I remember that sometime this year, I posted in my blog a complain about an insurance company. Sometimes, some companies drives us crazy. So, this week, let’s share with each other, which companies where are having a really bad services. Please remember that you’ll be responsible for what you post here. Having said that, to improve their respect to the consumers, sometimes we need to go public.
Thank you very much and this blog is open for you,
Paulo
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hi
i love you boss!
I am saddened that there are several companies, such as Target, who will not allow Salvation Army bell ringers to collect outside their doors during the holiday shopping season. Regardless of rationale, whether people feel uncomfortable walking past them or not, the point is that people entering the stores obviously have enough or too much (as they are shopping and spending money) and the people being helped by the volunteers for the Salvation Army have too little or not enough. The companies that won’t allow the bell ringers for just a few short weeks before Christmas are literally taking the clothes off of people’s backs by their lack of support for the Salvation Army charity. Shame on them for their corporate decision to be so cruel.
I am happy about this blog because I was thinking to officially complain about AIR CANADA, their flight attendants and the service.
I booked a full fare business class ticket for myself and my baby of 15 months.
Firstly, at the check in counter the woman forgot to book my baby on the flight (not to mention no help with bags, stroller) so when I reached the security check area I had to go all the way back again with my baby to get a ticket.
the woman then rudely proceeded to tell me it was my fault because it was not in the system, when in fact it was, and she had read the booking wrongly. She did not apologize.
Secondly upon boarding the aircraft, I had to leave my stroller so it could be brought down to the luggage compartment. The flight attendant just watched me and told me that i had to fold the stroller together and leave it outside the door. She did not offer to help me. I had to put my baby on the floor in front of her, while i tried to fold my stroller together. She watched as my baby was on the floor and did not say a word.
Then, on the airplane, not one of the flight attendants asked me if they could help or if I needed anything for the baby. when i asked them to heat the milk, they refused, saying maybe later. When I asked for an extra pillow for me, they forgot. I asked three times. Also I had requested an infant meal, and they failed to provide one for me.
All in all it was a horrible experience. The flight attendants are all older middle age women (which is not a problem, if they are friendly) but they are all unionized so they cannot lose their jobs and therefore have no incentive to be polite and to provide good service. So these women are totally unfriendly, and it seems that the younger your are, the ruder they are to you.
This is not the first time I had problems with Air Canada, but it is for sure the last time I fly with them. Not to mention I had paid business class fare.
As i arrived in Frankfurt and transferred to Lufthansa, there was a huge difference. Smiles, warm friendly greetings, immediate help with my baby, toys and meal given to my baby, and polite all around.
If you can avoid it, dont fly Air Canada.
Here is my latest annoyance, which I would like to share: I open my facebook page this morning, to see this ad in the sidebar for “A Starbucks World Event.” So I click on it, to see what it’s all about, and this is what I read:
“In one amazing moment, the world will come together to sing about the one thing we all have in common – love. People from around the world will sing the legendary hit “All You Need is Love” in a single voice on December 7, 2009 at 5:30amPST/8:30amEST. The global sing-along is part of our continuing efforts to help fight AIDS in Africa. In just one year in partnership with (RED)™, Starbucks has generated money equivalent to more than 7 million days of medicine to help those living with HIV in Africa.”
Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Or does it? I have to admit that I’m a bit of a sceptic, especially when it comes to corporations, such as Starbucks, who have far less than a spotless record when it comes to global business ethics. So, I do a little research, and this is what I learn: Starbucks will donate 5 cents per cup of coffee sold, to this effort (limited to certain, more expensive concoctions only). For every video or drawing customers upload to the Starbucks website (limited to a certain number, of course), Starbucks will, similarly, make an additional donation of 5 cents. Still sounds great, doesn’t it? I mean, helping people in need, especially at Christmas time, always makes us feel wonderful.
It makes us FEEL WONDERFUL! And this is the point I’m going to make. It makes us “feel wonderful” about ourselves, it makes us “feel wonderful” about Starbucks, it certainly makes us “feel” a whole lot less guilty when we’re sitting at the warm Starbucks counter, sipping our outrageously expensive designer coffee. That’s what it’s really all about – what it’s really about to Starbucks anyway – generating customer satisfaction with the product and with the company as a whole. Starbucks donates 5 cents on a cup of coffee which, on average, costs the customer over 4 dollars. How much is this really cutting into their profits? Very little. And, in actuality, not at all. Why? Because these “donations” are “budgeted” into their annual cost of advertising. That is what this is, after all – advertising, marketing. It really isn’t about saving the lives of AIDS victims in Africa – it is about making customers “feel good” about Starbucks and their products, so that they will buy more. Although Starbucks would like to make us believe that it is so, this is not, in my opinion, genuine philanthropy. Genuine philanthropy is when you GIVE without thought of return. It is guaranteed that Starbucks advertising and marketing department has made precise calculations regarding the “return” they can expect from the expenditures of this campaign.
As Bono himself stated, last year, in regards to Starbucks joining the RED campaign: “This is not charity. This is commerce.” And this is precisely what annoys me about it – huge corporations, such as Starbucks, positioning themselves in the marketplace, to appear philanthropic, when, in reality, all they are truly focused upon is saving their public image and thereby increasing profits.
Everything in life is not simply black and white. It is good that these funds are being utilized to help those in need. This fact is indisputable. But we, as consumers, should not allow such facts to dazzle us – to blind us to the reality underlying such corporate campaigns.
In my opinion, I think that Starbuck’s use of the word “LOVE” in their campaign is a bit offensive – love is NOT about increasing profits by “using” a cause to make consumers “feel good” about your company and your products. A suggestion, skip Starbucks and all their hype: forego that cup of coffee altogether and donate the whole $4 to fight AIDS in Africa.
there are some comunication companies (of moblie, specificly in Brazil) that when you have a issue to be addressed, you call them and there are those recorded voice asking what you deserve and passing to other and other sectors, and you end not solving the request.
Otherwise, whether you go to the website, or the store, you cant solve it eighter. But if you dont pay at the time, they cut the service righ away!
All these sites on internet that are designed not thinking of usability. It makes you click and click and go to 1000 new places but you still dont get the information you need about the product/service.
It is nice hearing that from an American. Let me show you one video that does not appear at American Shows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z00jjc-WtZI
The word to describe this people behaviour is: Envy.
Best regards.
Obrigado Fabricio!
I have had problems with VODAFONE: I wanted to move from a subscription to a rechargeable card… it took 3 months – they made it as hard as possible.
Once the change was done, I found out they had cancelled my online account, so I could no longer control my sim card. They also cancelled all the points I had in the reward program, that I use to collect miles and get free flights.
It took months to solve that issue too.
I also had problems with ALITALIA: I had book a reward ticket for the month of August, but they made a mistake with the reservation – so the internal flight was not available. They drove me crazy until a very few days before the leaving time, promising me they would have fixed it. Well, they only solved it 2 days before the day I was supposed to leave, but in the meanwhile I had to cancel my trip, because I needed to be sure I could have the flight.
I sent them a fax, then 2 registered letter. They did not even reply: no excuses, no compensation, nothing.
But… yes, i can still write the word “Love” at the end of my message :)
Love,
Rossana Curri
Tenho mais uma crítica a acrescentar: Programas de televisão. O Late show de David Latterman, aonde Robin Williams disse que o Brasil só ganhou as olimpíadas pois enviou “50 strippers e 500 g de pó”. Toda a mídia americana, adicionando-se na lista Oprah, Fareed Zakaria, Jay Leno, estão com inveja e rancor do Brasil e rio e não estão medindo esforços de manchar a imagem do país/cidade com o que tem de mais podre e sujo. Bom, voce estava no comite olimpico, pode dizer se isso é verdade ou não. Veja o que eles disseram:
Jay Leno:
http://oglobo.globo.com/blogs/brasilcomz/posts/2009/11/14/jay-leno-exagerou-em-piada-sobre-apagao-brasileiro-241284.asp
Fareed Zakaria:
http://oglobo.globo.com/blogs/brasilcomz/posts/2009/11/16/zakaria-duvida-da-capacidade-do-rj-de-sediar-as-olimpiadas-241552.asp
Robin Williams:
http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/rio2016/mat/2009/11/30/robin-williams-faz-piada-da-vitoria-do-rio-para-sediar-as-olimpiadas-de-2016-no-programa-de-david-letterman-914985398.asp
Oprah:
http://www.clicrbs.com.br/blog/jsp/default.jsp?source=DYNAMIC,blog.BlogDataServer,getBlog&uf=1&local=1&template=3948.dwt§ion=Blogs&post=244035&blog=594&coldir=1&topo=3994.dwt
Isso sem falar na preconceito natural das pessoas ao redor do Mundo, como aquele Ingles aqui do Seu blog que dizia que o Brasil tinha que se desenvolver para te entender. Sinceramente, sei que o post era sobre consumidores, mas já estou de saco cheio desse preconceito. Voce nasceu aqui no Rio e esteve lá na escolha da cidade Paulo, ja deve ter visto muitos casos de xenofobismo também.
