Did you know it's $85 for a replacement charger for a Macbook. Eighty-five freaking dollars. For a transfomer, some wire, and a specially-shaped plug. It's ridiculous, and I wouldn't pay it. (For those who can't get by without closure, I got a cheap knock-off online.)
If I had been inclined to buy it, though, here's where I'd have gotten it from. I dropped by with my laptop to see whether the charger was the problem, and the middle-aged gent was perfectly happy to help me out. As he found the appropriate charger, we chatted a little about how he always seemed to have runs on water damage or physical damage or the like, and how it seemed to be the season for chargers. And when he told me Apple's asking price, he was kind enough to not laugh maniacally, even managing to seem sympathetic while towing the party line.
Given that Apple set the prices, I'd much rather have a quiet chat with this likable gent than line up to be served by one of Apple's Genius Hipsters. read more