I happened upon this story today: http://www.myfoxal.com/story/15681535/olive-garden-apologizes-to-kiwanis-club
It appears as though an Olive Garden employee refused to let a person bring an American flag into the restaurant. They were having a meeting with the Kiwanis Club.
Olive Garden has since issued an apology. The comments I am reading on that story seem to not care about the apology and say they won't go to Olive Garden ever again.
When things happen, even if they are indeed a mistake, it is very hard to undo the damage that has been done.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Comcast/Xfinity
Every couple of months someone peddling Comcast/Xfinity comes to my door. Every few days I get junk mail from Comcast/Xfinity in the mail. I can't stand door to door sales and junk mail. It is more irritating when it come from the same company on a regular basis.
Before they just into their sales pitch I tell them I will not switch to Comcast/Xfinity because bandwidth caps are a deal breaker for me. I keep hearing on Podcasts I listen to people reporting on practices internet providers, who's primary business is TV. They always list Comcast/Xfinity as one of the primary offenders in the realm of restricting what their customers do with their internet connect in order to protect their TV business. One of these practices is bandwidth caps or restrictions on data consumption or whatever they call their acceptable use policy with regard to how many bits you are allowed to download from the internet each month.
Last night I had another one of the Comcast/Xfinity salesmen come knocking on my door. I cut him off and told him, as I have told every one of his predecessors, that bandwidth caps are unacceptable. He told me that they don't have bandwidth caps. This morning I looked it up.
I came across this on their web site. http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/Customers/Policies/HighSpeedInternetAUP.html This is their acceptable use policy for high speed internet as of today 9-3-2011. Here is the paragraph on "excessive use". I have bolded some part that highlight what I am writing about.
"Are there restrictions on data consumption that apply to the Service?
Before they just into their sales pitch I tell them I will not switch to Comcast/Xfinity because bandwidth caps are a deal breaker for me. I keep hearing on Podcasts I listen to people reporting on practices internet providers, who's primary business is TV. They always list Comcast/Xfinity as one of the primary offenders in the realm of restricting what their customers do with their internet connect in order to protect their TV business. One of these practices is bandwidth caps or restrictions on data consumption or whatever they call their acceptable use policy with regard to how many bits you are allowed to download from the internet each month.
Last night I had another one of the Comcast/Xfinity salesmen come knocking on my door. I cut him off and told him, as I have told every one of his predecessors, that bandwidth caps are unacceptable. He told me that they don't have bandwidth caps. This morning I looked it up.
I came across this on their web site. http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/Customers/Policies/HighSpeedInternetAUP.html This is their acceptable use policy for high speed internet as of today 9-3-2011. Here is the paragraph on "excessive use". I have bolded some part that highlight what I am writing about.
"Are there restrictions on data consumption that apply to the Service?
The Service is for personal and non-commercial residential use only. Therefore, Comcast reserves the right to suspend or terminate Service accounts where data consumption is not characteristic of a typical residential user of the Service as determined by the company in its sole discretion. Comcast has established a monthly data consumption threshold per Comcast High-Speed Internet account of 250 Gigabytes (“GB”). Use of the Service in excess of 250GB per month is excessive use and is a violation of the Policy. See the Network Management page at http://www.comcast.net/terms/network/ for more information and to learn how Comcast applies this Policy to excessive use. Common activities that may cause excessive data consumption in violation of this Policy include, but are not limited to, numerous or continuous bulk transfers of files and other high capacity traffic using (i) file transfer protocol (“FTP”), (ii) peer-to-peer applications, and (iii) newsgroups. You must also ensure that your use of the Service does not restrict, inhibit, interfere with, or degrade any other person's use of the Service, nor represent (as determined by Comcast in its sole discretion) an overly large burden on the network. In addition, you must ensure that your use of the Service does not limit or interfere with Comcast's ability to deliver and monitor the Service or any part of its network. If you use the Service in violation of the restrictions referenced above, that is a violation of this Policy. In these cases, Comcast may, in its sole discretion, suspend or terminate your Service account or request that you subscribe to a version of the Service (such as a commercial grade Internet service, if appropriate) if you wish to continue to use the Service at higher data consumption levels. Comcast may also provide versions of the Service with different speed and data consumption limitations, among other characteristics, subject to applicable Service plans. Comcast's determination of the data consumption for Service accounts is final."
Friday, July 22, 2011
Chase Freedom Card
I have a Chase Freedom card. Last month I had a balance of six dollars. I have had the card since 2005 or before.
This month the payment got to them one day late. When I got the next statement I noticed that it had gotten there late and that they had charged me a late fee of six dollars. As I continued to look over the bill I found that they also charged me $61.21 in interest. That seemed high since the amount unpaid from last statement was six dollars and since I have a 30 day grace period.
The first person I talked to told me that their computer system continued to charge me interest on outstanding balance that was not late until it was paid in full. She said she would transfer me to her supervisor to see if they could roll back the additional interest that was charged after the roll back and until I made my next payment, which was on time. I waited on hold for twenty minutes after the person I was speaking with said she was transferring me to her supervisor.
The supervisor informed me that I was being charged for the entire balance that was there at the time the account went late. They said that the grace period is not in play when a late payment happens, until the account goes to zero. As I try to comprehend what he said, I now wonder if what he was meaning was that anytime there is a balance that it gets interest charged on the entire balance, even if you just charged a new amount and it has not come on a statement yet. As if the 29.99% interest they change is not robbery enough, to tell you there is a grace period and then switch to charging you from the day you spend it, if you happen to have a previous balance is incredibly harsh.
I had paid the entire six dollars and they continued to charge me interest up until I paid the amount of the entire amount that was on the account at the time of the late payment due date. Thus I got another $67 charge the next month. I made sure my payment was on time the second month, even including the extra interest they rolled back, to be safe that they would not ding me as not paying in full.
In spite of the fact that I appreciate them rolling back the interest, I will be canceling this card as soon as I get one set up at my credit union. I believe my credit union charges a lot less in interest and I don't believe I have had any other institution I have been with, charge interest on funds that were purchased in the last thirty days, even if you had a pre-existing balance.
