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This was from 2021 and in the end he was at least able to talk to some humans and solve the issue. As bad as it was, it was still miles ahead of what you could

This was from 2021 and in the end he was at least able to talk to some humans and solve the issue. As bad as it was, it was still miles ahead of what you could expect in a similar situation with google.

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
ipv6ipv4 1y ago
Apple support is amazingly good. It’s stark when most other companies have “optimized” customer service to discourage users from using or achieving anything through it. It’s also often an interesting glimpse into Apple’s behind the scenes tech support tools which are quite extensive.
- vachina 1y ago
  Yes. Even outside of US. Had a pending unauthorized Apple Store purchase on my CC, it was a 5 minute wait before I could reach a person on Apple Support app and get clarification.
  - elzbardico 1y ago
    Yes, even in what are called developing countries.
r0fl 1y ago
The fact that you can’t talk to a human about being locked out of Gmail which is used for millions of people’s entire lives is absolutely mind blowing
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- benoau 1y ago
  The fact that in 2025 there is still no "rights" or "due process" for users is astonishing, you can be banned by automated systems, refused any reason, refused any actual recourse, and it's just forever. Thoroughly inadequate for platforms that have become entrenched in modern life.
  - tuckerman 1y ago
    It’s also interesting to consider this in the context of some of the anti-trust litigation going on. I have complicated feelings overall but the fact that I might no longer be able to sync my Chrome settings because of automation applied to my YouTube account is not comforting. If these companies stay together there needs to be a change to how account banning is handled.
  - JumpCrisscross 1y ago
    > fact that in 2025 there is still no "rights" or "due process" for users is astonishing Most Google users don’t pay a dime for their services. I don’t think it’s reasonable to mandate customer service for free users.
    - benoau 1y ago
      Google generates nearly $200 billion a year in ad revenue off those users so I don't think depicting them as a charity is accurate.
      - JumpCrisscross 1y ago
        > don't think depicting them as a charity is accurate They’re not a charity. But they also don’t owe their users for what’s tendered for free. Where I’d agree with OP is in requiring extensive CS for paying users.
        benoau 1y ago
        Whenever a company has hundreds of billions in one hand and an excuse not to spend it it is usually a case of "privatize the profits, socialize the costs". Ban gmail addresses being used for government services, banking, health, utilities etc if they don't want to dip into the staggering profits they generate off these "free" users to guarantee basic rights and recourse from their own systems.
- op7 1y ago
  Some people consider that a security feature.
notpushkin 1y ago
It’s a good thing that Google doesn’t have a credit card (or does it?)
microtonal 1y ago
We have had contact with Apple support about three times since 2007 and every time they were both reachable by phone and extremely helpful. Last time there was an issue with ordering Apple Care for a MacBook leading to the amount getting subtracted from our account twice. It took only a few minutes to escalate it from the first line of support to their financial department. After the issue was solved, they called back after a week to make sure things were also good on my end. Same thing happened when my wife had an issue about 10 years ago, not only were they very helpful, they also called her a week later to make sure everything was up to her expectations. (This was in NL and DE respectively.) The only other large company that I have similar experiences with is our ISP (KPN in NL) who are also really easy to get hold off and very helpful (down to helping you hook up your own fiber equipment).
przemub 1y ago
I was automatically blocked by Google when I was a teenager, lost data that meant a lot to me… I even wrote a letter to the local Google office asking for help, to no response. To no surprise, there’s no Google in my life since then, except when my work mandates it.

deleted 1y ago

[deleted]

ipv6ipv4 1y ago

Apple support is amazingly good. It’s stark when most other companies have “optimized” customer service to discourage users from using or achieving anything through it. It’s also often an interesting glimpse into Apple’s behind the scenes tech support tools which are quite extensive.

vachina 1y ago
Yes. Even outside of US. Had a pending unauthorized Apple Store purchase on my CC, it was a 5 minute wait before I could reach a person on Apple Support app and get clarification.
- elzbardico 1y ago
  Yes, even in what are called developing countries.

r0fl 1y ago

The fact that you can’t talk to a human about being locked out of Gmail which is used for millions of people’s entire lives is absolutely mind blowing

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
benoau 1y ago
The fact that in 2025 there is still no "rights" or "due process" for users is astonishing, you can be banned by automated systems, refused any reason, refused any actual recourse, and it's just forever. Thoroughly inadequate for platforms that have become entrenched in modern life.
- tuckerman 1y ago
  It’s also interesting to consider this in the context of some of the anti-trust litigation going on. I have complicated feelings overall but the fact that I might no longer be able to sync my Chrome settings because of automation applied to my YouTube account is not comforting. If these companies stay together there needs to be a change to how account banning is handled.
- JumpCrisscross 1y ago
  > fact that in 2025 there is still no "rights" or "due process" for users is astonishing Most Google users don’t pay a dime for their services. I don’t think it’s reasonable to mandate customer service for free users.
  - benoau 1y ago
    Google generates nearly $200 billion a year in ad revenue off those users so I don't think depicting them as a charity is accurate.
    - JumpCrisscross 1y ago
      > don't think depicting them as a charity is accurate They’re not a charity. But they also don’t owe their users for what’s tendered for free. Where I’d agree with OP is in requiring extensive CS for paying users.
      - benoau 1y ago
        Whenever a company has hundreds of billions in one hand and an excuse not to spend it it is usually a case of "privatize the profits, socialize the costs". Ban gmail addresses being used for government services, banking, health, utilities etc if they don't want to dip into the staggering profits they generate off these "free" users to guarantee basic rights and recourse from their own systems.
op7 1y ago
Some people consider that a security feature.

notpushkin 1y ago

It’s a good thing that Google doesn’t have a credit card (or does it?)

microtonal 1y ago

We have had contact with Apple support about three times since 2007 and every time they were both reachable by phone and extremely helpful. Last time there was an issue with ordering Apple Care for a MacBook leading to the amount getting subtracted from our account twice. It took only a few minutes to escalate it from the first line of support to their financial department. After the issue was solved, they called back after a week to make sure things were also good on my end. Same thing happened when my wife had an issue about 10 years ago, not only were they very helpful, they also called her a week later to make sure everything was up to her expectations. (This was in NL and DE respectively.) The only other large company that I have similar experiences with is our ISP (KPN in NL) who are also really easy to get hold off and very helpful (down to helping you hook up your own fiber equipment).

przemub 1y ago

I was automatically blocked by Google when I was a teenager, lost data that meant a lot to me… I even wrote a letter to the local Google office asking for help, to no response. To no surprise, there’s no Google in my life since then, except when my work mandates it.