The Genius

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple Store Genius who answers all your questions about working at an Apple Store. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.

This week our Genius answers why the iPhone screen can be repaired in stores while the iPad has to be shipped away from special care. We also discuss whether working at the Apple Store can be turned into a solid career, plus the top 5 most annoying things customers do at the Apple Store.

Got a question you want the inside scoop on? Send us your questions and the answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

Q: How do you move from retail to corporate?

Moving from retail to corporate is really hard. In fact, during the hiring event I went to with Apple one of the managers got up and told all the applicants that if they were looking for an easy way to get into Apple Corporate and work at Cupertino, this wasn’t it.

It’s not unheard of for someone to make that move, but it’s pretty hard. Some people dream of going to Cupertino for Genius training only to have an Apple bigwig recognize their skills and be offer them a job to work at HQ, but that’s not reality. Only managers and regional managers really have a shot at making the transition, and in those cases it’s just to manage retail efforts from corporate. However, if you’re in high school or college and want to go into software or hardware design, it wouldn’t hurt your resume ten years down the line to have some Apple Store experience when applying for a corporate job.

Q: Ever want to punch someone?

All the time! Ha ha, not really. I’m not the fist-fighting type. I’m more into cruel and unusual punishments – like plastering your MacBook with My Little Pony wallpaper if you’re a grumpy jerktard.

I’ve never come to blows with a customer, but there are times I’ve been particularly upset with management or other Apple Specialists. Occasionally a customer will freak out at you, but there are plenty of managers around to help diffuse a situation, and we’re trained to help you find the silver lining in life at the Apple Store.

Q: Do you jailbreak? Do any of your coworkers?

I’ve been an Apple fan long before I actually worked at the Apple Store, so when the first couple iPhones came out I was very into the jailbreaking scene. Nowadays, I’m not really feeling jailbreaking. Jailbreaking iOS 7 took a couple months and good hacks are just starting to come out, so there’s been little incentive to void your warranty until recently. I’m pretty happy with iOS 7 so I don’t see myself jailbreaking anytime soon.

I have a couple of coworkers who have played around with jailbreaking, but it’s usually on extra devices. A lot of jailbreak tweaks can cause problems with other system apps on the iPhone, so its pretty rare to see an Apple Genius jailbreak their main device that they’re going to be using at the store, plus it’s like totally forbidden by Apple. So why push the line when you get every app in the App Store free?

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple Store Genius who answers all your questions about working at an Apple Store. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.

This week our Genius answers why the iPhone screen can be repaired in stores while the iPad has to be shipped away from special care. We also discuss whether working at the Apple Store can be turned into a solid career, plus the top 5 most annoying things customers do at the Apple Store.

Got a question you want the inside scoop on? Send us your questions and the answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

Q: What’s the craziest launch day you’ve experienced?

iPhone launches tend to be the craziest. The biggest I was a part of was the iPhone 5S/5C launch. There is a huge amount of hype that builds up in the store. Nothing in the store changes until after closing on the night before launch.

Store employees can volunteer to be on a special group called the “visuals team.” They focus on the appearance of the store, like the displays and product tables. They stay overnight and work furiously to update the store. On this last iPhone launch, our store was one of many that were unable to complete the display setup in the front of the store. Then, since it wasn’t completed, we had to take the whole thing down. There just wasn’t enough time — we were short staffed for the overnight gig. The rest of it came together just in time.

The stores usually provide breakfast, lunch and drinks to keep us energized. Leaders work to get everyone all hyped up for crazy day ahead. Customers get pretty excited too. The downside to all that energy: when people don’t get what they want, they can get pretty nasty. One of the people in the front of the line who waited overnight at our store threw a fit because we didn’t have the gold iPhone she wanted in stock. She demanded we get her one because she had waited all night for it. The majority of people are pretty happy though, and add to the energy. We had lines of people coming into the store from when we opened until closing time.

There are more than a couple of people in the store who have Android devices. Some specialists, a couple of geniuses, and one manager in our store use Android. One devoted Blackberry user swears his phone does everything he needs it to. Some people only use an iPad or maybe just a Mac. One of my coworkers swears that the best thing Apple makes is the Apple TV, believe it or not.

