Crumpled

So, I got this survey in my email:

At WildBlue, we constantly strive to provide the highest quality Internet service and support to you, our valued customer. To help us continually improve your service, we have partnered with CFI Group, a leading customer satisfaction research company, to gather feedback on our customers? experiences with WildBlue?s service and support.

So I get to vent. I filled it out, and because just thinking back on it all, my blood began to reheat, I thought I'd share my opinions with everyone here, as well.

Don't worry I won't share the whole tedious survey.

Q: Was the installation done right the first time?

No.

Q: What was the nature of the issue?

The installer lied about the installation requirements to increase the installation cost. The installer explained that when he dug the hole for a pole mount, he digs them 1 foot more shallow than standard and pounds it down an extra foot in order to let the earth hold it in the last foot instead of the concrete. The installer's girlfriend assembled the dish, and was seen throwing the parts onto the ground while unpacking it. The installer didn't pick up ant of the garbage that was created by the installation process. His name is David M***** [Not redacted in the actual survey], and he worked for LC Communications of Rocklin, CA. They were contracted by DSI Systems in W. Sacramento. I wanted to get him in trouble but was concerned about the installer retaliating, knowing where I live.

Q: If WildBlue could improve upon one thing, other than price, what would that be?

A more reasonable bandwidth limit, given today's demand for the internet, perhaps even offering peak and off peak bandwidth limitations for each beam. More professional standards for installer certification. Better ways to hold installers accountable.

People use WildBlue because they have to, not because they want to. If you can make it feel less like an anti-consumer company, you'll probably be able to retain customers beyond the point when their contacts expire or other services become available to them. If you can't do that, people might opt for less reliable technologies, like cellular, just to avoid you.

Personally I hope WiMax or another technology comes in and changes the game and ruins the business model of all satellite internet companies and cell phone companies. Unfortunately for me, I'll still be in your 2 year contract when that time comes.

Google Books ran a contest for ten days, which generated tens of thousands of entries. I'm proud to say that my essay was one of thirty winners.

Check it out:
http://booksearch.blogspot.com/2009/10/announcing-winners-for-10-days-in.html

It's a poem!

Labels: Yay

Here's me:

Well I'm not posting so much these days, but you can see where I am if you want.

My phone updates my location to a widget at the bottom of the page to show you approximately what city I am in in real-time. (unless I disable it or misdirect you.)

So if you are feeling like you need to know whats up, just scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Or you can revisit this post.

Senators
Member District Number and Office Capitol Office

Cogdill, Dave 14 4974 E. Clinton Way State Capitol
Fresno, CA 93727 Sacramento, CA
(559) 253-7122 94248-0001
(916) 651-4014
1308 W. Main Street
Suite C
Ripon, CA 95366
(209) 599-8540

Assembly Members
Member District Number and Office Capitol Office

Berryhill, Tom 25 1912 Staniford Ave State Capitol
Suite 4 Room 3141
Modesto, CA 95350 Sacramento, CA
(209)576-6425 94249-0025
(916) 319-2025

Dear Senator Cogdill,

Columbia State Historic Park is not only a Historic Park, it's also the living center of Columbia, the community to which I proudly belong. If that park were to close, the state would be paying unemployment for possibly hundreds of people in our town, devastate the economy of the town, and lower the standard of living for everyone in the area. It's ridiculous to think that the state can save money by ruining local economies and discouraging tourism overall. This is not a line-item. It's people's livelihoods, and it's our states cultural identity.

Sincerely,
Richard Call

Dear ********,

My name is Richard Call and I work at an office that can have about 50 people in it depending on the economy. I'm their IT Technician.

Every time I visit our vending machine, I have a new problem with the vending company. First of all, the soda machine is a Gatorade branded machine, that has no Gatorade in it. There aren't prices on most items, and the machine displays nothing until you insert money. Sometimes the machine vends and sometimes it doesn't. I'm so fed up that I'd like to start my own vending company, and service this building exclusively for a while.

Unfortunately, I don't have any capital or credit. But when I came to your website, I got an idea.

You probably know that your website has problems. What you don't know is to what extent these problems are preventing potential customers from becoming actual customers.

I happen to be an excellent web designer, and have already identified the cause of your web site's problems and know how to fix them.

What I propose is that I take on a complete redesign of your site, and in exchange, you furnish me with a GF-19 Snack Vendor & CB300 Satellite Cold Drink Vendor Combination.

You get more customers, and I get to eliminate the frustration of my vending company. If you would like a recent example of my work, check out ******* . that site is perfectly functional, and has more going on behind the scenes to open communication, and prevent spam, as well as being easy to maintain, and to collect lots of visitor usage statistics.

I give you a functional site. You give me a functional machine. How does that sound?

Sincerely,
Richard Call