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Categories: IT Services & Computer Repair, Computers [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn CenterMon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
After Apple tried to screw me on a repair for my Macbook Pro, I decided to give Springboard Media a try.
The staff was pleasant, helpful, and gave me a fair price on my repair, which happened to be about HALF of what Apple wanted to charge. They also gave me a detailed breakdown of the costs - unlike Apple who told me that it was what it was and that was it. I got my laptop back very quickly, in 2 days. The laptop was good as new... in fact, it was BETTER than new seeing as how I seemed to have gotten a brand new battery with my bottom case replacement.
Overall, my experience with Springboard was easy, pleasant, and efficient. I'll definitely be going back for all of my Apple sales and service needs.
I see that Everett from Springboard responded to my review, which - is something to be recognized - but my negative experience with Springboard's technical repair unit comes from an Apple Genius' comments - an Apple *employee* telling me - while looking at my records from Springboard - that they were not giving me a good deal at all.
It was the Apple Genius' assessment of Springboard ("Us Apple Geniuses don't work on commission so we just want you to get the best deal - whether it's through Apple or not") that informed my rating.
Alright - so this is generally where I got for computer accessories, but if I had other decent… Read more »
Hi Everett: It's refreshing to see that a local establishment cares enough about their reputation to comment on and clarify negative reviews, it definitely helps to build a solid Yelp community. However, I strongly feel that working individually with your customers when it pertains to dollars and cents is what maintains a loyal customer-base regardless of whatever standard Apple parts price you want to reference. Correct me if I'm wrong but Springboard Media still dictates the price of labor fees?
Being an IT professional, I am very familiar with Apple products and have actually had some of my writing published in Macworld magazine. I found your total quote for parts and labor over the phone to be considerably excessive and unreasonable for such a minor cosmetic repair without even physically seeing the machine. It was enough for me to warrant a one-star review and find another option. I'm aware of the AppleCare agreement terms and actually managed to "unplug" the minor dent completely with a small suction cup. Hopefully no hard feelings and good luck with your business.
Springboard Media wanted $599+ for parts and labor to buff out a small, roughly one centimeter… Read more »
I've bought two iPods and a handful of accessories here in the last couple of years and found the experience to be a very pleasant one. Sales staff were helpful but not overbearing. They didn't try to pressure me into a more expensive option. They made suggestions...some I followed, some I didn't. I researched prices before I came here & found theirs to be at fair market prices.
I'd have no problem returning here for more business, or referring a friend.
The repair guys here are great. My computer kept doing weird things, and they were very nice about working with me to figure out what was going on. The problem was hard to reproduce, so I had to go back and forth a few times, but they were very patient with me and my repeated calls/visits.
My favorite place to go in Philly is Springboard Media.
Every staff member I have ever met there in the 5+ years I have gone there, has been extremely patient (I am no picnic of a customer), very skilled, and professional.
They always take good care of me and never make me feel half as stupid as they should.
I also love that the place is well organized, upbeat and fun.
I have been to a bunch of Mac stores, and no one has taken such good care of me as Everett and his team of uber-geniuses.
I LOVE Springboard!
Every once and a while Yelp points you in the direction of exactly what you need. I tried to modify my macbook on my own...HUGE mistake. It is the coolest looking thing you have ever cast your eyes upon, and during the week and a half that it worked everyone that saw it gave me compliments. Then on the return trip from Atlanta everything went wrong and now it doesn't power on.
I asked the trusted Yelp community where I should go and they pointed me in the direction of Springboard. I knew the Apple Store would disown me for the after market mods i placed but I still needed it fixed by competent people. So I gave Springboard a call and they said I could come in Sunday and probably be seen with no problem but it will cost $59 to take a look and diagnose the problem. NO PROBLEM!
Jump to Sunday and I'm thinking that these guys are just going to kick me out the minute I showed them what I had done. I didn't get the "aggressive" salesperson thing when I walked in...All I got was a couple of Mac guys and girls that wanted to point me in the right direction. I show my creation to the Tech guy in the back and he honestly was intrigued(not pissed) at what I had done. I knew he was pretty good because the guy in front of me wanted DESPERATELY to spend money but the tech gave him an inexpensive alternative that would save the guy time and money. In my book THAT is the definition of customer service.
The tech said he would take a look at it and be at most 10 minutes downstairs. I said it took me longer to figure out how to open the thing so that is great. So he takes it downstairs and I mill around the pretty nicely priced refurbed macbooks and all the cool Mac gear that they have until he returns. When he returned in 10 minutes I was already ready to fork over the money necessary to get it fixed. He told me that since I did the work, he wouldn't try to go over it and gave me a step by step way to fixing it...with(WAIT FOR IT)....NO CHARGE. He didn't charge me a single penny and still helped me out more than I could have asked for.
