My experience with Apple in general, and the Perimeter location in particular, has seriously made me consider whether I will buy another iPhone when my current phone needs to be replaced. On January 15, 2018, I went to Apple's website and clicked the link to start the battery replacement process for my iPhone 6+. I was connected to a support rep via phone, who ran some remote diagnostics and scheduled and appointment for me on January 20th at the Perimeter store. I assumed that this appointment was to actually get my battery replaced but, instead I drove to Perimeter only to have a technician at the store run diagnostics again, then tell me that the battery would have to be ordered. It was told the battery would arrive in "5 to 7 days" at which time I would be notified to come back in for the replacement.
Then...I didn't hear another word from Apple. No phone calls, no emails. Until...7 WEEKS (not days) later when I got a voicemail saying my battery had arrived and I could come in for the replacement. I called back the number I was given, which went straight to voicemail, and left a message saying that I would come in at 11am the following day. I never got any callback or confirmation that my message has been received, so I just headed to the Perimeter store the following day.
When I arrived and said I was there for my battery replacement, I was directed to a line of about 7-8 people where a single Apple employee was checking people in, despite the fact that there seemed to be MANY other Apple employees doing nothing but greeting customers as they came into the store. Talking to the other people in line with me, I learned that they also had waited nearly 2 months, without any communication rom Apple, for their batteries to arrive, after also being told it would take "5 to 7 days."
While I was in line a gentleman came in to pick up the phone which he had dropped off an hour earlier for his battery replacement. Two Apple employees (who didn't seem particularly busy at all) pointed him to the line I was in. He asked why he needed to get into the line since he was just picking up the phone he'd already dropped off. After a few minutes of conversation, I overheard one of the employees (who seemed a little annoyed) tell the man that he might as well just get in the line, since it was only going to get longer while he stood there and talked to them. He came and got into line behind me, and also asked to speak to a manager. The manager came out a few minutes later and asked the man to come with him, but this didn't seem to actually speed up the process of him picking up his phone, as I was at the front of the line when he finally left the store, and wished me luck.
After standing in line for about 30 minutes, I reached the front of the line and was told the battery replacement would take about and hour. The employee found my name on the list and started checking me in. He then told me my phone would be ready to pick up...in 2 hours. I was so fed up at that point that I just took my phone and left. I took it to friend's store in my neighborhood and had the battery replaced in 15 minutes, for only $20 more that what Apple was going to charge me.
Apple charges a premium for their products, which I've always been happy to pay because I love Apple products and the great customer service that used to come with them. There was a time when Apple was known for their outstanding customer service. The loss of Steve Jobs is SO apparent these days.
The most frustrating part of this whole story is that, while no employee at the Perimeter store was particularly rude (though the comment that the man I mentioned above "might as well go ahead and get in the line" was pretty dismissive), there was also no one who seemed particularly concerned about the long lines and general lack of customer service, though it was clear by listening to any of the conversations going on in the line I was standing in that people were frustrated. Even the manager who came out was not particularly apologetic or helpful. As I said, I'll really be thinking twice before purchasing another iPhone. If I want bad customer service, at least I'll spend less money on my phone to get it. read more