Argh!

As I say, the others at the company didn't have a clue what meeting it was, and when I called him, I had only one thing on my mind, so didn't ask. But the facts are that he stepped out of said meeting and miraculously, HP had just called him.

I have just received another SMS saying that axiz claims it will be sorted out within the hour. I replied with (what I think was) a killer:
"Another hour is fine. So I can expect to meet you at Comstar before 5?"
 
His reply: I think you should rather wait for the reply first.
 
My reply:
In that case, an hour is all I can afford to offer. Before 5, I need to hear that the correct notebook is forthcoming, or that my money is waiting for me.

Edit:
Just to re-iterate. This is all happening via SMS again... wtf?? ffs...
 
Now the buck has been passed to Savan at axiz.

Edit:
I know that often it takes longer than expected to receive a reply when you are playing the intermediary game, but sometimes the reply actually comes sooner. Every time I talk to this guy, it's an extra 30mins, 60mins, etc. And it never ends up being even a LITTLE bit sooner. Only the same amount of time or more.
 
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A new SMS (paraphrased) I received from Richard:
Damien (someone at HP) is putting pressure on the director. I need more time.

My reply (paraphrased):
How much time? *push for refund*

His reply (paraphrased):
As per axiz, they can't take it back because it has been opened

My reply (paraphrased):
My transaction was with Comstar, not axiz. So the refund should come from Comstar, not axiz.

I received a call now. Apparently the good folks at HP are seeing things my way.
Damien (someone at HP):
"How can one check whether the product is BrightView or not without opening the box?".

So this is quickly spiralling to a confusing, messy situation.

Edit: Is there something in South Africa like the "Better Business Bureau" ? This scenario aside, Comstar's business practices are disgusting at best.
 
What a suprise, no answer by the end of day today. Since he isn't answering his phone, I've given an ultimatum that things should be sorted out by 11am tomorrow, or in comes Wendy :)
 
you've shown remarkable restraint. i like to think i am patient but i surely would have cracked by now.
 
milomak said:
you've shown remarkable restraint. i like to think i am patient but i surely would have cracked by now.
Click to expand...

That's putting it lightly.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I'd suggest contacting the SAPS and filing a case against them there - that way you have something to fall back on, you also have a date to point out when your problems started. So if this becomes a "legal" issue, you've done your homework.

Chances are that they'll see - vividly - that you're serious and things will start happening super fast.

Also, I'd advise contacting your lawyer (or lawyers in general) and ask if they'd be willing to give you advice on the matter, as well as whether or not should push come to shove, they'd be willing to take your case pro bono. Then again, I'm not sure, but I think anything under R15,000 falls under small-claims court, so as long as you have the above mentioned case file to substantiate your claim, (not necessary, but essentially helpful) all you'd need to do is appear before a judge and Comstar will be legally obligated to refund you. Unfortunately, I hear this is a drawn out and exhausting process... But better safe than sorry :)

Then again, hopefully Wendy will be your solution if 11am doesn't do it for you.
 
Lycanthrope said:
That's putting it lightly.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I'd suggest contacting the SAPS and filing a case against them there - that way you have something to fall back on, you also have a date to point out when your problems started. So if this becomes a "legal" issue, you've done your homework.

Chances are that they'll see - vividly - that you're serious and things will start happening super fast.

Also, I'd advise contacting your lawyer (or lawyers in general) and ask if they'd be willing to give you advice on the matter, as well as whether or not should push come to shove, they'd be willing to take your case pro bono. Then again, I'm not sure, but I think anything under R15,000 falls under small-claims court, so as long as you have the above mentioned case file to substantiate your claim, (not necessary, but essentially helpful) all you'd need to do is appear before a judge and Comstar will be legally obligated to refund you. Unfortunately, I hear this is a drawn out and exhausting process... But better safe than sorry :)

Then again, hopefully Wendy will be your solution if 11am doesn't do it for you.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a possibly length and expensive process...
 
Lycanthrope said:
Wow... sn3rd, let it be said that you're incredibly diplomatic. "Despondent" is such a polite word to describe that feeling just before ripping out someone else's hair and making them eat it :D

Might not be worth much, but if there's anything I - or any of us - can do, feel free to ask, will do my best. I don't like it when people get messed around like this... And so often you're helpless to do anything about it or change anything...

Have I mentioned bringing the cops into this?

I like the lessons you've learned... Here's another one - check specifications online, buy online and go from there Two companies that have been marvellous in regards to service with me have been Sybaritic and Take2. Sybaritic I've had more experience with though.

I recently bought a graphics card from Sybaritic, but it made horrible high-pitched noise when it started doing heavy-duty processes. I e-mailed them asking about it and mentioning that I'm a bit strapped for cash and can't afford to courier it back to them until the end of the month. The next day they had their courier collect it from me and take it to the supplier on the basis that I can pay when my problem's been successfully sorted. That meant a lot to me

The card also still falls under the 14-day return bit, so worst case I can still get a refund minus the handling fee since it's still fairly new.

Good service does exist... It's just exceedingly rare
Click to expand...

I had that hissing sound problem with a card I sold one of my customers :) ... My supplier was out of stock on the card (namely the HIS 4850), so I crapped on them and told them I want a refund because my customer is cardless, but as you know suppliers don't like refunds ... but they did make me a compromising offer which I then offered to the customer and he was happy. They upped him to the HIS 4850 IceQ model at no extra charge.

