We here at BGR love Apple products as much as the next guy, but we think this crossed the line a little bit. Thanks to tip from a close friend of the Boy Genius Report, we’ve uncovered a truly amazing exchange between Apple and a customer. The customer, an owner of a recently water-damaged MacBook Pro, called Apple customer care to get information about repair costs. Accepting full responsibility for the water damage, the customer was still subjected to confusing and contradictory information about the repair. Frustrated with his experience, he took matters into his own hands, emailing sjobs@apple.com (a widely acknowledged direct line to high-level Apple customer care). The customer’s email is as follows:

Dear Steve Jobs,

I wanted to write and express my concern about some recent problems that I have had with Apple Care. This week, my MacBook Pro unfortunately sustained water damage. I understand this is entirely my fault but it is still something I would like to get fixed. After three or four calls I was finally able to get a straight answer. While I was happy to get a straight answer, I was not at all happy with the answer. It is very worrisome to me that the only way to get my computer fixed is to pay almost $300.00 up front with no guarantee that this will fix the problem. I was horrified to learn that their is no system to assess the problem and bill once all damage is known. I am reluctant to put money into a problem that could easily grow. I have had three Apple computers in a row. I love using them but I am not sure if my replacement will be one. I feel powerless in the situation and the whole experience has turned me off of the Apple company.

Sincerely,

Xxxxxx Xxxx

Reasonable? We think so. Shortly after, the customer received the following response:

Xxxxxxx,

This is what happens when your MacBook Pro sustains water damage.They are pro machines and they don’t like water. It sounds like you’re just looking for someone to get mad at other than yourself.

Steve

We find that response totally comical! Don’t you? While we’re guessing Steve Jobs himself wasn’t on the other end of this, it’s certainly a direct response from the @apple.com domain, which is only available to employees of the company. This means that someone directly representing Apple was responsible for this stunt. Come on, Apple. Seriously, this isn’t a good way to treat your customers, though you do get major points for the witty and comical response.

UPDATE: Full email after the break!

From: Steve Jobs <sjobs@apple.com>

Date: March 27, 2008 6:53:46 PM EDT

To: [email removed <xxxxx@gmail.com>

Subject: Re: Apple Care Concern

Delivered-To: xxxxx@gmail.com

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In-Reply-To: <B42B0DBE-EE24-4879-ABC8-940D419906AA@gmail.com>

References: <B42B0DBE-EE24-4879-ABC8-940D419906AA@gmail.com>

X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.919.2)

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Xxxxxxx,

This is what happens when your MacBook Pro sustains water damage. They are pro machines and they don’t like water. It sounds like you’re just looking for someone to get mad at other than yourself.

Steve

On Mar 27, 2008, at 3:01 PM, Xxxxxx Xxxx wrote:

Dear Steve Jobs,

I wanted to write and express my concern about some recent problems that I have had with

Apple Care. This week, my MacBook Pro unfortunately sustained water damage. I understand

this is entirely my fault but it is still something I would like to get fixed. After three or four calls

I was finally able to get a straight answer. While I was happy to get a straight answer, I was

not at all happy with the answer. It is very worrisome to met that the only way to get my

computer fixed is to pay almost $300.00 up front with no guarantee that this will fix the problem.

I was horrified to learn that their is no system to asses the problem and bill once all damage is

known. I am reluctant to put money into a problem that could easily grow. I have had three

Apple computers in a row. I love using them but I am not sure if my replacement will be one.

I feel powerless in the situation and the whole experience has turned me off of the Apple

company.

Sincerely,

Xxxxxx Xxxx