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Don't get it?
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Don't get it?


  • Subject: Don't get it?
  • From: t thomas <email@hidden>
  • Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 18:46:24 -0900

On Thursday, December 26, 2002, at 07:03 AM, Frank Petrie wrote:

Here, here! When you buy a car from a dealer, you don't complain that it stopped running after 250 miles. You put gas in the tank. That's the bargain that you strike up with the technology.

Although no where near on the same level, remember JFK's words - "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country." Take this concept to heart and apply it to your work in your UG. Then perhaps your perspective will be righted.



I have no idea what you are talking about. We aren't talking about gas or cars and it's not an apt metaphor anyway. And I'm not suggesting 'our country' owes us anything. My perspective is just fine, thanks.

I am trying to discuss a rich computer company that does little or nothing to help its most fervent supporters, user group members.
I'm complaining, not 'whining' or 'griping.' There's a big difference.

Here's the point; Apple just doesn't get it, when it comes to user groups. Or maybe they think they do, and their strategy is; 'why bother doing anything for them, they are going to keep buying our products and help spread our message even if we totally ignore them.'

Does Apple think that perhaps they'd be better off without us? Some folks think this is true. Apple doesn't want us doing all the tech support we do. They could sell more Applecare and make more money if everyone had to pay them to get help.

All the free advice and help that user groups give away, Apple and it's stores could be charging for.

For instance our group here in Anchorage, in addition to the monthly meeting and newsletter, does three free workshops each month: Mac Basics, Graphics, and OS X. Each one runs for two hours, and we attempt to answer as many specific questions and fix as many problems as possible. Our members love the workshops, and turnout is usually quite good.

I'm a member of the Corvallis (OR) MUG too, and we run an extremely good helplist. Many of our most knowledgeable members post answers to perplexing questions, usually quite quickly after the initial question goes up. It's an outstanding resource. But it didn't happen in a vacuum. It didn't create itself. We worked hard to set it up and to keep it lively.

In the short run, you could say that this kind of support does nothing for Apple, they don't make a dime off it. But common sense and many years of experience shows that our members become better able to use their computers and are more likely to buy another Apple when the time comes. This is clearly an important factor.

Every business depends on repeat customers. Not many can make it on one-time sales alone. This is where Apple seems to be totally blind. It appears all they really work at is getting new users. Once you have your Mac, Apple could care less. Their own sorry tech support proves that.

All we want back from Apple is a little help spreading their message and supporting our members. We don't want cash, we aren't asking for free computers. But we do want some material assistance that we are not getting now.

If you really believe that Apple doesn't owe user groups anything, good for you. I respect your opinion. I'm not trying to convince you to do anything. But if you believe as I do that Apple is failing us, then speak up and help get the message across.

And you folks who think there is some sort of selfishness associated with this are missing the point. It's not a 'gimme gimme' thing. It's just asking for the respect and support that we deserve for helping make Apple what it is today, a successful and rich computer company. Every one of us helped make that happen, not just by buying a computer, but by being a resource for other users. Many of us, through our work as MUG members, may each be directly responsible for dozens or hundreds of computer sales. Is that not worthy of a little recognition?



Sincerely,


Tim J. Thomas
Alaska Apple User Group
Communiqui Editor

Corvallis (OR) Macintosh User Group
Mouse Droppings Editor.
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References: 
 >Re: MOI ...etc. (From: Frank Petrie <email@hidden>)

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