If I EVER have to get anything else Mac(becasue I am a MACguy now) I am heading straight to Springboard. They are as good as it gets and know way more than the "genius" at the Apple store.
After getting the run around from the Apple Stores in both Ardmore and Cherry Hill, I finally found the alternative to the "Dog and Pony Show" that these stupid Apple stores are. My G5 was considered vintage after 5 years and was not working. It ended up being fatal (logic board), but this team of experts dealt with my problem in a timely and efficient manner. They took the cost of the diagnosis and applied it to the cost of my new computer. Smart for them, good for me. I ended up buying a new IMac. So far I am pleased with it. I got one free class and one $35 one on one class with Andi. She was awesome! Good job team Springboard! The only reason I will not give you 5 stars is because of the woman in the front as I was leaving had the nerve to give me a hard time about validating my parking. This after spending $1700 on a new system. Get over yourself darling. You could learn a few things from the crew in the back of the store. I even got one of the super nice guys to walk my computer out to my car. That was nice!! lasting impressions are just that.
Springboard Media is an oasis for us Apple users. The staff seems more concerned with helping you get things right than selling you something you may not need. Their service department is fast and reliable. I bought a new laptop on "black" friday and chose to upgrade the ram. The install and HD swap were done by the next day. The busiest shopping day of the year and they still got shit done.
If you are looking for any type of wire for your iPod, or Apple computer they have it. If for some reason they don't, they get it for you.
Besides shopping online this only place I have found where I can buy quality computer games that run on an Apple.
As Center City is without an Apple Store I feel that Springboard Media is your best bet when in the market for Apple products or care.
The store isn't huge or fancy, but it'll most likely have what you're looking for whether it be a new desktop or notebook, iPod or some sort of accessory for any of the previously mentioned.
The staff is helpful, knowledgeable & friendly, & I have never found them pushy with their products.
Springboard also buys your old Apple computers to refurbish & resell. In return you get store credit to another item you may desire. It doesn't take them long at all to check your product over - you can bring in your old Mac & walk out with a new one bought with credit from said old Mac within an hour. Not too shabby.
As far as independent computer stores go, Springboard Media isn't bad! Usually when I walk in, they say hello and are generally friendly and attentive, which is rare at a computer store.
As far as prices, they usually keep it at Apple suggested retail prices, which is more than you can say about Bundy. I can't speak about their repair prices as I haven't needed to have one repaired...
The only problem I have is that although they are a repair shop, they don't keep spare parts around. Apple laptops like to lose screws so I'm pretty surprised by this.
As far as I'm concerned, any store that services Will Smith senior is fine by me.
Springboard might leave much to be desired in the customer service department, but I'll assume they are computer geeks who lack social skills and give them the benefit of the doubt. Fact of the matter is, I didn't come to Springboard Media to chat and hang out. I came because my iPod was no longer holding a charge.
I pre-registered for service online and when no one responded by email I called to figure out how to get my iPod serviced. The woman on the phone maintained that she did respond to my service request by email (though it was never received by me or my inbox), but said I could bring it in any time.
I brought my iPod in and was quoted $59, though it would have been 1/2 that if I were a student. (hint: have your friend with a student ID drop off your equipment) She said the repair might take until the next day, maybe later in the afternoon the next day...almost apologetically, like that was an unreasonable amount of time to wait.
Turns out I get a call about 15 minutes later saying my iPod is ready to be picked up. I've got it back now and it's as good as new. Can't really complain about that, now can I?
Can I just say one thing, thank God REAL Apple store is coming to center city philadelphia. When Springboard goes out of business, maybe , just maybe, Everett can be a Mac genius. This place is not a place to buy Apple products. I have had severeal bad experiences here, the theme is dishonest.
This place is pretty damn sweet. The screen on my macbook was all sorts of fucked up, it would go negative unless I held the side of it with my thumb. So after three months of typing with only my left hand and developing a nasty blister on my right thumb I took it to this place and lo and behold! they fixed it in three days and totally free of charge. Success!
If you own, or think you may one day want to own a Mac, you should get to know Springboard and their knowledgeable staff. Springboard is an authorized Apple retailer and and repair shop. When my friend's 2 year old son inserted film slides into the D drive, apparently trying out iPhoto, my friend took it to Springboard and they managed to expunge all slides and have it back up working in no time.
This is the place in the city to go for all of your Apple needs...minus Red Delicious and Granny Smith.
I have been a customer of springboard for 6+ years, and only have excellent thing to say. As a perpetual student I have purchased multiple Mac's there and have received excellent personal service. I have traded up my mac a few times at Springboard to keep up with strongest processing power for scientific and mathematics applications and they have continued to provide the the best service in the city for my needs. I highly recommend Springboard for their Mac trade-in program, workshops (FREE!), and superb personal service.
