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It's Payback Time (6/30/98)
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Last year, Steve Jobs reportedly sent undercover Apple reps into the field to examine first-hand the sorry state of Macs in the retail space. A few months ago, Apple announced it was pulling its products out of all national retail chains except for CompUSA. Only a few weeks ago, Apple suddenly "de-authorized" several of its dealers and service reps, in a continuing attempt to clean house. And now, apparently Apple thinks it's time to play hardball; today they announced that they have filed suit against four ex-Apple Service Providers who have allegedly defrauded Apple out of some $600,000 worth of equipment and service fees. See Apple's press release for (marginally) more details.
Apple claims that these four companies collected payment for repairs they never actually made, and also received replacement parts under false pretenses, which they presumably then sold for even more cash. Slimy, hmmm? How'd you like to take your PowerBook G3 in for warranty repair and get it back with a half-assed patch job under the hood? Going to a computer service center carries a lot of the same risks as going to an auto mechanic; go to a reputable one, or you could end up with a rebuilt alternator or a reconditioned screen, when you might pay for (or have the right to) brand new equipment. This is Apple's attempt to help ensure that its authorized service providers are playing by the rules.
This lawsuit sends a clear message to would-be malfeasants that Apple is no longer going to let itself be defrauded by service centers who just want to make a quick buck-- heck, they can't afford to anymore. In the grand scheme of Apple's finances, $600 grand may not be very much, but if the practice persists, it adds up to lower profits for Apple and poorer service for Apple customers. We're glad to see Apple make an example of those who would take such advantage of them-- and, by extension, us.
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And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors |
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 6/30/98 episode: June 30, 1998: Apple's unsheathed its lawyers in an attempt to make would-be service cheats think twice before committing fraud. Meanwhile, one of the authors of a key treatise used in the recent Microsoft decision says the judges got it all wrong, and Apple's slipping hold on the education market shows signs of potential strenghening...
Other scenes from that episode: 820: Lagel Dyxlesia (6/30/98) Microsoft may have won the first round of "Redmond Justice" last week, when a three-judge panel struck down the preliminary injunction preventing them from forcing PC manufacturers to preload Internet Explorer on every Windows 95 system shipped... 821: Tables May Be Turning (6/30/98) Apple may have lost a little ground in its struggle to maintain its hold on the education market, but it looks like things may be turning around. In two separate and unrelated stories on MacCentral, we see evidence that Apple has a chance to stay on top in higher education. First, Dartmouth has announced which computer it officially recommends to this fall's incoming class of 2003...
Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast... | |  |
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