John Coloccia
10-06-2009, 8:49 PM
*******rant coming*******
So my wife's laptop has a problem with the ribbon cable that goes to the LCD screen. I know this because I took it apart and it's the cable. I really didn't want to go through the trouble of replacing it myself, so I called a local guy. I always try to keep local guys in business if I can.
Now, I've dealt with this guy before. I thought he was kind of difficult the first time but I thought I'd give him another chance.
I called him last week. He never returned my call. Strike 2
I call him today:
me: I have a DV9000 laptop. The ribbon cable to the LCD is broken. I'm pretty sure it's the ribbon anyway because I was able to tape it into a position that kinda' sorta works.
him: Uh huh
m: Is this the kind of thing you can fix.
h: I'm not a retail store, sir.
m: Right, I understa....
h: So I don't just have parts stocked up here, and if I did I wouldn't just sell them
m: Right, i know. Can you fix it?
h: Look, you have to bring it in, and then *I'LL* look at it and *I'LL* diagnose the problem myself. Once I diagnose the problem, I can make a recomendation and *THEN* I'll get the parts, they'll come in and THEN I'll replace the damaged parts.
m: Uh yah... (count to 3, John) Great! So when can I bring it in?
h: Uhm... So like what kind of time frame were you expecting to have this done in?? (with a shocked and amazed sort of tone, like I'm asking him to do me a favor)
m (getting a little upset): My time frame is I expect to bring it in this week and I expect you to work diligently and fix it, and then I expect to get it back next week.
h: Well I'm always out of the shop. Tomorrow might be good. You should call and see if I'm in. Sometimes I'm hard to catch in the shop.
m: Oh yah. Right. I'll see if I can catch you.
*CLICK*
A more reasonable conversation would have been:
me: I have a DV9000 laptop. The ribbon cable to the LCD is broken. I'm pretty sure it's the ribbon anyway because I was able to tape it into a position that kinda' sorta works.
him: Hmmm, sounds like it's the cable, but I'd like you to bring it in so I can check it out. If it's really the cable, I can certainly order another one and replace it for you, or I can tell you what I find if the problem is somewhere else.
m: Great, what time could I drop it off?
h: Well, i'm usually out on calls. How about we setup a time tommorow or thursday.
m: Sounds good. How's 2:00pm sound?
h: That's fine. I'll call you a little before to make sure we're still on, or if I have to cancel because of an emergency call.
m: Sounds great. See you tommorow.
Now I have to say, this isn't an isolated incident. Only a handful of places give me any sort of service nowadays. Two of them are Woodcraft (a chain of all things...but locally owned, I guess) and my local lumberyard. The guys I get my Oxy/Acetylene bottles from are great too, even though I'm probably the smallest customer they've ever had (I go through one or two bottles a year). My power equipment guy rocks (Pruess in Bolton,CT). Everyone else more or less sucks and leaves me feeling like I'd rather throw my cash in the fireplace than be made to beg for someone to take my cash.
I don't want anyone to lick my shoes. I'd just like a little politeness and courtesy. At least treat me as well as I treat you, you dig?
***********rant over************
So my wife's laptop has a problem with the ribbon cable that goes to the LCD screen. I know this because I took it apart and it's the cable. I really didn't want to go through the trouble of replacing it myself, so I called a local guy. I always try to keep local guys in business if I can.
Now, I've dealt with this guy before. I thought he was kind of difficult the first time but I thought I'd give him another chance.
I called him last week. He never returned my call. Strike 2
I call him today:
me: I have a DV9000 laptop. The ribbon cable to the LCD is broken. I'm pretty sure it's the ribbon anyway because I was able to tape it into a position that kinda' sorta works.
him: Uh huh
m: Is this the kind of thing you can fix.
h: I'm not a retail store, sir.
m: Right, I understa....
h: So I don't just have parts stocked up here, and if I did I wouldn't just sell them
m: Right, i know. Can you fix it?
h: Look, you have to bring it in, and then *I'LL* look at it and *I'LL* diagnose the problem myself. Once I diagnose the problem, I can make a recomendation and *THEN* I'll get the parts, they'll come in and THEN I'll replace the damaged parts.
m: Uh yah... (count to 3, John) Great! So when can I bring it in?
h: Uhm... So like what kind of time frame were you expecting to have this done in?? (with a shocked and amazed sort of tone, like I'm asking him to do me a favor)
m (getting a little upset): My time frame is I expect to bring it in this week and I expect you to work diligently and fix it, and then I expect to get it back next week.
h: Well I'm always out of the shop. Tomorrow might be good. You should call and see if I'm in. Sometimes I'm hard to catch in the shop.
m: Oh yah. Right. I'll see if I can catch you.
*CLICK*
A more reasonable conversation would have been:
me: I have a DV9000 laptop. The ribbon cable to the LCD is broken. I'm pretty sure it's the ribbon anyway because I was able to tape it into a position that kinda' sorta works.
him: Hmmm, sounds like it's the cable, but I'd like you to bring it in so I can check it out. If it's really the cable, I can certainly order another one and replace it for you, or I can tell you what I find if the problem is somewhere else.
m: Great, what time could I drop it off?
h: Well, i'm usually out on calls. How about we setup a time tommorow or thursday.
m: Sounds good. How's 2:00pm sound?
h: That's fine. I'll call you a little before to make sure we're still on, or if I have to cancel because of an emergency call.
m: Sounds great. See you tommorow.
Now I have to say, this isn't an isolated incident. Only a handful of places give me any sort of service nowadays. Two of them are Woodcraft (a chain of all things...but locally owned, I guess) and my local lumberyard. The guys I get my Oxy/Acetylene bottles from are great too, even though I'm probably the smallest customer they've ever had (I go through one or two bottles a year). My power equipment guy rocks (Pruess in Bolton,CT). Everyone else more or less sucks and leaves me feeling like I'd rather throw my cash in the fireplace than be made to beg for someone to take my cash.
I don't want anyone to lick my shoes. I'd just like a little politeness and courtesy. At least treat me as well as I treat you, you dig?
***********rant over************