Update:
I signed up for a credit card with my credit union. They will only charge me 9.75% interest after the grace period. The new card arrived last week. I called yesterday to cancel the Chase Freedom card.
The guy on the phone wanted to know how they could keep me as a customer. He asked why I wanted to cancel. I related the story of the excessive interest. He offered to remove the interest and also the $6 later fee. The late fee I had been told previously that the late fee could not be waved. That made me more mad, since they could only remove it once I was ready to cancel. I told him the interest had already been reversed and that their policy that has them charge interest on charges that are not late is unacceptable.
The card has now been canceled. Once I pay the remaining balance I am done with Chase.
This month the payment got to them one day late. When I got the next statement I noticed that it had gotten there late and that they had charged me a late fee of six dollars. As I continued to look over the bill I found that they also charged me $61.21 in interest. That seemed high since the amount unpaid from last statement was six dollars and since I have a 30 day grace period.
The first person I talked to told me that their computer system continued to charge me interest on outstanding balance that was not late until it was paid in full. She said she would transfer me to her supervisor to see if they could roll back the additional interest that was charged after the roll back and until I made my next payment, which was on time. I waited on hold for twenty minutes after the person I was speaking with said she was transferring me to her supervisor.
The supervisor informed me that I was being charged for the entire balance that was there at the time the account went late. They said that the grace period is not in play when a late payment happens, until the account goes to zero. As I try to comprehend what he said, I now wonder if what he was meaning was that anytime there is a balance that it gets interest charged on the entire balance, even if you just charged a new amount and it has not come on a statement yet. As if the 29.99% interest they change is not robbery enough, to tell you there is a grace period and then switch to charging you from the day you spend it, if you happen to have a previous balance is incredibly harsh.
I had paid the entire six dollars and they continued to charge me interest up until I paid the amount of the entire amount that was on the account at the time of the late payment due date. Thus I got another $67 charge the next month. I made sure my payment was on time the second month, even including the extra interest they rolled back, to be safe that they would not ding me as not paying in full.
In spite of the fact that I appreciate them rolling back the interest, I will be canceling this card as soon as I get one set up at my credit union. I believe my credit union charges a lot less in interest and I don't believe I have had any other institution I have been with, charge interest on funds that were purchased in the last thirty days, even if you had a pre-existing balance.
Update:
I signed up for a credit card with my credit union. They will only charge me 9.75% interest after the grace period. The new card arrived last week. I called yesterday to cancel the Chase Freedom card.
The guy on the phone wanted to know how they could keep me as a customer. He asked why I wanted to cancel. I related the story of the excessive interest. He offered to remove the interest and also the $6 later fee. The late fee I had been told previously that the late fee could not be waved. That made me more mad, since they could only remove it once I was ready to cancel. I told him the interest had already been reversed and that their policy that has them charge interest on charges that are not late is unacceptable.
The card has now been canceled. Once I pay the remaining balance I am done with Chase.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Web Sites That Lie
I keep going to various web sites to do research on various things like home refinancing. When I get to the site after jumping through hoops I am presented with a button that says "Click Here to See Our Prices" or "Our Rates" or whatever. Once you click that button you do not get the information they promised you. What you get is added to a phone list which salesmen then use to solicit you. When you confront the salesmen about it they say things aren't as simple as they use to be and it is necessary for them to get to know you better before they can give you accurate information. They say that the information they give is different depending on your circumstances.
This is dishonest and it wastes people's time. Websites should save people time and not sell them down the river. I went to the website for information. If I wanted to speak to someone to get information I would've looked up their phone number on their website and called them. However I did not do that, thus I do not expect to have to have someone ringing my phone over and over until I answer and tell them to go away.
This is dishonest and it wastes people's time. Websites should save people time and not sell them down the river. I went to the website for information. If I wanted to speak to someone to get information I would've looked up their phone number on their website and called them. However I did not do that, thus I do not expect to have to have someone ringing my phone over and over until I answer and tell them to go away.
Friday, May 07, 2010
DJs
I was listening to103.5 The Arrow on the radio on the way in. The song Eye of the Tiger by Survivor came on. The DJs, John Carter and the Coach, talked over the beginning of the song as they are want to do, but the intro on Eye of the Tiger is arguably the best part of the song.
I usually expect them to talk about stuff they are promoting and for a couple of second to multi-task, but this felt like they were just intentionally drowning out the song. They were saying nothing and it was like they were running out of things to say and kept extending it. Eye of the Tiger has a pretty long intro and they talked over every second of it.
I talked to a coworker about it and they said this is an old DJ trick. I realize that, but I wasn't sure in this case what they were accomplishing with the trick.
I usually expect them to talk about stuff they are promoting and for a couple of second to multi-task, but this felt like they were just intentionally drowning out the song. They were saying nothing and it was like they were running out of things to say and kept extending it. Eye of the Tiger has a pretty long intro and they talked over every second of it.
I talked to a coworker about it and they said this is an old DJ trick. I realize that, but I wasn't sure in this case what they were accomplishing with the trick.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
VistaPrint.com
I got a promotional email from VistaPrint.com offering FREE business cards. My first mistake was responding to a junk mail message. My second mistake was not following my gut and passing on the principle that marketing something as free and then charging their credit card for fees like shipping is misleading. I had been down this road before and knew to expect the gouge on shipping at the end, but I thought I would do it anyway, thinking I could get some business cards and a card holder for cheap.
I clicked through to their site and found where I could enter my information and see a preview of the card and several different customizations. I went through the process and found at the end that I was being charged for the cards. After a moment I figured out that they had put all the customizations out there as bait, but until the end it was not obvious that I had left the free cards behind.
I started the order over and got the free cards and the free card holder into the order. I enter credit card information and clicked to order. After that I received a page stating that I could receive free shipping if I added some more cards to the order. The cards were less than the shipping, so I thought that was great. I clicked to add them to the order. They were added to the order, but I was giving no confirmation to review the order before processing. It added it to the order I had already approved with no way to back it out. It turned out it gave me free shipping on the non free cards, but left the shipping charge on the rest. The order was already being "processed" they said and I had no way to remove those items I just added.
