Apple Scam Discovered

After service and warranty determines the quality of a real brand and decides loyalty to the brand. Do you agree with me? Isn't that like saying the quality of a person in a marriage comes through when a divorce is announced?

It has been over two years since I got my iPhone 5 and I had purchased it through a friend who lived in Singapore. After the first year, I noticed the on/off button had gone flat (almost paralyzed). Since there is assistive touch feature, the malfunctioning of the on/off button didn't come in my way. I have never had a quality issue with my earlier Apple products and this was surprising.

Couple of months ago Apple had announced the on/off issue as a manufacturing defect and asked customers to get their phones checked and repaired for free at the nearest store. Last week, I was with my friend visiting from India near Opera in Paris. The Apple Store is right across from Opera and I decided to stop by the store to fix on this problem. 

After my courtesies to the front store assistant in French, I switched over to English and narrated the issue and also reminded him about Apple's recent press release to have the problem fixed. He promptly picked my phone, checked the model and asked me to enter my App Store id on his computer screen to schedule an appointment. When I entered my id the store assistant was able to see the history and geography of the phone. Within a minute he scheduled me an appointment for Jul 10 at 7.00 pm and asked to go to the first floor on that day and I could see the board “Genius Bar” there. I was surprised with the ease and professionalism with which the appointment with was schedule the technical team. 

His words sounded like symphony to my ears and the thought of getting it fixed took my quickly on top of Galleries Lafayette. I opened my phone and set-up a calendar entry for Thursday, July 10 at 7pm. Why should one not pay a premium for such a product? Remembering my marketing lessons at the University of Rhode Island, I was convinced why brand Apple is coveted in the society and the service today affirmed my decision to buy two iPhones and two iPads.

The Apple Clinic

On the day of the appointment, I was disciplined to leave office at 6pm. Earlier in the day, I had narrated the professionalism at the Apple Store to a colleague and why we must not hesitate to pay a premium for some products/brands. And I even promised to write about it, if the remaining experience is pleasant.

I arrived at the store 15 minutes ahead of my appointment and I went up to the first floor to check in with the store guy. He checked my name on the appointment list and quickly ran through my problem and asked me to take a seat. I noticed the queue was moving slow, but still the euphoria of getting the issue addressed kept me smiling and patient. While waiting for my turn, I looked around other people narrating their problem to the technical guys. It almost resembled a clinic and everyone presenting their iPhones and iPads with care and sincerity. Yes, we all live in an age and time when mobile gadgets are considered more close than spouses and family members. And sadly, some of them left behind their devices to be repaired, while some of the left behind their hope to have their devices repaired. Which category do I fall into?

20 minutes later, Camilla, one of the attendants on the floor came up to and asked me if I needed to see an English speaking Apple doctor. After I affirmed, she went around checking which of the service desk assistants could hold a decent conversation in English with me and finally assigned me to a bespectacled guy. He was neither wearing a lab coat nor stethoscope hung around his neck, but nevertheless his questions and examination made him look like a doctor. He asked the birth place of the phone and if it is still under warranty. Lastly, he asked me if I had backed up the phone, before looking up other details of it on his iPad.

Genius Bar exposed

While looking at the parameters on his iPad, he told me that he could have replaced the phone if it was under the warranty period, but then promised to give me a 16 GB spare while my phone was away. I was nervous to part with my phone, but there was no way I could have it fixed without parting with it for a few days. 

Suddenly his tone changed and what looked easier than an changing a flat tire now appeared complex. He told me that the battery life was 60% and Apple recommends 80% battery life and I would have change the battery before they repair the on/off button. When asked him for the price of the battery he replied 75 euros. Given the brand new condition of my phone, I was willing to change the battery and hand over the phone to my mother when I got my iPhone 6 in the fall. 

But then there was a catch. The guy said that the "Genius Bar" (Apple's technical desk) closed at 8 pm and with only 20 minutes to close, he asked me to get the batteries changed today, but come back another day without an appointment to have my on/off button repaired. I grew suspicious with his recommendation.

