🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1969@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> williams@nssdcs.gsfc.nasa.gov (Jim Williams) writes:
 
  [...]
>	                                    I just wanted to update my
>C Compiler to version 6.0.  [...]   So, I filled out the update form,
>carefully checking off the box labelled '5.25, 360KB diskettes', sent
>in my $125.00 and waited.  After not too long a while, a package
>arrived, yesterday, containing my new compiler.  
  [...]
>       I was quite dismayed, however, to discover that they had sent me
>1.2MB diskettes.  Alas, my lowly XT has only 360KB drives, though I
>hope to have a 720KB, 3.5" drive on it Real Soon Now.  
  [tales of woe trying to work with uSoft's automated phone system]

At least you got a set of disks.  I also ordered the upgrade, but asked for
the CD-ROM distribution to see how well the idea will work.  Good news/bad
news time:

* The good news was that contrary to much of my experiences with Microsoft
  distribution, the package came in less than two weeks.

* The bad news was that it contained the update to the user's manual, a bound
  volume ("Advanced Applications" or some such title), a small setup manual,
  the insulting ad for the run-time library reference that uSoft didn't tell
  you was no longer part of the product...and no machine-readable material
  whatsoever.

After listening to long-distance Muzak for too long, I finally reached the
humans at uSoft and was told that the CD-ROM was out of stock but that I
was supposed to have been sent a set of 5-1/4" HD disks.  (The uSoft rep,
who was rather apologetic about it, couldn't explain how uSoft thought they
knew which types of disks I could use, although my system *can* accept all
formats.)  There wasn't any explanation of why uSoft didn't see fit to
stick in even a bedbug form letter explaining why they weren't sending what
I paid for.  (The check was apparently cashed long ago.)

Memo to any Microsoft people reading this newsgroup (and especially anyone
in the languages or C areas): Customers usually understand that in any large
organization that it isn't possible for every procedure to work like it's
supposed to.  It's unfortunate but inevitable that a vendor can't immediately
respond to orders and that partial shipments and temporary substitutes 
occasionally are necessary.  Customers, though, get upset when a vendor 
sends something other than what was ordered (and paid for!) without giving
the customer the basic courtesy of a note explaining that the remaining
material will be shipped in the near future.  The customers get even more
upset when the vendor adds financial injury to the insult by making the
customer play "20 Questions" on a long-distance call when the reason
for the call is to remedy trouble caused by the vendor.  PLEASE make sure
that both the cognizant product managers and Microsoft's public relations
people are aware of these problems.

Oh yes...the uSoft rep said that she would send the diskettes to me and
have them in my hands in four days.  It's been ten days since that promise
was made.