Everyone has a personal opinion, but they are all passionate about Apple. Even if they don’t use the iPhone, they use something Apple and know all of the products. On a side note, we’re asked not to display our phones while on the job for a number of reasons.

Q: Is AppleCare+ worth it?

Applecare+ is definitely worth it — to me, at least — for the iPhone. I only upgrade every two years since that’s how my plan works, so I definitely think having two years of coverage is needed. If there are any issues it’ll be covered or even if I have an accident, I can have two accidents at a much lower cost than without the coverage. For the number of problems and accidents people bring in every day, I tend to get the coverage. For the iPad and Macs, I think it’s a cheap insurance in case of costly repairs. Either way, ask yourself how long you plan on keeping the device, especially if you upgrade often. I tend to keep my stuff longer and use it to the bitter end; some people buy the newest stuff each cycle and just sell the old, in which case, extended your warranty might not be necessary. If you’re going to hang on to it past the warranty I definitely recommend it!

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple Store Genius who answers all your questions about working at an Apple Store. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.

This week our Genius answers why the iPhone screen can be repaired in stores while the iPad has to be shipped away from special care. We also discuss whether working at the Apple Store can be turned into a solid career, plus the top 5 most annoying things customers do at the Apple Store.

Got a question you want the inside scoop on? Send us your questions and the answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

Q: Do you buy lunch or bring in your own?

I  bring in my lunch. Whenever we have leftovers at home from an amazing meal I usually pack some up after for the next day. On the days where I don’t pack something I like to get away from the store for a bit and “reset” as Apple likes to call it. Most the stores are in shopping areas so we have plenty of choices for grub. We either get a half hour or an hour for lunch depending on the length of our shifts. Living on retail wages, I find I do much better financially when I take the time to plan my meals and bring them. Some days you just need a big burger to comfort you from the first world problems of a Genius though.

Q: What’s the most common lie you hear at the Genius Bar?

Geniuses and Family Room Specialists alike have to come up with a fair amount of excuses to explain to customers what’s wrong with their device. The worst excuse and the most commonly told lie at the Genius Bar is for known issues to be called “rare.”

I can’t stand it when a Genius tells a customer that a sleep/wake button failing on an iPhone is rare or that a battery needing service before being completely consumed is uncommon. I don’t know any statistics on failure rates, but I know I handle a fair number of these “rare” issues enough to say that they aren’t rare.

It’s a sort of white lie that reassures customers that the problem was a fluke and that they can trust in Apple’s products in the future. I think it’s better to explain common issues as known issues and just to provide the solution rather than lie about it. The lie gets harder to tell to a customer should the replacement product or repaired device have the same issue down the road.

Q: Why do you think Apple doesn’t release the hardware tests you use to the general public? It would help people out, make your jobs easier and make for shorter lines at the GB.

I would argue that Apple has a lot of tools for consumers to use to troubleshoot their products should they encounter issues. There are many articles and discussions in the support section of Apple’s site which help users find solutions to issues on their own. Should software troubleshooting point to a hardware issue, you can always run Apple Hardware Test on your Mac. Many of the tools we use might not be released because they are only to be used by authorized technicians. Apple only wants authorized technicians to touch most of their stuff anyway. My second opinion on the matter is that in the end, Apple wants you to come into the store. The Genius Bar is another way to get you to buy another product or upgrade you current setup. We have to keep some kind of edge to keep the stores alive and well.

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple Store Genius who answers all your questions about working at an Apple Store. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.

This week our Genius answers some of the most common questions Geniuses get about how to fix iPhone email problems, as well as what to do when your free iCloud storage becomes too full. Also, if you’ve upgraded to iOS 7 recently you may have noticed your iPhone rebooting at random. Our genius will tell you whether it’s a hardware or software issue and how to troubleshoot it before taking you iPhone to the genius bar.

Got a question you want the inside scoop on? Send us your questions and the answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

Q: My iPhone keeps restarting randomly.  Is it a hardware issue, or is there anything I can do to fix it?

