Miss Allanyious - a personal opinion blog

Bye Bye Netflix & Clones

2011-09-14T15:47:00.001-07:00

NETFLIX - I quit due to increasing prices, and too many defective DVDs. Today I receive in my USPS junk mail, an insert from Blockbuster inviting to join with a free month. They offer"Unlimited exchanges for free in-store movie rentals". Too bad every store I know of in Houston, TX has closed. Then buried in the fine print of their Terms of Service, they freely admit to doing what Neflix got sued over:

Blockbuster reserves the right to determine product allocation among members in its sole discretion.

Amazon gets worse

2006-10-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

A week later, still no refund. Only action taken by Amazon is to lock me out of my Amazon account. Good. I'll use buy.com from now on.

Amazon arrogance.

2006-10-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Good luck returning defective merchandize to Amazon. They keep their 800 Customer Service number a secret (its 800-201-7575 ). Then despite the web site saying it takes 3 days after receipt fo a return to process a refund (in itself too long), on the phone they say 4 weeks.
Guess I will not be doing any shopping there if I can avoid it any more.

ATT arrogance remains

2006-09-07T04:22:00.000-07:00

Two recent examples.

1. The Federal Government as of the end of June 2006 no longer collects USF fees on dsl lines from phone companies. AT&T kept charging for it anyway until August 15, and never gave their CSRs the correct information to relay to customers.

2. As part of the conditions to allow SBC to buy AT&T, it was deemed that it should start to sell "naked" dsl, i.e. dsl without the requirement of a "POTS" phone line for voice. Current pricing is $44.95 for the dsl service that sells for $12.95 with a voice line.

Not exactly what the FCC had in mind?

AOL violates agreement with NY State

2006-07-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

AOL had agreed not to use dirty tricks to keep people from cancelling.

They have an 80 page manual instructing reps how to trick people into staying.
Read about it here.

I read somewhere the best way to quit AOL is to call, say you sold your computer and are moving to Finland.

Dell Laptop bursts into flame

2006-06-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

Ouch - Dell laptop bursts into flame.
Story here.

Zocor goes Generic today

2006-06-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

Ask for simvastatin instead. Save big bucks. Story here:
Save even more. Get a prescription for a larger dose, pay the same co-pay, and split the tablet in two, buying half as often.

new DirecTv offering = EVERYTHING

2006-06-21T02:53:00.000-07:00

Some folks must have asked for it. Now you can buy a package from DirecTv that includes every channel, pay-per-view, sports event and adult offering they have. Details here. One payment $7500 per year, in advance. I'll pass.

FOLLOWUP - It's a Big Lie:

Every channel ? - NOT

They will not be providing east and west coast Network Channels,
adjacent locals - not if you don't already receive.

Every HDTV channel ? - NOT

They will not be providing Local HD channels on your HD DVR as the only HD DVR DirecTv has now is the HR10-250 which can not work with MPEG4 and the 5 LNB Dish.

But they do have a separate phone number to call up so you can offer your $7500 (likely automatically renewed at the then current rate like NFL Sunday Ticket).
1-877-337-4388

"Membership is reserved for a select few" ? - NOT

Money talks, nobody walks.

"Every Sporting Event" ? - NOT

"Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change. Sporting events subject to game availability rules" - YES

Microsoft retreats:

2006-06-13T04:20:00.000-07:00

Microsoft solved the problem of a temporary crush of folks wanting to download the "beta" of Windows Vista. They're restricting access. Story here. Personally I think they're getting too many negative reviews of the preview version to suit themselves, which based upon my years of experience is an Alpha product, not Beta.
Despite that story from Microsoft, as of morning June 13, anyone can download it still from here.