I've yapped at many of my suppliers and 99% end with a successful result :) I don't take crap from my suppliers. Like Axiz once ... they took back a motherboard of mine 1 month later with no box or accessories and agreed to give me the full credit instead of a replacement. Although that was very nice of them because I pushed it a bit far :o.

And I agree with you Lycan ... it is very hard to find places with very good service. Supplierwise ... the best service I've received is Axiz, Rectron, Frontosa, Foxcomp and Sonic Informed ... the first two I guess just have good policies and I'm on terms with the head technical dude at Rectron, but the other 3 just have a personal feel to them and everyone knows me by name which I like.
Thats just another reason I try offer the best service I can ... because I want people to speak highly of me :p ... although I must apologise to my latest customers ... I've been very short of my usual service standards ... exams taking their toll ... but straight after 11th November ... I'm back at full pace :D ... and hopefully hiring a data capturer and new website on the way ... then I can be the next best thing since google :)

And I'm very sorry for your troubles sn3rd ... although I've never actually had a problem with Comstar. The only thing that Pee's me off with them, is I always ask Farhaad for the latest pricelist because of the R/$ cr@p and he says well we haven't got one made, but I will send you an internal pricelist ... and I never receive it ... irritates the living cr@p out of me. And basically all my Comstar products on my site are selling at below cost because I don't have new pricing from them ... so I'm thinking of taking it off all together. And I'm not such a fan of Amit either ... Richard is probably the best guy there.
 
eitai2001 said:
I had that hissing sound problem with a card I sold one of my customers :) ... My supplier was out of stock on the card (namely the HIS 4850), so I crapped on them and told them I want a refund because my customer is cardless, but as you know suppliers don't like refunds ... but they did make me a compromising offer which I then offered to the customer and he was happy. They upped him to the HIS 4850 IceQ model at no extra charge.

I've yapped at many of my suppliers and 99% end with a successful result :) I don't take crap from my suppliers. Like Axiz once ... they took back a motherboard of mine 1 month later with no box or accessories and agreed to give me the full credit instead of a replacement. Although that was very nice of them because I pushed it a bit far :o.

And I agree with you Lycan ... it is very hard to find places with very good service. Supplierwise ... the best service I've received is Axiz, Rectron, Frontosa, Foxcomp and Sonic Informed ... the first two I guess just have good policies and I'm on terms with the head technical dude at Rectron, but the other 3 just have a personal feel to them and everyone knows me by name which I like.
Thats just another reason I try offer the best service I can ... because I want people to speak highly of me :p ... although I must apologise to my latest customers ... I've been very short of my usual service standards ... exams taking their toll ... but straight after 11th November ... I'm back at full pace :D ... and hopefully hiring a data capturer and new website on the way ... then I can be the next best thing since google :)

And I'm very sorry for your troubles sn3rd ... although I've never actually had a problem with Comstar. The only thing that Pee's me off with them, is I always ask Farhaad for the latest pricelist because of the R/$ cr@p and he says well we haven't got one made, but I will send you an internal pricelist ... and I never receive it ... irritates the living cr@p out of me. And basically all my Comstar products on my site are selling at below cost because I don't have new pricing from them ... so I'm thinking of taking it off all together. And I'm not such a fan of Amit either ... Richard is probably the best guy there.
Click to expand...

I have to agree 100% with your comments on Comstar:
I've never had an issue with them before, and I think that's why I haven't encountered these issues before: when the problems start, they don't seem to stop. Farhaad's emails seem to take days to come through, if at all, and yes, Amit is just out to make a quick buck. Richard has been the only ray of light in that company so far.
 
charlie_82 said:
lol, sms!
nice!!
Click to expand...

:o I sometimes SMS customers. I actually read on an old MyBB article that its fast becoming good business practice. If they can't answer their phone, then they have an sms instead of voicemail, they can also reread it later if need be.

Edit: These aren't usually business conversations ... if there is a problem I phone, but if its a tracking number or address or checking if something is in stock, then I think sms is better ... don't you?
 
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I've heard a lot of compliments on your behalf, eitai :) Your prices though, admittedly scare me :) Your site was one of the sites I considered getting my card from, until Syb had the Leadtek in stock, so naturally, I went for that.

As for a data capturer... I've done a bit of data capturing work in my time :) Although I'm guessing you'd want one located in JHB? :D

@ sn3rd - I saw that... Was mildly hoping your notebook was less than R7,000 :( I think your only course otherwise is Magistrate's Courts - Claims for less than R100K... I'm unfortunately uncertain of the costs involved there...
 
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eitai2001 said:
:o I sometimes SMS customers. I actually read on an old MyBB article that its fast becoming good business practice. If they can't answer their phone, then they have an sms instead of voicemail, they can also reread it later if need be.
Click to expand...

Ah, but you don't have SMS conversations with your customers, do you? :p
 
Lycanthrope said:
Ah, but you don't have SMS conversations with your customers, do you? :p
Click to expand...

Maybe little itsy bitsy ones ... like 3 sms convos ... but not the kind you're having. Or sometimes I sms a customer I'm just in a lecture ... I'll call you at xx time when I get out.
 
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