Finding out my car doesn’t need a new airbag is my best consumer experience, while Apple customer service is my worst

The Best

I was surprised to find out that my 2002 Honda Accord is on the recall list of cars that might need to have the airbag on the passenger’s side replaced.

Millions of cars are being recalled because shrapnel might be ejected when the airbags are deployed.

I called the dealer, and after a slight delay in finding my name, I was told I’m not part of the recall.

Thank goodness. I wondered if it was a good idea to have it detached and have my sister sit in the backseat for an upcoming trip. That wasn’t sounding like a very good option.

The worst

My iMac is slowing down, especially iPhoto where I have thousands of photos stored.

I tried to call the Apple store 50 miles away where I bought it, but the computer-robot guy transferred me to AppleCare in the Philippians. I was furious. I just wanted to talk to someone about the options I have – get more memory, put photos on an external hard drive, or something else.

I called back the next day and kept saying representative. The customer service person I talked to had only worked at the store two weeks. She said probably the only thing I could do was move the photos to an external hard drive. Of course, I can always buy a new computer. That’s about $2,000 for an iMac.

I called an Apple store nearer my home. When the computer-robot said he’d transfer me to AppleCare, I hung up.

I finally talked to a real person there. He didn’t have anything new to add for options and said I should bring it in.

I’ve deleted several hundred photos from my computer, but when you’ve got thousands, it’s a drop in the bucket.

My daughter suggested I take fewer photos. Yes, that, too.

Copyright 2014, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist