Category: rants
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OfficeMax Replacement Watch, Day 19
Almost three weeks now and still nothin’. Geof suggests I should skip the Tungsten and go for a Treo. I suppose that’s an option, although if the Treo ever breaks then that means not only have I lost my PDA but I’ve lost my cellphone, too…
The other thing that irks me about Palm (not OfficeMax) is that none of the PDAs come with cradles any more. They all have a mini-USB port for syncing and a separate power cord. Dang it, I like the cradle. It gives me a place to keep my PDA charged and visible while I’m at my desk. They sell one, but it’s an extra $40. They used to include it with the PDA. Arrrgh.
As an addition: I just found this fun clause in the OfficeMax MaxAssurance fine print:
Meaningful service will be initiated within 48 hours of Your request and will be completed as soon as reasonably possible. If no meaningful service is initiated within such time limits and You have reasonably been available within such time limits, You may engage Your own servicer at Our expense.
Such great nebulous terms. “meaningful service”. What if I don’t think it’s meaningful? “As soon as reasonably possible.” I’ve got to think that three weeks (and counting) is waaaaaay longer than “reasonably possible.” I think it’s time to write a nasty letter to the store and regional managers…
OfficeMax Replacement Watch, Day 16
Nothing to report. I have meetings all morning this morning and would love to have the PDA for note-taking and boredom-reduction. Oh well…
On the other hand, I did get a new car stereo last night which is getting installed on Friday. And tomorrow they should be turning on the DSL at the house… woohoo for broadband internet! Now if I could only get my home network functioning…
OfficeMax Replacement Watch, Day 15
Yes, it’s been over two weeks now since I first took my dead PDA in to get it replaced. If their estimates hold up, sometime around Labor Day I should be receiving my gift card so I can purchase a replacement.
Arrrrrrrgh.
OfficeMax Replacement Watch, Day 12
No events to report today.
It is starting to drive me crazy not having my PDA. I didn’t realize how much I rely on it for calendar and note-taking (not to mention game-playing) until I’ve been without it for the better part of two weeks. If I had any other big purchases planned, I’d just go buy one from somewhere today and then use the OfficeMax gift card later for that purchase… but I don’t know what it might be.
OfficeMax MaxAssurance Replacement Watch, Day 11
Sent the package off yesterday afternoon… it’s headed to Dallas. I’m guessing the good ol’ US Postal Service should have it there no later than Saturday.
On the other hand, we got the new laptop yesterday so now I have a lot of fun setup tasks in front of me, including the wireless network. I really do enjoy setup tasks.
OfficeMax MaxAssurance Replacement Watch, Day 10
My prepaid mailing label came in the mail yesterday, so last night after softball I went to get everything boxed up. Needing to send along a copy of my original purchase receipt, I went down to my scanner to make a copy… and the scanner apparently has died. Great.
So, it didn’t get packaged last night. I’ll make a copy this morning, and then box it and take it to the post office this afternoon after work. If their original schedule is accurate, then I should be receiving my replacement gift card in, oh, about 3 weeks… :-(
OfficeMax MaxAssurance Replacement Watch, Day 9 (part 2)
My dear wife informs me that the mailing label came today.
You can bet I’ll be shipping that puppy out tomorrow; don’t want to be the cause of any slowness here.
OfficeMax MaxAssurance Replacement Watch, Day 9
Note from Chris: I’m not usually this bitter… but I’m taking no small pleasure in the fact that this blog is the first Google hit on the search for “OfficeMax Replacement Plan”. Don’t know that my complaints will result in anything, but I’m going to document the arduous process.
Today is the ninth day since I started the process rolling to try to get my dead Palm Tungsten E replaced under the “MaxAssurance” plan I purchased from OfficeMax. Still no pre-paid mailing label. How long can it take to send a mailing label? If this is indicative of the way the whole process will go, I fully expect to be without my PDA for about 6 weeks, which to me is just unacceptable for a “replacement plan”.
A few choice quotes from the OfficeMax website:
Electronics MaxAssurance Extended Warranty
With the Electronics MaxAssurance Plan brought to you by OfficeMax, you can enhance the manufacturer’s warranty on your purchases of electronics.
Electronics MaxAssurance features include:
- One-year service plan beginning as soon as the manufacturer’s labor warranty expires
- Coverage on parts and labor
- Renewable and transferable coverage
- Power surge protection
- Replacement program for all products under $400
- Repair program–products over $400 will be repaired by an authorized service provider
Protecting your purchase is a worry-free way to enjoy your electronics for just pennies a day.
Electronics MaxAssurance benefits also include:
- No deductible–no unexpected future costs
- Toll-free, 24-hour product helpline–referrals to qualified service providers
- Normal wear and tear coverage is included
- “No-Lemon” Policy–if your product requires more than three repairs, it will be replaced
Best Service With the MaxAssurance Plan, a nationwide network of service providers, as well as dedicated customer service representatives, are at your service. Product experts are ready to provide instant troubleshooting, information and reliable service when you need it most.
The parts that crack me up the most are “No deductible–no unexpected future costs” and “Product experts are ready to provide instant troubleshooting, information and reliable service when you need it most.”
Yeah, if “no unexpected future costs” means “you’ll have to put out at least another $50 to get a replacement” and “product experts” are call-center workers working from a really short script…
Side note: I’ve seen the return process done really well; when I got a bad item from musiciansfriend.com, I called and they asked for my e-mail address; they sent me a link to get a pre-paid UPS label online, and I had it that same evening and shipped the stuff the next day. That’s how it should be done.