Monday, September 22, 2008

Finally

Today was the day that Dell would finally send a technician to fix the laptop. He was very nice and had it working properly in less that a half hour. He told me the reason I didn't get service on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday is that the company that services Dell in this area has lost three technicians recently and they won't let him work full time, so they didn't have a technician on those days. I am not surprised!

But at least this ordeal is over and I hope that no one buys a Dell product.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Countdown to Dell

Because the problem I am having with Dell Computers has not been resolved, I'm going to log their lack of action.

Tuesday - automated call saying part has been shipped.

Wednesday, 11(ish) a.m - automated call saying part is delayed because of inclement weather.

Thursday, 11:14 a.m. - automated call left voice mail saying technicians are too busy today and will call you Friday before noon to make an appointment.

Friday, 11:12 a.m. - automated call saying our technicians are too busy again today, we'll call back on Monday before noon with an estimated time we will be able to fix your problem.

Monday, September 15, 2008

I love my Toshiba laptop

I was on the chat with Dell for 2 1/2 hours. I am exhausted. The first tech got the supervisor who argued with me for an hour, at least. They are now saying that the warranty entitles me to in-home service, but they can't send a technician until they know the problem. Because it could be the LCD, video card, or the motherboard, and the technician has to know what it is before he comes out. You know because the laptop parts are so heavy that they couldn't possibly bring all three.

So, in the next two days someone will come fix this laptop. I'm not holding my breath.

Still Dell

Here I sit, three weeks and three days later and I am still waiting for Dell to send me a box to return a Dell laptop for service. Yes, I know the warranty said in-home service, but I guess they meant their home.

I'm number 33 in queue to get to talk to a Dell Chat agent. That's not so bad, because 13 minutes ago I was number 77 in queue, and it's sure a lot better than the 40 minute wait I had to talk to someone the first time I called.

How is this so difficult? For that matter, am I the only one who has to spend hours and hours on the phone waiting for them to tell me that the problem is in the CPU? How the heck do they stay in business, if this is the way they provide service to their customers?

Woo Hoo, I'm number 26, no number 24 and it's only been 17 minutes. I'll bet they'll be here before Keith Olbermann gets to #3 on the Countdown. Nope, I was wrong. I've made it to number 18 and Keith is up to Bushed. Then it's commercials and # 3 and I'm still waiting.

Twenty minutes down and I'm number 15 in queue. I love the word queue! I don't necessarily love being stuck in the queue-go-round, but I do like a word that has two u's so close to each other. Twenty two minutes and I'm number 12. Keith is still on commercial break, but I think he'll be back before I get helped. Maybe not, I'm number 10, 9, 8, . . . I better get ready to go talk to Dell, I'm sure they'll be here soon.

Keith is back and we're Playing Oddball. Numbers 7, 6, and 5. I'm feeling lucky, like I may really get helped. Chuck Todd is next, but first the World's Best Persons.

I wish NBC would tap Chuck Todd for Meet The Press. Number 4 and we're back to commercial. Number 3 and I'm going to go talk to Dell. It only took about 30 minutes for them to get around to me. I'll bet if I was placing an order they would have help a long time ago. Number 2 in queue. That means I'm next.

UPDATE:
I waited 30 minutes. I got to number 1 in queue and got the message thanks for chatting with Dell and they cut me off. I am now number 84 in queue and I am PISSED.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Applesauce or I'm really not cut out to be domestic

I am exhausted. My feet hurt, my hands hurt, my fingers hurt, and I'm just basically tired of apples. Seriously, I think I have enough in my freezer to eat a bowl of applesauce every day for the next six months. Plus I'm getting so good at slicing apples that I may have to make more.

So should I go pick more apples and make more applesauce, or wait a week for the Italian Prunes or two weeks for the Asian Pears to ripen. It's a dilemma, and the answer will have to wait for tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Traveling Wilbury Socks

The Traveling Wilbury Socks from the pattern collection of the Knitting Curmudgeon are my latest project, and these socks are for my friend in Texas. I hope she will like them and thinks of me whenever she wears them.

This pattern is the first one I have knit using my nine inch circular needles from KA Bamboo. I love them, it was worth the hours and hours of searching through stores and on-line. Why no one carries nine inch circular needles, I will never know. I think people who are new to knitting socks will love them and I can't wait to get them in all sizes. I am very happy that Inox is now carrying them in the 1/2 sizes.

Yesterday I picked about 50 pounds of apples for mom to make into applesauce, but today she said she didn't think her arthritic hands would let her cut up the apples, so I'm making applesauce. It's strange how many apples it takes to make two bowls of applesauce, but once frozen I'll have enough for the whole family for the whole winter.

I plan to use my vacuum sealer so that I will be able to store a lot in a little space. I wonder if it will work, I hope it will work.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Dell's Customer Service continued

It's now been over two weeks since I contacted Dell about a problem with one of their laptop computers. The first call, which was several hours long got me nothing, but the promise of an e-mail with a link to new drivers which never arrived.

The second day was an on-line chat which didn't get me anywhere but seemed promising. Too bad the solutions recommended by the on-line technician didn't amount to anything, well at least that technician sent me a copy of the chat for my records.

The third day (Sunday morning) I got a call from Dell Customer Service and after about a half hour this technician dialed into my computer and tried to fix the drivers. It didn't work and I missed Meet The Press, because I was on the phone with the technician. I never miss Meet The Press, so you know I wanted this computer fixed.

After working on the computer via on-line take-over for over an hour, the technician determined that the problem is with the laptop and he told me he would send me a prepaid box so I can mail the laptop in for service. I'm still waiting for the box and I'm still waiting for an explanation of why I have to send the computer anywhere when I paid for a three year in-home warranty.

What makes a hero?

The political campaigns are in full swing and have been for over a year. I have to say that every time I hear someone refer to John McCain as a hero, I wonder, just what makes him a hero.

To me a hero is someone who runs into a burning building to save a life. To me a hero is a soldier who puts their own life on the line to save the life of a comrade or a civilian. To me a hero is the police officer who puts himself or herself in danger to get a criminal off the streets. To me a hero is someone selfless, someone who acts without a thought to their own safety or well-being.

A hero is not someone who was captured in war and held prisoner. If that were the case, then every "enemy combatant" being held in Guantánamo would be considered a hero.

John McCain was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. I do not doubt that he endured pain, misery, and torture. But that doesn't make him a hero, it makes him a survivor.