miyagi.sg

Because in Singapore is different

picture-3.pngWhen Naomi told me to check if my Powerbook G4 was eligible for a battery exchange, I quickly went and checked, because, like, woohoo! Free battery!

So I went and checked Apple’s website for the battery recall notice and instructions. It said to enter my computer’s serial number as well as the battery’s serial number, which were located on the battery as well as inside the battery compartment.

This meant I did some mental calisthenics in order to come up with the order in which to record the serial numbers, but ended up doing this instead:

  1. Turn off computer.
  2. Open battery compartment and take out battery
  3. Locate battery serial number
  4. Try to locate computer serial number
  5. Curse when it is discovered that there is more than one set of numbers in the battery compartment
  6. Put battery back into computer
  7. Turn on computer
  8. Open apple webpage detailing battery recall
  9. Read bit about where exactly computer serial number can be found, which includes the ‘About This Mac’ option under the Apple menu, in the OS.
  10. Curse some more, write down computer serial number and go enter it into the website to check if the computer’s battery is eligible for exchange.
  11. Curse even more, because it is realised that the computer’s battery’s serial number wasn’t jotted down.
  12. Turn off computer.
  13. Take out battery, and jot down battery serial number.
  14. Put battery back, turn on computer and open Apple webpage detailing battery recall.
  15. Enter serial numbers, and cheer when the page returns a result that says my battery is eligible for a free exchange.
  16. Cheer when it reads that I only have to apply for an exchange and wait for a battery to arrive before I send the faulty battery back sans postage.
  17. Still happy when I enter my location (Singapore) and read that I should contact any one of the resellers listed in Singapore.
  18. Call one of the Apple retailers in Singapore and ask about the exchange program.
  19. Become bewildered when I am told to bring in my computer for them to check, and give them the faulty battery and then wait six weeks for the replacement.
  20. Ask if I can keep my battery and use it while waiting for the replacement.
  21. Become slightly upset when I am told that I can’t.
  22. Ask how come the replacement procedure is different from North America.
  23. Become more upset when I am told ‘because in Singapore, it’s different’.
  24. Ask if I can get a temporary battery replacement while waiting for the replacement because if not, my Powerbook is no longer portable.
  25. Become more upset when I am told ‘no, because in Singapore, it’s different’.
  26. Tell Apple sales representative that ‘ok, I’ll bring in my computer soon’.

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54 responses to “Because in Singapore is different”

  1. MyAppleMenu : News about Apple, Mac, iPod, and iPhone

    Because In Singapore Is Different by My Very Own Glob Ask how come the replacement procedure is different from North America. Become more upsdet when I am told ‘because in Singapore, it’s different’.

    Reply
  2. Presenting the(new)mediaslut!

    Mr Miyagimight have been having problems with Applebut themediaslut had an otherwise pleasant experience with NEC. themediaslut has not been updating much because her NEC notebook has gone conkers. Unfortunately, the warranty for the notebook was still 01 Sept 2006 and the notebook brokedown last

    Reply
  3. bitching Avatar
    bitching

    yes, indeed… in Singapore it is different… I’ve been trying to purchase my batt pack for my G4 for the last 6 months… Went down to Apple Centre @ Orchard 6 months ago, they said “no stock, try ishop”. Or I could leave my number and when the new stock arrives, they’ll call me.. Never did… 5 months later, called them and they said, “Ran out of stock, u can try ishop”. But we’ll call you when the stock arrives in Sept… Went to ishop, no stock. Left my number because they also said they’ll call when the stock arrives in Sept.
    So.. it is Sept now.. no call, to date… I’m still waiting…
    Truly ‘Uniquely Singapore’ style… dan gu gu…

    Reply
  4. bitching Avatar
    bitching

    yes, indeed… in Singapore it is different… I’ve been trying to purchase my batt pack for my G4 for the last 6 months… Went down to Apple Centre @ Orchard 6 months ago, they said “no stock, try ishop”. Or I could leave my number and when the new stock arrives, they’ll call me.. Never did… 5 months later, called them and they said, “Ran out of stock, u can try ishop”. But we’ll call you when the stock arrives in Sept… Went to ishop, no stock. Left my number because they also said they’ll call when the stock arrives in Sept.
    So.. it is Sept now.. no call, to date… I’m still waiting…
    Truly ‘Uniquely Singapore’ style… dan gu gu…

