When is an Apple dealer not an Apple dealer?

[hugh2121]

My friend in Pattaya could not understand why he could not get his Apple notepad repaired at the Apple shop. He is currently in the UK and has taken it to his local Apple dealer who has not only replaced his notepad FOC but informed him that Apple have NO shops or dealers in Thailand. Where you see what appear to be Apple dealers, they are NOT backed by Apple. They are private shops where the owner buys Apple products at wholesale prices (maybe having to import them) and resells them with a markup. For warranty claims or repairs outside warranty you have to return the product to Apple.

Anyone else come across this? Can it be right? Surely the name Apple is protected even in Thailand.

Edited June 5, 2016 by hugh2121

[MJCM]

Go here to find the Apple Authorised Shops / Repair Centers : https://locate.apple.com/th/en

Edited June 5, 2016 by MJCM

[sniffdog]

Correct. And when you need a repair you goyo the Apple Service Center which are seperate from the dealers.

[PoorSucker]

Moved to Apple forum.

[samuijimmy]

Go here to find the Apple Authorised Shops / Repair Centers : https://locate.apple.com/th/en

Correct! well sort of

I just put in my postcode for Samui, where there is (was?) a service centre, tied into the Ibeats Stores ...

I am going near the store tomorrow, will try to see if they are still doing... (for Samui that is, I realise that does not help everyone!)

Some of the Ibeats stores do have service centres .... it's a matter of asking!

Also listed at the top of the Apple Forum here is this.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722640-apple-mac-warranty-centres-in-thailand-official-places/

[Lammbock]

Just look out for the "Apple authorized resellers" stores.

[happy pattaya man]

I've taken my Macbook Air to a guy near Tukcom twice,

1st repair..the port for recharging was shot, opened it up and replaced the inner socket with an original part

2nd repair..a new battery he brought in next day from BKK, again, original

Well priced on both repairs

hpm.

[robpuff]

Thailand has only reseller shops not retail...

one can get repairs at authorized iServe places in BKK.

Singapore one can get APPLE products at real shops.

[Doctorbu]

There is a store in the mall here in Pattaya called "Istore"......the layout is similar to an Apple Store but as peviously stated is only a resale store......they do not offer repairs either.

[jonw8uk]

When is an Apple dealer not an Apple dealer?

When they are authorised resellers.

Apple don't own any stores here, maybe because they can't own the stores here?

iBeats iStudio etc etc are authorised. there is no issue with Apple's name being protected or not.

Some of these stores have service centres.

Other service centres are only that; no sales

My macbook pro recently went in for warranty repairs at a service centre in fortune town. Just means they have the diagnostic gear, have done some training and can claim back the costs from Apple

Contact apple care and they will direct you to the nearest store

[brucegoniners]

There are only Apple authorized dealers and Apple authorized service centers in Thailand, no Apple stores.

As a big Apple customer this is something that has bothered me for some time.

If you need something repaired the service centers send your device to Singapore.

[elgordo38]

When is an Apple dealer not an Apple dealer?

When they are authorised resellers.

Apple don't own any stores here, maybe because they can't own the stores here?

iBeats iStudio etc etc are authorised. there is no issue with Apple's name being protected or not.

Some of these stores have service centres.

Other service centres are only that; no sales

My macbook pro recently went in for warranty repairs at a service centre in fortune town. Just means they have the diagnostic gear, have done some training and can claim back the costs from Apple

Contact apple care and they will direct you to the nearest store

Your first clue is when the sign outside the store is spelled AMPLE

[chilli42]

It's correct. Apple is not directly present in Thailand. They have an authorized dealer Copperwire. These are the Apple looking shops in Thailand. They have good repair capabilities. However, if you have not purchased directly from them, you are going to have issues. Certainly nothing in Thailand like the service back home. I was having a problem with my iPhone ... that I purchased in Thailand.. Went into the Apple shop to have it looked at by one of their techs. He tried it out and declared it looked messed up an promptly gave me a new iPhone.

[MJCM]

Post withdrawn

Edited June 6, 2016 by MJCM

[MJCM]

There are only Apple authorized dealers and Apple authorized service centers in Thailand, no Apple stores.

As a big Apple customer this is something that has bothered me for some time.

If you need something repaired the service centers send your device to Singapore.

+1

And the stores here don't have all the models.

When asked them for 64Gb iPod Touch, answer was "No have, have to order online"

And thus I did and got Free engraving with it. Paid with my BBL ATM card and arrived with a courier less then a week after I ordered it

[nongsangcity]

I think Hong Kong is the nearest for apple problem....or maybe Singapore.....my experiance with any Apple problems here in Thailand is they the shop/store only sell products they have no back up and your apple world wide warrenty is none of their business....

[samuijimmy]

I never quite get this need to have an "Apple Store" in Thailand, even if there was it would be centred in BKK... not much use for us out in the boonies!

Yes, Copperwire, parent company of Istudio, Ibeats, etc... will have to order specific specs, from Singapore or China. (HK) which from my experience can take longer than ordering from the Apple online store, which is usually about four days providing you don't order on a Thursday or Friday!

I did check out Ibeats, here on Samui today, they had intentions of opening an Icare store, but never did, they send to BKK and said it would take about a month to get back. Other areas may have Icare repair shops?

Fortunately we have a good Mac tech guy here on Samui, who has built himself a good reputation for service... (non warranty) ...

[samuijimmy]

I think Hong Kong is the nearest for apple problem....or maybe Singapore.....my experiance with any Apple problems here in Thailand is they the shop/store only sell products they have no back up and your apple world wide warrenty is none of their business....

The answer to that is already mentioned in this thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722640-apple-mac-warranty-centres-in-thailand-official-places/

[jonw8uk]

I think Hong Kong is the nearest for apple problem....or maybe Singapore.....my experiance with any Apple problems here in Thailand is they the shop/store only sell products they have no back up and your apple world wide warrenty is none of their business....

If its under warranty call Applecare.

It's probably better to not involve the shop you bought it from anyway. If they aren't also a service centre they would get nothing out of sending it for repair on your behalf - it may sit in the back office for a week until you call to check for progress...

As I said my macbook (ordered online via apple store Thailand) had a screen problem. I requested a callback online and within 5 minutes I was explaining the issue to a girl in New Zealand. We went through some checks/tests - not resolved, so she opened a ticket and gave me the number. I gave her my post code and she emailed me the nearest 10 service centres.

Took it in, 2 weeks later (parts from SG) I collect, with a new retina screen and logic board.

I suspect in the UK/US/etc they offer a door to door service, but for here, it was painless enough, and I was glad the extended applecare has more than paid for itself.

No issue with Apple service at all

[samuijimmy]

troll post removed !

[BlindMagician]

Welcome to LoS! Where reality is very different to the surface show.

As for your question...errmm...when they are a banana seller?

Think seven times before buying any branded labelled goods.

[Lammbock]

I find it strange that India will get 3 dedicated Apple stores but Thailand still have 0.

I mean common, INDIA !!! Jeez!!!!

Edited June 7, 2016 by Lammbock

[MJCM]

Not so surprising, as India has a lot more people living there and is a lot richer (thus more people likely to buy an Apple Product)

India +/- 1.2 Billion People

Thailand +/- 67 Million

India Nr 14 on National Wealth in 2015

Thailand, not even in the TOP 30

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_wealth

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Asian_and_Pacific_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29

Edited June 7, 2016 by MJCM