Ah-Technology!

Ah-Technology!

So – I finally came home with a car full of brand new computer equipment yesterday  afternoon. Having spent most of last night setting it up, I am now ready to go again. Yeah!!!

Now, did I need this new equipment?
Of course, otherwise I would not have bought it, right?

Well yes and no.

The reason I bought it was to replace equipment that I already own, sitting on the workskshop shelf of the local agent.

Lets begin at the beginning (usually a good place).

Saturday 2 weeks ago, the scanner of my multifunction laser printer started to make some strange noises. The printer still fired up, but there was this noise, and it sometimes took a little longer than usual to warm up.

Trying to be proactive, I decided, since this cannot be anything huge, lets nip the problem in the bud, before it becomes an issue.

So, first thing Monday morning I phone the computer store where I had bought the unit,  asking what to do about service. I am duly informed that they can send it out for me, but if I would like to save some time, I can take it to the manufacturer appointed service agent myself. I got the number, phoned them, and as it was only about 30 miles away, decided to just “quickly” get there and sort this out.

After about a  45 minute drive, I duly get to the appointed service center and ……lo and  behold there is a queue coming out the front door. Anyway, to cut a long story short, after about another 45 minute of exciting standing in a queue, I finally get to the reception desk. Three attempts and 20 minutes later to try and capture all my relevant data ( all 5 lines of it ) I am informed that the usual turnaround time for an estimate is about 48 hours, and on acceptance, the work would be completed within  5 to 8 working days.

I grumbled at the delay and drove home.

After 5 days (note 48 hours is 2 days) of deathly silence from their part, I decided to phone. Easter and all, this was getting a bit longwinded.

Now there are some of us, that have phoned government departments, or huge   corporations and been subjected to holding on the phone for what seems like hours. Well  you can relate to what happened next.

A cheerful enough receptionist, eventually answers the phone, and puts me through to the  correct department, who then put me through to the supervisor in charge, who then put me thru to the correct repair section, who then put me thru to the admin of the department ,  who then put me thru to ………the receptionist I started out with, asking, how may I help you?

Ok, this can happen.

I explain what has happened to her, and she says, “They aren’t supposed to do that (no kidding Sherlock), hang on please while I transfer you”.

Guess what, 20 minutes later I am explaining the exact same thing to her, having gone thru the exact same steps as before. This time I insist on speaking to the manager, Mr X, who, surprise surprise, is not available, but would phone me back immediately.

2 hours later, I phone up, and ask to speak to Mr X directly. No, he will only be available on Monday, but would phone me back then.

Late Monday, I phoned again, asking for Mr X. He actually answers. I explain what happened, he apologizes profusely, and will sort it out right away and get back to me. No thanks – I’ll hold -not wanting to play another exciting game of telephone tag. To my  surprise, he returns to the phone within 5 minutes and says,  “Your estimate was done days ago, didn’t you get it” (Hello- no!).

I explain courteously, no I have not received it as yet. No problem, I will get it sent to you  ASAP.

Hold on there, thats what I was told a week ago, just give it to me verbally, so I can Ok   the go-ahead and save some time. “Sure,” he says, “you just need to confirm by email
the acceptance of the repair cost “, which is……….80% of the cost of a brand new updated model with the same specifications.

Now I am no Einstein, but to have a small intermittent problem fixed on a 3 year old (very sparingly used) unit, or to spend an extra few dollars and get a brand new guaranteed  unit- mmh tough decision.

So I asked him, whether the quote was correct.
He will speak to the works manager and get back to me within 30 minutes. That was 6 days ago, I have heard nothing, cannot get hold of anyone, they haven’t answered my  mails, and I don’t  have my equipment to work with.

That’s why I went and bought the new stuff yesterday.

Now the sad thing is, the equipment I bought is a different make to the one sent in to repair, which was a very, very ,very , (did I mention very) well known and respected brand. As a matter of fact, a brand I had respected and faithfully used for the last 40 years prior to this. A brand, of which I had used literally hundreds of products in my businesses over the  years.

I now have a different, not so well known unit sitting on my desk. I don’t even know where my old unit is, or if I will ever see it again. I do know that I will not accept that kind of  “service” from anyone.

So does this have anything to do with relationships?  You bet.

If you stop meeting each others needs, or in some way reject a partner, that partner will  probably move on to look for what they need elsewhere. Also if the separation is painful,  the chances of a reconciliation are slim.

This is true in love, life and business.

You could almost say it’s a universal law. Don’t try and flaunt it, it will come back to bite  you.

Remember, keep on loving

 

 


 

My computer
drove me mad!

 

As I made myself
another cup of tea, waiting for my computer to download, it suddenly
struck me:

I have a broadband connection,
my computer should not be this slow.

Then I remembered my service
provider telling me that most internet speed problems, are not actually
caused by connection problems, but rogue code residing on your computer.

Actually anyone using any form
of internet access is susceptable to this problem.

I quickly solved my
problem, by eliminationg that code, which I DID find on my PC. Now
my computer is lightening fast again.

Do yourself a favor and check your computer – for f.r.e.e Click HERE.

 

 


 

Joke of the week:

Johnny really wanted to make love to a girl in his office … But she had a boyfriend…


One day Johnny got so frustrated that he went up to her and said, “I’ll give you a $1000 dollars if you let me be with you” 
But the girl said “NO WAY!”
Johnny said, “I’ll be fast, I’ll throw the money on the floor, you bend down, I’ll be finished by the time you pick it up”
She thought for a moment and said that she would have to consult her boyfriend … So she called her boyfriend and told him the story.
Her boyfriend says “Ask him for $2000 dollars, pick up the money very fast, he won’t even  be able to get his pants down!”


So she agrees and accepts the proposal.
Half an hour goes by and the boyfriend is waiting for his girlfriend to call.

Finally after 45 mins the boyfriend calls and asks “What happened?”
She said, “The bastard used coins!!”

Management lesson: Always consider a business proposal in it’s entirety before agreeing  to it and getting screwed.