Category: ethics
Is ‘Pewlett Hackard’ out to get me?

By Ted West
MTW contributing writer

Did one of you mugs tell HP I was saying bad things about them?

Yesterday, I almost bought two new Dell Computers but the deal fell through at the last second when the salesman wouldn't throw in a stinkin' twenty dollar media card reader.

I might have caved and gone through with the deal anyway were it not for the fact that late last night I came across a great deal from HP in the form of a $300 off coupon for any purchase $949 and above.

So I took the time at 2am to configure my new computer with an Intel chip and proceeded to checkout. After applying the coupon the total was $793 with tax. I was gonna hit the "submit" button when I thought, "Gee, maybe the little woman would like one of these too?"

And thinking that she might not be that thrilled with me waking her up to answer that question, I left the deal in my cart and went to bed. The coupon was good for five days, so there was no rush.

Any idea yet where this is going?

Well, I was back up at 7am, the wife was indeed thrilled, and so I was dyin' to spend some bucks. One small problem… I discovered that there was a similarly configured computer with a slightly less expensive AMD chip that would allow me to get a 20 inch monitor for the same price. And both the Intel and the AMD came with a TV tuner card and PVR.

Dude, you're not gettin' a Dell!

"Scramble me two Athlons, heavy on the memory, hold the modem… uh… and the toner, please."

We were ready to go for the deal…

HP wasn't.

So I figured that maybe it was something about the AMD package. No problem, we'd take the Intel and the nineteen inch monitor. What's an inch, anyway, right girls?

Nope. HP wasn't buying… er… selling that either now.

It turns out that unbeknownst to me… and you, it doesn't matter that the coupon expires five days from now if HP decides it doesn't want to honor any more of them eight hours after they were issued. And they aren't even gonna tell you when they're cutting things off. You find that out by being turned away like a dog in the street.

All told, I spent three and a half hours figuring and pleading during four complaint calls to customer service, and all I have to show for it is… this lousy survey they asked me to take.

Oh, I should mention, one guy did offer to take off one sixth of the original $300. Such a deal.

At the end of the survey, a computer voice said that a real voice would call me back within one day. The problem now is, even if they are willing to give me my coupons (which I ain't holding my breath since there's no HP printer in the room), I'm going to require something that indicates they appreciate the amount of unnecessary time and effort I've expended on this.

From long experience, I can tell you that great companies do that. So check back here early and often.

 
Another Republican in the paint

By Santiago Rojas
MTW contributing writer

It was reported this past week that Glenn Murphy, Chairman of the Clark County Republican Party and President of the Young Republican National Federation is under investigation for "alleged criminal deviate conduct."

Just when I was almost over my disappointment at David Vitter, now I've gotta listen to my liberal friends use the "h" word with impunity. And oh how they'll go on about the party of values, the party of morality, that Grand Ol' Party. Why? Because another politician got caught doing something morally questionable? No. It's because another Republican was caught in alleged wrong doing. And the more GOP heavies get caught with their hands in the cookie jar, the more the media can use that wrong doing to make the party synonymous with the "tricky Dick" mentality.

You know the logic: Some Republicans were embroiled in high profile scandals, recently…that must mean the entire party is a bunch of crooks, gangsters, and pedophiles. But don't take my word for it; a reporter covering the story for the Evening News and Tribune wrote:

So you know

• When Glenn Murphy Jr. took over as Clark County Republican Party Chairman seven years ago, there were no elected officials from the GOP in Clark County. Today there are 23, including all five members of the Sellersburg Town Council and three members each on the Clark County and Jeffersonville councils.

Huh…I wonder why the reporter thought such a tangential fact was relevant to a story involving sexual misconduct? Does he think Murphy was instrumental in getting these folks installed and so, decided that complimenting him on his political prowess would help soften the blow of this negative article? Was he trying to point out the incredible serendipity in Murphy taking over as chairman and the influx of Republicans elected to office on Murphy's turf during his watch? Or was it just an apparent misuse of non sequitur brought on by a severe case of red eye? (That sometimes occurs when you're under a deadline.)

We shall see…

 
Before

If you'd like to read some good commentary and debriefing on these before and after shots, pop on over to The Hoosierpundit.