I looked around the site for a way to contact someone to remove the item. I found a link to cancel the order, so I did that. Afterward the site tells me that it has issues me not a refund, but store credit. That is not what I wanted, especially since at this point I was likely not doing business with this company that appears to be based on marketing bait and tricks. After taking up more of my time searching for a way to either get a refund through the site or interact with a person I found a chat link.
The customer service person resolved the issue quickly by giving me a refund, but why was it necessary to get a person involved? They had to pay that person to fix my problem and in the end got no money from me, not even the money for shipping that I was going to pay in the first place, since I was so offended by the process and games. Unless there are some unforeseen circumstances, I will not consider doing business with them again. If I see there is a promotion of some kind and I see it is VistaPrint.com, I will likely assume it is a trick and walk away.
I will reiterate that even though getting a customer service person involved should've been unnecessary, they were efficient and resolved the issue.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Olive Garden Mandatory Optional Gratuity
I at one time enjoyed going to the Olive Garden Unlimited for their Soup, Salad, and Bread Sticks. The price was about a buck above being a great value, but I enjoyed it and would go about weekly for lunch. One night my wife and I went out about a year and a half ago or so to Olive Garden. When we got the bill it was a couple of dollars more than I anticipated. I asked the waitress and she indicated that the price did indeed go up a dollar. It was border line worth it at the price it was. At a dollar more it was not worth it.
That was the last time I had been to Olive Garden until today. Remember that I previously went to Olive Garden almost once a week before that price increase.
Today was a coworkers last day and we went out to eat to celebrate. Someone chose Olive Garden and I figured to pay respects to my friend I would cave and pay the extra dollar. I was browsing the menu just out of curiosity since I knew I was getting my usual Soup, Salad, and Bread Sticks. I noticed at the bottom of the menu it said that for large groups there was an optional 18% gratuity. 18% is ridiculous, but I was pleased to see that it was optional and not mandatory as I have seen at other places. When I got the bill I noticed that there was a line for gratuity and there had included a value there as a part of my total.
What was I to do if I didn't want to pay that much gratuity, tell the waitress and tell her I did not want to give her that much and make her change it?
What I didn't think of at the time was that since there was a line for additional gratuity and a line for total I could've entered a negative number for the amount of the tip and a new total. I also could've scratched out the gratuity and wrote a new total.
I will not be back to Olive Garden if I have a choice in the matter.
Update 4 Oct 2012
Since there has been good discussion on this post about gratuities, I thought I would put something that came to my mind today. I am diverging from Olive Garden, but I the spirit of the post was to discuss how a culture of mandatory gratuities is keeping me from spending any of my money at places that have wait staff that expect a gratuity as part of their normal pay.
I was thinking about maybe going out to eat for lunch today. Some of the guys have talked every now and again about Red Robin and their unlimited steak fries. It was a bit more than I want to pay for lunch and I don't like steak fries as much as other fires, but I kind of a craving for a lot of fries. So I was figuring up the cost in my head and trying to convince myself to spend the extra. I was all set to do it and then I remembered that Red Robin has waitresses and that will cost a buck or two more.
As I thought about that I thought more about how I was paying too much for Red Robin any how and I could get a boat load of fries that I like better for the extra $3 for the burger and fries and the extra $2 for delivery. For the total cost, I could get two burgers and two orders of fries at a fast food place. I also wouldn't have to sit around and wait for it to be delivered to my table.
Update 1 Feb 2013
I've heard the last couple of days about a pastor that wrote comments on the Applebee's receipt for his party of 19. I think that his comments were out of line.
Nonetheless, I entirely agree with his protest of having an 18% gratuity added to the bill automatically. I heard someone on the radio taking the position that the tip is not optional, but part of the waiter staff's wage. I entirely disagree. A gratuity is given for service above their wage.
Yes the "pastor" was a jerk about it, but perpetuating the idea that someone deserves 18% just for showing up to my table is wrong.
That was the last time I had been to Olive Garden until today. Remember that I previously went to Olive Garden almost once a week before that price increase.
Today was a coworkers last day and we went out to eat to celebrate. Someone chose Olive Garden and I figured to pay respects to my friend I would cave and pay the extra dollar. I was browsing the menu just out of curiosity since I knew I was getting my usual Soup, Salad, and Bread Sticks. I noticed at the bottom of the menu it said that for large groups there was an optional 18% gratuity. 18% is ridiculous, but I was pleased to see that it was optional and not mandatory as I have seen at other places. When I got the bill I noticed that there was a line for gratuity and there had included a value there as a part of my total.
What was I to do if I didn't want to pay that much gratuity, tell the waitress and tell her I did not want to give her that much and make her change it?
What I didn't think of at the time was that since there was a line for additional gratuity and a line for total I could've entered a negative number for the amount of the tip and a new total. I also could've scratched out the gratuity and wrote a new total.
I will not be back to Olive Garden if I have a choice in the matter.
Update 4 Oct 2012
Since there has been good discussion on this post about gratuities, I thought I would put something that came to my mind today. I am diverging from Olive Garden, but I the spirit of the post was to discuss how a culture of mandatory gratuities is keeping me from spending any of my money at places that have wait staff that expect a gratuity as part of their normal pay.
I was thinking about maybe going out to eat for lunch today. Some of the guys have talked every now and again about Red Robin and their unlimited steak fries. It was a bit more than I want to pay for lunch and I don't like steak fries as much as other fires, but I kind of a craving for a lot of fries. So I was figuring up the cost in my head and trying to convince myself to spend the extra. I was all set to do it and then I remembered that Red Robin has waitresses and that will cost a buck or two more.
As I thought about that I thought more about how I was paying too much for Red Robin any how and I could get a boat load of fries that I like better for the extra $3 for the burger and fries and the extra $2 for delivery. For the total cost, I could get two burgers and two orders of fries at a fast food place. I also wouldn't have to sit around and wait for it to be delivered to my table.
Update 1 Feb 2013
I've heard the last couple of days about a pastor that wrote comments on the Applebee's receipt for his party of 19. I think that his comments were out of line.