Holier than Church and Bible

As he slipped out of the desk to check with his supervisor if the battery could be changed, my mind started thinking. Who is Apple to decide when my mobile battery has to be changed? Why can't I change the batteries later? Why is battery changing a pre-requisite to repairing a manufacturing defect? And when he came back, I questioned the logic and asked him about the option to change the battery post the repair. 

Sensing that I was getting smarter, he said Apple had set a rule not to make any repairs if the battery wasn't above 80%. I was appalled on hearing his statement and asked him since when did Apple become holier than Church and why should respect Apple’s Bible? Annoyed with his response, I asked him to get his store manager. 

Within a few minutes the store manager came up to convince me, and when I told her I didn't remember signing any such contract with Apple and Apple had not right to decide the sequence of activities. She noticed that I was far from ready to be convinced and sensing my anger and frustration, she said she cannot over-ride the decision of the technical guy. When I asked them to be empathetic, they recommended that I call the Apple customer service.

Loyalty begins and ends with Siri

When I got back home, I felt the need to vent my frustration and Apple's tyranny and scam. I came home that evening and asked Siri, the personal assistant on my phone - Is Apple a Cheat? She responded, "I can't answer that, but Apple.com should be able to". I asked Siri if she liked Apple, and she replied "I am pretty loyal to Apple". But from today onwards, I was not.

If Adam and Eve were punished for eating the Apple then and today I was punished for buying brand with the same name.

Now go back and read my first line....so what decides customer loyalty? When do you get to see the true grain of a brand? Why should one pay a premium for a brand? Looking to buy an Apple product? Think twice…if not be cursed!

Failing safety knots and nets

Last weekend my 8 year old nephew over Skype explained the 3 families types he studied in school. I was surprised that the single parent family is now a part of our society and textbooks, others being nuclear family and joint family (rare earth). A lot of things have changed in the last 30 years, but I'm not sure if this change is for better. Watch this latest episode of Neeya Naana - http://youtu.be/XN67tdbHejI

Sometimes going back to the basics helps us understand what we lack and what we believe  functional in reality is dysfunctional. The Zee Tamil channel through the show Solvathellam Unami has been bringing to light the dark elements in society, how marriage as an institution doesn't work in lower and lower middle class income group (other income groups don't come forward to share their stories in public), how relationships that are meant to protect and love (husbands, brothers, sisters and in-laws) often turn into predators. 

With this preamble, I delve deeper into each of these points. 

Safety knots: Was the institution of marriage created to protect and churn out responsible citizens or was it created to fail and ruins lives of people and create a society of criminals? PS: If you have not been watching Solvathellam Unmai on Zee Tamil, please go on YouTube and help yourself with a few episodes to understand my words and have your interpretation. 

Many of the women and families that appear on the show highlight the situation among lower and lower middle income groups. Husbands in illicit relationships with other women, husbands forcing wives to curt sexual favors, men becoming salves of alcohol and substance turning a home and a marriage into hell, needless to say about physical abuse and verbal abuse. All this incidents question the fundamentals of the institution of marriage? 

Don't think these evils are absent in the upper income group. Preity Zinta filing a molestation case against Ness Wadia, a business tycoon is now hot in press. Hrithick Roshan and Suzzanna Roshan's marriage is a testimony to my argument that the institution marriage is crumbling across income groups. For a women or a man to stay single and raise a child may be a redemption than to stay in a miserable marriage, but doesn't that question the very fundamentals of marriage?

Historically and mythologically the institution of marriage hasn't done much good to women and children. Haven't you read the story of Dhruva? You know what happened to Kannagi, Draupadi and Sita? I'm not supporting the feminist, but I'm asking the men folk and the society to introspect and mend their ways before it becomes too late.

Not all marriages fail, but many aren't successful enough to argue that the institution is doing its job and serving its purpose. Those who continue to stay in it do so because the world outside is scarier and worse. Yes, it is the game of survival for both inside and outside. 

Safety nets: The great epics: Ramayana and Mahabaratha depicts the ills of greed, lust and how kith and kin can turn into predators and slay relatives to take the throne of power and position. Sita raised her children as a single mother in forest, Kauravas humiliated Draupadi in the court and sent Pandavas to forest Ina bid to take over their kingdom. Should we include Azhagiri and Stalin under this category? People like Dronacharya and Bheeshma failed to question Kauravas and protect Draupadi. I wish to highlight a few in my family, but again don't want to wash dirty linen in public. 

