AUGD: Re: Since we're dreaming here
AUGD: Re: Since we're dreaming here
- Subject: AUGD: Re: Since we're dreaming here
- From: Greg Sharp <email@hidden>
- Date: Sat, 03 Dec 2005 14:46:48 +1100
On 3/12/05 7:00 AM, "Nigel MacGeorge" wrote:
> I used to think everyone in the Apple crowd were nice friendly people. With
> the
> way this thread has turned so sarcastically nasty I am having to re-evaluate
> my
> opinions.
You are not the only one who was totally disgusted by the vicious attacks
made on someone for asking a totally legitimate question.
Nobody asked for free products. Nobody asked that their members get special
deals. All that was asked for was the possibility of some kind of discount
for the hardware used by a group to promote Apple.
I have personally (out of my own money) pumped untold $thousands into
equipment for our local MUGs. Just this year alone at least two Xserves,
Xserve Raids, server racks, switches etc plus hundreds or even thousands of
hours promoting Apple & MUGs Australia wide.
It's been years since Australia has received anything back from Apple. The
last MacWorld expo we did have, which was years ago, had Apple tell us we
couldn't attend or speak at the expo, couldn't hand out brochures in fact
were barred from having any part in it. This was an Australia wide policy
for all MUGs.
In the US you receive everything and get treated like kings, while the rest
of the world is ignored.
We have no MUG University, no expos, no discounts on reconditioned equipment
etc. Apple refuses to come to meetings when asked (maybe once every 2 or 3
years they might turn up unannounced with some marketing guy who can't
answer any questions). These marketing types admit they have no knowledge of
anything technical and refuse to answer questions while we are all supposed
to cheer them on and buy their products. Apple refuses to visit MUGs in
regional areas completely openly saying its not worth the expense of going
more than an hour from Capitol cities.
Just this month one group I run lost their meeting venue when the reseller
who offered us his premises for meetings was sent bankrupt by Apple's local
business policies. These local resellers only have a 10% margin on products
& are forced to invest a $million plus on products to get authorized. This
year Apple Australia did some deal with the local department stores
(equivalent to Wal-Mart in the US). Whatever deal they did is secret but
these stores are now offering Mac's for 10% under retail and local resellers
are being sent broke. Just like what happened in the US before Apple started
opening their own stores. Apple seems to undermine those who have supported
them for years. These department stores get all the new stock while
resellers are denied and told they'll have to wait months to get any new
stock.
These department stores have pimply faced teenagers who have never used Macs
on the floor, fill Apple sales space on their floor with products from other
companies and talk down Apple products to customers because they get an even
higher margin from these other products. There is zero after sales support.
Admittedly the quality of support from many Apple Resellers is just as bad.
I've only met one rep from a reseller who knew as much as me about Macs
(most wouldn't know 5% of what I do). Apple Australia ships its support to
India and those guys can't tell the difference between a Mac or a Dell
(don't laugh, I spent half an hour trying to ask a question about a dual G4
desktop and this guy kept saying what kind Dell do you have sir a desktop or
laptop. I n half an hour he still couldn't get past this point). Nobody I've
met will even use Apple's overseas support anymore. The only way to get
local Australian support from people who can understand English & with real
knowledge is to pay for AppleCare.
For selling us AppleCare these guys get bonus's like free Xboxes for every
so many sales. When Australia finally announced an Australian ITMS, Apple
invited all of the local journalists to a special event. They were all given
free iPods, champagne, lobsters etc to bribe them to write good reviews. MUG
representatives were again refused to attend. Apple Australia's headquarters
even moved to new premises last month and they couldn't be bothered to let
any MUGs know. We had to find out from local rumour sites. This was
confirmed when I went to a 30 year school reunion 2 weeks ago and one of my
old school friends told me about his daughter having just started working in
these new premises.
Basically MUGs here in Australia have to pick up the ball after customers
are shafted by lousy local support. If it wasn't for us Apple would loose
heaps of customers. Yet for all this work that MUGs here and around the rest
of the world make if you dare ask for some help like a discount on 1 or 2
pieces of equipment to help promote Apple you get attacked by a pile of
fanatics. I personally find this fanaticism sickening. My opinion might be
different if we got everything US MUGs get but we get nothing from Apple. If
it wasn't for groups like the MUGCenter & the Apple Groups Team we may as
well been on another planet.
I used to think everyone in the Apple crowd were nice friendly people too
but the treatment we receive & attacks like these have convinced me I was
wrong. Thank heavens for the couple of MUGs who haven't been brainwashed &
who are friendly otherwise we'd probably become an anti MUG.
If a stranger did you wrong you would get angry but eventually put it behind
you but when someone you love betrays you you never forget or forgive.
Before these MUGs attack another MUG so viciously they should consider the
ramifications. I hope those that attacked the Mac/Appleholics Anonymous
group are ashamed of their actions.
--
All the best
Greg Sharp
President/Webmaster
email@hidden
Australian Mac Users Group (AUSMUG)
http://www.australian.macusersgroup.org
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