough, it is not uncommon for French Canadians to call a woman a bitch.

[Peter]

This url will save you time, MacNN

[ambush]

Why is it that the two posting girls are the worst posters.

Heck, give me 10 ca$h clones instead of a Monique and a Cody.

Why not make MacNN men-only?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Monique

Sadly enough, it is not uncommon for French Canadians to call a woman a bitch.

Really? I thought they were more "Liberal" and open minded than that.

It's considered Neanderthal speak here.

[ambush]

That must be why it's all over american movies.

When we use English words, remember there's only one influence: the US.
English Canada is also largely influenced by the US, since the US is the backbone of their own culture.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ambush

That must be why it's all over american movies.

You aren't one of those that think movies reflect real life are you?
I was once told by someone in Canada that she thought we ALL had lives like people on 90120.

When we use English words, remember there's only one influence: the US.
English Canada is also largely influenced by the US, since the US is the backbone of their own culture.

I never said people in the US didn't say it. I said those WHO DID were considered
Neanderthals

[ThinkInsane]

Originally Posted by ambush

Why is it that the two posting girls are the worst posters.

Heck, give me 10 ca$h clones instead of a Monique and a Cody.

Why not make MacNN men-only?

If you don't like it, you are always free to leave.

[Toutgood]

thread.approaching.legendary.status.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ThinkInsane

If you don't like it, you are always free to leave.

Matter of fact Think, YOU SHOULD HELP HIM. Considering he is ban evading.

Originally Posted by Toutgood

thread.approaching.legendary.status.

Is this a new account Paully?

Or just your trolling one?

[Monique]

It is so hilarious in every aspects of some Canadian's lives if it is bad they blame the U.S. if it is good they are responsible for it.

Ambush with no provocation you called a poster a bitch; I think you should apologize to her.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Monique

Ambush with no provocation you called a poster a bitch; I think you should apologize to her.

And this is coming from a conservative male Monique. Remember that.