Apple

The other side of Apple Stores: employees speak up about corruption, destruction and sexual harassment

posted by Victor H. / Dec 20, 2012, 10:24 AM

The other side of Apple Stores: employees speak up about corruption, destruction and sexual harassment

The Apple Store is a place where usually there is a ton of friendly people, a little island of freedom where you can check out the newest iGadgets and do whatever you want with them. However, that feeling of liberty carried over to Apple Store employees as a lot of dirty details have now surfaced about corruption and intentional destruction of devices at retail stores.

All the digging started with a video of Walmart employees throwing around iPads and breaking them just for fun. It got us wondering whether there are more people doing the same stupid thing just for fun without actually uploading the videos online.

And now a Gizmodo investigation with some former Apple Store employees uncovers the dirty details, the other side of the store.

Intentional destruction of expensive Apple devices turns out to be often a game for employees who would then just send them back to Cupertino under some pre-text. People would “test” gadgets - drop them on the floor, compete who’d crack a screen the most, and so on.

After getting used to destroying the devices you are supposed to sell comes the logical thought to actually steal it. And that’s what many did too. Phones were getting swapped numerous times for money.

And stealing meant not just the gadgets but users’ data. Whenever a hot-looking customer walked in store with a broken device, he or she would be asked for their passcode and then the device would get scanned by employees for naked pictures. Again, that sounds more like a routine, even a group-bonding exercise for Geniuses rather than an isolated case.

That’s hardly everything, it’s more like scratching the surface - but it’s an interesting read, check it all out with reporting from the horse’s mouth at the source below.

source: Gizmodo

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50 Comments

1. RaKithAPeiRiZ

Posts: 1488; Member since: Dec 29, 2011

time to boycott these tycoons

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:31 AM 23

14. sithvenger

Posts: 371; Member since: Aug 25, 2012

No it's time to prosecute those employees.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:54 AM 30

18. PhenomFaz

Posts: 1236; Member since: Sep 26, 2012

Prosecute is right! Apple Geniuses?...more like A$$hole Perverts! Breaking and stealing is very bad but at least it doesn't affect the customer...but sexual harrassment...this is crap! I will never gify my mom, sis, any female relative or any woman/girl an iDeice just because of this! I am a strong believer and supporter of women's rights and protection of these rights. Come on people open your eyes...this could happen to anyone of your families! Apple A$$holes can go to hell as far as I am concerned!

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:08 AM 19

50. Nadr1212

Posts: 741; Member since: Sep 22, 2012

Wat the f**k does "interesting read" mean? That's just being abusive and mean of those people's security, TALK ABOUT RUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:36 PM 0

22. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

And people wonder why the supply of iToys is tight? Apple may not be making as many sales as they are claiming. First there is the matter of display yield at the display manufacturer. Now there is the intentional destruction at the store. It seems to be a miracle that any iToys make it to customers. I am curious where the sabotage is greatest?

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:26 AM 4

24. smartphone

Posts: 160; Member since: Oct 21, 2011

The correction is "time to boycott these cartoons"

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:37 AM 3

48. dan86

Posts: 298; Member since: Mar 17, 2012

Steve was a dictator Nazi.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 9:27 PM 0

49. disneydad

Posts: 114; Member since: Mar 26, 2012

Do you mean he was Nazi like dictator or a Nazi to dictators?

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:13 PM 0

2. mas11

Posts: 1034; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

Wow this is surprising even for apple.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:34 AM 1

27. NexusKoolaid

Posts: 493; Member since: Oct 24, 2011

So, some people working retail do stupid things. Not surprised. Stores running under weak management allow employees to run amok. Again, not surprised. None of this is anything that doesn't happen in other companies to some degree. In any retail chain there will be good stores and bad stores. Seems like Apple may have a few too many problem stores and now that this is public, they'll look into the matter. The fact that this stuff has come to light doesn't surprise me much - I'd be more interested to see how Apple handles the situation.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:47 AM 6

31. Cynipap999

Posts: 138; Member since: Nov 15, 2012

I couldn't agree more, this is just so iTwisted on so many levels. I'm no fan of Apple but, to recklessly destroy Apple products for no reason whatsoever, especially since it's not like their products have evolved in a way to remain a competitive threat, is just sick and vicious. Apple will probably release a statement saying, "We at Apple have been iViolated, please stay iTuned and continue to buy our products."

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 12:49 PM 3

43. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

i agree how they handle it is more important than stopping the "inevitable" battle between good and evil........you cant stop it but you can sure organize things out and do away with as much of it as possible.....

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 6:24 PM 1

3. rawkuss

Posts: 29; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Had a friend tell me half of the stuff that was in that Gizmodo article happen like a year ago right before he quit. Wonder what will happen at these stores now that a this stuff is "public".

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:34 AM 4

4. bucky

Posts: 3785; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

This is soo stupid...

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:34 AM 0

5. gwuhua1984

Posts: 1237; Member since: Mar 06, 2012

Wow... i can see why people want to work there now...

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:34 AM 11

6. MeoCao unregistered

Sexual harassment from Geniuses? OMG All Apple cares about is grabbing money?

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:37 AM 14

45. VJo003

Posts: 365; Member since: Mar 11, 2012

Company wants to grab money Employees want to grab some ads

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 8:24 PM 0

7. TheMan

Posts: 494; Member since: Sep 21, 2012

I'm not saying any harassment or wanton act of destruction is trivial, but every retailer has these problems. Finding them at Apple shouldn't surprise anyone.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:40 AM 10

11. androidisbaws

Posts: 74; Member since: Dec 17, 2012

Nope, probably just apple. You'll never find this at a store carrying any android products because those employees tend to be smarter and more respectful like the fans of android.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:49 AM 8

16. kindlefireowner

Posts: 504; Member since: Dec 05, 2011

Android user smarter and more respectful? Are you kidding me. Android lover's wait for months for updates that never come. Is that smart. Android lover's post here everyday on how great Jelly Bean is going be on their phone, but the minute Google says Key Lime Pie is coming, Those same android lover's will say Jelly Bean is outdated and now I want Key Lime Pie. Which they know nothing about. That is stupid.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:00 AM 3

36. rusticguy

Posts: 2828; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

Grapes are sour for you? :)

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 2:11 PM 3

17. chaoticrazor

Posts: 2347; Member since: Aug 28, 2012

your really living in your own little delusion aren't you respectful, most of your android fans dont know the meaning of that word and you have proved that time and time again. this happens everywhere sadly. your pathetic basically, if you want to be a one sided troll do it on the trivial articles like the kid you are

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:02 AM 3

30. androidisbaws

Posts: 74; Member since: Dec 17, 2012

*you're

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 12:21 PM 7

19. eisenbricher

Posts: 973; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

Your post made my day.... a mobile OS purifying people's mind!? Wow Android is a must buy for all the Rapists. Govt should force Android for all the criminals, it'll purify them! BS //

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:12 AM 1

28. androidisbaws

Posts: 74; Member since: Dec 17, 2012

We won't have anymore school shootings, that's for sure.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 12:08 PM 2

25. Aeires unregistered

I had to laugh that there were people who didn't see your caustic sense of humor and replied in a defensive manner to it. I kinda thought the "/s" was implied.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:42 AM 3

33. Droiddoes unregistered

Actually yes it should be surprising. You do know this is almost 2013 right? Even the crappiest of crappy companies (wal mart, walgreens) takes sexual harrassment VERY seriously and has a zero tolerance policy. Best I can figure is apple holds a patent on sexual harassment, which invalidates the harassers actions and opens them up to a lawsuit.