Last update: 6/3/01; 11:59:28.
Thoughts and ideas as they occur to me.
Friday, March 30, 2001
Problem with a merchant I've recommended. (04/11/2001 10:04 EDT) UPDATE
After getting no response from their sales department at 123inkjets.com, I decided to file complaints with the Post Office and the Federal Trade Commission. Then, I looked up the administrative contact for 123Inkjets.com's domain. I sent a message to the sales department and the administrative contact, telling them, once again, that I was displeased.
I got a response from the administrative contact the next day, and on April 5th, I was notified that they had refunded my purchase price. So, now I'm satisfied that I received the refund, although I would have preferred the toner cartridge.
I can understand how these things may happen, but what really bothers me is that they don't have a phone number where I can call and talk to a real person, and they just ignored my email messages for weeks.
So, I won't be recommending them to anyone anymore, but I'm satisfied with the result.
I learned a couple of lessons here, and I've been purchasing from online companies for over six years, now. I don't plan to ever purchase from any company that doesn't have a phone number where I can call a living person if there is a problem. I purchased using a debit card, and there is no mechanism in place that I could find to contest the charge, such as there is with a credit card.
As always, buyer beware. I want to reiterate that I was very happy with their service and product the first two times I purchased from them, but all it takes is one bad experience like this to stop me from buying from someone.
It's also reminded me how important communcations are with my own customers and how important it is to settle any disputes or misunderstandings as quickly as possible. A satisfied customer may tell someone they're satisfied, but a dissatisfied customer will shout it to the world.
A company just can't afford to do things that result in dissatisfied customers if they want to survive. That goes for all of us.
(03/30/2001 13:22 EST) I take it as a personal responsibility when I recommend someone else's products or services to be as open and honest as I can.
I've been recommending 123inkjets.com as a great source of inkjet and laser toner cartridges for several months. I've purchased toner cartridges from them in the past with no problems.
Now, they've left a very sour taste in my mouth, and I am no longer able to recommend them. I'll be removing links to their sites as soon as I have time to do it.
In the meantime, this is a heads-up.
I purchased a toner cartridge from them five weeks ago and they charged my debit card the very next day. I waited three weeks, and when I didn't receive what I paid for, I contacted their sales department. Since then, they've ignored my emails and I still haven't gotten the cartridge.
Their website claims 100% Customer Satisfaction or a full refund. Well this is one dissatisfied customer and I haven't received a refund or even a reply for over two weeks now.
So, I just went to Commission Junction and terminated my affiliation with their company. I do not recommend them as a source of cartridges, and I hope I haven't mislead anyone.
I'll be removing all links to their company as soon as I can. If you choose to purchase from them, beware.
(sigh....)
** JD ** 1:31:36 PMWhat a week! (03/30/2001 13:14 EST) This has been quite a week.
I have several orders for roses that I've been working on and the weather has not been cooperative! We had a nice sunny February, and since I've started metalsmithing again, it's been cold and/or rainy just about every day this month. But, I'll persevere and the weather will improve and I'll get those orders out!
I don't like trying to be creative when I can't feel my fingers.
So, in the meantime, I've been learning how to use the laser better and improve my lightcarving skills. I've also been doing a lot of research on electroetching and electroplating. One of my friends would like for me to make her a gold-plated rose, and I'd like to do that, so it's in the works.
I had a long talk yesterday with Alan White (Hi Alan!) about electroplating, and he seems to think I'll be able to plate the roses with a little practice. So, I'm starting to gather more information and the supplies I'll need.
By the way, Alan, I found a source that says you can copper plate directly over tin, if you want to.
After I write a short news item, I'll be heading back up to the shop and working on roses. I can't wait to get these made and shipped!
** JD **
1:23:55 PM
© Copyright 2001 John L. Dilbeck, jd@johndilbeck.com.