I wanted to get Bluetooth for the Mac Pro. I called the first store, they said they had it and I could come pick it up. I called back for some reason, and they said they had to install it. I told them I needed the machine because I didn't have any other machines, they said buy ProCare for $99. For a $25 part. "Well, you can attend classes and ...". I asked her if it would extend my warantee... "Ohhh, no you are talking about AppleCare, that's different."

Well, I learned my lesson. I called the next store. They had it. She said I could pick it up. I put the machine in the trunk anyway and drove 30 miles to the further store. She was at lunch. I told them I drove from Oakland, that I couldn't leave with out it, and a big smile. Eventually, one of the guys behind the genius bar figured out that he wasn't really doing anything and graciously offered to put it in for me. I knew what to do but they insisted on doing it anyway.

Moral of the story is that they spent a lot of time for a $25 part that comes with free installation, probably 90 minutes over the course of the several people that were a part of the exchange. If someone messes up a $25 part, it's their own fault. I can dig that Apple will warrantee the machine for just about anything that someone does to it and they don't want fumblefingers roaming around in the case, but really, if someone walks into the store wearing a Java t-shirt and knows about MythTV, they ought to be able to make an exception for that.