Sinceramente, já estou de saco cheio.
Abrações.
Estoy completamente de acuerdo. I completely agree with your complaint Oprah was way out of line. I am American and look forward to going to the Olympics in Brazil. I totally agree with your complaint.
I think it is very important to stand up for your rights. But such fights can cost a lot of energy and I am not always willing to pay that price. I pick my fights, often arbitrarily depending on how I feel.I cannot remember any particular fight right now but two business strategies I find really annoying:
1) Insurance companies: When I worked as a lawyer I learnt that some insurance companies have a policy never to pay voluntarily what they are obliged to pay. The calculation is very simple and efficient: The more money you are entitelt to the harder you have to fight in order to get it. The companies know that a lot of people do not have the strength or the resources for a fight and give up fast, which saves a lot of money for the insurance companies. The only way to change this is to fight as hard as you can. If you give up you encourage the company to continue that way. As long as it is cheaper for the company to first refuse to pay than settling a dispute fast and satisfactorily, they will not change anything.
2) If a company is overcharging every customer a little bit they can make a lot of money. 10.000 customers (not very much for say a telephone company) and 10 dollars a year (less than 1 dollar a month) gives 100.000 dollars extra per year. This is the reason why I sometimes can make a big deal about a small amount.
If possible I try to buy from small local companies or family businesses, because they still feel responsibilty towards their customers and if there is a problem it is often much easier to talk about it and find a solution together. If you have to deal with a big company it can be a challange to find somebody who cares and who is willing to spend time to help you.
Love,
Petra
Lets say it one more time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCkOmcIl79s
I’m going to say it, but BA [British Airways] have really lost my respect, sadly ;o/
After raising taxes on a return flight leaving passengers unable to board from ghana to London, unless they paid the fee… and neglecting to send the email which they claimed had informed the passengers… i wonder what game they are playing.
Also, it is sad that the company has just merged with another countries airlines… because of hte credit crunch.
Maybe if they have saved time and money by not re-designing all their logos on the planes, etc, there would have been more money in the pot.. ;o//
I stopped using British Airways a long time ago!
Their Excess Baggage fees are really exorbitant !!! I think they calculate the weight by grams, not kilos! When travelling I like to take everything with me, except the ‘kitchen sink’, just in case I need something !!! And of course, anyone leaving Egypt must take gifts of camels, Pyramids etc. so these weigh heavy! Anyway, I always use EgyptAir. They are so kind and let me through without paying anything, and always with a smile and a “malesh” (no problem)! Their cabin service is not so perfect but I don’t care as long as they let me through with all my STUFF !!!
Maybe someone can update me..
but last time I heard..
The Body Shop
an acclaimed organic body product company
had been abusing many ethical laws.
It is sometimes shocking, how the companies that set out to ‘save’ consumers from abuses, can end up being just as bad, even worse!
The Body Shop is now owned by the L’Oreal Group.
They own the fragrances Lancome, Ralph Lauren, Cacharel, etc.
http://wapedia.mobi/en/L'Oreal
The Pernod Ricard Group owns the Australian Orlando Wyndham, Jacobs Creek, Orlando, Wyndham Estate, Poet’s Corner, etc
The Louis Vuitton owns Hennessy, Champagne, Spirits and Cognacs, Fendi, Moet et Chandon, Christian Dior, BFS, Sephora, Le BOn Marche,,Tug Hueuer for watches, Fred, De Beers, etc
http://www/lvmh.com/
Connex Melbourne. They are a French rail company who have their offices in the same building I work in, but they have lost the contract to provide Melbourne’s train services. My complaint is that now they are leaving there will be no more French girls in the lifts in the mornings.
haha, how horrible of them!
Interesting to note that so many people have so much to complain about so many things. Yet across the world the business people are trying to make everything as universal global standards without caring about any universal global value system.
Help your own finances! Let everyone suffer if required!Grow Grow Grow!Conquer conquer conquer!Loot even if the next customer is your own family!
In India we have a phrase called “chalta hai” meaning anything and anyhow will do, and funnily it is this mindset that we are trying to improve on so as to have some kind of accountability and standardised quality.Things have definitely improve , we seem to have observed the pitfalls in the global scenario to an extent that incompetency across the world has certain consitency, but I guess cynicism still rules as far as consumerism goes amongst Indians.We tend to be skeptical buyers.
I personally admire and try to possess things which has been tried and tested in the market.Like I only go for Nokia handsets though husband hates nokia and has been trying HTC , samsung , motorola, all with mixed results. My Nokia hasnot failed me once.
I had a bad time when I bought a Fiat Palio Adventure.The company sold us a defective piece.As they were imported in limited number, we had a tough time initially as the service people of Fiat just couldnot handle it.Fortunately our ever efficient mechanic from the local garage was more competent in handling the car and we finally adjusted our lives around it.
Recently we have purchased the latest Dell computer. Despite the exhorbitant price it is not upto the mark and the company has such twisted ways of registering complaints, service and follow ups that we have already grown tired of the process and left it for things to fall in place by itself(which I think will not happen, yet hope persists)
Still, even with many examples, I prefer not to delve on the issue very much. With gadget , machines, as well as life I think it is a matter of chance of good or bad luck.As my mother says expect the best and prepare for the worst. Fight if you have the strength and resources and time or move on to let life happen again.
I completely agree with this sentiment. Paulo, I would love it if you asked people to talk about something that is working for them. This conversation is so steeped in the negative and I just can’t hold onto my rage about companies or services. Yes, bad stuff happens but a lot of things work just fine everyday.
I want to share a good consumer story. I bought three hens last year from a farmer and a farm which looked like they belonged in a disaster movie. Both were rough, dirty and covered in all kinds of muck and garbage. Anyway, it’s a year later and I still have three healthy hens which have blossomed – even our vistors comment that our chickens are good looking. They are wonderful layers and it is an absolute delight to sit out on the verandah and have them walk around the back yard eating all the nasty things that eat my garden.
I’ve had many a bad service and defective product but I just can’t hold on to thinking about these things.
Fitness First Sydney Australia – money grubbing capitalist. Poor customer service and advise. They cheated me out of my money for being part of their membership scheme. The whole company’s policy is akin to Alcatraz – once in, there is no escape.
Well, in my country people complain a lot about mostly car insurance, but health too. They dont want to pay once an accident occur, and only after long time in court the pay when they are forced. So people do not like to have such, some avoid insurance even risking.
I had insurance for house and health, and once I got an finger broken, playing with my dog…Big pains, all arm in bandage, I was almost as paralysed. I took proof from doctor, I needed a witness, for my fortune, a friend agreed, but truth was I was alone in the moment of the event. Than I wait, wait. But in the end I received some money, not bad sum, and when I came out of insurance, also I received several times more money I invested. So it was good having that, the only problem was time needed for having been payed.
There is a business woman! Good for you Alexandra.
Haha, sometimes insurance companies are quite handy!
A friend of mine had an insurance on her bike, since 9 out of 10 get stolen here in Holland, and indeed; hers got stolen within a week. But that probably had something to do with her forgetting to lock it while putting it in city centre.. and insurance doesn’t pay when you don’t lock it. But she came up with a big story for insurance, and found herself a “witness” claiming she locked it, and the insurance got her a new bike. BUT off course; that one got stolen as well 2 weeks later and insurance did not pay for anything anymore :(
Your timing of your chosen subjects seem to match my life, it makes things easier for me,thank-you.I find that the worst companies are those that provide the services I need most,the essential utilities;e.g.the temperature is low,I need heating,there isn’t much daylight this time of year,I need lighting-but my bill…..is astronomical……..and I’ve had an increase of 1000% on the previous bill,when I phoned up….admittedly a little emotional,and explained that there is no way in my flat I could’ve used that much electricity,that my bill could’ve gone up that much-was it a sick joke?Anyway -apparently a few years ago they think they undercharged me -but how can that be when they have read my meter since and billed me and the bill has been paid.Then the bank,that charges a lot if I’m overdrawn…the telephone bill that grows and has charges when paid late-then there are the tax bills that grow and come with threats-honestly people think we live in a free country.Then the councillors and MPs who claim expense after expense and send our young men in to battles in foreign lands,and who are these soldier boys,boys from poor families wishing a regular income.I think it’s better if i listen to jokes ,drink a glass of wine and enjoy good music and company,when I can!
The fact of the matter is that, we, consumers have made these companies suceed and we should be able to make them come down too. Just to prove my point, a few years ago in order to get a permit to take a car to Mexico on vacations from the US it was required that a 500 dls deposit be made. Well needless to say a lot of people visiting could not longer afford the visit because a part of the money they were going to spend would end up in the requirement. We (Mexicans in the US) stopped buying products from Mexico. The impact was so intense that a few weeks after this was approved it got removed.