As soon as possible EQUALS NEVER

2006-06-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Microsoft which had promised to fix a vulnerablty in their older Operating Systems "as soon as possible" now says it won't ever. Thank's a lot say millions of folks with their Windows 98 Systems from 6 years ago, who do not not want to buy a new $1000 system. Seems like 6 year old Macintosh G3 computers keep working with no such problems. Story here:

Why do I waste my time with this junk

2006-06-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

I struggled to find a mirror to down load Windows Vista (Microsoft's site wasn't accepting connections), and 3 hours later at 306KB/s over ATT dsl, I had a DVD image of Vista beta 2. Worthless piece of SH*T.
Setup (unlike XP) never offers you the option to enter a Workgroup or Domain name. So you start up in Domain "Workgroup". It never presented me the option to add a partition so I could dual boot with XP, but booted up as if it could dual boot, which it couldn't. Then it told me it boots up too slow cause it doesn't like its' Windows supplied Driver for my NVidia video card. It definitely shuts down way too slowly. It couldn't find any Drivers for a standard SoundBlaster Audigy card. Then it told me I had 3.25 Gig of Ram, when I have 4 Gig of Ram. The new Microsoft antivirus software (Live Onecare) of course doesn't work with Vista, but requires XP. Microsoft points you to other antivirus vendors. Go try to use Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2006, and it will tell you it doesn't work, apparently it thinks you're running an old version of Windows 2000.
Luckily I had GHOSTed my XP before starting, so I restored it, undoing the Vista damage.
I haven't seen anything so poorly done since the OS2 2.0 Install.
I had less grief the first time I ever installed a Linux distribution.

Apple again leads the way.

2006-06-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

Apple apparently has seen how short sighted it is to have tech support in India, where customers get scripts read to them instead of tech support, and is pulling the plug. AT&T is also said to be repatriating its' dsl support. Apple story here.

Pay Microsoft to Beta test their buggy software?

2006-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

No thank you. Microsoft where quality is job 1.04c now is selling antivirus software, excuse me if I continue to use my Symantec.

Feel Good Story

2006-05-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

Art Buchwald - Comedic columnist and writer was diagnosed with Kidney Failure and told in February he had 3 weeks to live. Four months later, he's still with us. Story here.

Microsoft perfidy

2006-05-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

If you're a contractor with Microsoft, they already are up against the line in the unfair way they treat you. Now it gets worse. A required 7 days off without pay. As if they didn't have a cash horde of billions they're sitting on. Read this story here.

Withdrawn Ringtone

2006-05-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

While not making any comment on the funny nature or insulting nature of the ringtone, thanks to the internet, just Google "La Migra ringtone.mp3" and you'll likely find what is said to be the original Cingular ringtone.

WHOOPS - don't use Spanish if you don't know Spanish

2006-05-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

Cingular discovered to their chagrin that a Rap Ringtone insulted undocumenteds, and belatedly pulled it. Story here.

Worthless Web Site search function

2006-04-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

So I'm shopping for a new digital camera, a Sony DSC-W100, seems Sony has strong-armed vendors as everyone is selling at same price, I go to one discount house, and search on Sony DSC-W100, and it returns 528 Sony items, and fails to mention the list does not include a W100.
Not exactly helpful or user-friendly.

Arrogant Web designers

2006-04-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

Why would you limit your audience and require a specific browser, or specific new version, or specific plug-in ??? There I was visiting a relative who had a 333 Mhz G3 iMac, running Netscape 7.02 on OS 9.2.1; and so many web sites flat didn't work. Commercial ones that lost sales. Makes no sense.

Name the Store

2006-03-30T04:08:00.000-08:00

Which store has Family Values, and good prices on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Fire Arms?
Check out an answer here. Then a counter productive lawsuit against free speech, details here. How smart can a company be to draw attention to a parody that no one would know about if they hadn't filed a law suit?

Bank of America advertising proved false.

2006-03-28T05:12:00.000-08:00

B of A TV ads push debit cards. "If you have a problem money is put back in your account within 24 hours" they falsely claim. When a Burger King charged a B of A customer $4334.33, instead of $4.33 by mistake, it took three (3) days for B of A to correct the account. Story here.

