An Apple too big to swallow

If you are a mobile phone user, which most of the modern population of this planet are, you will fit into one of two camps - iPhone or 'the other ones'.   Admittedly I am a big fan of the Apple camp, having iPhones since late 2009, and converting from my HP laptop to a MacBook in 2010.    A little hesitation on both transitions is now lost in a wave of delight and reliability - my 5+ year old machine that still works flawlessly and does not look or feel a day old compared to new machines... that is, until I push the processor hard, but that is another story.   Back on topic... when it comes to my love of Apple and the iPhone, change has blown in, with a refreshing force.

Gone are the days of cool two and three finger swipes and motions... gone are the days of a perfectly symmetrical design both outside and in... gone are the days of hearing how the iPhone is the be-all and end-all of smart phones.   Why?... because I have jumped the fence, and retired my trusty iPhone 4S to the third draw down beside my desk, to be lost amongst a variety of charges, cables and adapters.   Yes, I have bought an Android phone... a Samsung Galaxy 5S in fact.   As you pick yourself up off the floor and regain some sense of composure, I will explain my new direction in life. You see, Apple are geniuses in luring you into their clean white stores filled with similar dressed personnel standing at the ready... and before you know it, bring your latest Apple device promptly to you via cool wireless in-store communication that would rival NASA.   You get swept up in the awe of smooth machines and a hip lifestyle that you usually only see in magazines displaying how your life should be lead.  It is brilliant, because you completely forget how much you are actually paying, wrapped up in a 24 month contract of communication bliss.   How could all of this be wrong?   I'll tell you...   It was only when I somehow tripped over a paperclip and found myself in the Samsung store that I saw a different kind of light.   The sales person (yep, only one in the store) greeted me with a smirk when I mentioned I had never used an Samsung before... I thought that his facial expression was one of paid arrogance and maybe even ignorance, not working for Apple.  Soon though I was talked through the specs of a now superseded Samsung phone, and still blown away.  Not only is the Galaxy S5 now replaced by the S6, but it still has almost twice the processing power of the iPhone 6, twice the RAM, twice the MP of the camera, much better resolution of the screen, and 30% longer battery life.  Add in that I can expand the memory, replace a battery if one dies, and the Galaxy S5 is IP67 rated (waterproof), I really was scratching my scalp so hard I lost 16 hairs... how the hell can Apple get away with charging twice as much (RRP) for the 6, for a device which is seriously outclassed.  "The Operating System", I hear you say... sorry to dampen your argument, but after living with the Samsung and Android system for a few weeks now, I really can't see much difference at all, apart from it being a little smoother with information at hand compared to the Apple.   Yes, it really is that good... and I'm an 'Apple Guy'!   Okay... in all fairness, there is one feature I miss... using Apple's iMessage via my computer was a nice interface when I much prefer typing on a keyboard.   And the iPhone has a more user friendly alarm... but that's it... and I can live with this when I know I saved 400 Euros!

Naturally though I am sticking with my MacBook Pro, only upgrading it for a newer machine due to more recent work demands and processing with PS and FinalCutProX.   I also have a relatively recent (retina screen) iPad for my mobile teaching, so not all is lost for you Apple hopefuls out there :)  It does however still bother me, as it should Apple as well... for just having one tasty fruit that is advertised to make your life happier and healthier is a very risky attitude.  The 'others' are not only catching up but surpassing Apple, and making iPhones ever so harder to swallow at their price point. If Apple is not careful, they will wake up and see everyone eating a just as tasty alternative, still living a very fruitful life (like me) and wonder what happened.

The Customer is always wrong

Retail sales is both a simple and complex process, depending on the product, service, or business.   Anyone who has attempted to run their own business is especially aware that the word 'sales' is dynamic and necessary for success.   Not only selling the service, product, etc, but also in selling themselves... getting the client to both like you, trust you, and have faith in you delivering your promise.    Fortunately for me I have experienced many facets of retail and B2B sales throughout my career paths, bringing the sales process to me rather naturally.   Unfortunately it also makes me very critical towards how others sell and serve me as a customer.