Regards
*GlaxoSmithKline*
As many of you know, GSK is a United Kingdom-based pharmaceutical, biological and healthcare Company. It is the world’s second largest Pharmaceutical Company and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, and is part of the London FTSE.
I had always had the highest regard for this Company, having used its products for many years while my children were growing up, but an unexpected event forced me to change my mind!
I have been suffering from an underactive thyroid for years and had been successfully treated with ELTROXIN(GSK) and my test results were always within normal range. Suddenly, at the beginning of last year, I became sick and unable to work, so I booked an appointment with my doctor. In the meantime, I did one of my usual thyroid function tests and I had a great shock when the results came through. My TSH had gone sky-high which could have meant a Pituitary tumour. I rushed off to do a scan but everything was normal!
When I went to see the doctor, he told me there had been problems with the ELTROXIN(GSK) and changed me to the same chemical compound from another Company (MERCK) and told me to repeat the tests after one month.
After that, I went onto Google Search and found that many distressed people had been blogging about this drug for months, from as far away as Australia and New Zealand! Apparently, my tablets had been manufactured in Egypt for GSK using a filler imported from Turkey, which had rendered the ELTROXIN inactive! Anyway, after one month, I repeated my tests and they were all normal, which proved that it was thwe GSK tablets which were faulty !!!
I really felt like going to the media or reporting it to the Health Authorities, but my lawyers told me that in Egypt, I might do myself “more harm than good” !!! So I had to accept that this company had deliberately left these inactive tablets (subsidized by the Government) on the market and deprived me of my health and my income(work) for several weeks!
I am now wondering how many other people in the world are walking around having taken INACTIVE medications !!! Also, I will only use products from GlaxoSmithKline as a last resort, and my trust in them has gone forever !!!
Once you start to research into these companies you will get a shock. I remember Abbott had a tablet out which killed ten people so they recalled it. Also different companies had problems with stents and the incorrect balloon sizes. I think Medtronic won a case in the USA which says that they are not to blame; it is the FDA, who has checked them, and if anything goes wrong it is up to the FDA to take the blame – so these companies are not legally responsible. I cannot remember the name of a book which came out a few years ago which stated that there was a new drug tested in the USA on male hepatitis patients in different hospitals around the country – the result was the virus mutated and created HIV and AIDS. I’m not sure how true these facts are – or if it is a myth – can somebody add if they have read this book!
Good point to raise…
i had issues with seroxat which turned out to be a banned substance later on… it gave really terrible adverse reactions and side effects to the patient. this is doctors being lazy or ill-informed i believe… one doctor gave me a sedative drug at uni… just while i was trying to write my exams and do research!!!
i also always think it is criminal…
the extordinate sums of money that pharmaceuticals absorb…. sustaining high costs of health care as a result.
so many illnesses around the world and people could receive medicines and health treatment if the financial markets of this “business” was not so manipulated.
any organisation and company that tests on animals, likewise, are carrying out a ghastly criminal act in my view. suffering of animals should not be mainstream health care practice. i don’t care what the pros of medical research would be… i really think that is not an excuse to abuse rights of animals.
anyway, that’s very tangent to the point made by Theresa…
Outrageous, and thats the globalization, always aa brand might have been produced in some poor country and quality is forgotten.
in the States we only purchase insurance because it is a requirement. In general the greed has gotten to such extent that these companies make exclusion in the small print of the contract to keep them from paying the claims or just get away with paying the least amount.
My family and I just built a house and got a rather cheap insurance premium, mostly to satisfy the bank requirements. After we pay off the house we’ve decided to get rid of the insurance because we know that if something ever happens the insurance will try to get away with paying the least amount of money.
On the other hand, Mexico (I am from Mexico), by the way here in the States people think everybody in Mexico is corrupt, so Mexico has a consumer protection agency that provides free legal advise to consumers in trouble. My mother’s used this agency twice, first on an airline that did not want to reinburse her money, second on another company, and both times she got her money back.
So there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Regards
Always read the fine print before signing anything!!
For me, my bank is the bigges annoyer. When I don’t have a lot of money in it, people working there are rude and not helpfull for even a bit. If I come there to get some money, they are totally unfriendly and send me outside do the atm or give me a phone number of a computer I can phone to sort out my stuff. But especially the not-politeness makes me want to pull them over the desk.
However the second I do have a lot of money in it they offer me coffee, call me madam, give me my own account manager with a cellphone number I can phone day and night, “in case I need any help”, even give me a free navigation system for in my car. And a free christmas tree last year! “Can we do anything else for you dear madam?” BUT I already know the second the money is not there anymore the same people will be rude as anything again.
In the bank I had money, not much but costantly, there the behaviour differs from clerk to clerk,some are very nice and helpful, some not at all.The manager was very ok,once he guaranteed for me to make me have money a friend sent me from Italy, because poor guy forgot writing some small detail to address. The money was blocked in capital, and after a week of insisting with the manager help I had the money.But another time I was shoping, and I used credit card to pay. Soon I received a letter of menace because I was in debt with really insignifiant sum of money. I was mad, for my credit card was to spend the amount owned by me, not more.
I went to bank where I received shoutings and bad words, and I was told that there was nobody from management to talk with.
Ok, I came back another time after paying the small amount I had to.
Than, with a honey voice, the same person who was shouting at me few days before told me was not my fault, but some failure of the system, because an moment of lack of power.
The woman seemed with another personality, kindness embodied.
Still, I closed my credit card account, and I dont dare have another starting with the moment.
Funny Marielle…when I go to check on my Safety box in the bank, I always get that madam treatment, even though all I keep in there are important documents…Wish I had tons of black money and exclusive jewelry there. Hehe.
Marielle,
I agree. Customer service at banks is very poor as if they are doing you a favor.
elizabeth
Minor issue but worth noting: Banana Republic has changed it’s return policy to only 30 days. So, I usually buy quite a few gifts there but if I buy them now and want to return after Christmas, it will be either too close or too late so I am not buying any gifts there, which is a shame since I like the clothes there.
Christmas shoppers be aware of revised return policies as companies are cutting costs.
I just went online to double check that return policy (at shop they said 30 days) but online it is 45 days.
Hi all. I couldn’t get to reply in the usual way but here goes…
“The customer is always right”, is this still true?.
Apart from that I want to say that last night I finished Paulo’s biography. I like biographies and autobiographies, but one never knows if they are reading the whole truth or the “flowery” side of the person. But this was different… it’s a “warts and all” account on the life of Paulo Coelho and a very interesting read and at times difficult. I have lots of questions… which will probably remain unanswered. I always like to keep my books for bedtime and when I find myself getting sleepy, I stop. But this book caused me to turn the light back on and start reading it again and re-reading parts I’d already read. I hope all you fans get an opportunity to read it . He was brave to do what he did and hand over all his private stuff to his biographer. I don’t think there are many out there who would have the balls to do it. You will find yourself changing your mind about the man over and over again but in the end you will admire him even more than you do now. Regards. Mary
I’m having a hard time thinking of any companies or products that I’m particularly displeased with, so I’ll list just a few that I have had great experiences with, and which I would highly recommend:
1) Volkswagen, especially the older models. I once owned a ’72 VW Beetle – best automobile I’ve ever owned. When I bought the car, it was already twenty years old. It ran like a dream. And, when something would occasionally break on it – this is the best part – I could actually fix it myself! And mind you, I’m no mechanic! But this car was so simple, more like a lawn mower than the automobiles of today. I had this manual, also published in the 70′s, which came with it and explained everything anyone would ever need to know about how the car functioned and what to do in case it broke down. I kept a little tool box in the trunk, which included duct tape and wire, the two primary materials which allowed me to fix almost any problem that came up.
For example, one day I was driving down the freeway when, suddenly, the gas pedal flopped to the floor, limp, and the car sputtered to a stop. I got out my manual and learned that the mechanism which propelled the thing was purely mechanical – a small cable, attached to the bottom of the gas pedal, stretched under the car and back to the engine, where it was attached to a little spring. So, when I would step on the gas, the pedal would activate the spring and send a spurt of gas into the engine. When I investigated, I found that the cable had come lose from the bottom side of the gas pedal. So, with a little wire and duct tape, I simply reattached it, and off I went! I never did have it fixed properly by a mechanic. I just drove it with the duct tape wrapped around the gas pedal for years after that.
What other car could one who is wholly ignorant of mechanics possibly manage to fix?! And just think of the cost saved in not having to rely on a mechanic for every small problem that arises! Honestly, I think a twenty or even a thirty year old VW is a better buy (better in terms of real value) than most modern automobiles.
