I went to an Apple store for the first time today to get advice on a cracked screen for an iPad2. The whole experiece was very ordinary. I was told the price - which as expected was a large sum of money - and got a replacement. What I didn't expect, though, was I had to deal with a "genius" at the "genius bar". How pretentious is this? What sort of company calls its technical support staff "geniuses"? I felt embarassed for the poor guy who had to act in the guise of a "genius". I wish Apple would do everyone a favour and just call their support staff technicians or give them some other, more understated, title. Hopefully no other company follows this lead. What's next? Sales staff that are called "gurus" that operate behind the "guru counter"? Does anyone else find this pretentious or is it just me?

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I don't mind the name Genius Bar at all, in this day and age where job titles have evolved to make even the simplest forms of employment sound important, I think it's rather a very clever Marketing ploy and sets Apple apart from the rest. Each to his own I guess.

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I think it's pretentious, but not something I'd get worked up about.

I find any company that would replace what I broke at deep discount kind of extraordinary. If there are others that do likewise, I'd happily buy from them, too, if they sell stuff I want.

I don't let something so silly bother me. Life's too short.

Originally Posted by bmanj

I went to an Apple store for the first time today to get advice on a cracked screen for an iPad2. The whole experiece was very ordinary. I was told the price - which as expected was a large sum of money - and got a replacement. What I didn't expect, though, was I had to deal with a "genius" at the "genius bar". How pretentious is this? What sort of company calls its technical support staff "geniuses"? I felt embarassed for the poor guy who had to act in the guise of a "genius". I wish Apple would do everyone a favour and just call their support staff technicians or give them some other, more understated, title. Hopefully no other company follows this lead. What's next? Sales staff that are called "gurus" that operate behind the "guru counter"? Does anyone else find this pretentious or is it just me?

That does not bother me at all. As Leelai stated, it is a wonderful marketing move on Apple's part. Looking beyond title assignment and seeing the "extraordinary" discount that KayKayKay states--I can go with it. That's more important to me than being personally hung up on title. In my profession, my title is "Dr.," however, I ask my patients to call me, Carol. Yes, I have the qualifications/degree honored to be called "Dr.," but I choose not to.

In regards to Apple, I do not know what levels of work or certifications one needs in order to be promoted to "Genius, " but I am sure there are some requirements involved that validates their title role. So best to give the "genius/Technical support" the time to help with your problem-rather than focus on the minutia.

Originally Posted by MoonlitSonata

I don't let something so silly bother me. Life's too short.

Yep!!!

Sent from my Verizon Black 64GB iPad 2 With IOS 5.01 Update From NYC using iPF

I kind of like it. It shows some pride. It sets expectations not only for the customer but for the technician. If sometimes those expectations are not met, that's still a lot better than being just another tech in just another store working for just another company.

Originally Posted by skimonkey

...In my profession, my title is "Dr.," however, I ask my patients to call me, Carol. Yes, I have the qualifications/degree honored to be called "Dr.," but I choose not to.

Reminds me of a story. On my first day of graduate school at an ivy league university, coming from a small liberal arts college, I walked into a professor's office and to the fellow sitting at his desk said, "Dr. Hacker?"

"That's MR. Hacker. Want to know why?" he replied. I'm not sure I even replied, having been suitably intimidated.

"We're all Mr's here. Because we're all Dr's here," he said.

In those days they were all "Mr's." Fortunately, the world has changed and many are now "Ms's."

P.S. I never had to ask my parents to call me by my first name. They weren't too impressed by my doctorate when they found out I couldn't prescribe drugs. Although my father later decided I must be running some kind of scam when he asked me how many hours my university required me to teach and I told him six hours. He snorted, "Only six hours a day?" "No, Dad, six hours a week." I think he later passed away assuming I must have some kind of illicit scam to bring enough money home to support a family.

Thanks, jsh for sharing your story! Love it-though a bit jealous about your 6 hour work week! In healthcare, our hours are very, very long!!

I think the biggest thing I feel missing from the OP is really the respect factor owed to the staff that are there to help him with his problem.

I'd bet the concept and use of the term "Genius Bar" was conceived and intended in the same light-hearted and symbolic way as "Geek Squad".