Funny you should mentioned power adaptors. I was refused a power adaptor when I asked for a replacement — after reading they replace them if they fray (and are in otherwise good condition). I wish I’d have known they replace them before buying about 4 or so in the last few years before that. The best thing about the new USB-C MBP is the fact you change replace the cable on the power supply. They nearly always died on the old ones.

But as I say, they refused. Of course, I left the store with a free one after about an hour of arguing but it was an hour I should not have had to argue.

That was in Spain.

A year or so later in London on a business trip, with a couple of hours before my flight, I popped in to an Apple store to have another one replaced (I always had at least 2 on the go at any one time). Same thing had happened to that supply and a similar experience followed.

At first they wanted me to make an appointment for another day. After explaining I was in the UK for 2 more hours and had a plane to catch, they told me to join the very long queue at the Genius bar. When I asked if there was any chance I’d be seen in time to get my flight, they said no.

So why tell me to join the queue?

After — again — having to ask for the manager, I explained my situation again. Then they agreed to replace it. But I had to provide them with the invoice. Of course, I didn’t have it on me. I didn’t plan to go to the store when I flew in to London.

I asked why they couldn’t just look at my Apple account and see the number of Apple computers I’ve bought but they wouldn’t do that.

In the end, I had to spend 30 minutes connecting to my bank, going through a csv file of transactions (it’s not the world’s best banking system), to find a transaction that roughly matched the date and amount I’d told them.

And then they swapped it. On the proof of a date and amount. Nothing more. No proof of what I’d bought. They were just being stubborn.

And before you ask, I am always friendly and polite in situations like this until they take the piss, and then I get more serious and insistent of my rights, but not verbally rude or aggressive.