2) My Mac iBook G4. I love it! Eight years old and still going strong. And the best thing about it – I have no anti-virus software and yet have never had a virus problem. I’ve also been really hard on – used it virtually every single day since I bought it, carried it with me everywhere, even dropped it a couple of times. Well worth every cent of the extra money I spent to get it.
3) The Chevrolet pick-up truck I have now. In general, I don’t like pick-up trucks, as they use too much gas – a waste, unless you truly have a use for one – and I’m not particularly fond of American made automobiles of any kind. This truck was given to me, otherwise, I would probably choose just about anything else. However, I have to say that I am impressed with its endurance. Just a couple of weeks ago the odometer rolled over to 300,000 miles! Same engine, never been rebuilt, and it’s still going. How many automobiles ever do that?!
4) Verizon Wireless cell phone service. Great pricing, also the only cell phone company that offers service in the remote area where I live. There are never any “surprises” on the bill, unlike with the other companies I tried (most notably Cingular, who could never seem to explain to me why my bill was so high). When something breaks, they replace it, sometimes even when the warranty has run out. When I need assistance, I can always get an actual human being on the line to help me (unlike with AT&T, where speaking to a living being is absolutely impossible). And this is the best thing of all – whether I call in or stop by the store, the service representatives seem like they are actually intent upon HELPING me. They don’t treat me like the enemy, and I don’t have to threaten to drop their service in order to get them to assist me.
5) Tommy Hilfiger clothing for adults, and Gymboree for kids. I’m not a very brand conscious person myself. I certainly don’t buy clothes just to display a certain label. In fact, I hate wearing anything that has a visible logo on it. However, what I do like is quality – clothing that just gets better with age, softer, more comfortable, rather than wearing out and falling apart after a few washings. For this reason, I love these two brands. One of my favorite items of clothing is a Tommy Hilfiger sweater that is at least ten years old. Of course, it’s a little faded, but it still fits well and shows no signs of wear. If I wished, I could probably continue wearing it for another ten years. Which brings up another good point: most of the Tommy Hilfiger clothes are “classic” – they aren’t so trendy that they go out of style within a year.
As for the Gymboree kids clothes: They’re a bit pricey, but the stores (at least in the US) always have huge clearance racks overflowing with deeply discounted items which, in the end, are very inexpensive. I always buy my daughter’s clothes a little too big, so that she gets two years of wear out of them. As hard as she is on them, they never wear out. Then, when they fit no more, I pass them on to my niece, and her daughters get another two years of wear out of them. At that point, they still look good, so she passes them on to my other niece, and her daughter wears them. I just love clothes that don’t wear out no matter how hard you wear them!
To me, that is the definition of a “bargain” when it comes to clothing: something that can be bought on sale to begin with, that doesn’t wear out no matter how hard or how long you wear it, and something that isn’t so “fashionable” that it goes out of style before it wears out.
I love Tommy Hilfiger! I got a few bits over the summer – but I lost a few more pounds and the jeans I paid €80 for do not fit any more; so I’m glad that I bought a Tommy H belt for €60 so I can still kind of wear the jeans! I tried to shrink the jeans but the quality is so high it did not work. I love those jeans – they fitted so well and do what you want them to do… I had a VW a few years ago and had so many probs; I couldn’t sell the darn thing so it’s sitting out the back under a tree- I should have bought a beetle.
Yo acabo de tener una experiencia muy desagradable con una compañía telefónica (NEXTEL) que desde un principio manejaron la información de tal manera, que al final compre 5 teléfonos según esto con el precio de renta de solo uno, así fue como se me manejo la información, para agrandar el problema no era la compra para mi sino que me preste a dar mi nombre debido a que para todo piden tarjeta de credito, y la persona interesada no la tenía. Cuando llegó mi primer recibo, me fui para atrás, se me estaba haciendo el cargo de 5 rentas y no de una sola, fue cuando comenzó una guerra que después de 10 meses aún no termina, no se me permitió dar de baja el servicio, hasta que no cumpliera 1 año seis meses, los teléfonos no funcionaban en la región en la que vivo, y así levante dos reportes de los cuales solo se me dijo que no iban a servir mis teléfonos en esa área, aún con esto no quisieron darme de baja el servicio, así que deje de pagar varios meses, hasta que me llegaron llamadas diciéndome que si no pagaba entraba yo en el buro de crédito, yo seguí sin pagar, hasta que se pusieron en contacto conmigo abogados haciendo un trato, donde solo pagara la mitad de mi deuda y me daban de baja el servicio y una carta para que me dieran de baja en el buro de crédito, así lo hice, hace poco recibí su dichosa carta, una carta que en ni un momento es una carta legal, una carta mal hecha, sin firmar y que solo tiene el logotipo del bufete de abogados, estoy cansada de este litigio ahora no se si llamar para reclamar esto, y seguir peleando han sido 10 meses de peleas, de llamadas, y de impertinencias por partes de la compañía.
Ha pasado una semana después de que recibí la carta y aún sigo pensando si doy el siguiente paso de reclamar.No lo sé.
Amiga, asumo por NEXTEL , vete a la PROFECO, mi mama los ha utilizado con Mexicana y con otra compania y las dos veces le devolvieron el dinero. Creo que hay otra compania que tambien proteje a los consumidores. Buena suerte y no te dejes porque por eso es que estas companias corruptas siguen haciendo lo que se les pega la gana. Buena suerte.
Monica
Salam
To dear Paulo Coelho:
My name is Mona. I’m 22 and I am a cell biology student. I am reading the book “my life” at the moment. I know you’ve read many books. I’m curious to know if you have read QURAN.
I am waiting for your answer and I really would be happy to see your email in my inbox.
Khoda negahdar
MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN – Buying a Hewlett Packard computer
Hello.
I thought i was going to have difficulty recalling any company names… but actually yesterday I was talking to a friend about why I had no laptop computer.
In fact I did have one… it was given to me as a gift by my step father for my 30th birthday. he thought i would appreciate some gadgets for media..
and so he chose a HP Computer with amazing media functions.
I was amazed … but only for a year.
Within a year and a half, my lovely computer had broken.
I got an IT expert to look at it… and then a second opinion just in case…
but both came back saying… wow, this computer is really dead… it can’t be fixed.
I went online to check the website and enquire/investigate the problem.
It turned out that 1000s of people had ALSO had this problem with the exact same model of computer. [HP Pavilion tx 1215nr Notebook PC]
Again and again this model had broken within almost 18 months of purchase.
If you were lucky, then you’d have had the one year guarantee still covering … but as in my case, the warranty had just ended… one year.
As in most cases, the company should recall a defunct model because it is obvious that this is a problem that comes from their mistake.. not the buyers…
and let me tell you, this is more than a few Euros worth..
I think my stepfather paid $1500 for my computer at least..
and for what?!! one year of use!
Other buyers have said they have tried to get compensation from the makers Hewlett Packard [HP] but the company are not doing a recall and instead say… you should have extended your guarantee.
Amazing! they are selling a product on the market at top prices, and they think they can get away with making a product that lasts but one year!
are they for real?!!!
I am going to write, because it is injustice in my books.
Next time i want a computer… i shall not go and even bother looking at the Hewlette Packard products…
that is unless I wish to be ripped off and cheated out of good money.
So folks… that’s a Hewlett Packard Pavilion tx 1215nr Notebook PC WRITE OFF
Oh, I had an HP printer and it was fantastic! Never gave me any problem for many years, until it finally gave out. Then I bought some fancy LexMark wireless thing, and it has never given me anything BUT trouble since day one. I don’t know about their computers, but the next time I buy a printer, I’m going back to HP. Sorry you had bad luck with them, Catherine.
Oh! That’s terrible. My son has just bought an HP laptop in England !! Thanks for giving the details I’ll pass them on to him..
Take care, Theresa
I have a HP they also own Compaq… I have not had many problems with it… But your story reminds me about my Sony Play station 3 which stopped reading disks so I could not play games or watch movies. It seems to be a very common problem where the optical eye in the blue ray drive dies. I ended up buying a new play station slim (new model) although the old one was 1 1/2 years old – Sony wanted $150 to fix). I was left very angry! I also lost content on the harddrive which I had paid for…
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/psg/board/message?board.id=Display&message.id=5658
Well I don’t know where to start… First I am sorry for my poor english just there is some story I wanted to share with.
I am from Lithuania but live and work in Greece. My husband is disabled person, so when we decided to buy a car, due to the Mercedez good quality and repution, we have bought Mercedez A 140. As a worker of the seasonal job, every winter we went to visit my family in Lithuania… by car. That the backround.
It happened the first winter we went to Lithunia. I would like to mention that the car had 2 years warranty. 7 days before our trip back to Greece we experienced problem with the car generator. Since the car, at that moment was 1 year old, we contacted representative of Mercedez Benz in Athens, and whithin 1 hour they arranged the car to be picked up and fixed. We were informed that the generator had factory damage and therefore will be replaced with new one free of charged plus 2 years warranty for the new part. To be honest we were very impressed and satisfied with such services.
