Opinion: And Apple Taketh Away…
Sunday 31st May, 2009 - 02:00 BST
Posted in: Apple News, Apple Retail Stores, Opinion
Written by: dizzle
Apple retail stores currently offer a great program called One to One training. Here is the description from the Apple site:
As a One to One member, enjoy a year’s worth of personal training sessions for just $99. Sit down for in-depth, face-to-face sessions with your very own personal trainer. Experts in all things Apple, our Trainers help you get the most out of your Apple products. Just tell them what you want to be able to do, and they’ll teach you how. To become a One to One member, visit your local Apple Retail Store.
For that fee you are able to attend one one-hour lesson per week on a wide array of topics. It is not limited to one store nor must you spend the year on only one learning track. Sounds great right? Well, like @mac.com, it is about to go the way of the dodo bird for many customers. As distilled by TheAppleBlog:
Here’s the new deal. Whereas previously anyone could buy a One to One subscription without an accompanying purchase, beginning June 2, Apple will limit new subscriptions to customers buying a Macintosh at an Apple retail store or on the Apple Store web site.
There is no “grace period” for the undecided, either. Customers who want to buy a One to One subscription must do so on the day they buy their new Mac. Existing One to One customers will be able to renew their subscriptions for one further year.
Apple’s focus with One to One is shifting away from convincing customers to switch, to supporting customers who have already made the move from PC to Mac. “We originally set up One to One to get people to switch to the Mac,” Johnson said. “Now we want to expand it to make it even more relevant to people who have bought their Mac.”


