The computer manufacturer promises “award-winning service” available “24 hours a day, seven days a week,” but customers have to navigate a labyrinth to get any help. Dell also led customers to think they qualified for zero percent financing when very few people did, and some customers ended up paying 20% on the computer, the suit says.
NEW YORK
Go From Couch Potato To Marketing Guinea Pig In One Easy Aerobics Class
By 5.11.07
We can understand salsarobics, tai-bo, and after enough whippets, even jazzercise, but these marketing themed classes are really something special. Here’s Crunch Gym’s announcement for the Legally Blonde steps class. Angie never got one of these for her ill-fated Spiderman 3/A Clockwork Orange/spinning class.
IDT Energy Scamming Spreads Past New York City
By 5.3.07
IDT Energy, which specializes in going door to door and lying to customers in order to get sales, has expanded its reach past NYC and is now conning the good citizens in Albany, NY, according to this reader Peter’s letter:
Rat Infested KFC/Taco Bell Closed Forever And Ever
By 5.3.07
Yum! Brands just issued a press release apologizing once again for that rat infested KFC/Taco Bell in NYC. Further, they confirmed that the rat infested restaurant had served its last customer.
Since the incident, this KFC-Taco Bell restaurant has been closed for business, and it will not reopen.
Done! No more KFC/Taco Bell. It’s gone forever and ever. It’s been abandoned to the rats who claimed it as their own.
NYC Human Rights Commission Drops Charges Against Chinese Restaurant
By 5.2.07
The case of the Wisconsin man who filed a complaint with the NYC Human Rights Commission has come to a close with the commission dropping charges against the restaurant. In the original story, David Lopez, a tourist from Wisconsin, noticed that other (Chinese speaking) customers in the restaurant were given rice with their meals, but when Lopez asked for rice with his dinner he was told that he would be charged $1 extra. “Being Hispanic, we both like rice,” said 46-year-old Lopez. “We saw other customers getting a different menu. We were told we could order from it if we spoke Chinese.” The Chinese menu had prices that were, on average, $1 cheaper per dish.
Chase Puts Your Sensitive Documents On The Sidewalk
By 5.1.07
However, we never get an establishing shot of the trashcan, so it’s not totally clear whether they are actually discovering these bags on the sidewalk. After all, they are janitors and thus have access to the trash cans inside the bank, and being a union, they probably have an axe to grind (like applying pressure on Chase for higher wages and benefits for custodial staff).
Whoever Dies With The Most Logos, Wins
By 4.25.07
Logos are company’s magic emblems, iconic tokens claiming territory like wolf urine. Copyranter spotted the above exemplar:
High Standards Maintained At Tempo Presto Sandwich Shop
By 4.23.07
We stopped in for another tasty sandwich at Tempo Presto and were delighted to find the boss berating a worker for an imperfectly prepared prepackaged salad. The owner held the salad box up and turned it over from side to side.
VIDEO: "Mercury Is A Natural Element" – Free Lightbulb Day At Chelsea Home Depot
By 4.23.07
While we agree with Mr. skeptical glasses in the video that it’s a good PR move for Home Depot, and coincides with the launch of their “green label” line of “eco-friendly” products, you know, consumers need a push with this issue. It’s hard for the shoppers at large to understand that while they cost a little bit more than your basic bulb, they will use less energy and save you money in the long-run. They also look funny.
Update: PointMaven Now Uncovers Superior Hotel Reward Offers With Maps
By 4.22.07
So here it is: PointMaven.com now shows the hotels and promotions on Google Maps. It currently supports 3 programs (Marriott, InterContinental Priority Club, Starwood Preferred Guest), and the others will be phased in.
If there is anything we like, it’s fast, responsive customer service. If you’re planning on booking a hotel anytime soon, give PointMaven.com another look. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
Verizon Makes Timely Repairs Only 35% Of The Time, NY AG Blasts
By 4.19.07
NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo lambasted Verizon for taking too long to fulfill customer repair requests. Current standards mandate Verizon perform fixes 80% of phone lines within 24 hours of getting a customer call. The AG said that Verizon is letting copper telephone lines stagnate, shunting those resources instead for laying down more fiber-optic.
Student Lending Investigation Could Lead To Criminal Charges
By 4.11.07
An investigation into student lending practices by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo could lead to criminal charges being filed, he says.
Phone Number For JetBlue's Main Baggage Office
By 4.11.07
If JetBlue lost your luggage, here’s the number for their main baggage office: 866-538-5438
Organic Crime: The Raw Milk Underground
By 4.10.07
Hey you, yeah you. Pssst. Over here. We’ve got some milk. Yeah, the good stuff. Unpasteurized. Shhh. Keep it down, the FDA is listening.
Kodak Moments: Kodak Quits Council of Better Business Bureaus Rather Than Face Expulsion
By 4.7.07
Kodak resigned from the Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB,) rather than face expulsion for their refusal to respond to complaints lodged by spurned customers.
Kodak was advised it could contest the termination but chose instead to resign its national membership in early March. The photography company allowed its membership in the Buffalo-based branch to lapse about five years ago.
Commerce Bank's Free Checking Now Requires $100 Min Balance
By 4.6.07
Shoehorned into a postcard proclaiming the waiving all ATM fees, Commerce Bank announced their free checking will no longer be free.
Guy Who Flipped Out In Brooklyn Post Office Is NOT Sorry About It
By 4.6.07
Read the original Daily News story inside, as we can’t seem to find it on their website.
