Apple Gets Top Marks in Customer Satisfaction

In the weak market for consumer spending, there is a bright spot: Apple Inc. (AAPL). The computer and electronic device maker is attracting potential buyers like never before and is getting top marks in customer satisfaction.

A survey of more than 4,400 people between August 4 and August 12 conducted by RBC Capital Markets and ChangeWave Research showed that 34% plan to buy a Mac laptop in the next 90 days, compared with 31% in May. Those planning to buy a Mac desktop rose to 30% from 27%. Meanwhile, 81% of those who recently bought an Apple product in the past 90 days were “very satisfied,” while only 58% Dell Inc. (DELL) buyers and 55% Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) buyers said the same.

Apple.com also appears to be the winner in online back-to-school buying, RBC analyst Mike Abramsky told clients. In the next 90 days, 8% of respondents plan to spend more on Apple.com, while 4% intend to spend less.

The analyst added:

In comparison, the survey suggests lower buying intentions at other online stores.

The positive news for Apple and its shareholders comes as planned spending for consumer electronics continues to be near all-time lows for the survey. Just 15% plan to spend more in the next 90 days, and 34% say they will spend less.

Comments

[Yo Bob:]

I'm another satisfied customer, having bought 2 MACs (for my daughters) and IPod Touch. Awesome! Comparing a PC to a MAC is like comparing a Buick to a BMW.

2008 Aug 26 07:40 AM

[BMWTwisty:]

"Comparing a PC to a MAC is like comparing a Buick to a BMW"

Naahhhh. It's more like a Yugo and BMW.

2008 Aug 26 08:28 AM

[monkeybiz:]

I use to spend several hundred dollars a month on my grand daughters PC (dell) getting the operating system reinstalled and removing viruses till I got her a MacBook. Now nothing a month and no complaints about lost files, it just works.

2008 Aug 26 09:31 AM

[jsnovais:]

I have three MacBook Pros; no problems!

2008 Aug 26 09:48 AM

[roadracer:]

I have 4 Macs (2 PowerBooks, 1 iMac, and an old desktop g4 tower) and two PCs (a Dell laptop from work and a desktop I built). I never have to mess with any of the Macs, they just work. On the other hand my Dell has had 3 motherboard replacements in 4 years and the PC I built is always having some software conflict that causes it to slow down or freeze.

2008 Aug 26 10:37 AM

[jmmx:]

Looks like at least one big hedge fund is betting on Apple and tinks RIMM has gone over the edge...

"Few hedge funds have the track record, heft, and name recognition of SAC Capital

SAC also added to its stakes in pharmaceutical firms Wyeth (NYSE: WYE - News) and Barr Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: BRL - News), gold miner Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM - News), and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL - News).

Meanwhile, the hedge fund trimmed stakes in smartphone maker Research in Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM - News) ..."

FROM:

biz.yahoo.com/indie/08...

2008 Aug 26 11:21 AM

[BoiseCalling:]

Boycott all computer companies that outsource their tech support. You will be left with only one choice. Apple.

2008 Aug 26 12:14 PM

[Brandon:]

Last night was the first time I have ever dealt with Vista. My feelings are that Microsoft just made a new operating system to generate more revenue.

2008 Aug 26 01:41 PM

[SmartyGuy:]

Yesterday I brought my wife's 5 year old iMac G5 to the Apple store to get fixed. It was suffering from a known problem with that particular model where it would actually do a full shut down when it went to sleep. I originally had AppleCare but it ran out over a year ago. Verdict? They're fixing it at no charge. I didn't ask for that, I didn't even expect it. Replacing a $700 logic board for free (it was NOT power supply problem as I had thought). Go Apple. Nobody does it better :-)

2008 Aug 26 04:57 PM