The Run Around
I'll bet that I'm not the only bone-head that has had a "run around" to end all run arounds.
The only reason I'm going to share this mess is that it probably happens to a lot of folks.
Recently I ordered a nice photo,fax,scanner,printer from good old Dell. It was a Christmas present for my wife who just had gotten a nice lap-top from Dell.
All of my computors are Dell, and I like them much better than any of the others I have had.
However this time I thought I would NEVER get the new stuff to work. I have a wireless system and a DSL for my computors.
The new printer was a wireless unit so Lin could use it any where in the house.
The only problem was I couldn't seem to get the wireless card programmed.
After a full day of monkeying with it, I decided to call the Dell tech to help me.
I had no idea that Dell's techs are in the south pacific. I am not prejudice by any means, but I have a very hard time understanding some of those folks.
It took forever to get them to answer the phone, and when they did, I explained what my problem was.
Once I spent an hour trying to communicate my needs, the tech said that I needed to talk to some one in tech-support.
I told him that was who I thought he was. He said no, but he would give me another number to call,but first he would give me a "case number". I promply called the new number, went through all of the options, and was put on hold for another half an hour.
I jumped through all of the new set of hoops, and was told that I still needed to talk to someone else, but first I needed a new "case number".
You may think I'm exaggerating, but I jumped through all of the new hoops again and was given more new "case numbers". I wound up with six "case numbers" before I got someone who could communicate with me.
He was a nice chap who was able to help me down-load the datta I needed to make the wireless work. The only problem was now the new printer would not power-up.
The nice tech said he would send me a new replacement, which should take only a few days. He was nice enough to give me a "case number", and his name so I could call back.
I now had seven case numbers!
Today I got the new printer. I called the tech, who was not available, but the new tech informed me that I needed to talk to a different department. But first, of course he would give me a case number to expedite the process. I immediately thanked him for the new number and called the number he gave me . It was the first number I had been given??Back to square one!
This process went on all day. I now am the proud owner of 14 case numbers, but I did finally get a tech to help program my system. It works great!
You would think my troubles were over. Not so!! I still have a dead printer sitting here in front of me that needs to be shipped back.
All I now really needed was a "shipping slip" to stick on the box. Simple, huh?
Well, I just completed 3 more hours talking to everyone in Manilla, and I have 6 more case numbers.
The last chap, that I waited 30 minutes to get to talk to, informed me that I was going to have to call back during regular working hours tomorrow. However he would give me a "case number" to expedite the process.
Tomorrow I will get back after this mess. I don't know how many "case numbers" that I'll wind up with.
I'll let you all know how it turns out, but first let me give you a "case number", so you won't forget.