Apple Bentall Centre — Attraction in London

If you are as old as I am, you will remember the Secondhand Car Salesman. Infamous for their dishonesty and deception, they were masters at selling off junk as worthy merchandise. Fortunately these legal (often illegal) conmen are a thing of the past, unfortunately we now have a modern-day equivalent - they are called Apple. Don’t believe me? then read on:

Firstly, most shops have something called a ‘Returns Desk.’ Its where customers go to take back their faulty products that have fallen apart or ceased to work soon after purchase. Apple have one of these, but in their image obsessed fakery they don’t call it a Returns Desk - its called a ‘Genius Bar!’ No really, think about it - what is a Genius Bar supposed to mean? Whatever its pretending to be, its a place to take back stuff that doesn’t work. When you go to Apple Bentalls Store you realise the need for the cover-up, because this is by far the busiest part of their shop. So busy in fact that you can’t even queue up to use it - you have to leave your phone number and they call you back between 2-5 hours later to say they are ready for you! And this shows you how many people are having problems with their products - every single day! Try standing there at the bar and listen to what the hapless customers say; MacBooks not working, iPhones playing up, computers breaking down - try it for yourself. Now doesn’t that say something about the quality of their products?

Secondly. Try going into this Apple Bentalls Store asking for advice about your Apple appliance. You will be totally ignored. If you do manage to get a staff member’s attention, once they know that you want advice you will be immediately palmed off, they will not be interested. Why? Because you are not buying anything! Show an interest in a product that they are selling however and you will see an immediate personality change. Pound signs will light up in their eyes, bonuses will be going around in their head - they will be all over you like a rash. Remind you of anyone?

Thirdly, the Secondhand Car Salesman looked upon themselves as being above the law. They were above all legal regulations that were there to protect the consumer - sadly this is another disgusting trait revived by Apple. The law states that if a product is faulty when you buy it then you have the right for an exchange or refund - well, not so with Apple! Our expensive MacBook never worked from the off. Three times it broke down. We kept returning it to the Returns Desk (oops sorry Genius Bar) spending hours there when they had to reboot it (and losing all our data in the process). When it went wrong a fourth time I retuned it to the Apple Bentalls Store asking for an exchange or refund for what was clearly a dud. They blatantly refused to do this even though it was still under guarantee, saying “oh we don’t that.” Instead I was forced into yet another repair that I didn’t want. A month later, the MacBook fails again. They now tell me that as the guarantee has just run out I will have to pay for the repair - at a mere £527! Very crafty, and very clever - remind you of anything?

Needless to say I wasn't going to spend more money on a piece of junk. Just as the hapless victim of the Secondhand Car Salesman took his old banger to the scrapyard and counted his losses, I have disposed of my old banger of a laptop. Which cost me £1275 and had very little use. A friend of mine bought an iPhone 7 last month, it has gone wrong already.

It’s a fact - Apple are now producing junk, expensive junk, and are using unscrupulous staff to rip people off....

Initially my service was excellent and I bought 15" mac book pro and iPhone 6 Then... I was given a silver rather than champagne backing and only saw it after everything had been loaded. This wasn't hectic but I felt it was my fault when it was actually not. I had asked for a champagne backing. The other silver backing phone was not taken off my iCloud

I took it home and saw that ALL MY ITUNES and iPhoto and email documents had been removed. I took it back and the assistant was surprised as if I only purchase the tunes. Not that I had over 2000 songs on my collection from my c.d collection of years ago which I had personally bought or given to me. I hope I have a back up still on another hard drive. The assistant was not worried or concerned or apologetic. I mean this is years of my collection which I use daily for running,listening etc. I left. The photos are irreplacable and documents some saved for a legal case I am handling at the moment which I have not lost.

The next day I was using my mac book pro and felt a vibration when it was plugged in that was really uncomfortable. When I was typing I could feel the vibration and my hands were red - like shock waves. I called support who said to take it back to kingston so they could take it apart, look in to it etc. So I took it back. the sales lady was there and I told her by showing... she said 'its normal'. I asked her to feel again and she said she couldn't feel anything - as if I am stupid. This is an hours travel for me and not what I wanted to do as I had a pressing doctors appointment. I asked for somebody else to help. The assistant explained to her manager and then he came over and advised that it is known and it is talked about and it is acceptable vibration. Some are more sensitive than others and I could return it. This is not what I had assumed from the support when I called and was confused. I left with a plastic cover to see if was better. We came to the conclusion that I would only work with it when it is charged so I don't have to connect it to the mains... therefore the vibration was not there - or to buy a desk top. I have since decided to use the former yet the battery gets so hot when it is plugged in I am quite worried it will start melting. The team in kingston are not worried though.

Then, my iPhone 6 started to go off - not off but black. I thought the batter was down or not sure... so, now I have to go back to kingston to find out what is wrong. I am not looking forward to it as I do not feel welcome by the sales lady who initially was incredibly helpful changed. In the end I went to change it and waited for an hour before the sales man said why are you waiting I can change it for you now. Hilarious I am thinking this. I bought the extended warranty for my phone. When I have my photos put back on plus my iTunes I will get the extended warranty. I need confirmation before I come to your store that you have ear-marked to assist and rectify these issues.

Finally I love apple... my 4s iPhone lasted 5 years and so did my macbook (white plastic). My experience is not so great... will somebody contact me to assure me that as the manager and sales assistant confirmed they will add my iTunes, photos and documents which I had backed up on another hard drive 6 months ago. At least I will have something. Ad to the documents I have lost for my court case I haven't the energy to deal with apple about this but I am not so happy with the brand as I was...

I am absolutely appalled by the way I was treated yesterday in the Apple store in Kingston. I came in to do my Christmas shopping, when an intimidating security guard, that looked more like a police officer, approached me. He was stern with his approach, he appeared as though he was about to catch a thief. He told me I must put on a face covering, to which I replied I was medically exempt, in the middle of the shop floor he continued to tell me that to shop in that store something must be worn, he would get me a visor, he made it very clear it was either cover my face or leave the store, no alternative was offered. At this point everyone was staring, looking and judging I felt so small. I left the store as quick as I could to get away from the embarrassing situation. Never in my life have I ever been made to feel so publicly embarrassed, intimidated and discriminated against. It is completely unacceptable to expect someone to talk about their personal health issue and why they are medically unable to wear a face covering so publicly to a complete stranger. I was about to show him my exemption, not that he gave me a chance to. Even though it clearly states on the government website the following ‘Exemption cards or badges - Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign. This is a personal choice and is not necessary in law. Those who have an age, health or disability reason not to wear a face covering should not be routinely asked to provide any written evidence of this. Written evidence includes exemption cards. Some people, including children under 11, are exempt from having to wear face coverings in any setting. Furthermore, anyone with a health condition or disability, which means they cannot wear a face covering, has a reasonable excuse for not wearing a face covering.

I appreciate there is a mask mandate however people do have hidden disabilities and are unable to comply. There was a whole number of ways that could have been dealt with more professionally.

I am completely shocked by this, I am an avid Apple user, owning many of your products in my household. I would never had of expected such treatment in one of your stores.

I wish for this matter to be investigated as no one should ever be made to feel the way I...