Review: Micro World
By Jim Willis on May 13, 2007 in Reviews, Stores | Printable Version
My intent is to keep this site devoted to positive issues about living and working in Greater Binghamton. But sometimes “negative” issues do present themselves. Rather than gloss over the negatives, I will mention them from time to time with the positive intention that something good might happen. Or at least you can learn from my experiences and be forewarned. This first negative post has to do with the (lack of) customer service at Micro World Computer Store, the area’s oldest Apple-certified dealer in this area, located on the Vestal Parkway. I’ve known of Micro World for many years. They’re famed for having 7-hour-or-less work days–their posted hours are 11a-5:30p, although don’t bother showing up before 11:20, at least that’s my experience.
My gripe is this: My son and I stopped in to purchase a car converter/recharger for my son’s iPod. He was due to go on a long trip with his school and wanted the ability to recharge the iPod in the van. We got one, a Maxell, for $49. My son tried it out at home in our vehicle, and it immediately came apart in the cigarette lighter outlet. I had to dig it out. The thing simply fell apart. So it never went on the trip. I took it back to Micro World a few days ago, figuring even though it was a tad over 30 days since we purchased it, they would at least replace it if not provide a full refund. No dice. No refunds or replacements after 7 days–period. OK, that’s the policy and I guess I missed the small type on the receipt (although they neglected to mention it when we made the purchase).
But here’s the thing. When I stopped by the store at 11:15a on a Tuesday, they weren’t open yet, even though posted hours say they open at 11a. So I stopped back an hour later. I had to wait while the female co-owner (not sure if she’s a co-owner but it seemed so to me) gave a Mac lesson to a customer having trouble with a hard drive filling up too fast. Wait a minute…I thought Macs are so easy to use, no one needs lessons! But I digress. I stood around waiting for over 15 minutes according to my watch. She never looked at me nor even acknowledged me. Finally, she took a break and looked up to see this nuisance standing there (me). I explained my plight, and her response was curt and her attitude somewhat caustic. It is a 7-day return policy and “you’ll need to contact the manufacturer to have it replaced.” End of story. The male co-owner arrived at that point, looked at it, and told me the same thing. His attitude was better, but the upshot was and is, “you’re outta luck.” Needless to say I’m not impressed with the customer service ethic of the owners of Micro World.
What’s your experience with Micro World? Do you agree with me? Disagree? Let me know in the comments.
Technorati Tags: Apple Computer, Binghamton, customer service, iPod
kiwi | Jul 17, 2007 | Reply
I had a terrible experience with Micro World also. The customer service was non-existent and the female co-owner was about as rude as I have ever experienced. As you said, they do not show up during the hours and days posted. I waited 30 minutes one day and another day they never opened all together. The woman rudely told me she didn’t have time to tell me about my computer (5 days out-not a word from them!) because she just got back from vacation and to call later in the day. So I went and picked my computer up and told Wayne (the other owner) that the customer service was atrocious and word was “around” as I have found others in the Mac community who refuse to return there. I did let him know that his wife or whoever the witch with a constant scowl on her face is, has absolutely NO business dealing with human beings as she treats them like 2nd class citizens. Clearly they don’t realize that bad news gets around 3x as fast as good news. I have a business full of Macs now to deal with and I’m glad I have have found out about them from other customers like you. They are not, as they say, “the Southern Tier’s only Apple dealer”. I found another place that gets all their business-people they have turned off-and they’re awesome with people.
B U | Jul 24, 2007 | Reply
Yeah — I’ve been there too. It was for a simple part that I had received with a Mac Mini; well under warranty, the adaptor for the DVI -> VGA output had decided to go bad and just show purple on the screen. I called about simply ordering a replacement through Apple under warranty, instead of bringing the Mac in.
They could have plugged the video adapter into another Mac and it would certainly have shown the same problem I got. But no, they told me I had to bring in the mac, the adaptor, AND the monitor I was using (At the time, I had a 21″ CRT - it was not a light piece of equipment), or they wouldn’t even look at it. All this for a 15 dollar part.
Well, I do this. I haul it all in, while the fish-faced woman at the counter won’t even hold the door open for me while I lug the monitor in. She just watches. I get all the stuff inside, and she graciously takes over, hooking it all together. She turns it on. Lo and behold, it’s purple. She says ‘yep, looks like you were right’ after jiggling a few cables, and finally agrees to put the replacement order in (Which took two weeks, I might add).
Extremely rude, extremely unhelpful - They feel like they are a gift to the Southern Tier, and expect you to work around their erratic schedule.
I might add that she also didn’t hold the door open for me on the way out, either.
Will not go back. Ever. No no no. I’ve driven to Syracuse for minor things just to avoid them.