petes@mmintl.UUCP (01/31/86)
I just heard a horror story from a friend and thought that anyone contemplating on buying an AT&T PC would be interested in this: - he ordered and paid for an AT&T PC in the first week of December, 1985, and was told the PC would arrive before Christmas. - after the holidays he called AT&T to see why he hadn't received his PC. They said, "we're sorry" and that his installation guide and machine would arrive shortly. - a couple of days later, his installation guide arrived with a written confirmation of delivery to be January 31, 1986. He called AT&T to complain about the long delay. They said, "we're sorry and we'll try to get you a machine before the end of January." He was told that the delay was caused by a back-order of some 800 machines. - a week later he was informed that his machine would be delivered that same day. It wasn't. AT&T said, "we're sorry." AT&T repeatedly missed 3 more promised delivery dates for this machine. On AT&T's fifth try, he received his machine. The machine was delivered with a loaner keyboard and loaner copy of DOS, as these were not available yet. - When he opened the box, he found NO manuals, NO warranty cards, and an OLD (1984 model) PC. He called AT&T to complain. They said, "we're sorry." - a few days later, he was told that his machine would "tentatively arrive" the following Friday. Friday came, no PC. A few days later, he was informed that the machine that was to be delivered on Friday turned out to be an old model. - calls to AT&T upper management were of no help. He was told that there was a back-order of at least 1800 PCs, because "Olivetti was having motherboard problems." In addition, AT&T told him that there were "no new machines in the USA" and they hoped the situation was resolved by the end of February, 1986. In the meantime, my friend has lost time and money. AT&T's only response to that was "we're sorry."
smith@ethos.UUCP (Gary J. Smith) (02/05/86)
In article <1117@mmintl.UUCP>, Peter Santoro writes of a horror
story where a friend of his had incredible delays and problems
dealing with AT&T trying to purchase an AT&T UNIX pc.
I bought mine through a dealer and have no complaints whatsoever.
I decided that I wanted to buy the machine on a Thursday and had
it set up and running on Friday. My only dealings with AT&T have
been in regard to hotline questions and system software upgrades.
In my experience, AT&T has been nothing short of amazingly
efficient and reliable. They have been more than willing to
solve any problems I have had with the system.
In the interest of good taste, I won't post the name of the
dealer where I bought my 7300, but if anyone is having trouble
finding 7300s, I know he has them in stock. Send me mail if you
need the name and phone number.
Gary J. Smith @ ETHOS, Durham, North Carolina
==================================================================
uucp: {ihnp4,decvax}!mcnc!rti-sel!ethos!smith phn: 919/286-7055
usm: 707 Ninth Street #13, Durham, NC 27705 bbs: 919/286-3573c55-hp@buddy.BERKELEY.EDU (Ilya Goldberg) (02/07/86)
In article <1117@mmintl.UUCP> petes@mmintl.UUCP (Peter Santoro) writes: > >I just heard a horror story from a friend and thought that anyone contemplating >on buying an AT&T PC would be interested in this: > >- he ordered and paid for an AT&T PC in the first week of December, 1985, > and was told the PC would arrive before Christmas. > >- after the holidays he called AT&T to see why he hadn't received his PC. They > said, "we're sorry" and that his installation guide and machine would > arrive shortly. > > problems." In addition, AT&T told him that there were "no new machines in the > USA" and they hoped the situation was resolved by the end of February, 1986. > In the meantime, my friend has lost time and money. AT&T's only response to > that was "we're sorry." Why did your friend order his PC FROM AT & T? Does one go to IBM to buy an IBM PC? I didn't even know that AT & T sold individual units to individual people. There are computer stores which he could have/should have/ probably did in the end go to buy a computer. After all, in a computer store, it is kind of hard to hide the fact that they dont have a model in stock. Ilya Goldberg (..!ucbvax!ilya) P.S. Shouldn't this be in net.consumers?
hart@cp1.UUCP (Rod Hart) (02/08/86)
I bought my 6300 through ATTIS and had not problem. It looks like the complaint involves an isolated snafu. Anyhow, I would think it appropriate for someone in ATT to see that the problem is fixed ASAP and explain to the many potential customers how things are supposed to happen. -- =========================================================================== Signed by: Rod Hart (WA3MEZ) Minicomputer Technical Support District Chesapeake & Potomac Tel. Co. A Bell Atlantic Company Silver Spring, Md. UUCP: aplvax!cp1!hart - aplcen!cp1!hart - umcp-cs!cp1!hart - gamma!cp1!hart INTERNET: umcp-cs!aplvax!cp1!hart@SEISMO.CSS.GOV ===========================================================================
gnu@hoptoad.uucp (John Gilmore) (02/09/86)
Excerpts from article <1117@mmintl.UUCP> by petes@mmintl.UUCP (Peter Santoro): > after the holidays he called AT&T to see why he hadn't received his PC. They > said, "we're sorry" > about the long delay. They said, "we're sorry and we'll try to get you a > day. It wasn't. AT&T said, "we're sorry." AT&T repeatedly missed 3 more > (1984 model) PC. He called AT&T to complain. They said, "we're sorry." > In the meantime, my friend has lost time and money. AT&T's only response to > that was "we're sorry." At least they said they were sorry. -- # I resisted cluttering my mail with signatures for years, but the mail relay # situation has gotten to where people can't reach me without it. Dammit! # John Gilmore {sun,ptsfa,lll-crg,nsc}!hoptoad!gnu jgilmore@lll-crg.arpa