Reporting Authorized Service Provider

Question

Does anyone knows if there´s a place were I can report a bad Authorized Service Provider?
Apple´s official service it's supposed to be the best, but this happened to me yesterday:
I bought a new iMac Intel, 20". After a couple of months of use, the finder began to react a little slow, so I restarted from my CD.
The CD doesn´t works. My mac can´t boot from CD, so I went to the Apple Authorized Service Provider where I initially bought the computer.
The initial diagnostic was that someone swichted the CD, so I have a different one, but no the appropiate for this iMac. Anyway, they told me the computer must be in observation for a couple of days to check the internal CD unit. Then they gave me a receipt.
To my amusement, the receipt said it was a "G5 iMac" model, with scratches on it's surface and it's original install CD's. Then I protested for two reasons: the computer it's supposed to be brand new, no scratches at all were visible anywere. The second one it was 'cause it was an Intel mac, not a G5. But they insisted the computer's processor's was really a G5. This discussion lasted for about ten minutes. The final settlement it was that the computer will be registered as an "early 2006 model", with no mention at all of the type of processors or memory, but they insisted that the receipt should contain "tiny scratches" anyway, or won't be repaired.
When I protested, they told me they don't have any obligation to repair a computer without serial number. I didn't know anything about this, but they told me all iMacs have a little plaque at the bottom of it's base with their serial number. Mine didn't have any, and no signs of damage of scratches in this place, just a little squared empty space. They told me this serial number should match the one registered in the original invoice, the one I received when the original purchase was done.
And guess what? No serial number was in the invoice too!!!! When I proved to them that they sell me the computer with no serial number at all, I told 'em I will call consumer;s protection bureau and Apple, and then the discussion inmediately ended. They take the computer to service, with just one minor detail: initially they give me the receipt to accept the service in which they described what I gave to them, with no mention of any peripherals at all. After a couple of words, they included the original cables, keyboard and mouse in the list.
Just one last thing: The phones which appear printed in the original invoice does not exists. Their real phone number it's quite different.
In resumen: If the computer is new, can the Install CD's be switched? It's true that G5 it's the same as Intel core duo? Can an Authorized Apple Provider sell a computer without serial number?
So, if this is what you can expect from an Authorized Service Provider, can you imagine what can you expect from anyone else?
This post was deleted with no further explanations from this forums, so I inmediately spread it across the net. The mail version contains all information, adress and phone number of the Authorized Service Provider, pictures, and all appropiate information to identify him. It's now on a blog and copies were sent to news services.
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hi Victor,
No, an Intel Core Duo iMac is not the same as an iMac G5. However, the iMac G5 (Early 2006) and the Intel iMac are virtually identical to eachother. The way to tell them apart is to look at the bottom of the foot or to turn the computer on, click on the Apple logo and choose "About this Mac". Also, the original disks that came with these units are very different and wouldn't work with eachother.
I would recommend that you call Apple directly at 1-800-APL-CARE (1-800-275-2273) to let them know about your experience and also to request new disks if you qualify. They should be able to answer most of your questions.
I hope this helps ya,
Derek C.