http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/oneforthelittleguy/ Click 'Blog Options' and then 'Configure this Blog' in the bar above to get started en-us Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:24:47 GMT CakePHP http://blogs.fingerlakes1.com/oneforthelittleguy/oneforthelittleguy/ Have you ever been the "little guy"? The poor Joe Schmo who gets stepped on by government or big industry simply because you didn't know the rules? Have you ever ordered anything over the internet and when it came is was not at all what you ordered? And when you attempted to contact the company to clarify the matter, you either couldn't find a way to contact them, or got one of those "I'm sorry, but..." operators? Or what about that gawd awful canned music you have to listen to while you wait for the "I'm sorry, but..." operator, who can't help you canyway, and either refuses to put you through to a sujpervisor, or puts you through to a "I'm sorry, but..." supervisor? Example 1: Purchasing personal checks oninternet (Yes, I know it's chancy to begin with, but I was desperat, and have always had good luck in the past. . Someone stole my check book and I needed to get new checks as quickly as possible.) $52 for one box! But, of course, that included a book of return address labels.. Two weeks later, an envelope of checks (no, not even a box) arrives. You give them a quick perusal, and, much to your chagrin, your last name is on a separate line from the rest of your name. Not the way you want them, but at least the full name is there. And the Olde English Monogram is very impressive. A few days later, under separate cover, you receive the check book cover. Very nice little vinyl deal with a section for necessary cards (Wonderful idea, actually, now the next time my check book gets stolen, my check and important cards will all be in one handy carrier.) Nice picture (same as one of the checks) on the cover. Purple. Nor my favorite color, but livabke, Three days later (weekend in there) the address labels arrive. I have to look 2-3 times because I can't believe my eyes. Here is a book of nice little labels with the same pictures as the checks, but something is missing -- my name! I checked the second line to see if perhaps it was there (like on the checks). Nope! No last name. Just a first name and middle initial. I went back to the website where I originally purchased the checks. After 45 minutes of pushing buttons and trying different options, I finally found a page where I could actually send the Bradford Exchange a message. In less time than it took me to find the e-mail place, I got a reply. I paraphrase here. Sorry, Charlie. We do not fix YOUR mistakes, but for another $52 we'd be glad to send you some more checks. So, bright and early this morning, I called the Bradford Eschange Customer Service line. Of course, I got the "i'm sorry, but..." operator, who informed me that since I had ordered online, there was nothing they could do, but I could send them another $52 and they would send me more checks. I more or less told her it would be a very cold day in a certain mythological region before I sent them another cent of my money. The moral of the story: Always read directions very (microscopically) carefully when ordering anything online (or in person for that matter). Don't forget to read that interminably long agreement we must all agree to in order to purchase a good or service. ONCE AGAIN, THE LITTLE GUY TAKES ONE IN THE BACK. Wed, Dec 10th 2008, 06:05 GMT