When the safety knot and safety net fails, women and children suffer the most. The dirty elements like hyenas, jackal and vulture use their vulnerability and exploit. You know the fate of women actress who are not protected by their husbands and uncared by members in their family (Silk Smitha, Sri Vidya, etc.). You heard of sexual exploits - here is an episode of a 11year old girl molested by adults in her neighborhood - http://youtu.be/EStvT0r0pks 

How can such violated children make a strong and beautiful world tomorrow? 

When Draupadi was pawned in the game by her husband (Yudhistra) and disrobed in the court (Dusshasana) on the instructions of Shakuni and Duryodhana in the presence of the righteous Bheeshma and Dronacharya, Krishna came to her rescue. Krishna shed tear on seeing the plight of Draupadi and asks for her conviction to wipe the tears of other women across the world. He describes 5 unforgivable sins that needs severe punishment before he blows the conch to signify the beginning of the war. 

What is the use of epics and mythologies in religion if we haven't learnt anything from them? Who is responsible for this situation? Is it irresponsible adults who make dysfunctional families and children? Or is it the responsible society that fails in its duty to question and punish the immoral. You solve the oldest riddle: chicken or egg? 

Today Zee Tamil is playing the role of a conch trying to amplify the muffled voices and create awareness in the society. If we don't wake up to the noise of the conch now, it will be late and we will all be responsible for the degradation of the society irrespective of wether you watch or participate.

Let's make the safety knots and the nets work. Thirty years down the line I don't want to hear my great nephew or niece tell me that the institution of family and marriage cease to exist even in text books.  

Sigappu Rojakkal on Solvathellam Unmai

Many movies today open with a disclaimer distancing itself from any responsibility to the story or characters resembling real life incidents/characters. Is this true in reality is not the subject of my interest. But what if a real life story emulates a movie that was released 35 years ago? Remember Sigappu Rojakkal starring Kamal and Sridevi directed by Barathiraja? Yes, that script came alive on the sets of Solvathellam Unmai (Speaking Truth) aired on Zee Tamil and hosted by Actress, Director and a mother of two children Lakshmi Ramakrishnan.

Here is a short synopsis of  the two episodes. 

Episode 1: Regina a BCOM graduate from Madurai in her early twenties comes to the show to narrate about the suffering she had undergone in the hands of 17 year old boy (Sibi), who acts like a mature adult, but a criminal and serial offender in real life. She brings to light not only the treatment meted to out her by Sibi, his mother and his friends, but also the exploitation racket and filming of women amongst many other unmentionable acts. What surprises even more is that the boy and mother are both accused of murdering the father and mother eloping with her husband's sister's husband, while her husband was alive. Sibi's mother lives in Chennai, while Sibi and his 12 year old brother live together without any adult supervision in Dindigul. An apple doesn't far too far from the tree is so true. 

Part 1: http://youtu.be/x1vdxle2pSM

Episode 2: Over the phone the anchor speaks to other members of this ring before she invites another girl exploited by Sibi to share the chilling truth on the camera. The anchor also speaks to Sibi and asks him to confess to the crime and shows him the evidence. A press reporter who investigates the facts on the ground comes on the show to unveil the full picture and disturbing details. Finally the show concludes with Lakshmi Ramakrishnan promising to report these incidents to the CM's cell with appropriate evidences. She even pleads college going girls to be aware of such rackets and not fall a prey to their emotions and hormones. More than 20 girls and women have been exploited by Sibi and there are photographic and videographic evidences to prove the crime. 

Part 2: http://youtu.be/TjlVUsix2jQ

We think TN is safer, but in reality a lot goes unreported and many crimes committed today with political support. Regina was brave enough to come forward and put her life at risk to prevent Sibi from exploiting other women. One must remember despite multiple trips to the police station the cops refrained from filing an FIR on Sibi because of his political connections. Regina also didn't have any of her family member back her up on the show. Hope she has her family support behind the screen. 