Bank of America computers down.

2006-03-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

At 9 AM on a Wednesday. What an amateur outfit !

Online Banking is temporarily
unavailable for TX customers.

We apologize for the
inconvenience.

Please wait a few minutes
and try again.

Aetna pulling a Blockbuster?

2006-03-11T08:24:00.000-08:00

Throttling shipments to increase profits? So it's a matter of life and death drugs in their case. Money counts. Their web site today says:

"Aetna Rx Home Delivery is currently experiencing higher-than-expected prescription order volume. Your recent order may take�longer to process than our standard order turn around time. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause."

Hard to believe Aetna never heard of Overtime or Temporary workers to solve such issues.

How to monitor US Economy

2006-03-04T05:21:00.000-08:00

I go by two indicators I haven't heard others using; and both show our U.S. economy for the first time in 8 years is doing better.

1. How easy is it to spend a crispy new $100 bill? If the cashier takes it as readily as a $5 bill, the economy is doing good. If it takes 5 minutes and 3 managers' approval, the economy could be better.

2. Do you see "Help Wanted" signs posted at McDonalds, with words like "Above Minimum Wage" ?

Life imitates Life

2006-02-23T01:55:00.000-08:00

A former top Gizmondo executive totalled his expensive Ferrari car. Story here.

General Motors is hurting

2006-02-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday their stock is listed as a SELL. Today I get in the mail a promo via my GM MasterCard. My GM Card earnings are "Topped off", going from $2 to $2000, but can only be applied to their gas hog cars. Not a single 4 banger in the lot. Offer expires 3/31/2006

Support Denmark

2006-02-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

I've done my good deed to help the Western World and freedom of the press. I've booked a vacation in Copenhagen this summer.

Cingular Retail stores

2006-02-06T07:05:00.000-08:00

You think making money selling branded accesories for their cell phones would bring in some nice coin. Not good enough for these clowns. You have a Sony/Ericsson phone, you want to protect your investment by only using it with Sony/Ericsson equipment, and have read horror stories about no-name car chargers. The Cingular store will sell you a car charger: $29.99; but its not even the $19.99 Sony/Ericsson Car Charger, it seems identical to one you can find online for $3.99
Sony writes me the warranty does not apply if anything untoward happens with 3rd party car charger.
FOLLOWUP - Cingular stores will falsely say the accesories they have are OEM products when that is completely false. They are supplied to Cingular by Superior Communications.

Airline Ticket Buying Strategy

2006-01-31T04:57:00.000-08:00

Start with Orbitz or Expedia, to see if any airline is having tickets "on sale"; I've discovered one day "sales" are common. Then go to the web site for that airline, and buy your ticket, as it will ALWAYS be at least $5 cheaper per ticket than Orbitz. So far I've saved $800 on 2006 tickets using this strategy, which requires you not be airline loyal. I've also been able to stick to my prefrence of not using Airbus equipment. And of course I'm not flying United.

CUSTOMER HOSTILE UNITED AIRLINES WEB SITE

2006-01-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

An itinerary thats $548 at Continental is $190 at United.

So I go online to United.
It wants my Frequent Flyer #, I don't think I have one.
I go sign up for a Frequent Flyer number, it says I already have one
I call their 800 #, and am given my number
Now the web site wants my Frequent Flyer password
I call their 800 # and am told to register online
I register online and it fails, telling me I'm already registered
try password Receovery
Password Recovery tells me I'm not registered
I call the 800 # again, and they say "Oh yes the Registration program is not working,
we can't give you a password"

Asleep at the switch - Centerpoint Energy

2006-01-15T05:40:00.000-08:00

Now that my natural gas bill is so high, I figured I'd pay online with credit card, and get CreditCard bonus credits. Too bad registering online gives me:

