Apple retail employees, customers voice concerns

According to one report, Apple sales reps in California-based Apple retail stores were promised a holiday bonus of $1000 US for meeting or beating sales goals of Apple computers or iPods. Additionally, if both iPod and computer goals were reached, Apple sales reps on the store floors were to receive a double bonus, sources said.

"We hit and far surpassed our goals on both," one Apple Retail employee said. "The bonus wasn't even close to that. There is a major coverup going on and the only people taking the fall are the retail floor. So as employees of the retail store we were looking forward to this money. Especially after the holidays where we were misled in to believing we would be getting this money."

Apple retail employees reportedly do not work on commission and are paid out between $8 and $12 an hour. "One fellow employee sold $500,000 worth of product in a single quarter and got a $500 bonus," one source said. The kick-back amounts to less than 1% of the total sale of the merchandise.

A second, now ex-Apple retail employee on the east coast, claims that his Apple store exceeded both bonus goals last quarter. "A few days into the New Year, I was asked to sign a disciplinary form (for being more than 6 minutes late for my shift). The form was dated 12-31-2003 although it was already 2004."

When the employee's bonus did not show up as expected, the employee was told by store management that he was was no longer eligible due to being under "Disciplinary Action" during the quarter due to the pre-dated disciplinary form.

The employee soon quit his position, along with another 20% of the store's staff.

Meanwhile, an Apple authorized educator has experienced his own array of issues at Apple retail stores when attempting to make software purchases with his educational discount and holiday Apple Gift Card.

According to the report, Apple Retail Stores only give educational discounts on Apple hardware, but require discounted software purchases to be made from the Apple Online Store. However, when the educator attempted to place his order at the online store, he was informed that the Apple Gift Card would not be accepted as tender for payment for online purchases.

"So, I am entitled to a valid discount for being an employee of an educational institution, have a valid Apple Gift Card with funds to spend, and cannot spend those funds on what I want to spend them on because the issuer of the card will not accept it for payment!"

Calls to the Apple Store were met with "Sorry, we can't take the card" responses, and requests for a refund on the Apple Gift Card where denied.

The retail store itself said they have asked the Apple home office for an explanation as to why they can't sell software at educational prices and have never received an answer.