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

51. MixMaster

Posts: 18; Member since: Nov 09, 2012

Don't worry..in my opinion it is the same everywhere and with every product. This is the reason I delete all my info and accounts in case my phone needs to go to service. I backup all my info and i usually do a hard reset. And no..not because I have naked pictures of myself in it :))

posted on Dec 21, 2012, 1:42 AM 0

47. dan86

Posts: 298; Member since: Mar 17, 2012

Steve was a dictator Nazi.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 9:25 PM 0

42. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

I think the thing ppl are over looking is the training process Apple Store employees go thru. These are Geniuses, remember? http://www.phonearena.com/news/Apple-Genius-Training-Student-Workbook-manual-leaks-inside-the-reality-distortion-field_id33818 Remember this article? That reads almost like brainwashing techniques. You wouldnt expect someone that studied and uses this manual to do whats posted in this article. I wouldnt be surprised if Apple did psych tests for potential employees.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 6:10 PM 2

41. Edmund

Posts: 656; Member since: Jul 13, 2012

You forgot about the babies they sacrifice in the storeroom after each sale. Apparently employees drink the blood for extra energy. Time to boycott the site. You guys are pathetic

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 5:37 PM 1

40. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

I'm just surprised Gizmodo is doing this. That's one of the first sites ppl mention being biased towards Apple.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 4:42 PM 1

39. speckledapple

Posts: 902; Member since: Sep 29, 2011

Well now, is this something new? Probably not as we have no real idea the things that the people who helps us in our many comforts do.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 4:27 PM 0

29. parkwaydr

Posts: 572; Member since: Sep 07, 2011

Guys apple may be a lot of things. But I seriously doubt any upper management guys would be OK with these things. Even if its just to save public face. I'm sure these things will be handled. Apple knows public image is important.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 12:20 PM 1

34. Droiddoes unregistered

Exactly, I mean look how seriously they took the Foxxconn debacle. They turned that place right around and the workers are now happy, productive, and well compensated. That was sarcasm btw.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 1:17 PM 3

35. parkwaydr

Posts: 572; Member since: Sep 07, 2011

Be that as it may. Most Americans could care less about working conditions of other countries . But something like this would have a completely different outcome.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 2:02 PM 1

37. Droiddoes unregistered

Obviously they "could care less". People always have the option of caring less.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 2:17 PM 1

38. rusticguy

Posts: 2828; Member since: Aug 11, 2012

Spot on. That's why Warren Anderson was protected vehemently by US ...http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bhopal-gas-tragedy-notices-sent-to-warren-anderson-return-to-probe-panel/299805-3-236.html

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 2:18 PM 0

26. TRADEMARK

Posts: 3; Member since: Dec 14, 2012

As long as its not other products than as it is, thats okay, surely they, that, deserve it?

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:45 AM 0

23. dragonscourgex

Posts: 307; Member since: Jan 16, 2012

You can not blame a company for the acts of their employees. Yes, a company should have people in place with high morals and standard to catch people like this before it gets out of hand. Now, if the company knew about it, and did not take steps to remove the problems, then it is the company fault. I hate Apple and their product are overprice junk in my eyes. But, I am not going attack them over action of their employees.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:34 AM 1

21. lubba

Posts: 1313; Member since: Jan 17, 2011

@k4j98 Google's got the most dirt of them all.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:18 AM 0

20. iDroidWin

Posts: 117; Member since: Dec 07, 2012

I hope this doesn't turn into Samsung versus Apple. The problem here lies with employees. I hope Apple takes necessary steps, for their customers. If someone trust apple for something, its for their customer service. I read several comments and was disappointed with them. I don't support Apple policies but its not because of Apple's policies or Samsung or google's higher moral ground. Let's not shift the locus of problem.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 11:15 AM 2

13. disneydad

Posts: 114; Member since: Mar 26, 2012

Now Apple will start sueing people for 'sexting' since they patented it! Seriously, why is anyone surprised? This company is not a uptopian zenith of upstanding moral values but is staffed by average people who do selfish and immoral things. Best Buy's Geek Squad had a similar case regarding accessing users info illegally.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:51 AM 6

12. k4j98

Posts: 60; Member since: Jul 12, 2012

All companies have dirt, it just requires some digging to be revealed.

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:50 AM 1

15. androidisbaws

Posts: 74; Member since: Dec 17, 2012

Except for Google

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:56 AM 2

10. androidisbaws

Posts: 74; Member since: Dec 17, 2012

Another reason to choose Samsung.

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

32. nexusalltheway

Posts: 69; Member since: Nov 28, 2012

100% man

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 1:13 PM 1

9. f1r3z0r

Posts: 92; Member since: Nov 09, 2011

Smell likes felony and will apple sue themselves? Haha haha no cool at all seeing you grandma naked

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:45 AM 1

8. cripton805

Posts: 1485; Member since: Mar 18, 2012

GigiddyGigiddy... Alright!

posted on Dec 20, 2012, 10:42 AM 2

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 //