Apple Service Center in Singapore

Really disappointed with apple service center . I’ve read so many happy news in forums in US , every apple care center is really caring , they are professional, they are polite, and the apple care center is professionally decorated and renovated , I’m impressed with their telephony customer services but…

Apple Singapore do not have applecare service center for iphone 4 , because i have an broken iphone 4 which got from M1 store, due to my home button is having some problem , unfortunately I also have a crack at the bottom of the right hand side corner .

So I went to m1 shop to get my home button repair, i can bear with the crack if they refuse to change for me but I wish to have my home button fix. The M1 shop customer service checked and commented my cracked screen and they are not able to replace one-to-one for me , which was ok , but he was giving me a false hope because he gave me the Apple customer service telephone , asking me to try my luck with Apple service center , according to him ,  if i try to call apple and ask the  apple customer service operator to request an one-one replacement, if granted, I’ll be given a code , which i can go back to M1 with the code and get replacement.

So I tried my luck , called service center, the apple service center operator advised me , in order to get replacement I need to go down to the Apple approved service center to get the home button repaired or fixed which located at Tagore Lane . She advised me to pay for the apple care which is $90 , so that the warranty is covered . She was giving me false hope which may get a replacement set , so I have no choice and paid the $90 apple care using my credit card. (Please note that the customer service is giving me hope that if I paid for the applecare $90, my chances of getting a replacement phone or home button fix is higher) and she told me that service center is able to repair my home button. (**I’m hoping to fix my home button but not my cracked screen)

When i gave my address to the cab driver , telling him I wish to go apple care service center , he told me to check again because it’s an industrial area  , maybe I got cheated because that place is quite isolated . He never heard of any Apple Care center there , he told me there is one in Ang Mo Kio . I called and double confirmed the place  , where this has awaken me from my sweet dream .

When i stepped out from the cab, it’s an industry area which described by the cab driver, i got into the building and went to the office, I saw many people holding their apple iphone , sitting in the ugliest sofa and some sitting on wooden stool , the “receiptionist” saw me coming in gestured me to get a number in front of her , the number is a cardboard written by hand using marker , the card is a shape of apple , palm sized . I got one and sit down on a wooden stool . I was horrified with environment there , it’s worst than a chinese medicine hall , because even chinese medicine hall provided back support plastic chair , but here we are seated on a STOOL , made of wood .

Then only i realised that the receiptionist is the only person who called the given number ,  inspect the phone ,  data entry details and issue a replacement set .

There is a signboard informing us that the time taken per person is estimated 15 – 20 minutes . I should have taken a photo of this office , but I was anxious as there was 9 person came before me , which means I need to wait at least 2 hours before my turn . I wanted to give up and leave the place  but I’ve spend $18 dollars on taxi fare to get here. So I sat and waited .

The reception area is quite cramped with more than 10 people , some don’t even get any seats . There isn’t any signs of toilets, those people need to ask the receiptionist then only know where the toilets are located .

So I sat there and wait , everyone were patient , I know who’s name and who’s phone got what problem because you stand in front of the receiptionist and tell her what’s wrong with your phone and tell her your name and everybody staring at you .

Luckily , when it’s my turn, which is 1 hour later, I told her about my home button problem and she saw my crack and I said I’m ok if she only repaired my home button only but she told me there isn’t any repair service in Singapore , so in order to get the home button repaired, I need to pay for $370 for the cracked screen, otherwise no way there is a replacement for me . Either paid for $370 or you leave . She has been hardened , there isn’t any sympathy cell inside of her . There isn’t any hint of Apple Customer Service spirits with her . So I leave the place because I know I won’t pay for $370 for the cracked screen. Tried to get a cab is quite impossible and spent another $18 to get back to ffice , wasted $30++++ for nothing. What a disappointment.

I mean Apple Center supposed to be professional , with that kind of attitude, I really doubt I’ll return to that place if in future I have a broken iphone  .

So I sold my iphone 4 16gb in a marketplace forum for SGD780 , with the SGD780 cash , in same marketplace forum I bought iphone 4 32GB and  I paid for $980 .  If I were dumb enough to pay SGD370 for the cracked screen, I got a refurbished set , stuck with 16GB , but now I’ve saved $100 and additional 16gb more . Lucky me.

So in future if my iphone is broken, I’ll sell in forums and buy another one , never never go to beg for the refurbish phone in Tagore lane there ! Waste your cab fare and time only ! and you only got a refurbish…

Oh yeah, regarding the apple care $90 which I’ve paid , I called the Apple Customer Service and demanded a refund because I cannot get a phone replacement  and told them I’m very disappointed with Apple service in Singapore. They refunded my $90 immediately . The customer service was sympathetic and he told me if I were in States, the replacement can be done , but he cannot do the same for me because I’m in Singapore where he did not have authority to do so.  So Apple, do you think we were lesser people than you people in States ?

I went to the new apple care centre which was by A.Lab in singapura plaza. The customer service is much better and more professional. Most of them are Filipinos though, but they seems like capable of repair the apple product on the spot just like the paid service at iphonefix at waterloo street. The seatings are comfortable but the waiting time still long.

I have recommended my friends and relatives to visit iphone fix when their warranty expire, this is because their service is excellent, they will open up your iphone or ipad on the spot and check the parts, amd quote on the spot. Of course if you wosh to change batteries, you need to call them first for stock availability. For other parts, u can asked them to check and quote. If you decided not to replace, they will put back the device and return to you with no charge.