Enticements, Marketing and the Survival of American Business
Mary Anne Simpson
April 24, 2007
It was a week like any other week. Responding to enticements by Dell and Hewlett Packard for a laptop I clicked through the features. Yes, I want a processor and oh yes I want good memory. Sometimes I wish I could fore-go the memory, but often times it is necessary. After clicking through all the must have features of the great offers by America's greatest I found the $799 offer was in actuality $1450 and $1575 respectively.
Undaunted by another disappointment, I located vendors in Singapore, London and Colorado Springs. The price was incredibly right in London and Singapore, but the method of payment and assurances left something to desire. I contacted some of the carriers and while c.o.d. is available in the States, there is no such animal in the international set I could find. The foremost question in my mind was will I get the stuff or be another American duped by low prices and find their entire life savings and identity robbed. So, without hesitation I settled on Colorado Springs.
For buyers on the Internet there are some ways to assure a transaction will go according to plans. Sure you can go directly to the manufacturer or Best Buy or other big box stores. You will find savings in the range of $200 to $300 for most laptop systems.
Unfortunately, all the buzz is about Vista. All the big merchandisers are pushing Vista. The problem with Vista is that many software programs are not ready for Vista. The other significant issue is that Vista requires at least 1.5 GB of Ram and a heavy duty processor to move this behemoth. Sure the merchandisers will tell you the operating system is okay with a couple of 512 MB, but you better be prepared with a whole lot of patience.
It is like moving a rhinoceros across the road with a kite string. You need big Ram and be operating on all cylinders to run Vista effectively. Maybe by next year Vista will have more friends in the software field and the chip and semi conductor geniuses will work out the bugs on producing an affordable screaming machine.
I wanted to get everything for under $1000. You laugh! A descent laptop costs at the minimum $1500. It can be done. I read every recent review published by Consumer Reports, CNet, ZDNet and techie web sites. The features I wanted were 1GB of memory expandable to 2GB. This is because I know someday I want Vista. The other features included a descent screen, WiFI , video card, CD Burner and an Intel Duo Core processor. I kind of fell in love with Intel after reading Tom Wolfe's book "Hooking Up." Any company that operates on a system of who ever gets there first in the morning gets the best parking space is my kind of company.
I narrowed the possibilities down to a few computer manufacturers. I did a search using BizNet and Shopzilla and came up with some four star companies that sold the items. I immediately deleted any company I could not talk to a live person on the spot. That narrowed it down even further. I was left with only a few choices. One vendor gave me the wrong number for a call back and when I tried again to reach the company I was placed on interminable hold. If the company treated me this way before the sale, what would it be like after the sale?
Then I found Mr. Anderson in Colorado Springs. It was great I asked him about the system that came up using BizNet. I reviewed the company's assurances, The Better Business Bureau, Bizrate, Pricegrabber and bonding for all merchandise sent. I looked at the company's 30 day money back guarantee. I reviewed personal reviews by customers. I called Mr. Anderson on several days and he was always available to answer questions. He never pushed me for a sale. He answered my questions, made suggestions on accessories and provided me with good verifiable information.
I got not only what I wanted, but more. I was able to get a brand laptop with every feature I wanted. Additionally, I was able to tag on some accessories. A top of the line WiFI router and a mouse. I was also able to obtain a top of the line scanner. Shipping charges were cheap and the system is scheduled for delivery in two business days. The amazing part is the price. Everything came in at less than $900. So it goes, there are good deals out there, but it takes time and a critical eye.
My faith in American business is restored a little. I am still ticked off at another American icon, JCPenney. I bought some work out pants on line and at the check out was asked if I wanted to save $10. Naturally, I said yes. From there I became a member of the Family Rewards Program. An unreal family, but familiar in these times.
It took a letter, three e-mails and at least four phone calls to get out of this family. The rub is that JCPenney clips you for $9.95 per month to be part of their family. The sign of the times banal response was "you said, 'Yes' didn't you?" Ah, yeah, but ... .
Undaunted by another disappointment, I located vendors in Singapore, London and Colorado Springs. The price was incredibly right in London and Singapore, but the method of payment and assurances left something to desire. I contacted some of the carriers and while c.o.d. is available in the States, there is no such animal in the international set I could find. The foremost question in my mind was will I get the stuff or be another American duped by low prices and find their entire life savings and identity robbed. So, without hesitation I settled on Colorado Springs.
For buyers on the Internet there are some ways to assure a transaction will go according to plans. Sure you can go directly to the manufacturer or Best Buy or other big box stores. You will find savings in the range of $200 to $300 for most laptop systems.
Unfortunately, all the buzz is about Vista. All the big merchandisers are pushing Vista. The problem with Vista is that many software programs are not ready for Vista. The other significant issue is that Vista requires at least 1.5 GB of Ram and a heavy duty processor to move this behemoth. Sure the merchandisers will tell you the operating system is okay with a couple of 512 MB, but you better be prepared with a whole lot of patience.
It is like moving a rhinoceros across the road with a kite string. You need big Ram and be operating on all cylinders to run Vista effectively. Maybe by next year Vista will have more friends in the software field and the chip and semi conductor geniuses will work out the bugs on producing an affordable screaming machine.
I wanted to get everything for under $1000. You laugh! A descent laptop costs at the minimum $1500. It can be done. I read every recent review published by Consumer Reports, CNet, ZDNet and techie web sites. The features I wanted were 1GB of memory expandable to 2GB. This is because I know someday I want Vista. The other features included a descent screen, WiFI , video card, CD Burner and an Intel Duo Core processor. I kind of fell in love with Intel after reading Tom Wolfe's book "Hooking Up." Any company that operates on a system of who ever gets there first in the morning gets the best parking space is my kind of company.
I narrowed the possibilities down to a few computer manufacturers. I did a search using BizNet and Shopzilla and came up with some four star companies that sold the items. I immediately deleted any company I could not talk to a live person on the spot. That narrowed it down even further. I was left with only a few choices. One vendor gave me the wrong number for a call back and when I tried again to reach the company I was placed on interminable hold. If the company treated me this way before the sale, what would it be like after the sale?
Then I found Mr. Anderson in Colorado Springs. It was great I asked him about the system that came up using BizNet. I reviewed the company's assurances, The Better Business Bureau, Bizrate, Pricegrabber and bonding for all merchandise sent. I looked at the company's 30 day money back guarantee. I reviewed personal reviews by customers. I called Mr. Anderson on several days and he was always available to answer questions. He never pushed me for a sale. He answered my questions, made suggestions on accessories and provided me with good verifiable information.
I got not only what I wanted, but more. I was able to get a brand laptop with every feature I wanted. Additionally, I was able to tag on some accessories. A top of the line WiFI router and a mouse. I was also able to obtain a top of the line scanner. Shipping charges were cheap and the system is scheduled for delivery in two business days. The amazing part is the price. Everything came in at less than $900. So it goes, there are good deals out there, but it takes time and a critical eye.
My faith in American business is restored a little. I am still ticked off at another American icon, JCPenney. I bought some work out pants on line and at the check out was asked if I wanted to save $10. Naturally, I said yes. From there I became a member of the Family Rewards Program. An unreal family, but familiar in these times.
It took a letter, three e-mails and at least four phone calls to get out of this family. The rub is that JCPenney clips you for $9.95 per month to be part of their family. The sign of the times banal response was "you said, 'Yes' didn't you?" Ah, yeah, but ... .
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