    Reply
  5. jackson Avatar
    jackson

    My battery which was under the one year warranty (i bought a replacement) went kaput. I wanted to change it for a new one since it was under warranty. Turns out, everything is now considered recall. Bitches! By the time my battery comes back and the portable iBook is portable again, the free WIFI at Suntec area would be over! =(

    Reply
  6. jackson Avatar
    jackson

    My battery which was under the one year warranty (i bought a replacement) went kaput. I wanted to change it for a new one since it was under warranty. Turns out, everything is now considered recall. Bitches! By the time my battery comes back and the portable iBook is portable again, the free WIFI at Suntec area would be over! =(

    Reply
  7. Lincoln Avatar
    Lincoln

    Basically… we are screwed.

    I have the same laptop.

    Reply
  8. Lincoln Avatar
    Lincoln

    Basically… we are screwed.

    I have the same laptop.

    Reply
  9. jinn Avatar
    jinn

    My experience with the battery exchange was different. At the Apple website where you entered your Powerbook and battery serial numbers, and tells you that you are eligible, print that page out. I brought that page to Apple Orchard, filled up some form, received a receipt and was told to wait till they got the battery shipment and they would sms me. No need to bring your laptop and/or battery down. You only need to bring the faulty battery down for exchange when the shipment arrives.

    Reply
  10. jinn Avatar
    jinn

    My experience with the battery exchange was different. At the Apple website where you entered your Powerbook and battery serial numbers, and tells you that you are eligible, print that page out. I brought that page to Apple Orchard, filled up some form, received a receipt and was told to wait till they got the battery shipment and they would sms me. No need to bring your laptop and/or battery down. You only need to bring the faulty battery down for exchange when the shipment arrives.

    Reply
  11. ahtiong Avatar
    ahtiong

    Heh, truly unique Singapore helpdesk!!

    Reply
  12. ahtiong Avatar
    ahtiong

    Heh, truly unique Singapore helpdesk!!

    Reply
  13. battery recall (my ass) « adj: rising again into being or vigor

    […] if mr miyagi thought his 26 steps to finding his computer and battery serial numbers were a hassle, he should be thankful that it’s not an ibook G4 he is dealing with. […]

    Reply
  14. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    Nope. I went to Diversitec in Toa Payoh with my battery (in my laptop). They verified the serial number and returned it to me. Told me to wait 4-6 weeks. When the new battery arrives from Apple, they’ll courier it to wherever I am. I’ll switch the batteries around in my laptop, and then Diversitec has 3 days to return the old battery back to Apple.

    BTW, the batteries can be taken out without powering the laptop down, if the laptop is still plugged into the power supply. All the demo laptops at any Apple distributor are plugged in without batteries.

    Reply
  15. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    Nope. I went to Diversitec in Toa Payoh with my battery (in my laptop). They verified the serial number and returned it to me. Told me to wait 4-6 weeks. When the new battery arrives from Apple, they’ll courier it to wherever I am. I’ll switch the batteries around in my laptop, and then Diversitec has 3 days to return the old battery back to Apple.

    BTW, the batteries can be taken out without powering the laptop down, if the laptop is still plugged into the power supply. All the demo laptops at any Apple distributor are plugged in without batteries.

    Reply
  16. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    Aiya, Mac sux lah! Go buy a Windows PC and all the problem is solved!!!

    Reply
  17. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    Aiya, Mac sux lah! Go buy a Windows PC and all the problem is solved!!!

    Reply
  18. Tym Avatar
    Tym

    I just popped by the Apple store at Wheelock on Friday because I was in the neighbourhood. They didn’t give me any hassle about wanting to keep my existing battery while waiting for the new one to get here (4-6 weeks’ time, pah!), but they made a note of it in the form that I signed, something like saying the user has been warned about the battery but will continue to use it at her own risk.

