1. Apple Stores! Isn’t it so neat that someone can walk into a store, experiment with the products, have workers who are very familiar with the products, and – if you decide to – you can buy a device right then and there.

2. Apples have a “cool” factor that is tough (though perhaps not impossible) to match. And many Apple users know how cool it is.

My wife phoned me immediately after last week’s newsletter, about Apple computers not having touchscreens, and announced, “You were way too harsh about Apple this time!”
“But Honey,” I explained, “We get the most responses on the blogs when I’m controversial about Apple.” She replied, “There is a difference between being controversial and adversarial!”

As usual, she is right. My wife said to tell you about her Apple Tattoo. That was a surprise to me too.

I do enjoy Apple, own and use two MacBook Airs that are a big part of every week for work. On the road, I carry two Airs and one Surface. I do use the Surface the most but don’t make up your mind until you’ve tried them both.

Bottom line: I respect Apple and enjoy their products. In fact, in many cases working with top level executives, I recommend to them the Apple (especially the Air) after finding out what their wants and needs are. Some dearest friends, and my lovely wife, are total Mac people too.

3. Apple’s “No-questions asked” 14 day return policy. Where else can you go buy a piece of hardware that you can use, including reloading the operating system with a new one such as Windows, connect every peripheral imaginable to test compatibility, and then can return it if it doesn’t suit your needs? After 14 productive days, you are likely to ask yourself how you ever lived without it. Or not. Isn’t it great for you to be able to find out?

4. Apple is a leader in the marketplace. Not just by selling so much hardware, but in the past, they’ve been “first to market” with features that none of their competitors had even thought of yet. Often, Apple defines the cutting edge. Though there is controversy, many Apple fans will tell you how the Macintosh was the first computer to even have a mouse – and then everyone else copied Apple.

5. Apple products actually work when you get them out of the box. Even “first releases.” Thank goodness, users of Windows products can now enjoy the same experience, but Apple was the first. Apple has the longest running record. Having confidence in the products you purchase is a huge buying factor for most people.

Keep an eye out: Next week will be the 5 more of 10 things to love about Apple.

The post 5 Things to Love about Apple appeared first on Foster Institute.

Why do companies like Apple, Amazon, and others make it so easy for an attacker to steal your identity?

A few days ago, an attacker used Apple and Amazon Tech Support to, as he puts it, destroy his digital life in less than an hour.

The attacker destroyed his email account, sent out horrible messages using his Twitter account, and then erased the data on Honan’s iPhone, iPad, and even his computer.

He lost irreplaceable family photos including all the photos he has ever taken of his daughter in her whole life.

Devastating.

The way this happened stemmed from the attacker learning the “last four” digits of the credit card number.

Read his full account at: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/08/apple-amazon-mat-honan-hacking/

How do you feel about the lax security measures organizations have? For example, my family’s medical insurance and health care provider always asks for my phone number “in order to verify your identity.” Do they really believe that I’m the only one who knows my phone number?

How do you feel about so much information moving to “the cloud?” – You cannot avoid unless you give up many useful services.

Please post your comments below.

The post Apple and Amazon and Stolen Identity appeared first on Foster Institute.

You may also assign some of your customer service professionals to accept contacts through social media. In fact, you may empower them to perform tasks for your customers such as refunding shipping up to a specific amount of money. For example, you may give customer service leeway to tell them that they can solve any customer’s problem however they want as long as the expense to your organization does not exceed $50.

Times are changing, and if you change slower than your competition, we both know what will happen. Take action today!

Please post your comments on this blog.

The post Better customer service through social media appeared first on Foster Institute.