I have been a loyal Apple customer since 2014 and, until recently, had never experienced poor customer service. However, my visit on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 14:40 was by far the worst experience I have had with Apple.
I purchased AirPods 4 on December 5, 2025. After a few weeks, I began experiencing an intermittent connectivity issue: whenever I was on a phone or video call while walking, the connection would repeatedly drop and reconnect. Notably, this problem only occurred while in motion.
I first visited the Apple Store at Grand Arcade on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 14:00. I was assisted by Bernard, who was professional, helpful, and resolved the issue at the time. Unfortunately, the problem returned a few days later.
I booked a second appointment on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 13:45 with Kelvin. He replaced the AirPods (but not the case), and the issue appeared resolved for nearly two weeks before reoccurring.
My third appointment, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 14:40, was where the experience deteriorated significantly. I was assisted by Steven, and from the outset, his approach was dismissive and unhelpful. Despite the full history of the issue being clearly documented in the system, instead of focusing on resolving the problem, he lectured me about Apple’s technology and frequencies.
He refused to consider replacing the AirPods, even though I had not requested a replacement, I simply wanted the issue properly diagnosed and resolved. Rather than offering constructive solutions or exploring possible causes, he suggested I test the AirPods with another device, implying the fault lay with me. As a customer, this was both frustrating and inappropriate. His attitude made me feel as though I was attempting to exploit the system for replacements, which was not the case.
The interaction ultimately left me feeling dismissed and cornered into requesting a refund, as no alternative solutions were meaningfully discussed.
Fortunately, the situation improved when the manager, Rashpal, intervened. She handled the situation professionally, calmly, and with genuine concern. She took the time to reassess the issue, offered clear options, and arranged for a technician to further investigate. Both Rashpal and the technician demonstrated excellent customer service and professionalism, ultimately replacing the full AirPods set.
However, the issue occurred again later that same day (April 7). As a result, I returned to the store on April 8, 2026 at 14:15 and requested a refund.
In summary, Bernard, Kelvin, Rashpal, and the technician all provided professional, courteous, and helpful service. Unfortunately, Steven’s conduct was unprofessional, dismissive, and left a lasting negative impression. It was the worst customer service experience I have had with Apple.