    Reply
  19. Tym Avatar
    Tym

    I just popped by the Apple store at Wheelock on Friday because I was in the neighbourhood. They didn’t give me any hassle about wanting to keep my existing battery while waiting for the new one to get here (4-6 weeks’ time, pah!), but they made a note of it in the form that I signed, something like saying the user has been warned about the battery but will continue to use it at her own risk.

    Reply
  20. Shelly Avatar
    Shelly

    My hubs brought in my iBook battery last Sunday for me and I got a call from iShop (at Orchard Cineleisure) on Friday saying that my battery was ready for collection! That didn’t even take more than 5 days!

    But over the phone they did tell me to go down and get my battery ASAP, for what reason I do not know, but WHO CARES?!? I got a new battery!! 🙂

    Reply
  21. Shelly Avatar
    Shelly

    My hubs brought in my iBook battery last Sunday for me and I got a call from iShop (at Orchard Cineleisure) on Friday saying that my battery was ready for collection! That didn’t even take more than 5 days!

    But over the phone they did tell me to go down and get my battery ASAP, for what reason I do not know, but WHO CARES?!? I got a new battery!! 🙂

    Reply
  22. mystery Avatar
    mystery

    i used to own a powerbook but the Apple experience whenever things go wrong (which seem quite frequently) is really frustrating. my powerbook died just more than a year so no more guarantee and no more care for you unless you sign up for Apple Care with extra $$$. So here i’m thinking why pay extra $$$ when the so called quality product breaks down like everyone else and then on top of that have to pay more $$$ for apple care. NO APPLE CARE = APPLE DONT CARE.

    So finally i took the advice from the Apple ads and i switched- to PC- have never looked back since!

    Switch to PCs, Apples are great if you live in USA- for the rest of the world, apples not in season long ago.

    Reply
  23. mystery Avatar
    mystery

    i used to own a powerbook but the Apple experience whenever things go wrong (which seem quite frequently) is really frustrating. my powerbook died just more than a year so no more guarantee and no more care for you unless you sign up for Apple Care with extra $$$. So here i’m thinking why pay extra $$$ when the so called quality product breaks down like everyone else and then on top of that have to pay more $$$ for apple care. NO APPLE CARE = APPLE DONT CARE.

    So finally i took the advice from the Apple ads and i switched- to PC- have never looked back since!

    Switch to PCs, Apples are great if you live in USA- for the rest of the world, apples not in season long ago.

    Reply
  24. mz Avatar
    mz

    You can try the ishop at cineleisure. They’ll advise you to surrender the battery though u have the option to keep it till ur battery arrives.

    The service is quite okay at that shop.

    Reply
  25. mz Avatar
    mz

    You can try the ishop at cineleisure. They’ll advise you to surrender the battery though u have the option to keep it till ur battery arrives.

    The service is quite okay at that shop.

    Reply
  26. Jenny Avatar
    Jenny

    Haha! I was tempted by the sexy new laptops at Apple Orchard Center, but 10 years of WinTel experience told me it can’t be all wine and roses at Apple. My friend thinks Apples are free from viruses and trojans, and just bought 3 new machines. Good luck to him!!

    Reply
  27. Jenny Avatar
    Jenny

    Haha! I was tempted by the sexy new laptops at Apple Orchard Center, but 10 years of WinTel experience told me it can’t be all wine and roses at Apple. My friend thinks Apples are free from viruses and trojans, and just bought 3 new machines. Good luck to him!!

    Reply
  28. d Avatar
    d

    it’s like that in oz too, not a singapore thing. we’re complaining our butts off because our portables ain’t no more portables. sucky apple CS. worse still, a lot of ppl are in the rural areas, far from any apple centre. i know of some ppl who have had to drive 2-3 hours to the nearest apple store – that’s tough shit mann. we gotta take comfort that singapore is miniature!

    Reply
  29. d Avatar
    d

    it’s like that in oz too, not a singapore thing. we’re complaining our butts off because our portables ain’t no more portables. sucky apple CS. worse still, a lot of ppl are in the rural areas, far from any apple centre. i know of some ppl who have had to drive 2-3 hours to the nearest apple store – that’s tough shit mann. we gotta take comfort that singapore is miniature!

