Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bibbitybop]

Be warned: The Keifer Apple Service Center in the Myeong-dong Frisbee Apple Store (3rd floor) is awful.

Here's why I'll never go back:

1. Can't give proper directions to the store.
2. Didn't know the basics about what AppleCare covers.
3. Argued with me about what was wrong with my computer part (I showed them the problem and they simply wouldn't listen).
4. Wrote a false report to Apple about my part stating it was "misused and abused." It wasn't. Keifer wanted me to pay for a part that was under warranty. (Apple Tech Support later verified it wasn't misused or abused.)
5. Failed to provide an estimate of time it would take for my new part.
6. After 2 weeks, I got AppleCare Tech Support involved and they resolved everything while cutting out the Keifer store, and stated they would be investigating why all these things went wrong.

Does anyone have any experience with the Apple Service Center in Yongsan?

[Chokse]

The one at Yongsan is better, but not perfect. You've got to remember that none of these service centers is a "real" Apple Service Center.

Apple refuses to open a true Apple Store in Korea (probably because Apple doesn't want to jump through all the kimchi government hoops) and instead partners with a few locally operated service centers, the biggest being DaiWha Computer (the one at Yongsan).

Ultimately, any repairs have to go through Apple Asia (Singapore), so if you are ever getting jerked around by the local service center, give Apple Asia a call and explain the problem. Every time I have done it, they have put the Korean service center in its place and the repair was done and apologies were made.

Dealing with Apple is actually pleasant. Dealing with the Korean service centers is not. Remember that they are not the same.

[pkang0202]

I've always found the 3rd party repairers (not apple authorized) to be much more helpful and cheaper.

[Chokse]

3rd party places are of no help when you are bringing something in for warranty repair. If there is an authorized repair center in your area, you must use that for warranty repair. The 3rd party repair places are only an option if there is no authorized place within a reasonable distance of your home, and you have to contact Apple to make that judgement.

If the product is out of warranty, then yes, it is probably better and cheaper to use a 3rd party place for repairs.

[camaroclow]

I've always had a great experience at the service center at a# in Coex. They speak english well, are very fast, and always pleasant.

[Captain Corea]

Are all of the service centers operated independently?

[Chokse]

Yes, all are independent, but all have to go through Apple Asia. The local repair centers make the initial call about what will and will not be repaired, but Apple Asia makes the final call.

For example, the local shop might say something should be repaired under warranty, but when the repair request is sent to Apple Asia, Apple Asia decides that this particular problem is not covered under warranty (a very unlikely scenario).

A much more common scenario is that the local repair center says that your problem should not be fixed under warranty. You call Apple Asia and work your way up the chain of command. Most of the time, someone along that chain will agree that you should get your repair under warranty and will inform the local repair center. It also helps if you have the 3-year Apple Care or if you own multiple Apple products.

[Caffeinated]

Thumbs up to the repair center at Coex, but call AppleCare first so they can diagnose the problem before going there.