Our friend Salah El-Din had an experience with Apple's technical support, and the truth is the experience is distinctive and strange and publishing it will be of benefit to the user, so we decided to share this unique experience with you ...

IPhone purchase:

My friend Haitham bought an iPhone 4S from Dubai in the first of February, and he brought it to Egypt and it has been working fine since he bought it.

 The beginning of the problem:

A month later, he tried to download the 5.1 update, but the attempt failed after installing about 80%, so he decided not to try the update again, and I continued using the phone for 4 hours, and then he closed the phone and unlocked it again, and a sign appeared to him that the phone needs to be connected to i-Twins. Connect to iTunes ”

Then he plugged it in and tried to download the update again, and the update failed with a message

The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (-1)

So he handed me the device to try to fix it as I am an old experience with Apple, so I made several attempts to download the 5.1 update on the device, and all of them failed!

 

Apple Technical Support Service:

I did not find any solution on the Internet, and there was no longer anything I could do, so I decided to contact Apple directly, so I called the technical support number in the United States of America.

Apple Technical Support: +18006947466-XNUMX-XNUMX-XNUMX

 And of course I did not call from my phone - the price per minute is expensive for two pills - I called through Skype

Call details:

At first you will hear a recorded voice taking data from you about the problem, and then a customer service representative told me of course he did not know what was wrong (1-), but he kept trying to download the software, re-download iTunes, or close the protection programs. In the end, after about 30 minutes, the problem was not solved. Then, I was referred to the customer service supervisor, "Jonathan Mitchell", who in turn apologized a lot for the prolonged period and then did the following:

Send an email to a computer screen sharing program, meaning that it sees everything that happens on the computer

And after running the program, I was asked to open the file - the attachment - in the following path:

% AppData% \ Apple Computer \ iTunes \ iPhone Updater Logs

And he looked through it, and stopped at the next line:

Unable to convert ramrod error 1004

And he unfortunately told me that the problem is in the hardware, and he apologized a lot, and began the procedures for replacing the device:

He told me, go to the nearest branch of Vodafone Egypt, and tell them that you followed up the problem with me on the phone and that it is a hardware problem and the device must be replaced and inform them of the details of the problem as follows:

The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (-1)

و

Unable to convert ramrod error 1004

و

K-base Article em452

 

And talk to him if there is any problem directly. Of course he used to see the world very easy, and he did not know that we are in Egypt! :)

Customer Service in Vodafone Egypt:

 Of course I went to Vodafone, the Salam Hotel branch, and the first thing they said: We have nothing to do with the iPhone as long as it was not bought from us. Of course I explained the whole issue to them and I called Jonathan on my phone because they refused to speak to him from them! He asked me how to change the damaged iPhone in Vodafone Egypt, so I asked them, and the response was that they do not change any device until they receive a request from the maintenance officials while they are in Egypt. Best Buy Egypt

Then I gave my phone to the Vodafone service representative - his name is Khaled Abbas, as I remember - to talk to him, and after a long call between the Vodafone service representative and the Apple service supervisor, they agreed to send him the Vodafone department email to correspond with them, and as soon as he closed the call, Khaled Abbas - Vodafone service representative - by giving me a piece of paper written on it with a pen. The Vodafone Egypt website and Best Buy Egypt site, and I said, let him enter the site and text them from there. (And I said to myself, Glory be to God, he did not bother to give me the direct e-mail of the administration or even the official of Best Buy Egypt at least)

Of course, I was embarrassed to tell the customer service representative at Apple to enter an Arabic site and try to bring the administration mail, so I entered myself on Best Buy Egypt’s website and searched until I found the e-mail and sent it to Jonathan, and he corresponded with them directly.

Best Buy Egypt was waiting for three days, during which Jonathan apologized to me for not responding to him! And he appreciates the problem that I'm in without the iPhone! And it tries to find other solutions, such as sending the iPhone to Dubai and then replacing it from there.

 

Three days later, Jonathan replied to me after receiving the reply from Best Buy Egypt:

I just heard back from Best Buy's Managing Director, Khaled Fathy. He has informed me that they cannot handle unlocked phones at this time. My best recommendation is to get the phone into Dubai where it can be serviced. If you have any questions, please let me know!

 

Of course, I thanked him for his great interest, and I will send a phone to Dubai with my brother, God willing, and let us see what happens.


 

Here the story ended, but I still have questions and questions yet:

  • What is this strange problem and what is the relationship of hardware in iPhone 4S and update 5.1! Or is it a coincidence
  • The way customer service deals with the Vodafone branch is strange, and it does not indicate concern for the customer or the product
  • There was an apparent mockery of Jonathan by the customer service at the Vodafone branch in their side talk
  • I don't know why they didn't give me any Vodafone management email or a BEST BUY EGYPT email
  • Where is the spirit of customer service that we feel when dealing with foreigners? Why is the customer treated as if he has no right but to pay?
  • I witnessed great follow-up and keenness from Apple's technical support, despite my confidence that there are thousands who seek support from them daily

 

In any case, it was an enjoyable experience, or I hope you benefit from it, and may God reward you with good

 


Update

 

Vodafone Egypt called us and sent this message ...

Dear Sir,

A colleague from our company has forwarded this article to me, being the responsible person for iPhone After Sales support in Vodafone Egypt.

First of all, I would like to apologize for any unintentional behavior that was done by our colleagues in ElSalam Store. Secondly, I would be glad if you can send me your mobile number and email to get in touch with you regarding your problem. Rest assured that I will do my best to help you through isA.

PS: I hope this message can reach you before you send it to UAE.

We thank Vodafone Egypt for the interest and follow-up, and this is the spirit that we wish for in our Arab countries.

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