An Update on Toshiba and Best Buy or A look at What Has Gone Wrong with This Country

         If you have been following along then you know of my continuing troubles with a Toshiba computer that I bought from Best Buy in June of last year. If not see my earlier blogs for a full view of what I've been going through with these corporations.
           At first it seemed Best Buy was going to work with me and get this straightened out. they sent me a $100 gift card, but I still had to make the 5 hr round trip to Boulder and send the Toshiba computer off.  I did state at this time that if I had any more problems that I thought the only right thing to do would be to replace the Toshiba computer.
         This all happened at the end of November. I took off on an extended trip that took me to South Carolina and then to New York City. Shortly before leaving for New York the durn thing started hanging up again. I've had to restart it to finish this blog post. While in New York I took the Toshiba Lap top to Best Buy, I think its on 23rd street, anyway, they told me the key board needed to be replaced. I called the lady I had been talking to a couple of times. this was just after new years so I figure she may be on vacation. I called her and emailed her. I hadn't heard from her. I gave her one more chance and emailed her last week. Not a word!
       My Mom contacted both Best Buy and Toshiba earlier on. Best Buy at least initially corresponded with me. As of today I have NOT HEARD ONE WORD FROM TOSHIBA!
      Now I will admit that if Best Buy was around the corner it would not be such a big deal.... maybe! Even at that they have had three chances to fix the thing, at this point I would want it replaced if I lived next door.
       I went to Best Buy instead of buying a computer on line and having delivered to my door because 5 years ago when I bought my last lap top the service was impeccable and I' not a computer geek. This was in South Carolina, but with a big corporation it shouldn't matter. That is what is supposed to be so great about big corporations no matter where you go the service and merchandise is supposed to be the same. Here is what you get. A faceless entity that thinks it can  treat anybody anyway they want  because of what they are and what they have and you will take it and be glad.
          NOT ME! This is exactly one of the things that is wrong with this country! If this had been a mom and pop store, it would have been replaced the first time, no questions asked. IF their name was on it and it wasn't right; They would give you another one and give you your money back! People used to be proud of what they produced and sold. You don't have to be that way when your working and buying from a faceless entity, no one to take the blame, pass the buck, its up to the great and powerful oz behind the curtain. AND its all the emperor's new clothes and everybody is going along!
     NOT in these pages. I will holler from the rafters like a crazy Don Quixote tilting at the wind mills of injustice both in the corporate world and political.. Toshiba and Best Buy think they have heard the last from me. ITS NOW the principle of the way I've been treated both at the stores; when I requested a new computer no one seemed to be able to take authority and make it happen and at this time  the not caring by the upper management.
   Whats next;
                      THE BOYCOTT IS ON
            I also plan to tell my story to as many consumer rating and consumer advocate agencies I can find.
      I'm just crazy enough to spend ten times the effort and money to tell my story as it would to simply go out and buy a new computer.

A Look at Modern Addiction

     Addiction is serious business!
Yes it is and this addiction is especially insidious because most people don't even know they have it and each day there is more and more put out here to draw us in.
      Its there staring you in the face. That computer we can no longer do with out, although there are many of us who lived half our lives or more with out them. Now we can't go a day with out checking our emails. Then came social net working. Facebook and Twitter. Everyone putting there most recent life story out there for everybody to see. We have to be constantly attached, not talking to the person next to you but texting somebody a world away. We don't have a garden in our back yard but we have virtual farms and cites we have to tend hourly and daily. Then there is pinterest and stumbleupon. I could spend days on stumbleupon! There is an endless array of information out there on any subject you could be interested in and you could spend years tied to your computer discovering information that stumbleupon and pinterest throws out for you just by clicking a button. I have to limit myself to the time I spend on stumbleupon, but my real addiction is On line shopping. especially with sierra trading post and campmore. Sierra Trading Post really knows how to pull me in. I buy so much stuff they are giving me special discounts and free shipping, etc, etc. Its SUCH a DEAL,  how can I refuse!!!!! I told my self NO MORE! I delete their emails and don't open their catalogs and vow not to buy anything over the coming summer........ then I discover uncrate, gear junkie and nomorerack! arrrggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
          I'm telling you its a conspiracy to keep us tied to the computer, distracted and not outside where we belong so we can see whats really going on!!!!!

The American Dream

                            Is there such a thing any more?
               I remember as a young guy, 10 or 12, I don't know where it came from really, I got a good dose of Greek pride from my Mom's side of the family and a good dose of Southern pride from my dad.  . But an American dream? It was a house, wife two kids and a white picket fence. Right? I think if you were a kid of the early 60's that was the dream. You may dream of different jobs or skills maybe even your own business but I think everybody dreamed about owning their own homes being married and having a couple of kids.
            So what happened? Is it still out there? For what ever reason it didn't happen for me. I'm not complaining, I have a great life.
               But what do kids dream of these days. This age which seems to be filled with excess of technology and entitlement. When we are owed everything but not responsible for anything. this land of a failed economy, corporate bailouts while homes are being foreclosed on. This land where everything is disposable," Rent to Own Wheels and Tire" stores and virtual video worlds.
            I don't know...... Is there an american dream these days? Does it still exist? Or is it an American struggle just to get through?

