On 17/04/2005, at 8:06 AM, Edward Arrowsmith wrote:
I feel the retailer should take more responsibility as they are about to lose not just one customer, but also myself as a second (and I won't be recommending them again), and potentially more, as all those watching this episode are quite appalled at the time lag and would definitely not make a purchase there. This crew is also very iPod/Shuffle savvy and this market is also lost to this retailer.
Unfortunately, there's not much the retailer can do in these circumstances. I agree, the situation is inexcusable, but not necessarily the retailer's fault.
Speaking from personal experience, I have a client who ordered a Mac Mini from me almost 2 months ago, and to this day my Apple wholesaler has had no indication from Apple as to when they will become available. Fortunately, the client is a diehard Apple user so there's no question of switching. He has been very understanding since he has been though this sort of thing before with Apple, although not on this time scale.
Again on a personal note, my daughter and her boyfriend were chasing a pair of iPod Shuffles at the beginning of March. They scoured the iPod dealers of Perth (not just AppleCentres) and were told at every stop the units would not be in stock until April. They went to Apple's online store and had them within the week!
Believe me, this is just as frustrating to retailers and suppliers as it is to the end customer, but it's the poor old retailer who cops all the abuse and loos of good will. It's a huge marketing problem which Apple Australia just has to address if they seriously want people to switch (or even to stay).
-- Peter Hinchliffe Apwin Computer Services FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer Perth, Western Australia Phone (618) 9332 6482 Fax (618) 9332 0913 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to.