    Reply
  30. d Avatar
    d

    i can’t imagine 6 weeks without my battery 🙁 so dun worry, it’s not a singapore thing. everyone outside of north america suffers the same fate.

    Reply
  31. d Avatar
    d

    i can’t imagine 6 weeks without my battery 🙁 so dun worry, it’s not a singapore thing. everyone outside of north america suffers the same fate.

    Reply
  32. Kevin Avatar
    Kevin

    Sorry to hear man. This is one of the things I’ll miss about being in America… consumer rights is big deal here, more respect. Apple ships you a replacement battery, and you simply put your recalled battery in the same package to ship it back. Zero downtime.

    Reply
  33. Kevin Avatar
    Kevin

    Sorry to hear man. This is one of the things I’ll miss about being in America… consumer rights is big deal here, more respect. Apple ships you a replacement battery, and you simply put your recalled battery in the same package to ship it back. Zero downtime.

    Reply
  34. GrEg Avatar
    GrEg

    The 4-6 week lead time is probably just a cover-ass liner. I got mine within a week at the epicentre Apple store. But i did return the “spoilt” one first.

    Then the funny thing was the guy at the store called a few days later to say that one also “spoilt”. Apple had a miscomm or something. And the next day i had an SMS saying its a mistake, there is nothing wrong with the “new” one.

    O well… at least i got a new battery. Mine was about 3 years old…

    Reply
  35. GrEg Avatar
    GrEg

    The 4-6 week lead time is probably just a cover-ass liner. I got mine within a week at the epicentre Apple store. But i did return the “spoilt” one first.

    Then the funny thing was the guy at the store called a few days later to say that one also “spoilt”. Apple had a miscomm or something. And the next day i had an SMS saying its a mistake, there is nothing wrong with the “new” one.

    O well… at least i got a new battery. Mine was about 3 years old…

    Reply
  36. d Avatar
    d

    that’s cos america is the centre of the world and everything happens there…. not because singapore’s different.

    Reply
  37. d Avatar
    d

    that’s cos america is the centre of the world and everything happens there…. not because singapore’s different.

    Reply
  38. jermyn Avatar
    jermyn

    dude
    go and do it at ishop
    they will make you sign an indemnity form saying that if your battery explodes, they are not responsible. but at least they will let you keep the battery.

    Reply
  39. jermyn Avatar
    jermyn

    dude
    go and do it at ishop
    they will make you sign an indemnity form saying that if your battery explodes, they are not responsible. but at least they will let you keep the battery.

    Reply
  40. LcT Avatar
    LcT

    it’s not a singapore thing… i got the same line when i was in sydney…

    Reply
  41. LcT Avatar
    LcT

    it’s not a singapore thing… i got the same line when i was in sydney…

    Reply
  42. Because in Singapore, it’s different. « anarchistic democracy.

    […] Shame on Apple CS in Singapore. […]

    Reply
  43. ch Avatar
    ch

    I totally give up on apple service in singapore. when i call apple centre up regarding directions to get to the apple centre, i expect to speak to the shop people, not someone who is situated in india and cant be any help to me.

    and quite a no. of things which i’m pissed of with apple customer service. eg when i wanted to change my ipod battery, the type of attitude that apple shop personnels and online customer service that they gave me. the unfriendly customer service website of apple.

    apple seeks for new customers and they dont seek to retain old customers. This is the impression i had with apple after dealing with their customer service, online, in australia and in singapore.
    this is the first and last time i’m using ipod and ibook. Right now, i’m just hoping that my ibook would not give me any trouble till the warranty period ends.

    (the things above are just my personal opinion on apple. and i no longer seek to change the impression that i had)

    Reply
  44. ch Avatar
    ch

    I totally give up on apple service in singapore. when i call apple centre up regarding directions to get to the apple centre, i expect to speak to the shop people, not someone who is situated in india and cant be any help to me.

    and quite a no. of things which i’m pissed of with apple customer service. eg when i wanted to change my ipod battery, the type of attitude that apple shop personnels and online customer service that they gave me. the unfriendly customer service website of apple.

    apple seeks for new customers and they dont seek to retain old customers. This is the impression i had with apple after dealing with their customer service, online, in australia and in singapore.
    this is the first and last time i’m using ipod and ibook. Right now, i’m just hoping that my ibook would not give me any trouble till the warranty period ends.

