miket@aeras.UUCP (Mike Tassano) (07/17/87)
A few days ago I posted a request for help with the Mark Williams
'C' shell program, 'msh', giving me 4-bombs when reading the profile.
I'd like to say publicly that I'm happy with the help given,
especially from Mark Williams Co.
I called what is for the West Coast a toll free number, 800-692-1700,
and told the nice lady I owned a MWC product, and could I speak to customer
service, please? Customer service listened to my problem, asked if I had
made a backup as recommended, (I had not), and said "Sounds like you have
a bad copy of the program" and said they would send me a new disk. I gave
them my registration number from inside the manual, along with my address,
and rang off.
The whole process took under 5 minutes. Assuming I really do get a new
disk, I consider that pretty good service. It is especially good since
I am witness to a trend that combines a decline in quality with a decline
in service in the industry in general.
Thank you, Mark Williams Company, Mike Berkley, and all the others
who offered help.
Mike Tassano
Arete' Computers
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UUCP: {ucbvax, hplabs}----!sun!aeras!miket
Disclaimer: Only I am responsible for what I say. Even a parrot has opinions.csrobe@ICASE.ARPA (Charles S. Roberson) (07/23/87)
With all of the *justifiable* flaming on Atari's service, I have to add my two cents worth. I too had the same sort of problem with 2.0 of MWC and received the same sort of *stellar* service from MWC! I have also talked to them on bix and they have really been helpful. With so many vendors giving us "as is" (hard/soft)ware with vaporservice, it is so great to see a company that really supports its product and listens to its users. MWC has endeared me to their company through a quality product and excellent service. It would take a major acheivement on a competitor's part to make me buy a competing product. The improvement would have to significantly outweigh the plus of MWC support. Atari's record has left such a gap in service and support that companies like MWC can really carve a niche for themselves. It is also *un-likely* that I will buy from Atari again, unless I see a change in their management in this area. Nor will I suggest the ST to anyone other than the most adventuresome and hardened user. While I am on such a roll, I would also like to say that I agree with <mitch@nrl-ppd.arpa>. I too have dealt with L&Y Electronics (that is where I bought 1.0 of MWC on sale for $99). It is a husband-wife operation of the finest quality. They have supported Atari for several years (before ST) and are certified for repairs. If it wasn't for L&Y and another company (Cal Com, Inc in Wheaton MD), I would be completely disgusted with the world of Atari. Atari produced a piece of hardware, but it's companies like these that have made it a computer. Damnit, Atari, are you guys ever going to wake up and stop biting the hand that is feeding your checkbook? How do you think IBM put the "Big" in "Big Blue", they hold their customer's hand every step of they way, and their stuff isn't always the best. Atari, we don't need you to hold our hand, but how about some support so we can continue to make the current machine even better. "A bird in the hand..." Ok, ok, this wasn't meant to be a flame, but it really gets to me. The ST has so much potential, and I see it being squandered away on vaporware! Anyway, here's one for all of those vender's out there who have made living in Atari-land livable. Cheers. PS. I once raised the tempature on Supra Corp about their response to some of my Hard Disk problems. I would like to now commend them on they way the reacted on a second phone call, and the support they have provided through Applied Computer Associates. You treat me nice, and I'll be nice. But if you cross me...! -chip -------------------------------------------------------------------- Chip Roberson ARPANET: csrobe@icase.arpa 1105 London Company Way BITNET: $csrobe@wmmvs.bitnet Williamsburg, VA 23185 UUCP: ...!seismo!gmu90x!wmcs!csrobe --------------------------------------------------------------------