The Real Question

   Like every one I'm horrified at the recent shooting at schools, malls and other places.  If your a sane person you can not fathom how a person could carry out such atrocities.
     I'm also amazed at how our government officials and news media focus on the guns and the bullets. Some of my friends advocate a conspiracy theory that our government is brain washing people to kill people with guns so our government has a reason to disarm us and make us more docile. This rabid attention to guns and bullets and not motives or how these people reach such depths makes me wonder if there is not some validity to these claims.
   I think the real thing we need to ask is at how has our society failed the mad man and the victims.
         What turns a baby and that's what everyone starts out as. How does a baby who is born with out hatred, prejudice, political or religious beliefs turn into such a being that would kill and maim innocent people. What influences and how was this once innocent person turned into such a being. How has our society failed, that we are turning out such people.
   I think that is the real questions we need to be asking.            

a Vote for personal liberties and State Rights

   I was in hunting camp during the elections and the consensus among that group was that the election was going to be a landslide in Romney's favor, I think everyone else thought it was going to be close and in the end I think it was.
    I think the biggest thing that came out of the election was the legalization of marijuana by the states of Washington and Colorado. In fact at this writing, Washington has already cleared the court docket of all possession charges. Colorado's Governor is proceeding with a little more caution, not wanting to upset the feds.
    The point remains that the voters of these two states sent a clear message to our electorate in D.C, for states rights and personal freedom and a clear mandate to change a policy that has not been working for more than thirty years . The current way we fight drug abuse and addiction is costing us billions both in spending and tax revenues, plus it clogs up our courts, many times with cases of people who's only crime is smoking a joint or two.
       Other states have already decriminalized and set up medical marijuana. I look to other states following Washington and Colorado's lead in the near future.   

Another update from Best Buy and the official response from North face!

          Two days ago I sent the rep from Best Buy an email. In it I stated, that with my location and time restraints I thought the best thing to do was to send the computer back to Toshiba. That way it would be at my house when I got back from hunting camp. I also explained my experience with North Face in which they replaced a ten year old coat.
        Yesterday I got a response. The reply stated that the rep had worked for Vanity Fare, which to my surprise owns North Face. She stated that she was aware of the liberal nature of the North Face guarantee. She also stated that she too thought that I should send the computer back to Toshiba and that she would send me a flash drive to back up my files, at this point she also added a hundred dollar gift card and as soon as I find out what the charges are Best Buy will refund my shipping charges.
         At this point I don't think I have a beef with Best Buy any more. They have responded and are at least trying to help. If there was a Best Buy just down the road, would I be having the problems I'm having?  Not sure, I'm thinking maybe not. Really, I think, when I sent the computer to Toshiba instead of making the two and a half hour trip to Best Buy it took it out of Best Buys hands, so I am not really upset with them any more, not really.
          My Mom sent the same letter to the CEO of Toshiba and we have not heard a word in response.
                   The BOYCOTT goes on but with TOSHIBA  and not Best Buy.
   The thing is that my original thinking was that Toshiba's name is on the darn thing. I thought that by sending it back to them they would be more likely to make sure it was right than some kid at Best Buy making minimum wage. I might have been wrong, I'm just saying.
         I hope you read my other blog about a company that stands behind its product.
                 Anyway,  when I got my coat back and the bill stated that there was no charge, they had been so nice. I contacted Abe, which is my contact at North Face, and told him about the receipt. I got a quick reply in it and I quote " We show a charge for a $189 to your account and if there's not, than enjoy your new coat and thank you for being a loyal North Face customer."
                                         I checked my account, there is no charge.
              I am the new North Face poster boy! ha,ha!

A Company That Knows How To Stand Behind Its Product

     I bought a North Face "Mountain Parka" up on Mackinaw Isl back in 2002. The second year I had it the lining came out of the sleeve. I had read/heard about North Face"s life time warranty and i had planned to send the coat into them several times. I promise! MAN I LOVED THAT COAT! 
     A couple of years passed. I learned that "life time warranty" meant the life of the materials of the coat. The coat is starting to look shabby, the bright yellow has turned black in places, its not failed me but you can tell its losing the "Gortex" and the material is getting thin. Last winter I started looking for a replacement. I found a "Woolrich" that's pretty nice, I caught it at a good price but the hood closure just isn't the same. Not the same protection. I really haven't seen anything close to that coat. Winter is fast approaching here in Colorado. The snow will fly soon. There is already snow on the higher peaks. So.....
       A little over a month ago I sent the coat along with a letter explaining all this to the warranty dept.. It was a shot in the dark. I really was hoping they could fix the coat and give me a good deal on the repair.
       About two weeks ago I got a letter from the warranty dept telling me due to UV damage, etc there was nothing they could do. I was disappointed. Did I tell you "MAN I LOVE THAT COAT"!
              The next day I got a letter from an Abe at the North Face warranty dept.. He told me he was sorry they couldn't fix my coat and the style had gone through considerable changes over the past few years. Then he told me he would give me half off of any coat, my choice! I couldn't believe it. Stick with me it gets better! I looked through their on line catalog. Sure enough there wasn't a coat like mine. I picked a $400 one out of the "Summit Series" which is what mine was. Abe took my info and four days later it was at my door. It is a beautiful coat. Its supposed to be fully wind and rain proof. The hood closes up like mine. Its fit is a little more snug.  The weather has been beautiful and mild here so far, so I haven't fully tested it out. Its nice.... but not the same. I think about going back and looking at the catalog again...... then I look at the receipt. It has a charge for the coat at $399. next line, discount; $399, next line shipping $7.99. total due $7.99. They had not charged me at all for the coat!!!!!!! I called my bank to see if there had been a charge to my account. No there had been no charge from North Face! I was shocked at my good fortune.
        After about a week of contemplation, I emailed Abe and told him of the mistake. He told me not to worry about it, that it was their mistake.
        Since this has happened, purely by accident I have bought several things from North Face. I was up in Breckenridge and found a great deal on a pair of North Face winter boots and a North Face hoodie. Then campmore, an online camping store, had a fleece jacket on sale I've wanted for a couple of years. Now, not really meaning to, I'm a North Face poster boy. I'd say karma is working in north face favor.
   I'd also say that if more companies had this kind of attitude this world would be a lot better. Do you hear me Toshiba!!!