Nonetheless, I entirely agree with his protest of having an 18% gratuity added to the bill automatically. I heard someone on the radio taking the position that the tip is not optional, but part of the waiter staff's wage. I entirely disagree. A gratuity is given for service above their wage.
Yes the "pastor" was a jerk about it, but perpetuating the idea that someone deserves 18% just for showing up to my table is wrong.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Mom Facts
I received an unsolicited email from a web site called Mom Facts. The email stated that they found my site or blog on Google and they thought that it might be of interest to their subscribers and asked that I put a link to them on my site. I replied back and asked which of my sites and blogs they found to be of interest to their subscribers and what was it that they found interesting. My email immediately bounced back as a non existing email address.
I then went to their web site to find a contact link. The site looks like a real site, but their Contact Us link took me to an empty page.
I'm not thrilled at them spamming me. I am interested in getting into relationships with sites of value to me and where we fit each other's subject matter, but I would've preferred they actually contact me directly and have a dialog about my site. Also very unprofessional to not have contact information on a business site.
I then went to their web site to find a contact link. The site looks like a real site, but their Contact Us link took me to an empty page.
I'm not thrilled at them spamming me. I am interested in getting into relationships with sites of value to me and where we fit each other's subject matter, but I would've preferred they actually contact me directly and have a dialog about my site. Also very unprofessional to not have contact information on a business site.
Friday, September 14, 2007
The World Is Your Ash Tray
The main issues that impelled me to write this post has to do with dropping ash and cigarette butts anywhere one happens to be when driving. There are a few other behaviors that I think many people are oblivious to because it deals with smoking that otherwise would be considered inconsiderate and with some behaviors illegal if it was not related to smoking. I will mention a few of these as well.
I am not an ash tray. My vehicle is not an ash tray. The world in general is not an ash tray.
- Flicking cigarette butts out the car window.
- I don't know why this always stuns me when I see it, but I just can't believe that people think this is acceptable.
- At the stop light, piles of cigarette butts in the median. Littering is still illegal, right?
- Driving down the road. Fire and gas tanks don't go well together. Always feels great to see a lit cigarette bounce out the window of the person in front of me and then see it bounce under my car.
- Flicking ash out the window and onto the cars beside and behind.
- Blowing smoke out the window that the person in the car behind gets to enjoy.
- People having to walk through a gauntlet of smokers in order to get in and out of a building.
- Everyone gets to breath, smell, and wear the smoke as they walk out the door.
- Smoke gets trapped inside the entry way of buildings.
I am not an ash tray. My vehicle is not an ash tray. The world in general is not an ash tray.
Prepay Gas Stations with No Pay at the Pump
I have hated these gas stations for a while and this morning I just had to blog about it. At first I tolerated them because they were generally a couple of cents cheaper than gas stations around them. But after a while that wasn't worth it, but I got suckered in because for the last week or so this one has been ten cents or more cheaper than those around it.
Before I could just go in and leave them my credit card and tell them I was going to fill up and then come back in. That right out of the gate was a bad idea. Leaving your credit card unattended bad idea. I consoled myself into doing it, because people do it all the time in restaurants and after all this is cheap gas we are talking about. This time I tried and the lady that appeared to be the trainer or supervisor told the lady at the counter they can't do that anymore. Then the lady tried to tell me to give her my ID. I actually felt better about that than the credit card, but the other lady said no. She then said leave me your car keys, which felt worse than leaving the credit card, since I have keys to both my vehicles, keys to the house, and a device to open the door at work on that key ring. Nonetheless I left them there.
So that was time consuming and a bad security situation. In addition, I had to wait behind people getting their smokes and lottery tickets, which made the process even slower. And I had to wait in line twice, because I had to come back in to pay and to get my car keys. At ten cents cheaper I know this will probably cost me a buck or two more, but if I am alone I am going to drive on by these little mom and pop stations with no pay at the pump. By the way, pay at the pump has got to be one of the best inventions.
I don't care if I have to drive a little further and pay a little more. I am not doing that again.
Before I could just go in and leave them my credit card and tell them I was going to fill up and then come back in. That right out of the gate was a bad idea. Leaving your credit card unattended bad idea. I consoled myself into doing it, because people do it all the time in restaurants and after all this is cheap gas we are talking about. This time I tried and the lady that appeared to be the trainer or supervisor told the lady at the counter they can't do that anymore. Then the lady tried to tell me to give her my ID. I actually felt better about that than the credit card, but the other lady said no. She then said leave me your car keys, which felt worse than leaving the credit card, since I have keys to both my vehicles, keys to the house, and a device to open the door at work on that key ring. Nonetheless I left them there.
So that was time consuming and a bad security situation. In addition, I had to wait behind people getting their smokes and lottery tickets, which made the process even slower. And I had to wait in line twice, because I had to come back in to pay and to get my car keys. At ten cents cheaper I know this will probably cost me a buck or two more, but if I am alone I am going to drive on by these little mom and pop stations with no pay at the pump. By the way, pay at the pump has got to be one of the best inventions.
I don't care if I have to drive a little further and pay a little more. I am not doing that again.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Carmel, Indiana License Branch
I have not had a good experience at a license in all the years that I have had my license. Today was the first.
It started with the web site. Each branch had listed its average time to get people in and out of the branch. It also had listed the average time for the entire state to get people in and out of all branches. Then you can compare the average time of the branch you are interested in as compared to the rest of the state and compared to others in your area.
The site also eluded to that I could go to any branch in the state to do what I needed to do. What I needed for renewing plates, which in the past was the one thing I think I had to do at a branch in my county. I called to try to get confirmation. The lady I talked to said that she was pretty sure that I could go anywhere. I have been burned by calling places and then the story not being the same when I got there in person. This time when I got there everything was fine.
License branches have always felt like K-Mart when I have gone into them. This one felt a lot more comfortable. Just like with the other things I am going to comment on here I'm not sure at this point if it was just this branch.
When I walked in they had the usual check in line to route you correctly. The line was five people deep, but the people that were doing the servicing were coming available. They immediately called people over before they checked in. That was good that the thing designed to make things more efficient did not become a bottle neck.
