Apple Store Employees Kept in Dark Regarding New Products
It's not surprise that Apple likes to keep things top secret when it comes to their new products not only from all of us but also from their very own employees as Reuters has just found out by interviewing current and past Apple Store employees.
"We haven't seen it; we never do" before a product is launched, said one employee, who asked not to be identified because workers are barred from speaking with the media. "Every store employee I know, including the managers, they haven't seen it."
Now we understand why Apple is this strict when it comes to their new product launches - to avoid leaks. But there is a flip side to that coin as even Apple Store Geniuses are clueless as to how to fix the product let alone get their hands on it until the day of it's release. Apple has reportedly even gone as far as having store managers guard pallets of new products the night prior to launch day.
So if you happen to go into your local Apple Store and start asking questions about a soon to be released product and you are not getting the answers you are seeking, cut the employee some slack as they truly are kept in the dark and more than likely don't know much more than you. In fact, sometimes you are better off visiting our forums for more information. 
[Via Mac Rumors via Reuters]
| Tweet |
|
|
Leave a Reply
Note: Comments must be civil, respectful, and on-topic. If a comment does not add to the conversation, if it contains spam advertising, or inappropriate language or content, it will be removed. Insulting the topic, author, staff, site, network, or other commenters will result in the comment being marked as spam and potential prevent future comments from appearing on the site. Do not post as a business or your comment will likely be confused with spam. Comments containing links may be held for moderation. Relax, enjoy, and share in the discussion.
First
So how do they learn how to use the ipad? Do they just learn what they need to learn by on line classes I thinks that is so lame.
If they know how to use th iPhone or iPod touch, then they know how to work the iPad.
No big deal.
Yeah, it's sad but it's like that! Apple employees are not even allowed to post anything related to Apple that is not on apple.com on their facebook or blog or wherever...
Hi,
Apple is a company based all on top-secrets, and I think thats why they are one of the best comany's in the World.
People makes it seems crazy that they are careful about "sensitive information" being leaked but it's not like it's nothing any other company has done before.
'Even Apple Store Geniuses'? Those people are way below the 'need to know' threshold. Apple has previously had decoy products made up (that is, non-functional prototypes) so that even within their corporate structure, there is actual misinformation about products that have not yet been released. Back when Kevin Rose made some 'predictions' about a new product (iPhone 3GS?) that was 70% accurate and 30% wildly inaccurate (mobile iChat for everyone! definitely!), I assumed that the inaccurate information was deliberately slipped to Kevin -- either to obfuscate who had given him the information, or because the person who informed Kevin was himself misinformed.
Apple doesn't screw around with company secrets.
my ex bf is the manager of an apple store. new products typically arrived the night before the release, arranged on palettes wrapped in thick, opaque, black plastic. the packages were signed for, but they were forbidden to open them until the morning the product was to be released.
when the packages are opened, they have protocols for getting staff up-to-speed on each product. fortunately apple products are designed to be easy to operate, so the learning curve isn't terrible difficult (depending upon the product, of course). but yeah -- "even the geniuses" are seeing them for the first time, the day they go on sale.
apple tells them nothing in advance. not even the managers (with the exception that they know to expect a delivery. they're not told what is being delivered.)
frankly, i often knew more than my bf did about upcoming products, because of all the news and rumor blogs i read. he joked that he'd hire me as a genius, if my own career didn't already earn me much more.
that's true of the product announcement, but not the release. as an apple reseller, i have had access to a whole bunch of iPad training materials for some time. those materials include full specs, features, talking points, how to overcome objections, ways to present the product etc etc etc. if they choose not to check out the apple provided training materials then that is on them.
I was told by a store employee that they will get trained on the ipad an hour before the store opens on the day of release.
I wonder what % of TiPb readers are Apple employees... Mr. Jobs?
There's gonna be a major OS overhaul on the iPad, and it won't be available day 1 so with the current software being identical to iPhone/iPod touch, very little training is necessary, there are a few new gestures but nothing that you wont learn in 5 minutes
aha, that is very funny. learn some more ipad tips and guides on formats, go to ifunia ipad column.
Isn't that jap means slang word 2 describe japanese ppl.
Ditto to what Mark said. I used to be an Apple employee, and what would happen was that after a new product release we would get a packet of info to learn. We never knew about a new product until it was officially announced (although we'd sometimes know something was coming because we'd stop getting in new whatevers, which meant that there was an upgrade of whatever coming out).
People who insisted the we, lowly part-time no benefits employees, must know what was coming and were being rude not to tell? Some of my least favorite customers.