I had an iBook that I use it for my work everyday. Weeks ago, my 9 years old son accidently tipped my morning coffee onto the keyboard. I quickly shut the iBook down and wiped out the liquid on top. When I turned my Mac back, the keyboard wouldn't work properly. I had tried to dry it with a hair dryer. It didn't work. I dismounted the keyboard and washed it and dried it for 5 days, booted iBook back up ... sigh ... it still didn't work. The tips on the Web worked for others didn't help me. I gave up then, and search online for the keyboard part made for my iBook 12" G4 model.
The power of price comparison as one of many ways to save money online didn't give me much information about this particular computer part. I had to rely on a Web search to give me pricing information from very limited online merchants. The prices online for an iBook keyboard ranges from $54 (before tax and shipping) to about more than $120 a piece. The difference is so big that I couldn't resist to go with the one that offered the lowest price.
37 days later, I had not received my order. I am paying the price of time as a result of such buying decision.
My conversion with the merchant in the chronical order:
Day 1, 2/21: Order placed on MacSupportStore.
Day 5, 2/25: Status inquiry sent.
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2006 2:26 PMDay 6, 2/26: Merchant replied saying delay.
To: macsupportstore@mac.com
Subject: Order Status
Could you give me a status on my order #1140505767? Is it shipped?
Apple and The Mac Support Store are experiencing delays due to heavy order volume, and cannot estimate when your order will ship out. Rest assured we will ship your order within 24 hours of The Mac Support Store receiving it from Apple.Day 8, 2/28: I responded I’d wait.
You have the option of continuing to wait for this order to ship out, or you can cancel your order.
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 14:32:30 -0800 (PST)Day 24, 3/16: Status follow-up.
Subject: RE: Order Status
To: jeff@macsupportstore.com
Hi Jeff, I'll have to wait then. Thanks.
Date: Mar 16, 2006 2:51 PMDay 25, 3/17: Merchant said to process in a week.
Subject: Re: Order Status
It's been another 2 weeks and my order status is still 'pending' and not shipped. No words from Mac Support Store thus I'm writing to check on the status again after these days.
Please let me know if I I need strech my patience a bit and I'll do so accordingly. Some words are better than none. Thanks!
Date: Mar 17, 2006 9:46 AMDay 34, 3/26: Status follow-up with complaint.
Subject: RE: Order Status
We’re confident that orders will begin again no later than the middle/end of next week. Thanks again for your patience.
Date: Mar 26, 2006 12:01 PMDay 36, 3/28: Merchant said the order is ‘moving ahead’ and ‘will’ be filled.
Subject: Re: Order Status
Another week passed by and my order status is still pending, not being processed as promised.
Please accept this formal complaint to MacSupportStore, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Subject: Parts ordering is back onlineDay 37, 3/29: Merchant said my order has been ‘authorized’, and will be processed. Still not shipped.
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 18:53:01 -0500
I’m glad to announce that your parts orders are now moving ahead and will be filled in the order we first received them.
Again, I appreciate your patience during these last few months.
Subject: Your order at The Mac Support Store! (Order #:1140505767)Please ship my order. I won't go this cheap next time.
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 15:28:37 -0800
1140505767has been authorized, and will be processed.
The Mac Support Store
2 comments:
Day 69 - Today I finally received an email about my keyboard order has been shipped. That was after I wrote them again and changed my order to an alternative item that they have in stock. The FedEx shipment is supposed to arrive on or before 5/5. What a long wait ...
Yesterday, day 72 since I placed the original order, FedEx knocked on my door and left me the package with my new iBook keyboard in it. Package arrived on 5/5. Finally!
Lesson learned for me: going with the best price has nothing wrong, but going with the merchant that doesn't carry the item in inventory is a bad ... bad ... idea. But how would I know their inventory status in the first place? I didn't.
Post a Comment