Can You Believe It - Apple Sent Me A Freebie?
I wrote a Blog here on November 30th that I was going to purchase a new M1 Mac Mini. I ordered it from Amazon on November 28th during their Back Friday sale. It arrived on December 8th. This was a week earlier than promised.
When I connected the external VGA monitor using the HDMI to VGA adapter that I was using with my Azus Windows computer, there was no signal. I couldn't believe it as I expected it to work. Nothing I tried seemed to work so the next day I called Apple.
The manager who I spoke to listened to my tale of woe very patiently and then told me he knew what the problem was. And he had a solution too.
Solution
The new Macs do not work connecting a VGA monitor to the HDMI port. This port only works with a monitor that also has an HDMI port. Since VGA's are old analog school Apple is phasing out compatibility with it. Everything is now either HDMI or Thunderbolt USB compatible.
He told me that a thunderbolt to VGA adapter would work. Since I suffered this inconvenience he decided to send me this adapter, free of charge courtesy of Apple! He ordered it while we were on the phone and told me I would have the new adapter in two days.
Sure enough, two days later it arrived, I hoked it up with my VGA monitor and everything worked!
The cost to Apple to send this part to me was minimal. The good will they maintained with me was priceless. Frankly I didn't expect to get a freebie like this.
Share Your Experience
I'd like to know if you have experienced a company sending you a free part to solve a problem you were having with their product. And I do not mean through a warranty. The part I got had nothing to do with the Mac not working. It was a part I would have had to get anyway to connect my VGA monitor to it. Through my ignorance I didn't know that.
This Mac that uses Apple's first Computer processor is screaming fast, and uses minimal power. The fan hasn't come on yet. And when it will, the reviews I read told me I would not even here it.
The main reason I got this was to do video editing. Having a silent computer does make a difference. A Windows computer with similar performance would cost me more, use more power, run hotter and operate more noisy.
At $669 I'm a happy camper.
Recent Comments
51
I don't own any Apple products, but I have a friend who has everything Apple and he has similar stories (Stories with an "s") of dealing with Apple's customer service and getting all kinds of free goodies. He even got a pair of Bose headphones once worth $300 free of charge.
They have excellent customer service!
Wow a free Bose! Now that takes freebie to a new level.
Apple doesn't do any hard sell. They focus on providing exceptional customer service. They are not perfect and do fall flat sometimes. But that is the exception and not the rule.
Thanks for sharing your friends experience.
Cheers.
Edwin
That is a great post and positive information, that they want to keep their customers.
I do believe in promoting a company that appreciates a compliment.
Many years ago, I was hooked on A1 sauce. I put it on everything including eggs! Mind you this is a steak sauce. I wrote a letter to the Co, telling them what a fan I was, and about 3 weeks later package arrived, and they sent me not 1 bottle, but an entire BOX which held 12 bottles!
A far difference between the products, but they do listen. Still a big fan of A1!
You made out well.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy Holidays, and hope you are watching the USC/UCLA game.
Carla
Excellent example Carla. I love A1 Sauce on steaks. Thanks for sharing a great story.
Edwin
Things like this make a difference and get lifelong customers.
I have an old Weber kettle, must be +20 years and all the handles had cracked and fallen off being left out in the weather. I went to the store and they said you have to order on line. Back home I went and ordered the handles, no charge , no delivery cost and were dispatched that day.
Made the Weber look brand new.
Peter H
Hi Peter,
Now that shows class. Why charge you for something that costs so little when they can use that moment to show appreciation for a good customer.
Thanks for sharing.
Edwin
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Nice! Wow that price sounds cheap.
We pay more in Australia. I am apple for life and was looking at upgrading my 2015 MacBook Pro in next few years. I just wanted to flog it for a few more years and get the M1
PS. I think you need "the reviews I read told me I would not even "hear" it"
Hi John,
Thanks for commenting. I've been using the new Mac for a few days now and the fan hasn't come on once. It's like it is not there.
I have noticed that the Macs in real terms cost more outside the US.
If the Mac you are using is serving you well, there is no need to upgrade yet. The latest MacOS Big Sur may not work with some older Macs.
All the best to you.
Edwin