I was in and out in just a few minutes. If this is common across the entire state then I'm feeling a bit better about our state government. Although, this still does not make up for that Daylight Saving Time thing, but that is probably driven by a different department.
It started with the web site. Each branch had listed its average time to get people in and out of the branch. It also had listed the average time for the entire state to get people in and out of all branches. Then you can compare the average time of the branch you are interested in as compared to the rest of the state and compared to others in your area.
The site also eluded to that I could go to any branch in the state to do what I needed to do. What I needed for renewing plates, which in the past was the one thing I think I had to do at a branch in my county. I called to try to get confirmation. The lady I talked to said that she was pretty sure that I could go anywhere. I have been burned by calling places and then the story not being the same when I got there in person. This time when I got there everything was fine.
License branches have always felt like K-Mart when I have gone into them. This one felt a lot more comfortable. Just like with the other things I am going to comment on here I'm not sure at this point if it was just this branch.
When I walked in they had the usual check in line to route you correctly. The line was five people deep, but the people that were doing the servicing were coming available. They immediately called people over before they checked in. That was good that the thing designed to make things more efficient did not become a bottle neck.
I was in and out in just a few minutes. If this is common across the entire state then I'm feeling a bit better about our state government. Although, this still does not make up for that Daylight Saving Time thing, but that is probably driven by a different department.
Farley's Gummy Bears
A friend bought a five pound bag of Farley's Gummy Bears. He brought them in to share partly because he is a generous guy and partly because he had to unload these travesties of gelatin candy.
I love gummy candy and I love to eat, but these things were very difficult for even me to stomach. It was not for the lack of trying. I ate many of these, trying to make them enjoyable, but they just made my stomach hurt.
I love gummy candy and I love to eat, but these things were very difficult for even me to stomach. It was not for the lack of trying. I ate many of these, trying to make them enjoyable, but they just made my stomach hurt.
Friday, May 18, 2007
CBS Innertube - Why do the ads have to be so LOUD?
I have being trying out some of the television network web sites that have reruns of their shows online. Most of the interfaces are clunky and the video sometimes stalls, but I can get to many of the shows I want to see without being locked into watching them on a certain day at a certain time.
One of the sites is what CBS calls Innertube. We go there to watch Numb3rs, extras from the Amazing Race, and sometimes other stuff. A lot of times we will watch after the kids are in bed. We settle in and get the volume set so we can hear it without waking the kids and it is a fairly enjoyable experience. Then the first commercial comes on. Even though the commercial is very short the volume is well above that of the show. Even if the noise wasn't waking my kids it really takes away from the relaxing experience.
I have had a similar complaint about movies for a long time. The action sequences and music have the volume cranked up on them. I understand that an explosion might need to be louder than dialog for the effect, but the way they do it is excessive. I get the volume set and I either can't hear the dialog or I get blasted out by special effects.
One of the sites is what CBS calls Innertube. We go there to watch Numb3rs, extras from the Amazing Race, and sometimes other stuff. A lot of times we will watch after the kids are in bed. We settle in and get the volume set so we can hear it without waking the kids and it is a fairly enjoyable experience. Then the first commercial comes on. Even though the commercial is very short the volume is well above that of the show. Even if the noise wasn't waking my kids it really takes away from the relaxing experience.
I have had a similar complaint about movies for a long time. The action sequences and music have the volume cranked up on them. I understand that an explosion might need to be louder than dialog for the effect, but the way they do it is excessive. I get the volume set and I either can't hear the dialog or I get blasted out by special effects.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Car Talk Finally Opens Up Free Podcast
I ranted before about Car Talk using Real Audio as their only way to listen to their show free online. I found out today that they are now offering a way to download an mp3 or go through Itunes for free. This will be much more conveinent that having to install Real Player and all the adware and bloat that installs.
The link to the RSS feed that allows you to play or download the show is http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510208. It looks like NPR is putting several of their shows online
The link to the RSS feed that allows you to play or download the show is http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510208. It looks like NPR is putting several of their shows online
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Daylight Savings Even Longer Now
More of me ranting about daylight saving time...
As I have lamented about daylight savings time, people who have lived in other time zones before have told me that you get use to it and it actually has its advantages. Now as daylight savings time gets started earlier, computer systems get confused by it, and we squander tax payer money on this rediculous practice even some of them are suggesting that perhaps we just split the difference and just roll forward a half hour and leave it alone. Obviously changing a half hour is just a jest, but the point is that leaving it alone is a great idea and others are starting to see it.
I don't have any idea why daylight savings time is such an important thing to our legislators. One of the theories I have heard recently is that businesses want it so people will be more active in the evenings so they will spend more money. If this is true, they are wasting tax payer money on Daylight Savings Time to do what businesses want and not what is best for the majority of tax payers.
As I have lamented about daylight savings time, people who have lived in other time zones before have told me that you get use to it and it actually has its advantages. Now as daylight savings time gets started earlier, computer systems get confused by it, and we squander tax payer money on this rediculous practice even some of them are suggesting that perhaps we just split the difference and just roll forward a half hour and leave it alone. Obviously changing a half hour is just a jest, but the point is that leaving it alone is a great idea and others are starting to see it.
I don't have any idea why daylight savings time is such an important thing to our legislators. One of the theories I have heard recently is that businesses want it so people will be more active in the evenings so they will spend more money. If this is true, they are wasting tax payer money on Daylight Savings Time to do what businesses want and not what is best for the majority of tax payers.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Substandard Quality for a Low Price
There seems to be a trend of businesses offering substandard product at a low price and then gradually ramping up the price and at times even lower the quality more. Two examples of this at Ci Ci's Pizza and Steve and Barry's clothing stores. I'm not sure how they intend to make this work. The value conscious people are going to walk away and most everyone else is going to expect quality.
Ci Ci's
They started out at like $2.99 for all you can eat pizza. At one point some locations even added WIFI. The pizza was not great, but it wasn't foul either. At that price I could deal with ok pizza on a regular basis. Then they raised it a dollar to $3.99. Still fairly cheap for a buffet, but in my opinion too much for substandard pizza. Considering you can get adequately filled elsewhere with decent food for the same price and for a buck more you can get a better buffet if you look around. Now price is somewhere between $4.50 and $5. When they jumped to $3.99 I would still go to CiCi's once in a while, but when they were at their cheapest I was there ever week. Now they they are creeping toward $5 I almost never go there.