Most of the families and individuals that come on this show are from lower or lower middle income group with not much education. I'm sure such crimes happen in the middle and upper middle income and educated groups, but they go unshared and unreported. Until incidents like this get reported and stories like these get shared, society can never be reformed and the country can never be made safe.

Lakshmi Ramakrishna may have stirred up the hornets nest and I hope nothing happens to her and others women who appeared on this show. Lakshmi as a loving mother of two children appeals to college going girls to be careful at the end of the episode. I also add to her appeal, be careful who you associate with in real-life and specially on social media. And follow this simple rule: don't do things that you can't share with your parents. Lastly, report incidents to punish the offender and prevent future crimes. Don't ask me if that is possible given the political connections and the murky world of police? Regina is fighting to win this battle with the help of ZEE Tamil. Hope CM being a women will take cognizance of such offenses in a serious light and punish the guilty and make Tamil Nadu, the birth state of Kannagi safe and women friendly. 

Behind the broken key...

You may be single and happy, but have you through of your worst nightmare when you returned home from work? Seeing your house door broken and rooms ransacked or seeing your home up in flames caused by an electrical fault or failure to shut down the kitchen burner? There were days when I would go for a movie after work and came home closer to bed time, but I thanked myself for coming home early. I had no idea what was waiting for me when I left work last evening.

Always in anticipation, but sometimes surprised

Balancing “une baquette tradition”, a bag of groceries and a lunch bag in my right hand, I let my left to search for the house keys in my trouser pocket. It wasn’t that bad as balancing the weight on my right. My left hand quickly grabbed the keys in my trouser pocket and gravitated towards the key hole. What happened then?

I put the key in the hole and turned it anti-clockwise, but the door didn't open and my hand turned free quickly and key bunch came back to me without much struggle. Was someone already inside? And when I examined the key bunch and I noticed that the head of the key was missing. Unlike the French, I didn’t utter the famous curse “merde, merde” or roll my eyes, sigh and curse, but I reacted rationally.

Did the key and the hole have a fight this morning when I locked the door? How did that happen? I never noticed the key getting weak.

I had always anticipated the loss of keys and had kept the second key outside the house in case of emergency, but today the key was on the other side of the door. I had left the spare house keys with a friend who was visiting me for the weekend and he had left the spare key in the house and locked behind him before he boarded the flight this afternoon. This was just a coincidence and there was no reason for self flagellation!

Welcome to metros like ParisTo be honest, conversation with my neighbor to my left has never gone beyond bonjour and bonne soiree and the neighbor to my right never even bothered to respond back whenever I greeted him. And this is also not a country or society where I can knock on the neighbor’s door for help or go to a friend's place to crash for the night. And we hadn’t built trust to leave my spare keys with my neighbors or take their mobile number in case of emergency.

Since the spare key was inside there was no point in calling the rental agency. The opportunity cost associated with calling the emergency services to enter the house and replacing the broken lock and door was more than making a copy of the key or taking a room outside for the night.

We live in a world where we speak to unknown people on Social media, while we act complete strangers to our own neighbors.

With drizzle growing bigger, I opened the umbrella and ran towards the "La Cles Place" near my home. I may not know my neighbors, but I know my neighborhood well enough.

Will I get help?

To my surprise and disappointment, the store was closed. Feeling helpless, I went into another store to enquire about any key copying store in the neighborhood. And when I noticed one of the men in the store of Indian origin, I felt luck was smiling my way. Are Indians outside of India helpful too? I decided to test this hypothesis.  

To be honest, I didn't expect much help since I was going to speak to them in English and I was surprised when the shopkeeper responded in English that could lead me nowhere. When I asked him if he knew of any other store in the neighborhood, he shook his head that clearly meant No (not the Indian way) and pointed me at the clock that was racing past 7pm. I leave you to decide the answer to the question I put forward in the last paragraph.

The search begins

The rational mind was searching for a solution and thinking of plan B, while the superstitious mind prayed to almighty for help and was busy connecting the unwanted dots - bad omen and my mistakes from the day. I snapped at my mind like the angry key hole did to the key, and with the minute and hour hand pointing beyond 7.30pm, my eyes and legs rushed back in the street ahead of my body.