Most of the time an iPhone restarting randomly is a software issue. App updates that have bugs can cause this to happen, especially new iOS 7 apps that haven’t worked their bugs out. Or it can even be an operating system issue.

The first step to a solution would be to notice when it usually happens. If it happens during the use of a particular app, you might try removing the app and reinstalling it from the App Store. If it is one of the apps included in iOS or you have tried removing apps and your iPhone continues to restart unexpectedly you should restore your iPhone using iTunes. Make sure to do a backup before proceeding with the restore as it will remove all the content and restore the factory settings.

If after restoring the backup you still encounter the restarting issue you may need to set the phone up as a new device, as the issue may be stored in your backup.

Personally, I have found my iPhone performs much better when I have restored it and set it up as new. This is a good way to clean up your iPhone if you want a fresh start. If it is still restarting randomly, it may need to be replaced so make a reservation at the Genius Bar for service.

Q: I keep getting notifications that my iPhone hasn’t been backed up to iCloud because there is not enough storage. What should I do?

This is probably one of the more commonly asked question in the Apple Store. If you have iCloud backups turned on for your iPhone, it will regularly save your camera roll, accounts, documents and settings.

The free iCloud storage space is 5 GB which is pretty small if you’re trying to store all your photos and documents in the cloud. The warning pops up whenever backups require more space than your storage plan size.

If you look in the Settings app on your iPhone you can view your iCloud backup and storage settings in the iCloud settings.

Here you can view your iCloud storage size. Click into the to “Manage Storage” option to display your backups and see the size of each backup. You can select each one to see how much space is required for the next backup. You can also delete an old backup from inside the backup info at the very bottom of the page.

You might also want to consider whether to upgrade your iCloud storage. Apple makes it easy to upgrade storage right from the backup settings by clicking change storage plan and choosing a storage plan up to 55 GB for $100 a year thats charge annually to your iTunes account.

If you don’t want to upgrade, trimming your backups below your allotted storage plan will get you back up and running. If you want to ditch the service altogether, just disable iCloud backups in the iCloud settings and have fun with iTunes — unless you like living life on the edge without a backup.

Q: My Mail.app suddenly stopped being able to send and receive emails. What should I check?

In most cases, at least cases in the store, mail accounts quit working due to incorrect passwords, however there are other possibilities as well.

Here are a couple steps to follow to get your account working again. While trying these steps, first make sure to confirm you have a good Wi-Fi or 3G/4G connection on your iOS device to ensure a connection to your mail servers.

1. Verify you have the correct password. If you have changed the password recently, you will have to update it in your settings. Go to the Mail, Contacts, Calendars page in the Settings App and update your password for the account login. If your account requires SMTP password authentication, you’ll have to also update the password in your outgoing settings. If it still doesn’t work, try logging on the web to make sure you aren’t trying the wrong password.

2. Verify you have the correct settings for you email provider by going to your web mail. Most providers have an easy-to-follow guide on how to setup their email accounts with iOS devices.

3. If that still doesn’t work, sometimes Account Settings data can get corrupted over time. Try removing the account and adding it back on.

These three steps usually get people back up and running.

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple Store Genius who answers all your questions about working at an Apple Store. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.

This week our Genius dishes on how whether working at the Apple Store could get you a gig working in Cupertino as well as Apple’s motivations for never offering big sales on its iDevices and Macs. Then our Genius will take you on a tour of the secret little features at the Apple Store you might not have noticed on your last visit.

Got a question you want the inside scoop on? Send us your questions and the answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

Will working at the Apple Store help me land my dream job of working for Apple in Cupertino?

Probably not. Apple Retail is an entirely separate division of Apple Corporate. Growth within the retail store happens, although rare. I have met a couple of managers who have gone from specialist to genius and then on to leadership roles. However, most managerial and other leadership positions are filled by candidates with leadership experience at other retailers. They may know how to command a team of workers and how to talk to customers, but they often lack familiarity with the ins and outs of Apple’s retail procedures on a low level. Transferring from a retail position to a corporate position is unheard of, as far as I know.

