[net.consumers] AT&T and Re: Opportunity Credits

sunil@ut-ngp.UUCP (Sunil Trivedi) (05/24/85)

          In <2069@sdcc6.UUCP> David Whiteman states:

>Well after 6 months of waiting I finally received the coupons for
>the opportunity credits I earned, one for a GE Coffeemaker and
>another for a Remington electric razor.  When I went to the store with
>the coupon for the coffee maker I could not find the coffee maker
>the coupon was good for after much checking I discovered that GE no
>longer makes the model that the coupon is good for.  The razor on
>the other hand costs $20 less at a discount store  in San Diego (The
>Price Club); they however will not honor the $7 coupon from ATT.  I
>therefore have to lose $20 to get the priviledge of using the $7
>coupon.  I tried calling the 800 number provided  by ATT but the
>lady said once the coupons are issued you, the transaction is final.
>Therefore the bonuses issued by ATT are really worth nothing at all.
>With service like this it is not amazing that so many people are
>switching away from ATT.

 The reason you had problems with the GE Coffeemaker is that GE
 several months ago sold its small appliance/houseware division
 to Black and Decker.  I would try calling B&D about this.  I
 would not try to blame AT&T since they had no voice in GE selling
 that division.  Also don't make blanket statements like "the 
 bonuses...are really worth nothing" since only one vendor refused
 it to you.  The vendor has nothing to lose since he is reim-
 bursed; all he has to gain is the sale of his product!  Maybe
 the vendor (The Price Club) has a particular reason (like his
 inventory is "hot").  No vendor is forced to accept non-cash
 payments.  If the local NBC affliate decides to broadcast a
 "golf special" instead of the network's Miami Vice, do I get
 angry at NBC or its affliate, over which NBC has no control?

 As to the "poor service" being the cause of people switching
 away from AT&T, I think you have not supported that contention.

 I "left" AT&T because of the Goon tactics of Southwestern Bell
 Telephone in Texas, not because of AT&T Long Lines!  Now after
 the breakup, Southwestern Bell has become the "champion" for
 the public as it says that AT&T was and still is the Big Bad
 Wolf in its propoganda.  Before you continue to condemn AT&T,
 observe the aftermath of Equal Access.


					     Sunil Trivedi
					   sunil@ut-ngp.ARPA
					..!ut-sally!ut-ngp!sunil