I came across restaurants and hotel in my area, but not a key store. My eyes continued to wander from left to right looking for a key store, while my mind was trying to put together a sentence in French to explain to situation to the key maker. Even if I find a store, will they be able to make a copy of a broken key was the only question that lingered in my mind?

Spotting no store in the vicinity, I almost decided to take a room in a nearby hotel for the night and I convinced myself to go back to work in the same clothes the next day. 

A comme ci comme ça reaction

Though I could have called a few friends for help or asked for suggestions, I still felt I need to walk down the road and exhaust all options.

And finally to my surprise in one of the side streets that I’ve never visited before, I spotted a store with a glowing red key signage on the facade. I went in and placed key bunch on the table and waited for the storekeeper's reaction. While I felt relieved, his reaction didn't let mine last long.

 

Lowering his spectacles he examined the broken pieces, but his confidence instantly dropped when he saw the two pieces – almost a comme ci comme ça reaction. He took the pieces to the machining table and I spent the next few minutes surveying the store. I thanked my stars when I saw the opening and closing hours for the store. I was 20 mins away from closing. Phew!

A few minutes later he asked me to come to the machining equipment where showed me his craftsmanship in putting together the two pieces, but promised no guarantee on the copy. 

 

Merci beaucoup
While machining the toothless key, he asked me if I am living in Paris or visiting and also asked me if I were from Pakistan. Since the Indian man in the earlier store hadn’t helped me I didn’t know if I should pretend and try the Pakistani luck. In the hindsight I thought this may be the reason why my neighbors never said much to me. But this man seemed very friendly.

 

With no reason to lie, I confidently I replied in French - J'habite á Oberkampf et je suis Indien. Charging 5 euros for the keys he handed back the key bunch along with the copy.

 

Did it work?

The drizzle had subsided and I rushed back home with a bag of grocery and half remaining “une baguette tradition”. If I had to come back for alterations, there was 15 minutes more to store closing.

When I got back home I found that the copy worked smoother than the original and without any doubt I attributed it to the smartness of the copier. That night what kept lingering in my mind was the key makers question if I am a Pakistani. I realized that there was nothing wrong with a look alike as long as it served the purpose and worked better than the original.

Paris Metro Chronicles

The last time I was showered with a racial slur was post 9/11 in the US and I was walking back from the business school in downtown Providence in the evening. And after 13 years I went through racial slur in Paris today. At 25 I was threatened to fight back, but today, 13 years later I was proud to have fought back.

I was on line 3 on the Paris metro this morning traveling from Parmentier to Republique. As soon as I got in the carriage, a white man sitting by the door started to mumble in French and kept starring at me. I dismissed his mumble and stare and tried to look away. I gave him the benefit of doubt: mentally unwell. But soon the intimidation turned vulgar when he placed his middle finger on his cheek. Annoyed by his behavior (stare, mumble and finger pointing) I decided to question him than move away.

Intimidated by my standing up, he continued to mumble in French with a hope that I would leave. I threatened to call the police, but the threat didn't seem to work and he continued to mumble and utter racial slurs. 

While I raised my voice questioning his behavior the half-a-dozen co-passengers turned silent and attentive. None came up to my support and watched as if it was a free entertainment. I call this behavior the urban indifference, where people rarely stand up against crimes and social evils. We may think the Western Civilization is more responsible, concerned and participative, but in reality they are selfish and self-centered and will let any crime go unquestioned in the interest of their safety and security. And finally, I flexed my muscles and threatened to break his facial bones and threw him out of the metro, if he didn't stop his bullying. The crowd in the compartment watched me standup for myself. 

As the train reached Republique I kept an eye on the man and I was even prepared to face knives and guns and even clobber him and pin him down to the floor, if needed. I wanted to teach a lesson to the man and unconcerned co-passengers. Before the door opened, I raised my voice and thanked the co-passengers for their help and asked them to atleast stand up for themselves, if not for others. Defending your safety and self-respect is not violence! 