In the past, Apple’s Black Friday deals have been modest, to say the least. Why would a company that struggles to manufacture enough products just to keep up with the demand discount these phenomenal full price products that seem to sell themselves? They don’t need “door busters” to bring people into their stores but if a meager discount can bring in just a few more, why not?

Apple Stores sell more during the last quarter than any other. Any large discounts would take away from their already stellar holiday revenue.

If your wallet is hurting this season, check out your options in the Online Apple Store in the refurbished and clearance section. These deals are often much better than any offered on Black Friday and still have the full Apple warranty.

Otherwise, you’re more likely to find a better deal at another retailer. If you’re set on buying from Apple and want to avoid lines, I recommend purchasing your stuff online and avoiding the craziness altogether. Try personal pickup to get your product from your closest Apple Store without waiting in lines if you’re worried about getting a $2,000 Mac stolen from your porch.

What are some hidden “features” of the Apple Store that most customers don’t know about/notice?

Apple Stores are designed to be more and more efficient every day. Next time you visit a store, take a look around to see some of the hidden features that help the wood-and-steel adorned stores sell as many iDevices as possible. It’s easy to spot our portable Point of Sale (POS) systems which consist of an encased iPod with dedicated apps that allow us to scan products and swipe cards.

What you might not see is the cash drawers at the end of the display tables. With one click these drawers pop open wirelessly for cash transactions. Our special iPods, called EasyPays, can also print receipts to the hidden printers underneath the product tables.

The tote bags that are given to carry out purchases can also be found here. The tables also house security alarms that are triggered if a device is removed from the table. Inside, there’s also a network and power hubs for the display products. You can usually find a couple of card terminals around the store that are used in case of EasyPay issues.

If you’re at the Genius Bar, in the training or setup area and need a quick charge, check under the tables – or bar depending on the store – to find hidden power outlets and ethernet ports for wired network connections, cables not included.

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple retail store genius who answers all your questions about working at an Apple Store. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.

This week our Genius dishes on how to make sure technicians don’t snoop through your personal data when you bring your Mac into the Genius Bar to get fixed. We also talk about the most polite ways to explain to a genius that you’re not an idiot, as well as other secrets the Genius Bar staff won’t tell you.

Got a question you want an inside scoop on? Send us your questions and the answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple retail store genius who answers all your questions about what it’s like to work at an Apple Store. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.  

This week our Genius dishes on what it’s like to go through the hiring process at Apple, along with details on the best ways to score a gig working behind the Genius Bar and how to ask out that hot genius you’re crushing on.

If you’ve got a question you want an inside scoop on, send us your questions and the answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

What’s the best way to get hired at the Apple Store?

Apple looks for talented individuals who are passionate about helping people enrich their lives through their products and services. They want happy, friendly people who can start up a conversation with anyone. If you’re interested, spiff up your resume and apply for the retail store at apple.com. If you know anyone at the Apple Store you are applying at, ask them to submit a employee referral. If at first you do not succeed, try again. Stores receive a huge amount of applications so it may take a couple tries to get an invite to an open house for an hiring event.

The hiring events usually have a large group of people. While Apple looks people who know their product, they first look for someone who is nice, whether talking to a fellow applicant, a manager, or a disgruntled customer. Participate enthusiastically in all steps of the interview process even if it seems a little cheesy. Make sure to show a passion about providing the best experience in and out of the store for Apple’s customers.

If you get a second interview it will most likely be in a group setting again although smaller. Make sure not to get too boastful of your achievements. If you must brag, mention the successes of your team as a whole. Team players are a must. Show interest in other people’s responses and make it a group activity. Those who are willing to learn and work as a team to provide the best customer experience will make the cut.

How did you deal with the ridiculous and humiliating interview process? Did the lobotomy hurt?

I really needed a job at the time. I talked with someone who had already been through the interview process that gave me a heads up of what to expect. I knew they’d be looking for someone with an attitude that followed the company’s values. I went along with it all and said what I thought they wanted to hear. I even clapped when everyone else clapped.

I had several group interviews and they were pretty tough. You weren’t just on the spot with an interviewer but also with the other applicants listening to your responses. I was glad to be done with it all once I got the job offer. As for the lobotomy, it may have made the core training a little less torturous.

