Summer 2013 August 1

79 degrees this morning.  Still slightly coolish from the rains last night.

I am amazed that Staples Office Supplies and Dell Computer stay in business based on their horrible customer "service".  

As discussed before, an item I bought at Staples Office Supplies quit working.  I following instructions and, in spite of having purchased an "extended warranty" that guaranteed in house repair, I was advised to "call the 800 number".  I did and was advised a "box to return the item will be sent to you".  That was over three weeks ago.

I even received an e-mail from the Staples "Office of the President" and they apologized and said I would be send a "store card" to purchase another item to "fulfill the contract".  Guess what?  That was two weeks ago, still no action!!!  Pathetic.

Dell Computer isn't much better.  I have written on this before, so I won't bore you with it.

I always like August.  Of course, my birthday is in August and the weather is usually the type I like.  I actually enjoyed going to school so I alway anticipated returning to school.

One think I don't personally like about election campaigns is all of the yard signs.  I realize they are necessary and all that, but I am so glad when the election period and (most of) the signs are picked up, at least no new ones are put out.  

August ought to be an interesting month.  I hate to see baseball season end, but it also means (college for me) football will begin. 

My six (or seven?) year old MacBook battery is finally going out.  I get a message to "replace soon".   I hope that is referring only to the battery.

The morning "hyper time" continues.  I don't really know where the time goes in the morning. It is like someone forwards the clock.

Summer 2013 July 27

Warmer than I expected this morning, about 73 degrees, the point at which I try to decide if I will a long sleeve or short sleeve shirt and shorts or swearpants before I exercise.

One thing I really resent on all computer/technological products (and AT & T DSL) is the apparent assumption by the sellers that I have all the time in the world to spend on the phone on hold or "try this, try that" where a simple service call or bringing the product in would make the difference.

Dell Computer has to take the prize for inefficiency, incompetence and red tape nonsense.  I was ordering a computer or the City, which is exempt from sales taxes.  We have an account, which says we are a City, etc.  I was asked to submit a Tax Exempt Form, so I e-mailed a Tax Exempt form.  After about a week, I was advised the Tax Exempt Form needed to be made out to "Dell Marketing LLC" (or something like that) instead of "Dell Computers".  It seems they could have made that change themselves, rather than delay everything for several days. (I actually had to check on since it had been a week.)

THEN, they e-mail me (after another delay) and advise me I need to put the VENDOR ADDESS (which of course, is their address) on the Tax Exempt Form.  I made a note that I didn't have their address.  SO, they sent me their address (after another delay).

At this this point, I advised them I was buying it elsewhere and cancel the order, I didn't want to do business with them.

No wonder Dell Computers (wait, maybe it's Dell Marketing Ltd!) is having problems!