I have few bad experiences in Sunway and Mid Valley Machines show room. Few months back I was deciding whether to buy Sony, HP or Apple notebook. So went to their show room.

I was walking inside the show room like more than 10 minutes browsing the products, looking for catalogs. None of the assistant approach me to help me. I was looking at some of the assistant trying to make eye contact so they would notice me and come assist me.

I think there are 4 - 5 assistants in the show room. 1 guy was busy showing off his iPhone to his female friend who just walked in. Another guy was busy staring at big screen monitor and singing while closing his eyes. Another guy was just sitting at the cashier counter playing his PSP. Another guy was just walking around the shop doing his own thing and didn't even bother to approach any customers. Only 1 assistant was serving 1 customer and there are like 5 - 6 customers in the show room at that time.

So I walked out and straight buy Sony notebook. End of story.

there are some PC stores selling macs... Czone for instance

anyway it's true though... i've worked at an apple reseller myself... when orang putih buy macs they never ask if got freebies got discounts etc. well maybe that's because they're rich la

nothing wrong with PC user working at machines. not ideal of course, but if dunno anything about macs but stil want to be smug, problem la dat

I think people expect more from Apple stores (resellers or not) because they will probably buy another Apple product because of the ecosystem. Since my initial powerbook purchase I've bought direct from Apple :

Intel Macbook, macbook power adapter, Apple LCD, Apple Keyboard, Apple Mouse, iPhone, Mac OS. Thats at least over 3000 USD going directly to Apple. I'll probably continue to buy apple products in the near future because of their excellent Apple care and retail service, but thats only because I've experienced it on the other side (USA, Australia, phone centers).

I've also grown to love Mac OS X because of its reliability (the same couldn't be said for Windows).

yeah, my next Mac will be from the online store, cos the local guys haven't earned their profit / sales.

@OmniAtlas,
you're right, the hi-tech answers are never done at retail level anyway.

@dvlzplayground
CZone is an Apple-authorised partner, but IINM, they do have a separate Mac-only space, right?

I used to work for machines s/b ... but I'm not sure if anyone is monitoring this page. Based on the responses though... doesn't look like it. 6 pages, no official reply from any machines staff at all...

Maybe we should email this to sjobs@apple.com.

I doubt machines staff would follow this thread... Even if they knew they wouldnt wanna voice out unless its someone from higher position in machines hierarchy... That is why the time to close this thread is up.... No point keep arguing already.. Its already 6 pages... So just lock it up and whenever a new guy needs suggestion, we know what to recommend.

I've not purchased anything from Machines but if they do not bother you while you're inspecting their products, that's what I call good customer service.

I should bother them if I want something, not the other way around where they bother me when I don't want anything.

i sort of agree with this too, customers should be given some space to fiddle or fondle the products as much as they want.

oh really? didnt notice that

we fiddle2 fondle2 but the staff keep staring at us with "you wont afford that" face not nice also...

I got mixed reaction from Machines Sunway. There's one malay guy there very helpful. Helped me and my wife with the magic mouse and a headphone. But when he brought the stuff to the counter, the guy behind the cash register look very lansi and have the face like "ohh can you pay for that?" and didn't even have the courtesy to say thank you or even a smile. A smile won't hurt laaaa.

Guys at EpiCenter is nice from my several visit there.

lol very hard to sayla, its all based on our impression what maybe he got issues like kena maki hamun by a previous customer or something,we only experience one sales staff in one day, but they experience hundreds of customers in a day, if they wanted to rant just like some of us here, it'll be many pages

@ nimrod323, I've told my juniors (when I was a trainer) that if they feel bored / burned out, that they need to take a short holiday.
Angry previous customer is possible, but the next guest / customer should still get a good service experience.
if staff members are feeling upset / tired or whatever, take a break... take it outside... the customer comes first ... seems to have been forgotten at many local retail stores, not just Apple-related stores.

So I assume none of your juniors care to listen, so you left and unfortunate Machines customers bore the brunt...?

well... can't discuss my work details here... still have rules to follow

a vending machines that sell apple products maybe? so we doesnt need to deal with salesperson =)

yeah can follow apple mini store style where everything is self service, there's a terminal for you to swipe ur card, a drawer with paper bags.. everything is self service. there's only one employee in the store.

You know, in Japan you can buy ipods in vending machines??!

In Malaysia, the vending machine will be gone in blink of eyes. LOL.

Bought few stuff from Machines.
1) MBP cos got 50% off from my maybank treatpoints
2) 2 3gs casing

Overal experience: Just simply go ask to see then buy.

KLCC there is one good sales person (it's a she and the prettiest one and now makes me think if she's single and available but that's not the point) and she is the only one that would want to entertain me.

Lot10 there is good one sales person there but somehow I got the feeling he work there part time and he's still schooling (college or uni). Quite helpful even though he doesn't know much but I love the effort he put into it.

Rest doing their own business especially if you come in with jeans tshirt and sneakers. This thing is not new. When Rafidah was in the cabinet in 90's she warned those retailers few times for double standard practice. I had my fair share of those experience as well, few elderly people looking smart (shirt and pants with dress shoes) coming in after me got better treatment even though they walked away without purchasing anything. In short this is not only limited to Machines but also to those branded boutiques.

I have to say though that almost everyone in epicentre is very helpful and seems to me doesn't practice double standard kinda thing.

^ shud be:

Bought few stuff from Machines.
1) MBP cos got 50% off from my maybank treatpoints
2) 2 3gs casing
3) coffee for cute machines staff

yeap so far i get good treatment from epicentre.. even if i ask something they dunno also, they'll go find someone who knows, n get back to me. the stuff they have are better imho...better choices.

if one day i can afford buy mac pro.. i'll wear tshirt, shorts n slippers... go see see accessories 1st, then ask got mac pro in stock or not.. haha. i wonder how they respond