Steve and Barry's
I believe in this area they started out at "everything in the store is 5.99 and under". Their merchandise was spotty for selection and the quality was hit and miss. Although I do have a few shirts from that era that are pretty durable. Then prices went to 7.99 and under for everything in the store. They were starting to bump into the area where I could go somewhere else and find something of same quality for about the same price without having to make a special trip to Steve and Barry's. I think they are now up to 10.99 and the quality has dropped even further. Buttons are falling off the shirts the first day I wear them and the fabric is thin. I will still buy stuff there, but not as frequently. I usually go look somewhere else first. Some of that is because of the quality and the less competitive price, but a good bit of it is also feeling a little betrayed. I found a good value and recommended it to my friends and shortly after that they changed everything about why I recommended them.
Ci Ci's
They started out at like $2.99 for all you can eat pizza. At one point some locations even added WIFI. The pizza was not great, but it wasn't foul either. At that price I could deal with ok pizza on a regular basis. Then they raised it a dollar to $3.99. Still fairly cheap for a buffet, but in my opinion too much for substandard pizza. Considering you can get adequately filled elsewhere with decent food for the same price and for a buck more you can get a better buffet if you look around. Now price is somewhere between $4.50 and $5. When they jumped to $3.99 I would still go to CiCi's once in a while, but when they were at their cheapest I was there ever week. Now they they are creeping toward $5 I almost never go there.
Steve and Barry's
I believe in this area they started out at "everything in the store is 5.99 and under". Their merchandise was spotty for selection and the quality was hit and miss. Although I do have a few shirts from that era that are pretty durable. Then prices went to 7.99 and under for everything in the store. They were starting to bump into the area where I could go somewhere else and find something of same quality for about the same price without having to make a special trip to Steve and Barry's. I think they are now up to 10.99 and the quality has dropped even further. Buttons are falling off the shirts the first day I wear them and the fabric is thin. I will still buy stuff there, but not as frequently. I usually go look somewhere else first. Some of that is because of the quality and the less competitive price, but a good bit of it is also feeling a little betrayed. I found a good value and recommended it to my friends and shortly after that they changed everything about why I recommended them.
Monday, January 08, 2007
More Etrade
After charging me high maintenance fees ETrade went even farther. They sold all of my securities that they could to pay for their maintenance fees. They tried to sell the last one too, but it was a dead stock. They sold off my stocks without notice. Without asking me to reconcile the account by paying the fees.
In spite of the fact that I find this policy and several of their other policies a poor treatment of their customers, this gave me the motivation to end my relationship with Etrade. After the sale that they executed without my consent and filing for a disposal of the worthless security I was able to close the account.
I had a lot of worthless things in my portfolio, but the thing I am most happy to be rid of is my relationship with ETrade.
In spite of the fact that I find this policy and several of their other policies a poor treatment of their customers, this gave me the motivation to end my relationship with Etrade. After the sale that they executed without my consent and filing for a disposal of the worthless security I was able to close the account.
I had a lot of worthless things in my portfolio, but the thing I am most happy to be rid of is my relationship with ETrade.
Ultra Memory Tech Support
I purchased a 2 gig SD flash memory card from Tiger Direct a couple of weeks ago. The brand is Ultra Products. I copied the data from my old 256 meg card onto my PC. I then put the new card in my PocketPC and copied the data from my PC to it. Seemed to go OK. Later I tried to add some more files and delete some I didn't need. Several of the existing files got scrambled. I stuck it in my USB card reader to see if I could format and start over. Windows kept telling me the card was read only. I check the lock tab on the side of the card and it was unlocked.
At this point I decided to go through the headache of contacting tech support. Most tech support is a headache, but sometimes useful in spite of it.
I looked on their web site and found an email address. I sent and email, since that was probably my least painful option. I never got a response back.
I then resorted to the phone. I found two numbers. One for tech support and one for memory tech support. The tech support had an 800 number. The memory tech support id not. I called the 800 number to see if they could maybe transfer me to the memory tech support number. They couldn't.
I then switch to the toll number. All I could get was an answering machine. I left a message and a day or so later they left a message. It was after I had left the office, so I missed their call. I called back when I got the message and got the answering machine again. I have now been waiting several days for that call to come back.
During this process I checked out their user forum. I saw several people with problems with memory and the tech that responded simple said to contact tech support to return it. Not looking like the forum is saving customers much time or hassle.
Related rant #1
I had to use a rebate to get the price I wanted on this card. If I have to send this thing back I can only imagine the hassle I will have with that since I sent in the UPC code for the rebate.
Related rant #1a
Rebates are terrible. Are companies not getting the hint yet that customers hate these things and will buy somewhere else if they can to avoid doing a rebate?
In this case the price was so cheap that I had no where else to go unless I wanted to pay a lot more. That may not be enough in the future to make me buy a product with a rebate after this experience.
Related rant #2
I have done some research while waiting for contact from Ultra Products. At this point I am guessing that part of the problem may be that the card is a higher capacity card. Apparently, even though the card is an SD card (i would've assumed that a standard like SD would be standard across brands and capacities) the higher capacities have trouble with certain devices.
The morals of the story
Watch out for Ultra Products. If you are not willing to throw the card away and go buy another one when it doesn't work correctly, because you aren't getting any technical support without a serious time investment. Hope the data on the card is not time critical.
Do a little extra research when buying flash memory in higher capacities. It looks like 2 gig is the problem point I am seeing as I search and talk with people.
UPDATE 1 - January 15, 2007:
I finally got a response via email a week after my email to them. They said that they thought the card was bad and wanted to know where I had purchased it. That was the extent of the email two sentences basically saying, "It's bad. Where'd you buy it."
I quickly responded back with the information.
Another week passed and this morning I get another email from them that says this, "When and when did you get the sd card form?" No lie, that is a direct cut and paste from the email and that was all it said. No information on where to return the card just a single unintelligible sentence.