Such crimes may happen in your city, but never turn blind eye to such incidences and let bullies get away. Stand-up against crimes that you witness in your community and remember, what goes around comes around.

Elles sont difficiles

When I got the Navigo pass and started to take the metro to work my colleagues told me I have become a true Parisian. Seldom did I know what it means being a true Parisian  until I spent my precious mornings and tired evenings on Ligne 1 and Ligne 5 escaping women who turn into bulldozers and their handbags that fly around like shrapnel.

If one were to dismantle and translate La Chapelle from French to English it would read "the chap and her". One evening on Line 2 towards La Chapelle, a woman boarded the last compartment at Place de Clichy and the train wasn’t that crowded. In the subsequent stops more people boarded and she and her Louis Vuitton bag gravitated towards me like an asteroid from outer space. I moved around from being touched by the vulgar brand hanging from her shoulder, but I couldn't escape. My yelping “Pardon…pardon” went deaf. Not sure if it was a real Louis Vuitton or a knock-off sold at Sacre Coeur, but I decided to leave my chewing gum on her bag that touched me without my permission. She must have discovered later that evening the punishment for crushing me with her handbag.

My morning ritual of hopping from Ligne 5 onto Ligne 1 at Bastille always brought in some surprises. I am not usually lucky every morning to find a seat for the 12 stop ride to Charles de Gaulle Etoile, but some days I do. The daily horoscope on Le Parisian, a leading French daily didn't say anything ominous. Just as I thanked small mercies for the on-time train and a seat by the door, a super sized woman squeezed herself in the seat next to me and strangled my soul. I realized this could be the modern day upgrade to electric chair and decided to find another seat across from her. I felt like a poor taxing paying citizen squeezed by the gluttonous government. Not sure if you should term my self-defense as being rude, but all through the journey she kept staring at me. As I got ready to disembark the women flipped her handbag that carried a message “Shopping for Love”. Not sure if her stare and the message on the handbag was intended for me, but as a parting gift I winked at her when I disembarked.

By surviving dog shitmines (like landmines) on the sidewalk, rudeness on the metro, super-sized handbags and women one becomes a true Parisian. So next time when someone showers this compliment on you, beware of what is behind it.

These days when I board the metro I stay around men so that I don't have to deal with the handbags and women crushes (pun intended)!

Come back soon for more Paris chronicles.

Sensex: A cocaine addict?

When the Sensex surpassed 22,000 points without any warning or effort, newspapers termed it as a “new high” which sounded like our stock market was an irresponsible cocaine addict. Even the Mama and Mami’s of Mylapore (gold addicts) who proposed black-money in-flow theory and linked it to Rupee devaluation in September 2013 like shrewd economists and couldn’t put forward a theory now.

Is our stock market keeping up with the rising temperature? Or is it NaMo wave extending to our markets? I joined the same wagon with the Mylapore gang looking for answers. Are our economic fundamentals strong enough for such a rally? Who are the FIIs investing in our markets? Are they benamis of our corrupt politicians?

1. GDP growth hasn't improved or has been revised upward (5.5 projected for 2014-15 vs 4.5% recorded in 2013-14, lowest GDP growth in a decade)
2. Manufacturing index doesn’t seem to support the rally either. The HSBC manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which gauges business activity in Indian factories but not its utilities, fell to 51.3 in March.
3. Car sales continue to be tepid. Maruti reported a 5.5% decline in March Sales compared to same time last year and Ford has recalled it Figo and Fiesta models in India. Union issues plaguing both Toyota and Maruti have slowed down our exports, thereby growing our fiscal deficit.
4. India’s debt hasn't diminished nor our credit rating has improved
5. There is no change in our foreign policy towards even our most friendly neighbors (China, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Srilanka).
6. There has been no change in our FDI policy or in our stand in bringing back black money
7. RBI has left the interest rate untouched, despite fluctuation in international gold rate
8. Nothing has changed in the last year for FDIs to suddenly feel favorable towards India. We are not in a political turmoil, but still we aren't sure if the next Government will have absolute majority in the upcoming elections.

Given the above reasons, how can one explain the surging stock market indices?