7 months later… just 4 weeks before our trip to Lithuania, the same problem happened again. Again car was picked up by Mercedez representatives and fixed whithin 1 week… but surprise…we had to pay 600 euros!!! Taking into account that the car still has warranty, plus additional warranty for generator!!! Moreover, since my husband is disable person and I was the only one working at that time this amount was more than huge for us!!! I have contacted customers services on Crete, Athens and etc but … to get the car back we had to pay this money!!!
I have decided to write and send official complaint to Athens, already being in Lithuania, but as you understand… no answer! Through internet I have find the contact detail of the head office in Germany… and I’ve got the answer with contact details of the person in Greece I have to contact (the one who didn’t reply to me)!!! I wrote their again and I recived the phone call by which I understood that the greek representative received my complaint but for some reasons didn’t read it. To make the story shorter… it was 3 months of emails and phone calls from different people with requests to tell them about my problem from the beginning and forwarding my complaint to somebody else with promise to deal with it!!!
3 months later, when I was tired of this endless correspondence, through internet I found the webpage of European Consumer Center with all details and contact numbers in a case your can’t solve your problem with company. They describe there all my rights and what I can do in different situations and where to apply. The same evening (Wednesday) I wrote to the head office in Germany) that if I don’t get any response whithin 14 days I am going to apply to the Europan Consumer Center, which at that moment I didn’t believe could work). Next day in the morning (Thursday), I received a phone call from Mercedez Benz Crete with request to provide them with my bank account in order to transfer the money which I got few weeks later!!!
I don’t mention how much it made me tired and helpless… but it was worth to fight for this, cos I believe that only fighting back for our rights will make them to service us properly!!!
Hi Jelena,
Also, I’ve heard an effective way to complain about companies lately, is to do it on Twitter. Apparently the companies react quicker and try to solve problems, to avoid bad word getting out there. Anyway, you stood up for your rights the way you should and won. Great!
Love & admiration,
Heart
Carta a Paulo Coelho
Señor Coelho, primero que todo quiero felicitarlo por su increíble trabajo como escritor, lo admiro muchísimo de verdad. Me dirijo a usted en esta carta porque hace unos días, mientras leía su biografía escrita por Fernando Morais, descubrí algo de su pasado que me aterró, algo que me decepcionó y a lo que reaccioné con sufrimiento. Ese algo no lo pude sacar de mi cabeza y es la razón por la cual le escribo esta carta: fue la forma en que “conoció” (pues la conocía de tiempos anteriores) a su esposa Christina Oiticica. Según el libro, después de invitarla al cine, posterior a la cena de navidad, usted le apostó que besaría a una anaconda si ella le daba a cambio un beso en la boca. Lo logró, los transeúntes en la plaza vieron con asombro como besaba al animal y después a ella, y le aplaudieron. Terminaron teniendo relaciones esa noche.
Lo que me aterra es que, según el libro, Christina en ese momento estaba comprometida con un joven millonario, lo que significa que hubo engaño por parte de ella. Y aquí viene mi problema: el hecho de que, a partir de algo malo, como la infidelidad, pueda nacer algo bueno y hermoso, como lo es el amor entre 2 personas, un amor que lleva más de 30 años -si no me equivoco-, una relación afectiva al parecer increíble. La razón por la que esto me asusta tanto es que fui víctima de una situación similar, y me horroriza creer que algún mi día la mujer que será mi novia, ¡mi prometida!, se vaya con otro sujeto, y además desarrollen una vida felices juntos, llena de éxitos, como parece ser la vuestra. Me da un inmenso miedo pensar que alguien puede salirse así con la suya. Y horror sentí al imaginar que la gente aplaudía el beso que le plantó a Christina, un acto de deslealtad, pero, en realidad ellos no sabían que esa muchacha tenía un novio que no era usted. Sé que se cometen injusticias todos los días en todo el mundo, y sin embargo me cuesta creer -me niego a hacerlo- que los malos de la historia salgan victoriosos.
Le pido muchísimas disculpas de verdad, puesto que de seguro piensa que lo estoy juzgando, que lo estoy acusando de mil formas, y créame que no es esa mi intención, mi única intención es encontrar una respuesta a esta duda que tengo en la cabeza desde hace días cuando leí ese tramo del libro. Es verdad que no soy nadie para meterme en su vida privada, y tal vez sea un gran atrevimiento redactar esta carta, pero yo lo admiro a usted, he tenido una buena imagen de usted, y quiero mantenerla así. Entiendo que es humano y todos cometemos pecados, pero, mi gran miedo a sufrir por amor como todos lo hemos hecho es tan grande que necesitaba escribir estas palabras, y usted más que nadie entenderá la necesidad de escribir, de expresar en letras lo que sentimos.
Lamentablemente el libro no dice la situación que existía entre Christina y su prometido Vicente en ese entonces. Me gustaría pensar que el tal Vicente era alguien malo que hacía de Christina una mujer infeliz, y que tal vez eso la llevo a cometer la infidelidad. Me gustaría pensar, señor Coelho, que usted no estaba al tanto del compromiso de Christina, y que por eso actuó como lo hizo. En fin, me gustaría pensar cualquier cosa que justificara ese acto tan horrible como es la traición. Lamentablemente, de nuevo, en su biografía no se detalla ninguna de estas posibles situaciones, solo especifica lo más elemental.
Estoy seguro de que mucha gente en todo el mundo reaccionó como lo hice yo al leer esa parte del libro. De nuevo mis más sinceras disculpas, por este atrevimiento, pero me encantaría pedirle que contara, de algún modo, la verdadera situación que existía entre Chris y su prometido en ese entonces, si se amaban o no, si eran o no felices, si usted estaba al tanto de este compromiso. Me gustaría saber qué pasó con Vicente, cómo se tomó ese hecho, si sufrió o no, si le dolió en el alma que pasará eso.
Sin nada más que decir, de nuevo muy apenado y pidiéndole que me perdone, se despide su ferviente lector, que está en esta etapa difícil que es la adolescencia –mi edad es de 16 años-.
Nicolás Palacios
29 noviembre de 2009
Margarita, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela.
Nicolas_alejandro21@hotmail.com
Never stops to amaze me the power of the spirit and the meanders of synchronicity in ones path. My latest case, because I am one of those people that take a stand for my rights and through the aggravation that always causes me, I believe I change other people experiences, so this case concerns this supermarket from an European chain ‘Auchan’ represented in Portugal by supermarket ‘jumbo’ .In September I made and paid for an online order on their website, to be delivered one week after to a family member in Lisbon. Not only they did not deliver the order ,but kept the payment to this day. After many attempts on my part, through email , to resolve the situation they not only stop answering my emails but are still retaining my money and refuse to provide me with the head office email address. Due to the fact that I do not live in Europe it has been impossible for me to make any other type of contact with the company, I researched online for their head office email contacts, to no avail ,some companies just do not care for customer satisfaction or they would have different lines of communication available .And this is why the honesty (or lack of) of any employee is the best advertising for any company. This case is just beyond incompetence is plain theft.
Love is not enough we need some satisfaction
Milou
Hellenic public services…
He-he-he…
Querido Paulo,
Não sei como é nos outros países mas aqui no Brasil eu não suporto as empresas de telemarketing. Ligam para sua casa a qualquer hora vendendo qualquer coisa, e o pior é que voce que atende o telefone é que tem confirmar os seus dados pessoais, com tantos golpes por aí eles tinham que pelo menos a educação de se identificarem e passar todos os dados do consumidor para a pessoa não achar que pode ser um golpe.
Уклонизм,как способ борьбы с привычкой к принудительному потреблению “удовольствий”,является в некоторых местах обитания Homo Sapiens единственным средством сохранения вида(формосодержательной структуры)- ибо другие способы обрекают на уничтожение либо содержания,либо формы.
Well as a music consumer, I think it ironic to watch the global music business try to sue it’s customers
And then record labels wonder why they keep losing customers after three decades of 1. price fixing and 2. cutting music selection to satisfy profitable economies of scale.
What come around goes around.
peace
Dear Paul… Saab and apple… you are one of the old school! Go BMW and HP… You life will be a happier place! Ha ;) I keep telling people these days not to buy new cars because in five years time the system will be totally different and we will be unable to sell our old cars… well I could be wrong as I often am :)
and as one of the old school – I mean you are cool! not old!
Kealan,this is what I say about cars too!And people are looking at me like I’m some kind of alien.We shall have a drink that day,remember!:)
Great idea, Paul! I’ve pondered the same thing myself for a long time – why it is that we all feel compelled to own, independently, each and every item we need. Why not share?! Doing so certainly would ease the strain both on the world’s resources and on our pocket books. Yet, somehow, even the mention of such an idea seems taboo in our society.