[SoapException: Server was unable to process request. --> Timeout expired. The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding.]
System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapHttpClientProtocol.ReadResponse(SoapClientMessage message, WebResponse response, Stream responseStream, Boolean asyncCall) +1500
System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapHttpClientProtocol.Invoke(String methodName, Object[] parameters) +218
AccountEnrollmentWS.AccountEnrollmentService.EnrollInitialAccountInMAO(Guid userId, String masterBusinessPartner, String contractAccountNumber, String masterServiceAreaCode) +126
CNP.OCSS.Client.Library.AccountEnrollmentAgent.EnrollInitialAccountInMAO(Guid userId, String masterBusinessPartner, String contractAccountNumber, String masterServiceAreaCode) +146
CNP.OCSS.Controls.BaseRegistration.cmdRegister_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e) +1549
System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e) +108
System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button.System.Web.UI.IPostBackEventHandler.RaisePostBackEvent(String eventArgument) +57
System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(IPostBackEventHandler sourceControl, String eventArgument) +18
System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(NameValueCollection postData) +33
System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain() +1292

Office Chairs- BUY AMERICAN !

2006-01-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

I have an 11 year old "Executive Chair" that I bought a good quality one of (~$300) at a local Office Furniture Store. After daily use at my home computer, the plastic channel/guides that aligns the seat back broke. I determined that the chair is made by BG Chair Company, Inc.; Bowling Green, Ohio 43402, and I called them up, desperately hoping they might have or be able to obtain the part I needed. They called me back an hour later to say they are sending me out 2 sets of parts (I have another such chair and asked for 2), all at no cost.

2 Morals.

1. You get what you pay for. (You buy cheap junk from China, don't complain when it falls apart in 18 months).
2. Buy American - from a good company like BG Chair ! ! ! (1-800-241-7289)

Chase Bank has had too many mergers

2006-01-11T04:52:00.000-08:00

They are out of control with their internet access of credit card information.

I get a CHASE Continental Airlines card, so I can earn the 15,000 bonus miles and upgrade a overseas flight this summer to Business Class (hopefully).

Three days later, I try and sign up to track the card charges online.

Chase.com doesnt work. A recommended cardmemberservices.com (a BankOne site) won't work either. Chases's 800 number is giving out the WRONG information. On my own, I discover online.firstusa.com works; recalling Chase's 800 number to be helpful and give them the right answer, these droids just get very argumentative, and don't want the right answer. A supervisor just wants to wash her hands and transfer me. No one will take ownership of a problem. Likely handle time limits prevent them from reporting such problems.

Store Closings

2006-01-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

Two thoughts on store closings:
One - I often can succesfully predict a supermarket or variety store closing. Six months before they close they stop spending money refurbishing their shopping carts. If all the shopping carts look like they should be thrown out, shortly they will!

Two - Going out of business sales are a racket anymore. Locally Mervyns is having a 50% off everything sale. But look closer. Some popular items (like Timex watches) disappear, but some Chinese junk that even at 50% off is over priced strangely appear in large volumes.

BAIT AND SWITCH BY DELL, HAPPY 2006

2006-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

I receive a New Year's Card from Dell with a Code to get 20% off a Desktop. I go online and configure one, and enter the code, and it gives me 5% off. Am I not suppose to notice the difference? What kind of lame trick is this???? Then you call their 800 number and
they act like they have 5 minutes to complete a sale and won't help you. Email to mdell@dell.com is not answered yet.

Guess which company lost my loyalty?

FOLLOWUP Jan 5.- Dell is bound and determined to continue to antagonize me. An email tells me to call their 800 sales number (I had called again, but despite Dell now realizing they mailed out bogus coupon codes, the folks still only want to sell you a computer in the next 5 minutes and refuse to give you a valid coupon code, or escalate the call). I wrote back that Dell would now have to give me a computer before I could trust them again. Then last night I received a phone call from India from someone who I could not understand, that I immediately hung up on. I do not do business with unintelligible people from Indian call centers if I can avoid it.

