Apple Support Company Sues Customer For Complaint 292
tekgoblin writes "An Apple authorized Service Provider called System Graph is suing a customer who complained online about poor service from them. The customer Dimitrios Papadimitriadis took his iMac to them because he was seeing gray spots on his LED panel. The Greek company System Graph recommended a full interior cleaning of the iMac and performed the service for Dimitrios. He then got his iMac back and noticed moisture behind the screen and that it still did not work properly and took it back to the repair center. System Graph then told him that they needed to keep his iMac to replace the LED screen and he would be without it for another week.
Re:LED SCREEN? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:LED SCREEN? (Score:5, Informative)
No, newer Apple's use LED-backlit displays.
It's called System Graph (Score:5, Informative)
You don't even read the stories you post, do you?
The company is called System Graph.
Re:It's called System Graph (Score:5, Informative)
Indeed it is http://www.systemgraph.gr/ [systemgraph.gr]
C|Net, which the tekgoblin site pinched this from, had the name right. But tekgoblin got it wrong, both on their own site, and in the verbatim copy submitted here. And yes, samzenpus appear to have rubberstamped it without even some elementary link following.
No, this won't be the last time we see this, but I still hope that we get served less copypasta and more verified news here in 2011.
SLAPP anyone? (Score:5, Informative)
It's illegal in 26 states, and can sometimes make a nice countersuit.
Re:LED SCREEN? (Score:2, Informative)
No, you aren't, if you actually read the product you linked to, you'd have seen
"A 27-inch widescreen display with LED backlight technology. Stunning is an understatement.".
Now, in all fairness, it doesn't explicitly say it's an LCD, but a true LED display wouldn't usually use a backlight, as the color source themselves are the light source as well. Thus I'd say it's safe to assume that the product you linked to is in fact LCD technology with an LED backlight source, as apposed to the standard flourecent tube.
Re:So what? (Score:5, Informative)
Umm... I don't think anyone here is arguing that they don't have the legal right to file a lawsuit. The point is precisely as you say: "hey don't use these guys, they're litigious jerks." So what's the problem? We all like our daily righteous indignation.
And why, more generally, is there always someone in every thread like this who suggests that no valid criticism can be made of behavior - however reprehensible - that violates no laws?
Re:LED SCREEN? (Score:5, Informative)
So it is [apple.com]. I suppose I'm ahead of the times.
That's not real LED screen, that's LCD screen with LED backlighting.
There are real LED screens too, such a Sony XEL-1 OLED display [google.com], but their cost is way out of the budget of most iPeople, not to mention they're also a bit small for iMacs... And by "real" I mean, actually displays the image using LEDs.
The whole fad of marketing LCD displays with LED backlight as "LED displays" is really confusing for the consumer. Many less-clueful buyers believe they really got a LED panel on their "LED display".
Re:It's called System Graph (Score:3, Informative)
This is in Greece (Score:2, Informative)
Apple products have a very low penetration rate in Greece due to the absymal support and commercial channels we have to put up with. Greek users have begged SJ in the past to get rid of the local reseller that up to a year ago worked under an exclusivity contract. There was no way to get an Apple computer directly from Apple, you had to get it from them and they would charge something like 50 or 100 euros more for the greek support.
It's easier now to get an Apple computer from big consumer electronics stores but it's still a nightmare when it comes to support quality... so yea, people complain but Greek law allows companies to take people to court for libel and since the courts do not follow the spirit but the letter (the one that best suits the guy that bribes more or has better connections) of the law, if this guy wrote something wrong among 10 valid complaints, he might get the shaft...
End result: apple products in greece will still remain a niche and I will still provide them to my parents through the Italian Apple Store :(
Re:Streisand effect (Score:4, Informative)
Because you can't read?
This isn't Apples doing.
Re:PR nightmare (Score:4, Informative)
Sorry, but Apple really doesn't care. My iMac was in for a warranty fix for over two weeks. The motherboard was replaced and then they had to replace the video card which was a separate unit. You can write them all you want, they don't even reply. While I like their machines their support does suck. If you have an iMac you have to bring it to an authorized service center which can be a real bear with the larger iMacs.
Where as when my parents managed to fry one of the Dells I bought them the technician came out the next day and replaced the power supply and motherboard at their home. To think I paid for two extra years of warranty on my iMac and the cheap ass Dells get better support.
Re:PR nightmare (Score:3, Informative)
"Fast friendly service and if you say it wasn't we'll sure you". Apple needs to ship him a new computer and cut off ties with the service company. It'll cost them a 100X as much in the long run.
Nah, that's not how Apple does business.
Also they can just remove any negative posts or threads on their forum.
Sites outside of Apples reach? They to will filter themselves, any negative comments on Slashdot for instance will soon find their way down below anyone's viewing threshold.
So even if the Apple distortion field doesn't work for you, it will for sure work ON you. Problem solved.
Cheers!