Often I think about my own family as an example: My dad, my grandmother, my aunt and her husband, my other aunt – they live in four houses which are each within a hundred meters of one another. And yet, behind each house is a storage shed, and in each shed, a lawnmower, a leaf-blower, a generator (in case power outage), along with numerous shovels, rakes, and tools of every variety. Similarly, between them, they have five vehicles, with the capacity to carry twenty-four people! And yet, most of the time, when I stop by to visit, all but one, or at most, two, of those vehicles are parked in their driveways, being unused. They all shop at the same grocery store, fifteen miles away, but they never ride there together – the thought would never occur to them to do so. Even to suggest such a thing would be sacrilege in their eyes. As well, among those four houses, there are something like twelve bedrooms, of which only four are utilized.
And yet, in their minds, they are “poor” – they have barely what they need, and certainly nothing “extra” to share. They’ll scarcely share with one another, and certainly not with the neighbors who live down the road. And if I were to ask them, they would insist that they “need” each and every one of those lawn mowers and leaf-blowers and automobiles. Sharing is simply not an option.
You’re probably right Paul: though it makes perfect sense and would greatly contribute to a sustainable future for all the world’s children, your idea is a dangerous one in that it is bound to be highly unpopular. Don’t let that stop you, though. Keep voicing your idea as often and as loudly as you can. I have faith that, if we all keep questioning the system of economics under which we live, in time, that system can be changed.
Love,
Savita
Yes it’s true… Time to move to a log cabin and entertain the kids in front of a wood fire; if that is still politically correct…
bad company, as polihie consumers (not all), always refer to kriziss, if something do not work…
When they are selling you something the letter is delivered the next day…takes a bit longer if it is a claim.
They can also have catching tunes whilst you are waiting for them to answer the phone.- this can help soothing the pain -
:)
Some consumers are as bad as the companies too, lets not forget.
In my experience bad service has always been in instances when the companies in question have been on the other end of a phone. It is almost as if the computer monitor they have in front of them is more real than the human customer they are talking to.
Two examples:
My bank ringing me repeatedly to ask for the same information – each time it was a different person calling for it and not one of them seemed to have managed to get the computer to say they had already received it.
When my parner died I had to pay a phone bill that was in his name. They wouldn’t let me because I wasn’t the account holder. Instead they kept ringing me up asking for the money and each time I explained that my partner had died and that I was willing to pay it if they’d let me. They couldn’t compute this nor did they seem able to transfer the account to me. It’s not really what you need when you are dealing with the death of a loved one.
Nine times out of ten when call centres phone I cannot understand what they are saying because their accents are so strongly foreign. I don’t think it is a coincidence that networking is becoming the best way to sell services to people now. We’re all craving real human contact again. No amount of electronic or telephonic communication can take the place of that. Something happens when you are in the physical company of another person that does not happen over a phone or in an email. I, for one, want the humanity back in my services.
Rebecca
Tomei uma coca
cadê o sorriso?
Gastei dinheiro
e fiquei liso
Cale a boca e consuma
Cale a boca e consuma
você não tem o direito de dúvidar
Comprei de tudo
a prestação
o SPC
é o meu caixão
Cale a boca e consuma
Cale a boca e consuma
você não tem o direito de dúvidar
Consumidor
que não reclama
paga filé come banana
Cale a boca e consuma
Cale a boca e consuma
você não tem o direito de dúvidar
by Plebe Rude
My story is to do the the telephone company Eircom. I reported to them several weeks ago that the support for our telephone wire had been broken by farm machinery going up the road. No one came to do anything to it. Then our land line went. We reported it on Friday but we didnt get it back until the following Thursday. We were told that they didnt work weekends and Monday was a bank holiday. Eircom workers commence their day at 8 am and at 8.10 on Thursday our phone rang. it was back in action. All that was needed was for someone in the exchange to flick a switch to clear the line. but we had to wait six days for this. Two weeks later on a Saturday morning our phone rang. It was an Eircom engineer asking for directions to our house as he had heard our phone was out of order. I told him that was two weeks ago and I said i thought they didnt work weekends. He made some excuse. Then I reminded him of the support to our wire being broken. He said he would be up later. That was two weeks ago. I am still waiting. The external box on the pole is now hanging off and all connections exposed to the elements.
In one sense that is complaint is trivial and I think the main thing in this country that really incenses me is the two tier health system which doesnt really work on either tier. One tier you pay and get seen quicker and two you dont pay and you could wait anything up to five years for what is considered minor surgery. Even paying could mean that you have to travel several hours to a hospital on your health insurance plan. I think the very least the people of any country deserve is a decent health service that works and i cant understand why ministers who are totally incapable of running a health service are allowed to continue .
love to you Paulo xx
We are all … consumers. We are the clients and as it says an unwritten law, the client has always right!! This is until we … start ‘claiming’ and fighting for our Rights. In E.U. countries there is a Law called: The False description law, that covers almost any product we .. consume! We have to get for whatever we have paid. Then the .. Lawyers enter the … game trying to .. persuade us that indeed these were the ..goods, advertised and sold. From then on …. ‘Good luck’ with legal expenses and time … consuming! Yes I am a rebellious … person. ;-]
Products can be, from a dress, to a car to a trip/package to a .. meal. The false description law, states that on the goods must exist the ‘serial number’, as well as on spare parts.
In 1991 I, after having plans for a block of offices and flats on a property my father has given me, I started the project which finished in 1993. That was a .. nightmare! There is a Law of silence, between the Builders/Contractors and the Engineers/ Architects. It seems and so I was informed that there is money exchange between them under the table. So, unevitably the cost of that, is payed by the owner or by … lowering the quality of the materials used .. I bought a lift, had a contract for an OTIS lift and paid the agreed amount of money, CY pounds 12,000, which for the time was a big amount of money, but I thought this was worth having for the image of the renting offices. Finally they put another … cheaper, inferior make of lift. How did I found out? I had noticed that the cabin was not similar to the one they had shown me. Then it was written on the buttons: CHEAM. I immediately called one of the subcontractors and asked him to go to the plant-room of the lift and bring my any papers he would find. All the papers were from a factory named CEAM!! I did not say anything about having this written evidence and I called the Otis’s representatives with whom I had signed the contract, telling them that it is not written OTIS on the lift!! What do you think that they did?? Next day the company’s engineer came and … changed the button!!! Then by blackmailing me that they were not going to start the use of it, made me accept it; but at the same time I handed them a letter saying that I kept all my rights concerning our contract. After that I complained to the Otis company in Italy to the Ministray of Commerce of Cyprus, that have a special team for… protecting the … consumers and bring all those ‘criminals’[under the False description law it is a criminal offense] to the Court and what they did ?????? Nothing! And we have the General Attorney’s Office who is responsible for deciding of whom to presecute. And what has he done? Nothing. Because this is the System and this is how it works: Even in Democracy there are the elections and who wins the elections? The parties who have more money and the circle of money exchanging hands is the same, I think, in every country of the World. And we speak and … dream of freedom and Laws and Human Rights and application of Human Rights.
So, forgive me for my comment being so long today and for … consuming your …. time!! ;-]
The so called Otis lift, which is a Ceam, a different make, made in Spain, is still in the building reminding me every day that: everything is vain and … Vanity!;-] I have many similar stories regarding … Building Contracts and I think that the first who have formed secrets societies were the Architects the … MASONS!! And they, also, very provocatively declare: If you cannot beat them, join them! But I just do not want to … join any secret or open society! I WANT TO BE FREE TO MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
That is priceless Paul…
So, dear Paul, they avoid ‘service and maintenance’ expenses!
LOVE,
Thelma
Dear Thelma,
There are similar problems with the OTIS Company in Egypt and they are notorious for their poor maintenance service. The larger building complexes such as hotels etc are now using MITSUBISHI lifts! There are OTIS lifts in my building, but by a stroke of luck the Director of the OTIS Company here happens to live 2 floors above me, so our lifts are always in PERFECT working condition !!!
Love, Theresa
I had some experience in a way similar, but in smaller level. I was willing to open a store, so bought a place and hired the contructors.
Once I went to check the work progress. The workers were sitting, and I asked them what was going on. They said they are in strike. Why? I ask. Because they were not payed. I already payed in advance a large sum of money. So, desperate and because I want things to move on, I payed the workers from my pocket on the spot…They were so happy, that they start to inform me about their boss mischiefes, how he took lots of materials home, so on.That was only an episode. But here is an adventure each time one need something to be done, especially to build or modify an house or something like that.
Dear Thelma
I have just come across this picture,and it reminded me of your post…
It is, apparantly an optical illusion, called “Elevator Floor or Long Drop”… :D
Lots of love
Pandora
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I’m sure there are bad companies. And bad costumers….
Yep…
Olá Paulo, bom dia!
Bom, sem sombra de dúvidas no Brasil e Rio as duas que mais falham nos serviços e oferecem os piores, são:
Velox e Light. A Internet e a Luz são duas coisas que vivem caindo nesse país..
