Douche in a Toque

Welcome back loyal readers! Let us start the new year off with a bang! Let me first say that I am a PC guy, but I do own an iPod and an iPhone. I am not a Microsoft whore, nor am I an Apple enthusiast, I judge each device on what it can do for me. I am not brand prejudice in many things, but I am a Verizon loyalist. Why do you care about any of this? Is it because I am the definition of cool and you want to be like me? Is it because I am a known trendsetter and you want to keep up with the latest and greatest? Is it because I am a pretentious prick that wants everyone to know everything about me? Nay nay... It is because I am once again about to complain, and I don't want you to think I have an ax to grind with my brand's competitors. So where does this bring us?

I bought an iPhone when Verizon made them available back in February of last year (no, really, there was no Killers reference intended there). Last month the earpiece decided to stop working. I don't know if it was sympathizing with the NBA owners, or what...but I did know that it didn't work. I got tired of using my speaker phone for every conversation, so I took the phone to Verizon (since it was under warranty still). After having to "sign in" at the Verizon store and wait 10 minutes (no one else was in the store) I explain what happened to my phone. They proceed to tell me that they are not authorized to do anything with the iPhone except sell it. Apple has to handle all problems directly. I am informed that I must go to the Apple store in Norfolk. Okay, no worries...it is off to the Apple store!

I drive to the Apple store (in the uppity people's mall) and walk in the door to a store LOADED with people. This is on a Friday afternoon around 2:00. I am greeted by a guy wearing a red shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals. This is odd since it was December 30th and about 38 degrees outside. Anyway... the guy tells me that I have to make an appointment because they are overloaded at the current time. I assume that we will be going to a desk with a computer (since that is all that is in this store is desks full of computers) so he can make me an appointment. But nay nay...I am told to download the Apple Store App from...wait for it...the App Store! I download the app and set myself an appointment for Tuesday morning at 10:00. There was nothing available before then.

Tuesday morning, I arrive at the uppity people's mall and "check in" for my appointment with the Apple Store app. While waiting, I see that the only people in the store are 80 year old grandparents sitting in a semicircle being taught how to use the new iPads they were given for Christmas. I am then sent a message to my phone alerting me that "Dan" is ready to help me at the Genius Bar. I walk up to the Genius Bar (which is a desk with a giant Mac on it) and ask for Dan, since he is ready to help me. Leslie tells me that she is not sure that Dan is working today. I begin to question the naming of this bar as irony. Finally, Dan comes walking out with his iPad in hand and scrolls through to find my name. Dan is wearing a red shirt, khaki shorts, sandals, and a toque! As I look around the rest of the store, I notice everyone is wearing toques! Dan asks what the problem is, I tell him that the earpiece no longer works. He says he has to take the phone in the back and determine if it is a software or hardware issue. I explain to him that I have done all of the troubleshooting, and it is a hardware issue. He then takes my phone in the back for 15 minutes. I can only assume that the Geniuses gathered round and held a quickening to determine my problem. He returns to tell me that it is a hardware issue! Really, douche in a toque? I told you that 15 minutes ago!

Dan then tells me that he will replace my phone on the spot...score one point for the Geniuses... too bad they are down 6-0 by this point. He pulls out the new phone and tells me that I have to connect it to one of the 500 computers in the store and log in to my Verizon account to activate it. I activate the phone without issue. He then tells me that I should log in to the Apple Store hotspot so that I can restore my phone settings. At this point, he asks if we are done. I tell him nay nay...I am not leaving until my phone is ready to use. I restore my phone and he asks again if we are finished, I say nay nay, douche in a toque, I need to make a phone call to ensure the earpiece works. I finally complete the visit and am asked to sign a receipt for the new phone. Is this pen and paper? Is this one of those credit card machines with a fake pen? Nay nay...it is his damned iPad and I am supposed to sign my name with my finger! I complete this, with way too much effort, and tell him I have a question for him. Where are your socks? He replies that it would be silly to wear socks with sandals...yet he does not think it silly to wear a toque with shorts IN THE MALL!

After much study and contemplation, I can only assume that Starbucks and Apple train their employees together so that they can be sent to either establishment. Pretentious Fuck University rolls them out qualified not only as Italian Bartenders, but as GENIUSES as well! Needless to say, this is one more establishment that I will avoid like the plague. So if you all have hours to kill, and are looking for the latest styles in toque fashion, please feel free to roll into the Apple store. If you have a problem with your iPhone, suck it up and pay the insurance deductible just to save your sanity! Until next time....Stay Salty!

-Salty Dog