FOLLOWUP 2 - I have now received 2 more phone calls from Dell. One from the Executive Services Team, that only arrogantly wanted to read me the company line about outsourced support, and another from a resolution specialist who also refused to provide a valid code. I said to him "please call me back when you have a code for me, goodbye". I wonder now if this whole New Years card promotion was a SCAM to have you call a hard sell sales person. They do admit on their website now the code is wrong, but don't offer a way to get a working code, you're just told to call sales where you get a sales person with a 5 minute handle time. Needless to say, they are not winning any friends by refusing to address my complaint. Later I get an email from the same "resolution specialist" who seems to try to be helping but is hamstrung by the Dell Scam. He can only provide a 10% off code for an XPS computer. More Bait and Switch?

Followup 3 Jan 6 : Three different Dell people have called me today, but not one was willing to make me whole by providing a working discount Code. Only convinces me they never intended folks to have a code.

Last Followup: " I can manually adjust the order so you are able to take advantage of the promotion." I was written, so I put it to the test, and Dell failed. Oh, the discount doesn't apply to THAT system was the answer.
What weasels. So now its completely obvious why you're not provided a 20% off code. They don't want you to find out only some systems are 20% off while online where you'd quit and go elsewhere. If you're on the phone and find out while talking to a salesperson, they can perhaps fast talk you through the sale before you might realize you're not getting a promised 20% off. So yes, BAIT and SWITCH is an accurate description of this promotion.
P.S. A Google of "Dell discount code" will present one with various percent off codes, including one for 20% off Dimension computers.
P.P.S. A Google of "Dell Bait and Switch" is an education, with over 9,000 hits.

Last word - JAN. 9. So I test the code I was sent by the "resolution specialist" on a Dimension 9150, and it's not acceptted. Email back again "That Dimension isn't covered by the promotion" DELL, thy name is BAIT and SWITCH.

Dishonest Time/Warner in Houston

2005-12-27T03:42:00.000-08:00

If you perchance did a GOOGLE search on "Warner TiVo", on the right it would throw up a paid ad from Time Warner saying "Digital Cable & TiVo lets you watch your favorite shows when you want."

Too bad the link takes you to timewarnercable.com, where a search for "TiVo", results in
"We're sorry, but that search did not find any results. Please try changing your search."

Read the product reviews !

2005-12-19T04:06:00.000-08:00

One nice thing about online shopping is that many vendors (Circuit City, HSN) list customer reviews. One of the worst reviewed items I have ever seen is here.

Smoking Gun of Bad Customer Support

2005-12-18T06:03:00.000-08:00

I've always maintained the biggest problem is short sighted companies middle mangement thinking they're saving money by reducing "handle time" of support calls, and not realizing they're only allienating customers. Now on USENET it appears:

> > I hate to say this, but when I was under the eight ball at my former
> > employer for my call-times being too long, I was encouraged to
> > "drop the call" (just hang up) if it got too long or too hairy.

George Bush has an Ipod

2005-12-15T06:45:00.000-08:00

Too bad he can't pronounce the names of the recording artists. Don McLean is pronounced how? Watch it here.

Worthless SBC web site

2005-12-08T06:14:00.000-08:00

They want you to track your account by going online, but the website is worse than useless. It's usually only updated for your account monthly, and if other charges/credits appear, it's all a mystery until after your monthly bill appears. And where they show Cingular information, its totally wrong, and calls to their President's Office in St. Louis demonstrate they don't care.

Pandemic History Repeats

2005-12-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Back in 1976, the United States got all worried about the coming Pandemic: Swine Flu. Never happened. Now in 2005, history is repeating with dire warnings about Avian Bird Flu. And of course the NIH wont give you extra millions of dollars if you don't scare them enough. But history repeats.

