Apple is beloved by many, but is known for denying warranty coverage (a lot), laptops that catch fire, hassling you when you want to use lots and lots of gift cards in one transaction, and for getting into bed with AT&T with the much-anticipated iPhone.
SallieMae is a private student lender that has a reputation for nasty debt collecting tactics and other various and sundry atrocities.
This is a post in our Worst Company In America 2008 series. The companies nominated for this honor were chosen by you, the readers. Keep track of all the goings on at consumerist.com/tag/worst-company-in-america/
(Screen Grab:Daniel Rutter)
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So when does a competition featuring Microsoft happen? Also isn’t this round kind of weighted against salliemae?
I’m an employee of Apple, in my early twenties. I grew up with a strong sense of work ethic, passed down from my parents. Thus, I’ve been working since the day I turned 14. The pay at Apple is just, better than many places hiring comparable workers. The employee perks are better than any I’ve encountered at my other jobs (I’m just graduating college, so I’ve yet to enter the salaried world). Further, they paid for a portion of my gym membership, they reimburse employees who wish to quit smoking, and their turnover rate is among the lowest of any computer company.
I’m far from a chest-thumping employee, just someone who is earnest when he says he’s impressed with the efforts of his employer. They do honestly care, and always offer new ways to learn and advance. Whether we convey ourselves with a sense of smug self-importance, I’ve never meant to be. I’m one of the tech guys (I’ll refrain from using the actual term, because its one I think could be changed–see last sentence!) As far as the early poster with iPod mis-diagnosis, that’s unfortunate, but I think you’ll find a majority will get that restore right the first time. It’s one of the first steps we’re supposed to take.
Also… I hate Sallie May, especially right now.
Apple. For all the painfully obvious reasons.
@Custom Reality:
The problem is other lenders sell loans to Sallie Mae. So even if you were careful to avoid them, you can still end up under their thumb.
I intend to get my grad school loans through Wells Fargo, because regardless of any other faults they may have (less than most banks), they have a reputation for holding on to their loans. (Which is why my dad’s mortgage is with them) But it’s still possible…
Oh, and hooray for people who can borrow from family, or find jobs that pay enough for school that can actually be worked while in school. Good for them. That has fuck-all to do with most people, though.
Apple should not be on this list. They have always honored warranties for me, even when they did not have to. Replace Apple with Freecreditreport.com
@hypochondriac: I agree. Where’s Microsoft? Have they been retired to the Worst Company Ever Hall of Fame?
@scootinger: Don’t forget, AT&T gives a portion (I think it’s 10-20%) of each monthly bill back to Apple, which funds the development. There’s no funding coming from the users of the iPod touch so therefore, it comes directly out of the user’s wallet, as opposed to indirectly through your AT&T bill.
So either way, Apple receives money from iPod touch or iPhone users to keep development going.
Two reasons to vote for Apple: 1. They made a groundbreaking product, the iPhone, then ruined it by locking it to the Death Star telcom and crippling it. 2. Annoying fanboys.
I disklike Sallie Mae for the simple fact that they send me TONS of junk mail, even after changing my accounting settings and submitting a request in writing.
@postnocomments: Excellent points. I wish I could vote for both but having had personal experience with Sallie Mae’s abusive policies, I’ll have to go with them.
pestie: I did too, just because I’m tired of hearing about how “groundbreaking” their shitty phone is when it doesn’t have a file system, can’t send SMS to more than one person, doesn’t have 3G, requires an expensive contract that better phones don’t, has a years late, crippled, monopolized SDK, and on and on.
And why no mention of the bricking of thousands of phones by a forced firmware update?
I really can’t say one bad word about Apple. When things have gone wrong, they’ve not only gone the extra mile to make things right, they’re always quick to offer an apology (which counts for a lot in my book).