Sunday, December 12, 2010

Thank You, HP, for Totally Ruining My Month


It was this or a rendering of the Spanish Inquisition. HP has be raped and strapped to the rack and is holding me hostage. I either have to wait for them to deliver the replacement for their faulty desktop or wait for them to give me a refund (5 to 10 days to process). The first way I don't get a computer before the 30th of December. And the latter way I don't get the money to buy a new computer before it is too late to get one before the end of the year from another computer company.

HP management is very fond of the word escalate, which too me brings to mind wars and hostility. And yes I am hostile now because I seem to be the only one escalating. They seem to move on at their funeral dirge pace. So I went to Wiktionary and looked up the word. Please note that definition one is my understanding.

to escalate (third-person singular simple present escalates, present participle escalating, simple past and past participle escalated) (transitive and intransitive)
  1. to increase (something) in extent or intensity; to intensify or step up
    Violence escalated during the election.
    The shooting escalated the existing hostility.

  2. in technical support, to transfer a telephone caller to the next higher level of authority
    The tech 1 escalated the caller to a tech 2

 HP has definitely escalated the hostility I feel for them at this point. They have been playing with my $800 without payment of interest. All other on line companies do not take the money from your account until they ship. So technically HP ought to have credited me the money back when I returned the non-working computer and then not taken it back out until they shipped the new (hopefully working) computer. But no. They gave me a $70 credit for my time fighting with their faulty computer this call but that does not get put into my account until 5 to 10 days after they ship my new computer (hopefully a working HP Pavilion).


Nothing seems to escalate the pace at which HP is handling their problem. And make no mistake it is their problem. They built and shipped a faulty computer. May I, HP Management, suggest another word - Expedite. Once you escalated my problem (which is fact your problem) you should have expedited my claim of faulty manufacturing and expedited the shipment of a replacement to me.

to expedite (third-person singular simple present expedites, present participle expediting, simple past and past participle expedited)
  1. (transitive) To accelerate the progress of.
    He expedited the search by alphabetizing the papers.

  2. (transitive) To perform (a task) fast and efficiently.

Your people do not perform fast and efficiently. I will be without a computer for 24 days longer than necessary. A company computer that should be updatng my website during the holiday season, that is needed for preparation of end of the year paperwork and tax documents, that should be available for photo editing to prepare submissions to spring and summer fairs (my bread and butter). But not only do I not have a working computer capable of such tasks but you won't ship it till the 28th of December.

In point of fact you are also making it impossible for me to get a refund and order another brand of computer in any faster time frame. You have ruined December and are well on your way to ruining half of the new year, because your build of a grossly inferior product has put me 30 days behind at the least.

Don't expect me to ever purchase another HP. You have escalated this issue to total hostilities as far as I am concerned.

PS - I used to work for corporate American and I know how the game is played. What I totally understand as a small business owner is that it is not a game from our point of view. And even if you think you have won all these little escalations you have ultimately lost the battle.

4 comments:

  1. What a totally frustrating experience. If and when you do get your money refunded, I would consider purchasing through a site like Amazon.com or EBay or NewEgg.

    My experiences on Amazon have been excellent. Many items I've purchased were from 3rd party sellers selling via Amazon. Vendors who sell there live and die by customer ratings (same with EBay). It is so helpful to read other customers' uncensored opinions about the products and the sellers. I purchased coats from two different vendors on Amazon recently. When the coats arrived, I didn't like them at all. I sent them back using the easy return labels included. I received my credits from each promptly. And though I had to pay one-way shipping, they paid for the return shipping.

    Another online source I've used with great satisfaction when buying computer equipment is NewEgg. They often have the best prices and they have excellent customer service.

    Those are just a couple of suggestions. If you like the HP product, you can probably get it for an equally good price from a source who actually cares about good customer service.

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  2. During my last conversation with HP I was actually browsing Amazon and was rather frustrated about the information not available as regards graphic processor and even GB of Ram. So I don't know that I am totally comfortable with that source for a computer. I do buy coats and shoes and other stuff from them.

    But Amazon and I don't have a great record of satisfaction. Yes, they do take things back promptly.

    I am looking at a company in Albuquerque that will build me what I want. But keep in mind getting your money back from a computer company is also not easy. I have a friend with an inferior Best Buy computer because after trading in one totally inadequate to her needs could only get back 90% of the price.

    They hold you hostage once they have your money

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  3. I would definitely avoid Best Buy. I've never heard one person who had a good experience in their computer department (though I did buy a TV from them and that's fine as long as you resist all the add-ons they try to sell you). Also avoid their Geek service - way overpriced and underskilled.

    My desktop is a generic built by one of my sons - we bought all the parts through NewEgg and other online sources. Got the monitor at Costco. You can get a lot more for your money that way and truly customize it. If the Albequerque guys come well-recommended, you could be very happy going that way.

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  4. My sister had a horrid experience with Best Buy. When I called HP today for the second time to cancel they told me I could get the computer this week - maybe.

    Frankly I would like my money back this week but that can take 10 days believe it or not. They claim it is a bank thing but we know that is a lie.

    Right now this moment I am not sure I want a computer

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