Moving to Sweden was definitely an eye opener for me within the retail environment... with vast chasms in both service and sales throughout.   Most of the time this can be forgiven when buying a fifteen dollar t-shirt or some McDonalds at 2am, but definitely gets under my skin when a large chunk of my bank account must part ways with me.... which was eventually the case when I decided to buy a car in Sweden.   My career experience in this area comes from 4 years of both new and used prestige car sales in Australia, trained in the art of the 'Six point sell' and being taught basic psychology of personalities.   All allowing us to effectively communicate with the customer not only getting them to like us but also like the car enough to feel comfortable parting with some hard earned cash.   This training and strict regime which lead to a very secure and trusted sales process is somehow either completely missing or completely ignored by many Swedish car sales people.

Let me paint a picture, from recent direct personal experience attempting to change cars again here...

Due to work I usually approach a dealership in the last 45 minutes prior to closing - a perfectly legitimate reason and still within documented opening times of all dealerships.    Two small (non-branded) car dealers next door to each other had two almost identical vehicles for about the same asking price.   I approached the first one, entering and being kindly greeted by the sales man.   I found the car I was interested in and politely asked for a short test drive, when I was met with the response, "I'm sorry but I'm closing early today because it is a holiday tomorrow, but you can come back tomorrow as I am open anyway...   Meanwhile we can sit down and work out the figures to see if you are happy".   I asked if he was serious asking me to negotiate on a car before I had driven it, which was was met with a response, "but there is no use in driving the car if you don't like the price".  I promptly told him that he had lost me as I walked out the door.

I was left stunned while walking 50 or so meters to the other dealer, thinking he must realise his competition has the same car.   Upon entering the other dealer, again I found the car and asked if there was time for a test drive.    The well dressed and confident salesman responded with a positive "yes" immediately followed by a 'but'... "but it has just rained and we don't want to get the car dirty, as it will cost us 200kr to clean again (keep in mind they will make a profit of around 30,000kr).   I asked if he was kidding, which was a mistake as the salesperson's face changed to a very serious expression as he suggested I come back on a sunny day to drive the car.   When I mentioned that their direct competitor next door had the same car also for sale, I was just met with a bland "yes" and then blank silence as if he didn't really understand my point...  The rain had stopped and the roads were not so wet, but the dealer remained stubborn and started to suggest that we sit down and talk about the figures first.   At this stage I was frustrated beyond belief and sternly answered back, "would you negotiate on a house you have never properly inspected?"  "Fair call", he says.   I said I would try to make it back on a sunny day but could not guarantee it.   I never went back.

This being said, I have experienced some car dealerships here that were very helpful and actually invited me to drive in the rain.   Some have done the sales process relatively well, and without any doubt I would feel comfortable laying down a deposit.   Still though, I have been sent on my way on a drive (on my own) without any instruction on how to operate different features of the car.   I am still waiting on a follow up phone call, email, or some sort of sign that salespeople are thinking about my money, and in turn, their money, career, etc.   It seems that there is an underlying arrogance joining together with laziness giving the car salespeople the mentality that the cars will sell themselves, and they don't have to try.    A little sad maybe but what is more worrying is that the Swedish people put up with this and accept that their money is fair game to people who don't really want to get to know you.   Are the Swedes that cold?... I would like to argue not, as socially it has been the opposite to me.   It does however make some sense in how easy I have found it to operate a business in a foreign country without knowing the language... in the end people do prefer to know people who want to know them.

Until the Swedish car sales people catch on to this mythical way of life, many of us trying to buy a car have to come to grips with these facts -  the Customer is almost always wrong and arrogance is something we need to swallow when they don't.   I am also left wondering if they sell any cars at all during a cold and snowy Winter?.. I mean, the car could rust while on a test drive!