I again quickly emailed back, asking for clarification on what they were asking and pleading for them to speed this process up since I am sure they have a 30 day return policy and I have been
stuck with a partially functional card for a month.
Update 2 - January 19, 2007:
My previous theory about the SD card having problems because of its capacity being over what devices might support may have been wrong in this case. The PDA that was able to write to it before is now crashing when trying to write large files to the card.
I got another short, one sentence email from Ultra Products "support". This one contain a return authorization number. There were no instructions on where to send the return or what the process to do so was. I searched their site and found a brief mention of an RMA number that was needed to return things. The number I was given was called a defective conformation code by the support person. The page that talked about the RMA did not have an address for the return. It did state that I was responsible for paying to return the defective part to them. I just helped a friend do a return with Dell. Even though we spent a ton of time on the phone with them, twice, they offered to exchange the faulty part. They are sending him the parts and a postage paid sticker to send the old ones back. He can continue to use his laptop until the parts come in and then he can return the defective parts on Dell's dime. He paid functional parts originally. When they were not functional Dell paid to get him functional parts. When they wanted the bad parts back they paid for that too, since it was not his fault they were bad. How does Ultra Products not get that I already paid for a functional card and that once I have paid the agreed price for a functional card it is their responsibility to get me a functional card and not have me pay extra things like shipping the nonfunctional card, which is not what I paid for, back to them?
I bought the card because it was an inexpensive card. It was only inexpensive after going through the hassle of a rebate. Now I find that the card is defective. I have spent a month fighting the card and having it only be partially functional. I have spent time trying to get Ultra Products' customer service to respond to me. I hassled with a rebate. I now have to spend time and money to return this defective card to them. I will then be without a card for however long it takes them to send me a new one. I have since gotten rid of the card that I was replacing this with, so I am unable to get back to the functional level I was at before buying this card. This inexpensive card has become very costly.
Update 3 - January 23, 2007
It has been five days since I asked for the address to ship this to and the procedure to do so. I sent a message this morning asking again. They just sent to me and said that I had to go through TigerDirect to return it. I guess I should've done that to start with, but the first email from their support line should've sent me back there. And what is this defect number they gave me? TigerDirect is sending me a new card and will reimburse me the shipping to ship the old one.
I'm a little concerned with just launching this back to them, but at least I got to talk to someone and it sounded like there was a procedure in place. I'm just fearful that they are going to tell me there is nothing wrong with the card. I also am fearful about sending a return back that has the packaging half missing, since I had to cut it up to send in the rebate. This mail order stuff may be more trouble than it is worth. We'll see how this all shakes out. Maybe I am just scared since they either wanted to take my card and then send me a new one or charge my credit card and send me a new one first.
At this point I decided to go through the headache of contacting tech support. Most tech support is a headache, but sometimes useful in spite of it.
I looked on their web site and found an email address. I sent and email, since that was probably my least painful option. I never got a response back.
I then resorted to the phone. I found two numbers. One for tech support and one for memory tech support. The tech support had an 800 number. The memory tech support id not. I called the 800 number to see if they could maybe transfer me to the memory tech support number. They couldn't.
I then switch to the toll number. All I could get was an answering machine. I left a message and a day or so later they left a message. It was after I had left the office, so I missed their call. I called back when I got the message and got the answering machine again. I have now been waiting several days for that call to come back.
During this process I checked out their user forum. I saw several people with problems with memory and the tech that responded simple said to contact tech support to return it. Not looking like the forum is saving customers much time or hassle.
Related rant #1
I had to use a rebate to get the price I wanted on this card. If I have to send this thing back I can only imagine the hassle I will have with that since I sent in the UPC code for the rebate.
Related rant #1a
Rebates are terrible. Are companies not getting the hint yet that customers hate these things and will buy somewhere else if they can to avoid doing a rebate?
In this case the price was so cheap that I had no where else to go unless I wanted to pay a lot more. That may not be enough in the future to make me buy a product with a rebate after this experience.
Related rant #2
I have done some research while waiting for contact from Ultra Products. At this point I am guessing that part of the problem may be that the card is a higher capacity card. Apparently, even though the card is an SD card (i would've assumed that a standard like SD would be standard across brands and capacities) the higher capacities have trouble with certain devices.
The morals of the story
Watch out for Ultra Products. If you are not willing to throw the card away and go buy another one when it doesn't work correctly, because you aren't getting any technical support without a serious time investment. Hope the data on the card is not time critical.
Do a little extra research when buying flash memory in higher capacities. It looks like 2 gig is the problem point I am seeing as I search and talk with people.
UPDATE 1 - January 15, 2007:
I finally got a response via email a week after my email to them. They said that they thought the card was bad and wanted to know where I had purchased it. That was the extent of the email two sentences basically saying, "It's bad. Where'd you buy it."
I quickly responded back with the information.
Another week passed and this morning I get another email from them that says this, "When and when did you get the sd card form?" No lie, that is a direct cut and paste from the email and that was all it said. No information on where to return the card just a single unintelligible sentence.
I again quickly emailed back, asking for clarification on what they were asking and pleading for them to speed this process up since I am sure they have a 30 day return policy and I have been
stuck with a partially functional card for a month.
Update 2 - January 19, 2007:
My previous theory about the SD card having problems because of its capacity being over what devices might support may have been wrong in this case. The PDA that was able to write to it before is now crashing when trying to write large files to the card.
I got another short, one sentence email from Ultra Products "support". This one contain a return authorization number. There were no instructions on where to send the return or what the process to do so was. I searched their site and found a brief mention of an RMA number that was needed to return things. The number I was given was called a defective conformation code by the support person. The page that talked about the RMA did not have an address for the return. It did state that I was responsible for paying to return the defective part to them. I just helped a friend do a return with Dell. Even though we spent a ton of time on the phone with them, twice, they offered to exchange the faulty part. They are sending him the parts and a postage paid sticker to send the old ones back. He can continue to use his laptop until the parts come in and then he can return the defective parts on Dell's dime. He paid functional parts originally. When they were not functional Dell paid to get him functional parts. When they wanted the bad parts back they paid for that too, since it was not his fault they were bad. How does Ultra Products not get that I already paid for a functional card and that once I have paid the agreed price for a functional card it is their responsibility to get me a functional card and not have me pay extra things like shipping the nonfunctional card, which is not what I paid for, back to them?
