Hearthlist Digest #368 - Wednesday, November 3, 1999 Computer News and Stupid Internet Retailer(s) by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: Computer News and Stupid Internet Retailer(s) From: "Craig Issod" <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999 18:33:14 -0500 I finally did it, upgraded my computer. I now have a Power Mac - G4- 400. This computer is fast....rated about twice as quick as a Pentium 600 MHZ. So fast (maybe you've seen the commercials) that the US Government classifies it as a "weapon" and bans it from export. This is because it is capable of over one BILLION calculation per second (a gigaflop), fast enough to be classified as a Supercomputer. Yes, it only cost me $1599...a real bargain. I added some extra memory and a card or two to hook it my ancient scanners and external drives and I'm in business. It's really a cool looking box, too. Grey and Chrome plastic with the apple logo on the side behind some clear plastic. Rounded corners with carrying handles built in and a simply latch that folds down the entire right side of the machine for easy upgrading. Between the fast box and my cable modem, my productivity is soaring...now I need something to do in all my spare time! Stove rating System and Stupid Internet Retailer(s) I previously mentioned the new stove rating system we now have on HearthNet at http://hearth.com/ratings.html. We have almost 100 entries and look forward to eventually publishing the results. One recent entry was from a customer who purchased their (big brand name) stove from an internet retailer. Here are their comments: Unit came in damaged. Was sent the wrong connection parts I asked for flex they sent rigid pipe. Parts missing from stove. I won't purchase from an internet company ever again. I was given a price when I purchased the stove and when the bill arrived the price was raised and charged to my credit card, without my approval. I contacted my credit card company to see if they could do this. I was told no they couldn't. I tried to contact the company many times but was given the run around. I had to contact my State Attorney General's Office for help. When the company realized I did in fact contact legal assistance, action was finally taken about my account. I contacted *(the maker)*. They said they couldn't help me, told me to contact my nearest dealer. Will I ever purchase another *(the maker)* Stove, NO WAY. ...end comments.... Not exactly a shining review for the manufacturer or retailer. I have withheld their names for now, but when the data is eventually published it will contain all comments verbatim. Neither the retailer or manufacturer involved are "tenants" of HearthNet. if they were, I would take steps to try to satisfy the customer since the reputation of our publication would be involved. And..this is not the first complaint I've had about this retailer. The above is but one example of a lack of customer focus prevalent in some facets of our industry. Manufacturers and retailers alike should be on notice that the power of modern communication can work both ways. A single unsatisfied customer can tell a LOT of others on the internet. What to do? first, each customer contact and experience MUST be considered important. One customer wrote to me and said he called an internet retailer to inquire about purchasing a stove and was told they were too busy to speak to him. He asked me why they even put a site on the net...I could offer no intelligent answer to his question. Reminder...if you are an appliance manufacturer, it will benefit you to link your site up to the new stove rating page. This will allow for more customer ratings of your product. Retailers are also welcome to link their pages to the URL at http://hearth.com/ratings.html Manufacturers and Retailers are also encouraged to link their customers to our classified area so they can sell their used stoves, look for parts, etc. Link to: http://chi.hearth.com/post/search.html Lastly, the many articles and Questions/Answers on HearthNet at http://hearth.com/what/specific.html can save many phone calls and emails by letting your customers find their own answers. ------------------------------------------------------ Craig Issod HearthNet at http://www.hearth.com [email protected] Everything your Hearth Desires ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------