Seattle Rex vs. Apple Inc – Round 3

Well, I did everything I could to avoid it.

I called phone support, I went to the store, I contacted the BBB, I wrote a letter to corporate, I spoke on the phone with the company numerous times, I sent another letter to corporate.

All to no avail.

The last straw was a final email, sent to me by an executive relations employee. This was a person with whom I had already spoken with on the phone 3 times, and all three times, he informed me that “Apple’s position is that we will not replace your computer, etc, etc.”

This, was the email that pushed me over the top:

Hello Rex,

Thank you for your email. I understand you have decided to seek a resolution through your local court system and are requesting further correspondence via email. I would like to discuss the matter with you further, and Apple feels the matter would be best handled in a phone conversation.

I am available at XXX-XXX-XXXX, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific time. If you send me an email including your preferred telephone number and a time of contact, I will make sure to call.

I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,
Mr. XXXXXXXX
Apple

For 2 months, Apple has refused to correspond with me in writing. They have always insisted on speaking via the phone. It has been unproductive, inconvenient, and irritating, which I assume is the point.

This, was my reply.

Good Morning Mr. XXXXXX,

With all due respect, I’m no longer concerned with what Apple feels is best. That ship has sailed. I’ve spoken with you three times, have played phone tag for weeks, and the only thing that has come of it is two months without a computer.

Last month, I sent a demand to Apple. That demand spelled out what I considered to be acceptable resolutions. Further phone tag was not on that list.

I have now spent a considerable amount of time and money developing not one, but two lawsuits against the company. I know that my suing a $500 Billion company is seen as comical by the folks at Apple, but that’s okay. Even if I lose on both counts, at least I will have given it my very best shot, and that is something that I can live with.

What I will not tolerate any longer, however, is to be jerked around. If you have something to say, say it. Email me and let me know, or drop a letter in the mail. This is the way things are done in 2012. Enough with the phone tag. It’s silly, and it’s non-productive. If a phone conversation could solve the issue, the issue would have been resolved in one of our three prior phone conversations. Clearly, this is not the case. We did it your way for two months, it failed miserably (for me, not Apple of course), now we’ll do it another way.

My cases are strong, Apple is clearly in the wrong, and it is patently unconscionable that a $500 Billion company would be this petty and unfair with a customer. Apple’s position is one of pure arrogance and avarice. If you have been paying attention to the news, AT&T just lost a small claims suit to an individual customer. While the odds are stacked against us, the little guy does prevail every now and again, Mr. XXXXX, and the company clearly underestimates my resolve.

I’m sorry, but my patience has now officially been exhausted. The game is over.

I do thank you for your email, however, as it has definitely reinvigorated a passion that was slipping a bit under the pressures and realities of everyday life. The absolute arrogance that “Apple feels the matter would be best handled in a phone conversation” has lit a new fire under me. These suits are now my number 1 priority. Five hundred billion dollars verses an individual working guy who, in good faith, plunked down $5,000 with the company for defective hardware. You should be ashamed of that Mr. XXXXX, you really should. It is my sincere hope that I will prevail not just for myself, but for the numerous other customers who have been treated in a similar manner.

In addition, there will be no further phone calls. If you have a serious response to make, you know where to reach me. In writing, preferably by registered postal mail.

Very Best Regards,
Rex

And so I did. I walked over to the King County Courthouse and filed suit.

My court date is in 4 weeks.

Wish me luck.