I am a MAC-Head!!! I love going into Springboard to check out the new products and such, but I hate the fact that it's a sales environment. The staff there cannot tell the difference between a novice and an expert. Now, I am somewhere in between. I know what i want and I know what it's worth. I cannot be talked into purchases I did not plan on. The management is very accommodating but some of the staff is a bit stubborn which I am sure is their job to be. Some people forget that they are just workers and not owners. they take everything personal. Rule#1 in Retail by Darnelle...Don't take it personal! It's never about you!
I have been a customer of springboard for about 7 years, and can only say positive remarks. As a student I purchased my first Mac there and received excellent, personal service and helpful tech support when I had trouble setting it up at home. The sales people were patient and answered all of my questions. I have traded up my mac a few times at Springboard to keep up with the latest technology and they have continued to provide the service I need.
Now as a small business owner, Springboard is sensitive to my budget restraints and assist me with putting together packages for products, software, peripherals, and service for my business. I highly recommend Springboard for their Mac trade-in program, free workshops, smart technicians, patience, personal service and always having the latest Apple products in stock.
I'm a stubborn 'switcher.' So I'm easing myself in the macworld. I needed to get an ipod STAT! and god-forbid i go to an apple store while they had iphones in stock. No thank-you. I had no idea that non-apple stores existed till I discovered Springboard Media. They were fast, helpful and went WAY above and beyond getting me an obscure service part for a macpro. They're still a bit more expensive than macmall, but it's worth it in my opinion. Whenever i go to an Apple store I end up leaving, sarcastically calling them "geniuses" in the worst way possible. They never answer my questions and they like to be rude, like I'm wasting their time. Well, Springboard was friendly and patient with me. Definitely a great store!
This is typically confused as Center City's "Apple Store," which it is not. Still, they have a bright neon apple logo in the window, and for parts and service, have much of what you need.
I had a scary experience here once, purchasing a battery for my Mac. The employee opened the wrong one (apparently a big deal with batteries), and wanted to claim I asked him to do so. After we got that straight, all was good.
I'd never want to browse here like a typical Apple Store, but I sleep a little better knowing that they're close by and work fast.
I was looking around for an ipod case to fit my new ipod classic, I had seen the regular leather ones, but I wanted a heavy duty one. The sales guy showed me the most practical one for my needs. When I asked him if they had microphones he explained that they don't yet make ones compatible with the ipod classic, something I didn't realize when I was looking online. Price wise, I probably might of saved a few bucks online or somewhere else, but I walked out of there with just what i needed and slightly better knowledge of ipod gadgetry.
a couple years ago I purchased a laptop here. a few days later I realized that the case was slightly bent, which caused the dvd drive to be unable to eject most of the time.
I took it in to springboard, a certified applecare provider, and they spent the better part of two months tinkering with it and ordering new parts before they decided to fix the actual problem I had come in with on day one.
during these two months I was frequently lied to about its status and the time required. I repeatedly tried to get them to address the actual problem, but they replaced dvd drive after dvd drive (3 in total I believe) probably simply stocking up on them for free to use on repairs that werent covered by apple.
to their credit I was offered an old ibook as a loaner when I took my laptop in, but the initial estimate of "under a week" turnaround time was enough to make me pass on it.
I had been a regular customer for years, but I havent been back since.
I haven't shopped here, but I do get all my service done here. Most Apple Stores won't do any service in house, they send your machine out to an Apple repair center or, if you're lucky, a place like Springboard. What that means is that if you go to Springboard in the first place the turn-around on your repair is much faster.
Besides the speed, Springboard does excellent work. I cracked the case on my Macbook Pro after having some pretty extensive work done (new topcase, new keyboard, new PMU), and was pleased to find that they'd not only done good work, but cleaned the whole computer of dust.
I really don't understand the customer service problems people are complaining about. Maybe they've only been dealing with sales staff, but I've dealt with everyone on the service staff here, and they are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They do a good job of listening to your problem, they ask all the right questions, and they'll call a coworker over is something is over their head.
They are also very good about getting you warranty coverage. I first found Springboard when I was told by a so-called "Genius" at an Apple Store that a problem I had was not covered by warranty. I went looking for a second opinion. Within a week Springboard had the work done, and Apple paid for it.
Am really surprised by the negative reviews about Springboard, as I've had nothing but positive experiences here. Just brought in my 4 year old Mac book after experiencing scary problems with it. The guys were incredibly helpful and had me out of there in 20 minutes on a crazy busy Saturday. There is a couple aggressive salespeople in there, but it's no worse than any where else.
I had a couple of bad experiences at this place. The staff is very aggressive and they try to sell you stuff you don't need. I just don't have that "warm and fuzzy" feeling when I walk into this shop. I took my mac there once to have it repaired and I got it back in worse shape than when I brought it in! NEVER again.
Neighborhood: Northern Liberties
Category: IT Services & Computer Repair
Neighborhood: Powelton Village
Category: IT Services & Computer Repair
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