IBM/iSeries marketing (was RE: (no subject))

Seems fairly standard for IBM. I've never been clear _HOW_ IBM ever actually 
gets money except maybe by luck. I tried to buy something through one of their 
web sites and had to fill out info on a web form for their customer records. I 
couldn't get the form to work  -- it kept rejecting my input because it said my 
address was wrong!

Okay, so I called the help number for the website. The woman tech couldn't get 
it to work either, so I was handed off to some sales person who took all the 
info over the phone and eventually got my order placed.

Quite a few weeks later, I got a form letter (which I'll keep forever):

"Dear Valued Customer,

We will be unable to ship the merchandise listed below. If this does not meet 
with your timing requirements, you may cancel your order and receive a prompt 
refund by calling toll-free (800) xxx-xxxx. If we do not hear from you before 
we ship the merchandise, we will assume that you have agreed to this shipping 
delay.

Part Number   Description...
0791028       Blah blah blah...

Remember, if you want the merchandise, it is not necessary to call.

We apologize for the inconvenience..."

Well, it took me a couple days to mull the letter over and decide how to 
respond. Unfortunately, two days after the letter, the merchandise arrived.

Sigh.

Do they want to put every customer through endurance tests to see if they 
_REALLY_ want to give money to IBM?

Tom Liotta

midrange-nontech-request@midrange.com wrote:

>   1. (no subject) (steven.donnellan)
>
>My favourite bit of AS/400 marketting is that they once had AS/400 goodies
>for sale on the website.  Mugs, T Shirts, golf umbrellas, that sort of
>thing.
>You then filled in a form with what you wanted to order.
>At the end of this process you were then presented with a form TO PRINT
>OFF AND FAX TO IBM!!!!!!

--
Tom Liotta
The PowerTech Group, Inc.
19426 68th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
Phone  253-872-7788 x313
Fax    253-872-7904
http://www.powertechgroup.com


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