[comp.emacs] FSF Shipping Policies and Practice

diamond@hdchq.UUCP (Bill Diamond) (11/29/89)

I'm interested in learning what others have experienced when ordering from
the Free Software Foundation.

Now, let me preface this by saying that I'm not flaming FSF or Mr.
Stallman.  Quite the opposite - I'm amazed by the usefulness of GNU-Emacs,
and use it regularly.  That's why I sent (actually, begged my company into
sending one) some bucks for a contribution and six copies of the Emacs
manual.

I use it, I love it.  I didn't compile it on a Mac (just as in the
copyleft, etc.).  I sent the check in middle September, and several phone
calls have gone by with the ambiguous shipping date of REAL SOON NOW.

Now, I could get real mean and go to the postmaster and file a complaint,
but that wouldn't be very nice.  So, if you have had a problem with FSF and
got it resolved, please e-mail me and let me know how you got satisfaction.
If you've had just delightful experiences with FSF, why not post it so
people won't think my experience thus far is the standard.

If someone from FSF reads this, please take pity on me.  I really need
those manuals badly. Badly enought to at least take up valuable band width
with what should be a simple telephone call to resolved.

tower@wheaties.ai.mit.edu (Leonard H. Tower Jr.) (12/01/89)

In article <295@minnie.UUCP> diamond@hdchq.UUCP (Bill Diamond) writes:
|If someone from FSF reads this, please take pity on me.  I really need
|those manuals badly. Badly enought to at least take up valuable band width
|with what should be a simple telephone call to resolved.

I asked Bob Chassell, FSF's Treasurer and the person responsible for
getting FSF orders filled, to respond:

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

FSF Shipping Delays

Recently, the Free Software Foundation has been slow to ship manuals
and tapes.  This is because the person responsible for shipping fell
ill and needed hospitalization.  She recovered, returned to work, had
a relapse, and returned to the hospital.

We are a small organization and very dependent on individuals.  The
rest of us did the best we could.  While Stacey was in the hospital,
our newly hired part time person, Erica, gave up another job to give
us more time; and our programmers gave up programming to make tapes.
We also hired a temporary.  After falling behind, we have started to
recover.  So far, we have caught up on orders through the first week
of November.

Fortunately, Stacey is now back at work and we hope to return to normal
by Christmas.

We are sorry for these delays; our apologies to all who have been
inconvenienced.

    Robert J. Chassell                   (413) 298-4725 or (617) 253-8568
    Rattlesnake Mountain Road         or (617) 876-3296 (for messages)
    Stockbridge, MA 01262-0693 USA       bob@ai.mit.edu
    Treasurer, Free Software Foundation
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

You have my apologies as well.

I also like to note that though FSF is a very small organization, the
GNU Project is a very large group of cooperating volunteers.

thanx -len 
-- 
Len Tower, Project GNU of the Free Software Foundation
	1000 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA  02138, USA	+1 (617) 876-3296
HOME: 36 Porter Street, Somerville, MA  02143, USA	+1 (617) 623-7739
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