Can you date customers? Any tips on how to ask a Genius out?

Dating customers is against Apple policy. The policy protects both the employee as well as the customer. I have seen customers who come in consistently to get “help” from the same employee multiple times who are definitely interested but this only makes the employee less likely to actually pursue something.

If you are love struck by your technician at the Genius Bar, I suggest the straightforward approach. Ask for a card and give them your number maybe or ask them if you can have their number. Don’t be surprised if they say they can’t contact you, but tell them to call you outside of work. Don’t let a little Apple policy keep you from your love connection, but don’t make them completely say no by coming on to someone while they are at work.

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple retail store genius who answers all your questions about what it’s like to work at an Apple Store. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.  

This week our Genius dishes on why Apple raised the price of AppleCare+ replacements on the iPhone 5s to $79. They also talk about how hard it is to get fired from the Apple Store and the biggest daily annoyances of the job.

If you’ve got a question you want an inside scoop on, send us your questions and the answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

1. Why is the replacement fee for an iPad $50 but the replacement fee for an iPhone 5s is $80? Wouldn’t the iPad cost more to replace?

As crazy as it seems, there is no difference in fees for AppleCare+ replacements between iPad and iPhone. It has always been a $49 fee, up until the release of the iPhone 5s. With its release, Apple changed the fee for AppleCare+ repairs or replacements to $79, whether it be an iPhone, iPad, or the recently added iPod, which was not previously eligible for AppleCare+. If you purchased the AppleCare+ protection plan before the change then you still get the $49 price while any plans purchased after the change will have the new cost of $79.

With the price change, Apple also announced that the protection plan coverage would extend to any of the other countries where it is offered. Keep in mind there are some countries that don’t carry specific models.

I’m not so sure offering the coverage outside of your own country justifies the $30 price change. My guess is manufacturing costs for retina displays and newer silicon chips, like the A7, may explain the cost increase but of course they’d never tell a Retail employee why. The real question is whether the price change is a deal breaker. As for me, I still see it as a great protection from having costly accidents which, for many, happen all too often.

2. What are the most common reasons for getting fired at the Apple Store?

I really haven’t seen very many people get fired. The only guy I ever saw get fired was arguing with management on a regular basis. After he messed up and still argued with managers, he was asked to leave. Apple has many strict policies that result in termination if its policies are not followed. Outside of these policies, management will make every effort to work with individuals who are having any problems at work.

Managers seem to notice the smallest of errors and are sure to let people know when they make mistakes. Constant policy and procedure changes can make it pretty tough to do everything right. Even those who are trying to follow all the rules can feel bombarded by “fearless feedback” as Apple calls it, otherwise known as constructive criticism. Some just can’t take it so they end up leaving to find more suitable employment. You either get with the program or face the music.

3. What’s the most exhausting (or even annoying) situations that a genius has to deal with every once in a time or on daily basis?

The toughest part of my job rarely has anything to do with Macs or iPhones. People seem to be the hardest part about my job. Dealing with a difficult customer while trying to make the experience positive is sometimes impossible. People can be outright rude, impatient, and childlike with temper tantrums and all in order to get things their way. Keeping the “act” of an Apple Genius can be tough.

These situations often involve partnering with a store manager and rarely get resolved quickly. Trying to stay on time with all the appointments while dealing with these issues and other technical issues can be a nightmare. Nothing that a nice bottle of scotch can’t fix, though. It’s all just part of the job after all.

https://vine.co/v/huHUPLnx1dg

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple retail store genius. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.  

Answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

Did the scroll speed change on OS X Mavericks? How can I change it?

Mavericks is designed to make your Mac run faster and more efficiently with better RAM and CPU management. Depending on the hardware and contents on your Mac, these changes may cause scrolling to either speed up or slow down with the upgrade.

The day after Mavericks was released, a customer came to me with this same question. Apple hasn’t officially stated that the scrolling speed has changed and I haven’t noticed it on my own machine, but a quick search revealed a number of people were experiencing either faster or slower scrolling speeds than previously.