Magazine Subscription Game

2005-12-02T05:23:00.000-08:00

I buy a magazine subscription, and when it started it starts with two back issues. I love receiving the October issue, on news stands in September at the end of November as part of my subscription. NOT. So I sent an email to CANCEL the subscription as I wouldn't be paying their invoice. The next day, to make doubly sure, I called on the telephone, and before I could finish my complaint they offered to extend the subscription by two issues; only convincing me of the regular nature of their fruadulent practice. Needless to say I cancelled, as the December issue, late in arriving is already fully available on the web. As near as I can figure, all publishers pull this unacceptable trick.

Buying a House gotchas

2005-12-01T06:01:00.000-08:00

Don't get fooled by the "It's such a bargain, it's assessed for more than the selling price" - Translation - Your taxes will be higher than they should be.

When you've picked a house, drive by on a Saturday night or Sunday at noon, to check if the neighborhoods' character has changed. Try to see the house again during a heavy rainstorm before making a final offer.

Then shop for your mortgage lender, house inspector etc, just as carefully as you did the house. Automatically be suspicious of anyone recommended by your realtor, who may only be recommending who ever provides the biggest kickback.

Watch out at closing. A few gotchas there. The title insurance may only be initially offered for the value of the mortgage, when for little more, it can and should be obtained for the selling price of the house. Refuse any "Credit Life Insurance" offered, as it usually is at a much higher rate than if you just bumped up whatever Group life insurance you could get at work. Usually things get to be prorated since few closings take place on January 1. Sometimes a Title Company may "accidentally" calculate things based on the date the papers were drawn up, rather than the date of closing. Don't accept "Don't worry, it'll be added to the escrow". Demand a check be cut for the difference if they do have an "accident".

Down the road, it'll be up to you to calculate when you no longer need to pay PMI insurance. The mortgage company will often "forget" to tell you and happily keep collecting premiums.

Fight back against telemarketers

2005-11-30T08:17:00.000-08:00

One web site has a complete program for combatting undesired telemarketers. Find it here.
I have identified two other simple techniques. One ask your local phone company (no cost here) to list you in the phone book without an address. That way when they sell directories sorted by address, you will be omitted. Another simple way is to use the sound (the sound of a non working number) as described here, at the start of answering machine's message. That way automated calls will decide your line is not in service and not call again.

Establishing Brand Identity

2005-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Apparently the Campbell Soup Company cares very little about the Brand identity of its V8 Brand Juice product. I had occasion to contact them and discover I had been sold V8 juice made in Mexico, and then imported into the U.S., about which they seem not to care. The Mexican product (based on nutritional label) is basically one part U.S. V8, 2 parts water; not to mention about the safety of Mexican vegatables or Mexican water relative to U.S. origin ingredients used in the made in the U.S.A. V8. And ironically enough the Mexican V8 is labeled "V8 Original", which is a total lie. Rather than searching for tiny type that says "Made in Mexico", look at the nutrition information. 3 grams of Protein is the real made in the U.S.A. stuff. 1 gram of protein is the adulterated Mexican stuff.

Customer Service phone support sucks

2005-11-29T12:00:00.001-08:00

Big companies have decided they want to find a cheaper way to do telephone support. It could be an appliance company, a cell phone company a computer company or your cable company. They hire low wage people, so they can't be choosey about their people skills. Then they ask the impossible of them: Solve all problems in one call, hardly ever escalate a call, and do it in 5 or 6 minutes. As a result calls to front line CSRs (Customer Service Representatives) can be exceedingly frustrating. It's also frustrating to the CSRs that want to do the right thing, and aren't given the authority to issue a credit or a replacement product, so turnover is high, and you're commonly dealing with a new hire. Or it can be CSRs that don't speak understandable English, cause they are in Bangla Desh. A CSR may invent an answer so he can tell you what you want to hear just to get you off the line, and then they will incorrectly annotate your file, making the next call even more difficult. Just GOOGLE "Company Name sucks" and you'll see the kinds of complaints this generates. Lately its gotten even worse, as companies now want you to jump through hoops to get to that CSR. You get to listen to commercials, or help tips usually totally unrelated to your issue. One web site has phone codes to get pass this hurdle: http://paulenglish.com/ivr/