    (the things above are just my personal opinion on apple. and i no longer seek to change the impression that i had)

    Reply
  45. themediaslut » Blog Archive »

    […] Part of themediaslut’s adventure in Service sucks!, Uniquely Singapore Mr Miyagi might have been having problems with Apple but themediaslut had an otherwise pleasant experience with NEC. […]

    Reply
  46. salesgirl Avatar
    salesgirl

    i am surprised and slightly irritated that people don’t understand why customer service in singapore is the way it is. if the policy was that all you had to do is apply for an exchange, wait for a battery to arrive before the faulty one is returned, how many returned batteries do you think apple sg will receive? if ever apple sg decides to implement north america’s warranty procedures, i am not surprised if 5,000 batteries in sg were recalled, 5,000 replacement batteries were sent out and none were returned. unique singaporeans require unique customer service. this may be the reason why a home-grown retail chain may choose to have a no exchange, refund and return policy printed on her receipts in sg, and ‘thanks you for shopping! please keep this invoice for our 14-day purchase guarantee (subject to terms and conditions as stated in the document next to cash register’ in hk.

    Reply
  47. salesgirl Avatar
    salesgirl

    i am surprised and slightly irritated that people don’t understand why customer service in singapore is the way it is. if the policy was that all you had to do is apply for an exchange, wait for a battery to arrive before the faulty one is returned, how many returned batteries do you think apple sg will receive? if ever apple sg decides to implement north america’s warranty procedures, i am not surprised if 5,000 batteries in sg were recalled, 5,000 replacement batteries were sent out and none were returned. unique singaporeans require unique customer service. this may be the reason why a home-grown retail chain may choose to have a no exchange, refund and return policy printed on her receipts in sg, and ‘thanks you for shopping! please keep this invoice for our 14-day purchase guarantee (subject to terms and conditions as stated in the document next to cash register’ in hk.

    Reply
  48. My Very Own Glob {Curiosa Felicitas} » Blog Archive » iShop good

    […] The friendly folk at iShop told me that I could keep my battery while waiting ‘4-6 weeks’ for my replacement battery so I am quite pleased. They told me that I am using the current faulty battery at my own risk, so I said, ‘yah, I know, ain’t nobardy’s fault but mine if it blows up in my face, and I have to spend a lot more money having reconstructive surgery before I can think about buying a new laptop, which might not even be a Powerbook, because after this battery recall incident, I might just have sworn off Apples and Dells.’ […]

    Reply
  49. Tomorrow

    GEMS my ass…

    “Service starts from the heart – of the company. Policies got to change before the frontline staff can “Go the Extra Mile for Service (ie GEMS)”. Don’t give the service staff shit, give their bosses shit for shit policies.

    “Because in Singapore…

    Reply
  50. WP Avatar
    WP

    You should have written a letter to Apple Singapore to let them know of this situation. AFAIK, the Apple Stores are actually partners, and is a totally separate company. Maybe if Apple Singapore knows of this situation they can get them to change their stupid “because it’s different”.

    Reply
  51. WP Avatar
    WP

    You should have written a letter to Apple Singapore to let them know of this situation. AFAIK, the Apple Stores are actually partners, and is a totally separate company. Maybe if Apple Singapore knows of this situation they can get them to change their stupid “because it’s different”.

    Reply
  52. St.Jimmy: suffering the plight of the singaporean students.

    Basically i will blog the same format….

    Article On Miyagi’s Apple.

    Basically i will blog the same format….

    Reply
  53. aiya america, 2006 sales: Web Search Results from Answers.com

    […] SearchResults 11 – 20 of about 575 for aiya america, 2006 sales…  My Very Own Glob {Curiosa Felicitas} » Because in Singapore is …Ask how come the replacement procedure is different from North America. … Bill Sep 10th 2006 at […]

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  54. Berta Hinton

    Because in Singapore is different : miyagi.sg | My Very Own Glob… http://tinyurl.com/yl3f7dx

    Reply

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