There is a simple fix. Go to the System Preferences app >> Accessibility >> Mouse and Trackpad >> Trackpad options or Mouse options, then adjust the speed with the slider there.

Smooth scrolling!

Why is it that every time I go to the Genius Bar I walk away believing that I’m smarter than they are?

Maybe you believe that Apple Geniuses know everything there is to know about every apple product and service and while many of us come pretty close to that standard, for most people this is just not the case. We see a wide variety of issues at the bar and everything is near impossible.

We get a lot of training, but Apple’s product lines are so vast and have been around for so long that it’s impossible for a new hire to pick it all up in just a few short months. If you encounter an issue that your technician is unfamiliar with, there are some basic troubleshooting steps they will perform to isolate and find the cause of your issue so it can be fixed. They may need to reach out to other resources. Be patient: they are working to help you.

Another thing to keep in mind is how much the average customer knows about their product.

I am amazed at the number of people who don’t even know how to backup their device, let alone what a backup is, so we gear our service towards those people. Sometimes we sound dumb when really we are just covering our bases to make sure we don’t get “hung by our lanyards” later for assuming that a customer knows what we’re talking about.

Why do iOS device home buttons fail so easily? Has Touch ID improved its durability?

The home button can become unresponsive for a number of reasons. You may be running low on application memory causing overall unresponsiveness. A reboot will clear the memory, but if it’s still a no-go then a restore might be needed.

Dirt and other debris (like remnants from today’s Cheetos) can also cause home button problems. Try cleaning the button with an alcohol wipe and keep your hands clean while handling your device. Seriously. The home button can take a hefty beating but some do fail. The cable that connects your home button may have failed, which can be replaced by a Genius, though sometimes we have to replace the whole display on newer iPhones to remedy home button issues.

The original home button function on Touch ID devices has improved, but many have reported issues using the sensor. A couple of rules to keep in mind with Touch ID: keep your fingers clean and make sure to scan all parts of your finger that press the button. Touch ID is brand new but Apple is supposedly improving the software for the button as it is used.

This is Cult of Mac’s exclusive column written by an actual Apple retail store genius. Our genius must remain anonymous, but other than “Who are you, anyway?” ask anything you want about what goes on behind that slick store facade.  

Answers will be published first in Cult of Mac’s Magazine on Newsstand. Send your questions to newsATcultofmac.com with “genius” in the subject line.

This week we cover which Apple products are too old to get fixed by the Genius, how to skirt around the need of a credit card to buy OS X updates and whether Geniuses ever imbibe on the job. 

What are the oldest Macs you guys get for repairs?

It’s pretty rare for someone to bring in an old Macintosh Classic and expect us to fix it. Apple has an official cutoff and the oldest Macs we perform hardware repairs for in the store are around five years old. Once its been five years since a product has been discontinued, Apple slaps a on it and no longer offers service for it.

To check if a product you have is vintage or obsolete, check Apple’s guidelines here to see if it’s still serviceable before coming to the store. If your Mac is running OS X then we can still provide software support. That’s good news for those of you still running Cheetah out there!

How do I update my system to the newest versions of OS X without a credit card to download it?

Apple doesn’t sell physical copies of OS X at Apple Store any more, but there are still ways around that if you just want to pay cash. You can always purchase an iTunes or App Store gift card at the Apple Store or many other retailers with cash. Once purchased, redeem the gift card on your account in the iTunes or App Store app. You can then purchase your OS X upgrade or and any apps with the credit added to your account. Make sure to update your payment information for card type to “none” by signing into your account in the iTunes Store or App Store.

Have you ever worked drunk?

The job can be pretty stressful sometimes. Occasionally, I’ll have a drink before work or on a lunch break. It’s not a bad way to relax and most of the managers at the store don’t care unless you’re always coming in sloppy drunk.

There are always a few situations throughout the day where it’d be great to take a short drink break after helping out a particularly horrible customer, but I don’t make it a habit. Fixing people’s iPhones really isn’t any easier after a few drinks so there are few benefits to being hammered on the job. As for what happens after work, it isn’t uncommon for employees and managers to meet up and toss back a few.