I bought the card because it was an inexpensive card. It was only inexpensive after going through the hassle of a rebate. Now I find that the card is defective. I have spent a month fighting the card and having it only be partially functional. I have spent time trying to get Ultra Products' customer service to respond to me. I hassled with a rebate. I now have to spend time and money to return this defective card to them. I will then be without a card for however long it takes them to send me a new one. I have since gotten rid of the card that I was replacing this with, so I am unable to get back to the functional level I was at before buying this card. This inexpensive card has become very costly.
Update 3 - January 23, 2007
It has been five days since I asked for the address to ship this to and the procedure to do so. I sent a message this morning asking again. They just sent to me and said that I had to go through TigerDirect to return it. I guess I should've done that to start with, but the first email from their support line should've sent me back there. And what is this defect number they gave me? TigerDirect is sending me a new card and will reimburse me the shipping to ship the old one.
I'm a little concerned with just launching this back to them, but at least I got to talk to someone and it sounded like there was a procedure in place. I'm just fearful that they are going to tell me there is nothing wrong with the card. I also am fearful about sending a return back that has the packaging half missing, since I had to cut it up to send in the rebate. This mail order stuff may be more trouble than it is worth. We'll see how this all shakes out. Maybe I am just scared since they either wanted to take my card and then send me a new one or charge my credit card and send me a new one first.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Dead Power Supply geeks.com
A story of exceptional customer service.
I purchased a case that had a power supply in it from geeks.com many months ago. When I first installed the motherboard I tried to power it on. The lights flashed for a split second and then shut down. I check connections and such and it finally worked. It ran for a short time and then it started acting up again. I reconnected everything again and it worked for a month or so. Friends were telling me that they thought it was the power supply. I had my doubts since it seemed to work after wiggling wires. After I had enough problem with it I finally broke down and bought a new power supply, since it was the easiest component to try to replace. I bought a new one since I thought it would be a pain to return and there was probably only a 30, 60, or 90 day exchange policy, which I was past.
Earlier this month I was going through some papers and found the receipt and it said that the case/power supply had a 1 year warranty and an email address to make inquiries. I sent to them and told them the problem. I asked if there was anyway I could just return the power supply and not have to rip out my motherboard. I figured all was lost, since I bought them together and the case was really inexpensive. They came back with an answer fairly quickly and said to not worry about it and they had a new power supply in the mail for me. That was more than I ever would've expected.
I had been worried about doing business with geeks.com, since the name sounded like a couple of guys in their basement were running the place and I had never done business with them before. I looked around on the web and other sites were referencing them and the price was really good, so I gave it a shot.
I don't know if they had a run of bad power supplies on these and so they knew it was probably bad or if they just have a great return policy, but they had the new part to me in a few days and looks like a better power supply than the one that came with the case. Obviously it is better since it works and the other one didn't, but the new one has dual fans. It is the same wattage and all that, but the dual fans certainly got my attention.
I purchased a case that had a power supply in it from geeks.com many months ago. When I first installed the motherboard I tried to power it on. The lights flashed for a split second and then shut down. I check connections and such and it finally worked. It ran for a short time and then it started acting up again. I reconnected everything again and it worked for a month or so. Friends were telling me that they thought it was the power supply. I had my doubts since it seemed to work after wiggling wires. After I had enough problem with it I finally broke down and bought a new power supply, since it was the easiest component to try to replace. I bought a new one since I thought it would be a pain to return and there was probably only a 30, 60, or 90 day exchange policy, which I was past.
Earlier this month I was going through some papers and found the receipt and it said that the case/power supply had a 1 year warranty and an email address to make inquiries. I sent to them and told them the problem. I asked if there was anyway I could just return the power supply and not have to rip out my motherboard. I figured all was lost, since I bought them together and the case was really inexpensive. They came back with an answer fairly quickly and said to not worry about it and they had a new power supply in the mail for me. That was more than I ever would've expected.
I had been worried about doing business with geeks.com, since the name sounded like a couple of guys in their basement were running the place and I had never done business with them before. I looked around on the web and other sites were referencing them and the price was really good, so I gave it a shot.
I don't know if they had a run of bad power supplies on these and so they knew it was probably bad or if they just have a great return policy, but they had the new part to me in a few days and looks like a better power supply than the one that came with the case. Obviously it is better since it works and the other one didn't, but the new one has dual fans. It is the same wattage and all that, but the dual fans certainly got my attention.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Daylight Savings Time and the 4th of July
As the 4th of July is here I can't help, but think of another reason I hate Daylight Savings time.
I have always found dusk rather late when I have gone to see fireworks in July. Now this year with Daylight Savings taking effect here in Indiana the latest of dusk is just ridiculous.
My other reasons for hating it are as follows.
It was hard to put the kids to bed at a reasonable hour in the summer before we went to Daylight Savings. Now it is terribly cruel. I have no choice to let them stay up, since I still have to get up at the same time I did before Daylight Savings kicked in and I have to go to bed at the same time.
Also on the subject of having to get up at the same time, it is now well before dawn. At least before during the summer I would have a period of time where the sun was rising when I was.
I voted for Mitch Daniels and this makes me regret it every day that I am under Daylight Savings Time.
I have always found dusk rather late when I have gone to see fireworks in July. Now this year with Daylight Savings taking effect here in Indiana the latest of dusk is just ridiculous.
My other reasons for hating it are as follows.
It was hard to put the kids to bed at a reasonable hour in the summer before we went to Daylight Savings. Now it is terribly cruel. I have no choice to let them stay up, since I still have to get up at the same time I did before Daylight Savings kicked in and I have to go to bed at the same time.
Also on the subject of having to get up at the same time, it is now well before dawn. At least before during the summer I would have a period of time where the sun was rising when I was.
I voted for Mitch Daniels and this makes me regret it every day that I am under Daylight Savings Time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)