Apple Support for purchase of AppleCare for Mac Mini / Cinema Display Combo

Question

Below is an email that I recently submitted to Apple for feed back on the support system. I am writing here to find out if anyone might have any ideas about how to address this issue without resorting to a 2 hour wait on the phone (my last experience with Apple support). I have redacted some info with ID's and Case numbers as I know Apple does not actively monitor these forums so it would not make sense for them to be posted.
Here is the question:
How do others in the Apple community feel about the points that I make in this email? I am curious to know if I am off base in my expectations or if what I am requesting is reasonable?
Here is the email:
As someone who has spent 15 years as a web professional and has purchased/approved for purchase more than $1 Million dollars in Apple products, I have to say my recent experience with Apple customer service has been incredibly lackluster and almost insulting. Here is the issue that I am trying to resolve (not why I have written this email):
I recently purchased a mac mini and cinema display and in addition purchased apple care for both. I only received confirmation of apple care for the mac mini. Hence I have an issue.
Fail #1) I was asked when trying to register the apple care I purchased at MacAuthority, that I need to upload a receipt. I uploaded said receipt and then waited. Some time later I recieved an email (Jan 21) with with the following information - Case ID: XXXXXXXXXX / AppleCare Registration Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX / Product Case ID: XXXXXXXXXXX saying my information had been received. I then responded to the email (Jan 21) saying that I did not see an option during the registration for registering both the monitor and the mini. I figured this was based on the registration number and maybe just did not show in the front end. I then waited 7 days to send another email (Jan 28). No response.
I typically spend my evenings taking care of things like this, as I can almost always address them through a couple of emails and it is done. I don't have time to sit on hold during the day waiting for a live person. Especially when I am doing work that ensures I can buy the product of the company I am waiting on hold with. Instead I try to rely on the most efficient method, which most companies have realized is email communication, when it is implemented properly.
Fail #2) Rather than making a call to Apple Support on my dime (during the day), I instead head over the support site thinking that at a minimum I would find a contact support form or an auto ticking email address. Heck maybe I would even be able to look up the case ID. To my surprise, there was no contact form, there was no support email address.
Fail #3) I then started hunting for the next logical step. I saw the link to the Express support and thought - "ah cool, they have a routing system to get my need to the right person/department". Errrrrr - wrong. Although that is what it appeared to be, in the end I was presented with only one option. Call back later. Seriously. SERIOUSLY
Fail #4) Now, after having spent more than 2 hours of my time trying to get this issue resolved, I am still going to forced to talk to someone on the phone. This is so incredibly insane for a modern web business who supposedly is fanatical about their customers!
I surely hope that this changes or my last purchase will be MY LAST PURCHASE. I have had so many experiences in the last 3 years that made me feel like I was inconveniencing "Apple". I am about to give up on the brand. There is a "greedy" feeling that I get when dealing with Apple rather than on of "wonderment"
There are lots of other options that I know provide a better customer experience. Why would I choose Apple over them? I dropped the iPhone for this reason and went to Android after having multiple issues with a support need that later ended up being a known hardware issue with the iPhone 3G.
I currently own two mac mini's, 1 cinema display, a 17" loaded MBP, a 15" loaded MBP, two airport extremes, an airport express and an iPad. I have spent over $11K with Apple personally in the last 2 years and I cannot get an option to contact someone by email or file a trouble ticket?
I truly hope someone has taken the time to fully read this email, as I cannot imagine that this is the message that Apple wants to send to its customers. If you have read this and can be so kind as to respond, I will gladly give you some other insights about how Apple can better serve its customers. If you can help me with my support issue, even better.
Jamie

Answer 1

Fail #1) I was asked when trying to register the apple care I purchased at MacAuthority, that I need to upload a receipt. I uploaded said receipt and then waited. Some time later I recieved an email (Jan 21) with with the following information - Case ID: XXXXXXXXXX / AppleCare Registration Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX / Product Case ID: XXXXXXXXXXX saying my information had been received. I then responded to the email (Jan 21) saying that I did not see an option during the registration for registering both the monitor and the mini. I figured this was based on the registration number and maybe just did not show in the front end. I then waited 7 days to send another email (Jan 28). No response.
It's not clear to me on what information you were expecting from them. Did you, however, check the status of the coverage here to see if perhaps the coverage was registered correctly?
https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do
Fail #2) Rather than making a call to Apple Support on my dime (during the day), I instead head over the support site thinking that at a minimum I would find a contact support form or an auto ticking email address. Heck maybe I would even be able to look up the case ID. To my surprise, there was no contact form, there was no support email address.
Apple does not provide support via email (except for the iTunes Store) and never has. Whether or not you wish to consider this a "fail" is your call, but they have always provided support only via the phone except for a short experiment with live chat which I believe they've abandoned.
Fail #3) I then started hunting for the next logical step. I saw the link to the Express support and thought - "ah cool, they have a routing system to get my need to the right person/department". Errrrrr - wrong. Although that is what it appeared to be, in the end I was presented with only one option. Call back later. Seriously. SERIOUSLY
Seriously. Though I think you misread. The option is available for you to set up a time when they can call _you. Or you can just elect to call later. It's your choice which you select.
Fail #4) Now, after having spent more than 2 hours of my time trying to get this issue resolved, I am still going to forced to talk to someone on the phone. This is so incredibly insane for a modern web business who supposedly is fanatical about their customers!
See number 1.
I surely hope that this changes or my last purchase will be MY LAST PURCHASE.
Suit yourself. I very much doubt that Apple will change their policy, since it's been the same for many years. There's nothing anyone here can suggest to change things or address them differently. You'll have to talk with them on the phone if the registration didn't go through as expected. Again, you can set up a time when they will call you so as to avoid waiting on hold.
Regards.