Abrações grandes!
Insurance yes, a pain in the petutie! Some years ago, going to Calcutta, India for 2 months, I bough European Traveling Insurance, to be fully covered if anything happened. Yes, I came down with Salmonella, bad, and ended up hospitalized for 5 days. Being sick as a dog, the hospital told me I had to pay for the stay cash, as they didn’t have agreements with European Traveling Insurance. Therefore, I had to leave the hospital before I was well enough to cope, and ended up as a patient in Mother Teresa’s facilities, where I worked as a volunteer. Back then, the hospital stay was only $ 1000, which I paid cash to the private hospital in Calcutta…Did I mention sick as a dog when I left there…
Ok, back home, I contacted European Traveling Insurance to claim my $1000 back. I had copy receipts from the Hospital, which I enclosed for my insurance claim. Weeks went, I heard nothing about my reimbursement. So, I called with all the claim numbers ready, and asked where my money was? Oh, they answered, they needed original receipts from Calcutta! Apparently they had contacted the hospital in Calcutta, to request these, but nothing had arrived. More weeks went. I was mad (a student at the time needing every $ I could get). So, I wrote a letter, requesting my reimbursement a.s.a.p., or I would contact the media with the message ‘European Traveling Insurance is a bluff’. One week later the full amount arrived in my mail box.
You did it !!! One against the fake system!
You are lucky as there are so many ways you can be fiddled out of insurance… I worked for a travel insurance company for a while!
Heart, Now I understand your concern about travel insurance. I have never purchased it for a trip. United Airlines was kind enough to hold on to my ticket (because it was a life and death situation) until I was well enough to travel. I dare trust the Universe that you/we will make it to Vienna and back without travel insurance. Of course that’s with invitation :-) What do you think?
Risky Lainee
Yo tuve que utilizar el seguro de vehiculo por un choque multiple que tuve a principio de noviembre y la compañía de seguro me trató mal, el perito que evalua los daños, me dijo durante el proceso de revisión que fueron dos choques en circunstancias diferentes y que para arreglar los daños, debería de pagar dos deducibles.
Me sentí muy mal, es cierto, las compañías de seguros han descuidado el trato o servicio a los clientes.
Pagué los dos deducibles, pero tendrán a un cliente que le contará a todo el que conoce que esa compañía tiene muy mal servicio.
Amor y gratitud,
Isabel
I have two problems, but I do not know, if they are as relevant.
1. Companies that use phone and calling to win over new customers/consumers.
All of these companies that call You and offer You some type of a deal. And even if You politely say that You are not interested in the ‘product’, they keep talking and yet, at the same time, ignoring You – trying to persuade You at all cost with the “clever” lines. I understand very well that it’s a job, and it is their job to do it this way. They are given instructions to act this way aswell, but it just doesn’t seem right for me.
And to top it off, after that phone call You will recieve many many similar or same offers from the phone services, from the same company. Where do they even get Your phone number from??? If You haven’t been spreading it Yourself.
Have some respect, please. Don’t be ignorant.
2. We were sent a package of Christmas cards and a beautiful calendar containing different art work from people that do not have hands, and paint either with holding the paintbrush either in their mouth or between the toes. (These are printed copies, not originals. But that doesn’t even matter, I suppose.) Even as beautiful as the cards are and even as much as one wants to help an organisation who supports that kind of minority in our society (although I know that actually the persons drawing those artworks will get basically nothing, in the material terms), it seems to be a clever trick. A manipulation while trying to look innocent.
In the text they basically say that You do not have to pay for it, but if You do not want to keep the cards, they ask You to send them back to them.
So basically, You have two choises of spending money: paying for the cards (wether You would like to or not) or sending the package back (sending also costs, but less, I suppose, and the money goes somewhere else).
But overall You have four choises:
1. To pay for the cards. And to either be glad about it or not. Or how ever You would feel about the situation/people or the ‘project’.
2. Send back the cards paying money (only) for the postal services. Taking it as duty to send the things back, at least. Staying honest.
3. Not to send the cards back, neither to pay for them. Which would either possibly make You feel a bit guilty (for not sending the cards back). If not guilty, then You try to relationalize to eliminate the guilt. Or You just stay unaffected or ignorant.
4. Or are we so irritated and angry that we don’t even try to figure it out and by rough emotions we throw the darn things in the trash can. (Although I am not sure if anyone has even done so).
So… what is the conclusions? If we WOULDN*T want those cards, would we try to please the company that went through the trouble of trying to earn some money (at the Christmas time, when people are trying to ‘be better’, because it is that kind of season, and it is “popular”. And because at this season suddenly the innosence thrives inside us and we suddenly see that we should be a better person.). Or do we do what we think is right without trying to please?
But what about if we’re not from a materially rich family and sending back those cards would not be something we’d be prepared to do? Should we then feel guilty if we didn’t send them back?
The beautiful cards in the envelope, on the bookshelve, waiting for their “destiny”. And here I am thinking of the people who are putting their passion to the paper, creating those beautiful pictures for a tiny amound of money that doesn’t even let them feel as a person should be able to feel. Respected, needed, wanted. Sure, maybe they do not even care about this fact, because they are able to use their passion – painting. But for me, it seems to be injustice. Everyone wants to live and survive… especially if our living is made from something that is our passion.
So how about this jolly Christmas time. How about being a better person? Is it an easy way out to pay for the cards, or is it noble and/or nice to pay for them? Since the company sending them out gets the money, not the people producing the artwork.
Throw them out! They were prob printed by some guy in his shed!
look up the organisation on google and send an email to let them know the next time you will be in town, what time, and would they like someone to come and meet to collect the cards as you object to the postage charge, or are they happy for you to keep them free of charge.
It is manipulative, and not very transparent when it comes to who gets the money and how. I feel uncomfortable with charities that are an industry and advertise themselves gratuitously. But then, they are competing with a lot of other companies for our money, and it isn’t a level playing field. An interesting topic!
Thinking about how crazy things drive me sometimes (having just recovered from temporary insanity; this weekend!), I hate adverts – all advertising drives me up the walls… Sky TV is notorious for this in Ireland, the UK, Scotland and Wales – We pay €30 a month and have 150 tv channels and they show adverts at the same time on almost every channel. And the adverts are so silly and stupid at times. For instance they show a Cola advert… cola rots your teeth, it fills your blood with sugar and makes your stomach turn brown! Then this advert comes on and makes me feel like I’m king of the world, I can attract sexy women and drive a fast car if I drink cola – it’s stupid. There is another advert for the big M… They show me this burger and say “you are hungry, eat this ham burger” (even though there is no ham in it!) I think – I’m not hungry and if I was I wouldn’t want a calorie rich food which has been developed from cheap low grade food stuffs – I do not want a heart attack. I could talk about this all day (but I will not). Another advert are the ones for cat food… they say that this food is the best because it is made of meat and has gravy and will magically make your cat love you – this is not true! The Vet recommends dry food for cats… Well that is my rant for the day…
All so true, and that to be found here too.
Hi Kealan,
In the USA we have TiVo or Direct tv, a service where you can record programs digitally from all the channels. One of the best things about it is you can watch anything you want delayed, at a time when it suits you. And even better, you can skip past all TV commercials, passing forward or backward like on a video tape. I love my Direct TV!
Heart
Some interesting US statistics compiled by TV-Free America:
The average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.
* Percentage of U.S. homes with three or more TV sets: 66
* Number of hrs per day that TV is on in an avg U.S. home: 6 hrs, 47 min
* Percentage of Americans that regularly watch TV while eating dinner: 66
* Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful
conversation with their children: 3.5
* Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680
* Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54
* Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours
* Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500
* Number of murders seen on TV by the time an average child finishes elementary school: 8,000
* Number of violent acts seen on TV by age 18: 200,000
* Number of 30-second TV commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000
* Number of TV commercials seen by the average person by age 65: 2 million
My recommendation: Just turn it off! Or better yet, throw it out.
I’ve had the old school 1st gen iPhone (EDGE, no GPS, etc.) for a couple of years now and just finally switched to the new iPhone 3G. Having never been able to use any of the GPS features I was wondering if anyone out there could suggest some cool apps in the Apple App Store that take advantage of the 3G’s GPS and other features. Thanks in advance!
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Ohhhh, cant wait to share. This year I already said that I had serious finanvcial problems, but everybody knows is crises. Being more specific, I had bearly money for survive, and forced to sell house cheap.That the backround.
The case was I needed internet last year for thesis and some exams, so I made an contract with a company, ORANGE, which offered net for 10 euros month.What surprise when the bill was always several times higher, and I used net few hours a day. They said the contract was that way, my problem if I did not understand terms…I started to have problem to pay the bill. I asked to close me connection, they refuse, saying was for two years. Than I did not pay, hoping they give up. No ways. They added the reconnection to bill. The only possible thing was not using at all, but still I payed double as the initial sum.
From that year my situation was serious. I thought they human, wrote request that I had no means for paying, so they let me come out of contract. Followed the menace of trial. They sent letters, phone calls, and bills, even I was not using net from one year. I payed the money just before the term for trial, from my house selling…
Now, in my country the parliament will make the law which will let free a client to renounce a service if is not satisfied, the law will be active from march next year. Just after my case…But is good for future.
I must add there others company offer net with tv and phone at 10 euros, at at the real price… So the Orange was the biggest thief I ever encountered, heartless and cheatter, for they did not inform me well before the contract.
That is terrible
I only ever experienced that was in Grand Canary… stale cornflakes and sour milk… Last time I went I survived on wurst and bread rolls. Funny story!
Hello Annie,
I thought this problem of ‘expired’ goods only happened in Egypt !!!
It really is a big problem and very dangerous, and unfortunately happens even in the newer and larger Supermarket chains such as Carrefour. Of course most people are in a rush when they do the weekend shopping so don’t bother to look properly. Also some people are illiterate, so how can they know if the goods are out of date? It’s all a matter of trust. I usually go to the shops armed with my glasses and a magnifying glass in order to be able to see the almost illegible markings on the containers !!! The shop assistants know me well and tease me, but I would rather be a little over-cautious, than land up in hospital with food poisoning !!!
Take care, and be careful when you are shopping!
Love, Theresa
Ohhhh, even there. Here is already a habitt, and dishonest shop owners change even the label or date of the product. The last case was for medical tools and reactives, so people might got wrong results to tests. Police caught the people while washing out the original lab
els…
Yes, Alexandra. I cannot begin to think of how many fight against the American Health Insurance companies, when you for instance have to call up ahead of time to get an approval for the ambulance picking you up, if you are in an car accident! The insurance company says no; and you are left on the side of the high way!!
Kealan, I learned to check if a traveling insurance have contracts in the country one is visiting, to document everything and to THREATEN them to action! Shouldn’t be necessary. Will have to get yr advice for travel insurance to Vienna :)…if we get the formal invitation of course!
The problem of ‘expired’ goods happens in the USA too. I have to, as you say Theresa, “Wear my magnifying glasses” also. Usually the expired products are on sale so there is a clue; but, sometimes if I am not careful, an expired item (not on sale) makes its way into my cart. Yes, everyone pay attention when you shop.
Love and warmth,
Lainee
It also happens in Australia, but only in the smaller independent supermarkets. There is one particular one in Trentham, Victoria which even freezes meat just before it expires and continues to sell it. I once had to return three times because I had bought ready-made hummus from them and every single one had mold in it (they never discarded stock when there were power failures and the refrigerators went off). One day I think the things in their freezer will be interesting to archaeologists…
The business is poorly run and people travel the 20kms out of town to buy their groceries. It’s a shame for the town because a decent service would mean a lot and save people having to travel.
Yes, and they have nice ads…And they pretend to do charity. By taking money in such way from people in need. Thats too false.
You ARE right Swannie!! Who …. wants to DEAL?? ;-]
LOVE you too,
Mamma Thelma xxx.
Hi Elaine,
Depends on where one is going I suppose. One thing is the cancellation insurance, the right to cancel a ticket if one is prevented to go in the last minute, which happens. Another thing is traveling insurance while the trip occurs. A large percentage of people visiting India comes down with something, so it’s certainly recommended to have a traveling insurance going there. Tourists have a much higher percentage of involvement in car accidents, so there is a second reason for taking precautions. A third reason, this time, where H1N1 is expected to ‘blossom’ all winter/spring, it might not be too unlikely one could catch it sitting on crammed planes. I don’t think it’s too costly, to just go ahead and get insurance IN CASE something were to happen.
Moderate risky Heart :)
That is insanity! But somehow it doesn’t surprise me – just another loop-hole they use to take all the money they can from you and avoid paying out in return.
We had a somewhat similar situation with the house I am living in. We had a hurricane, after which, the two sets of patio doors began to leak profusely. The adjuster came out to have a look and said, “Yes, I see the water damage.” No doubt! By the time he arrived, weeks later, the floor was starting to rot. But his conclusion? – The insurance company was not liable because there was no actual “structural damage” to the house (in other words, the roof and walls weren’t caved in). The leaks were caused by the enormous pressure of the wind, which dislodged the patio doors from the frame they were in, causing water to pour in at the corners every time it rains. This, he somehow concluded, was not covered under our hurricane policy. There is always a loop-hole somewhere, and if the insurance company can find one, they will always use it to avoid paying.
Yes Savita! I wonder how many hurricane victims the American insurance companies have SCREWED!
:) !
Yes it is very true; we shall drink a glass of wine on the cliffs of Monaco when that day comes.
Yes we have a sky box for that – but I do not watch TV anymore – I play games online :(
Do both turn it off then throw it out! I remember watching Dr. Phil and this 4 year old was gone crazy for TV… It was very sad about how many acts of violence the child had seen etc…
Same here in Holland, big supermarkets just as well as the small ones. They always put it in the shells using FIFO: First in, first out. Meaning take the products at back, they are the newest. Take those.
I’m standardly shopping looking at all the dates, always. Partly because this used to be part of my job, checking all the expiry dates of everything in the restaurant kitchen where I worked every night.. just became a habit.
All I can recommend is to keep an eye on the warranty..
maybe extend an extra year.
I hope he purchased a good model… as i said, i bought the tx1215nr and it has had hundreds of similar complaints.
best wishes ;o)
I am sure that their printers do well. but as for computer technology.. they made a dud.
Hello Heart,
Had not thought of all of that. We will cross the insurance bridge when our car is given the opportunity. :-)
Still risky but with an open mind,
Lainee
Yes Lainee…going from modest to exceptional today, we will WORK IT OUT :)
!!!!!!!;-]
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
It’s called cultural appreciation Annie, and not limited to French.. ;D
p.s. I love accents, will mizz all ze chatterrr in ze elevateurrr…
Think its just unbelievable that people working at banks seem to think its alright to shout and use bad words, and you have to almost beg them to be of any help, unless you have large amounts of cash there! Or depending if they had a good night sleep or not. I actually swopped bank-offices for that reason once, but that didn’t help. And than, when they find out they’re the ones messing up; they blame the computers or the system!!!
Haha, being a potential rich lady makes them say madam :) funny how the world works. Lets VISUALIZE some exclusive jewelry for you….. zmmmm zmmmmm (am zooming in on my visualisation)
:)
Love
Dear Heart, I had an aunt and she had expensive, exclusive jewelry in a safety box in a bank and I was always wondering what was the use of them? Either you wear them and feel beautiful and .. exclusive or better not have them and worry that someone is going to steal them!!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
That’s a bad mistake they made, and there is not much one can do about it, when it’s bought over the Internet! It’s also very annoying when it happens to be a gift!
Take care of yourself..
Love Theresa
Thank you, dear Annie for your kind words.. I think it would be very risky to purchase medicines from the internet.
Love, Theresa
Yes, it is outrageous. Of course it is much cheaper for these larger companies to manufacture in the poorer countries because the labour is so cheap! Here, wages are very low, and I as said yesterday, they are importing cheap chemicals from a third country, then I learnt recently the medicines are sometimes packaged in another country and finally shipped to their destination!!!
Back in 2005 an arthritis drug VIOXX (MERCK) was recalled from the market in the USA, but it was still being prescribed by doctors over here for at least a year afterwards !!! There have been several Lawsuits concerning accidents with this drug! Some of my doctor friends tell me that some doctors here are given a commission by the drug companies if they regularly precribe certain drugs !!!
I haven’t heard about the book you mention, but maybe you could get some information from the World Health Organisation. I once knew someone who worked as a translator with them and used to bring me back lots of interesting literature from there!
Anyway, hope you find what you are looking for.
Ha ha ha, here is also such rule, that if your house is not broken by a thief, if he enter the door than one will not receive any money.
nice accent! :)
No way! L’oreal!?!!?
Golly – you blink these days and all has changed..
ok. maybe I was snoozing ;o/ jeje
Yes Thelma, as Paulo said on Twitter yesterday, you cannot put your heart in a safe deposit box, so you might as well start using it. In fact I have a jewelry set after my grandmother, bought in Zuez, that I almost never wear, as it’s more fit for wearing to a prominent party. I’m not sure how much it’s worth, but for me, remembering my grandmother wearing it, it’s priceless. And even though I don’t use it, I still keep it at home, so I can take it out and look at it once in awhile. Perhaps I even should start wearing it more! It is a gorgeous set. I would be afraid of loosing it. But it doesn’t give much joy sitting in a drawer either!
Love & admiration,
Heart
“clap! clap! clap! clap!” This is an applause for you, Rosa :-)
Love ya,
Lainee
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