2/5

posted Oct-29-2011

I recently bought a Canon Pixma MG6120. As is the practice of most manufacturers, it came with "starter cartridges" which might print up to a couple dozen pages, so I immediately needed new cartridges. PC World had rated 4inkjets as the best of the off-brand suppliers, so I bought their "big bundle" - 14 cartridges in all - for the extremely low price of $70 minus a $7 coupon = $63 (no shipping charge). I bought this large bundle despite the fact that I don't do that much printing. I was therefore concerned about the cartridge shelf life. Their site says it's 36 months. Figuring I could use all the cartridges by then, I got them.

The site lies. NONE of the cartridges they sent me have an expiration date 36 or more months out. For the 8 G&G brand cartridges, it's 31 months...close enough that I don't care. But for the 6 LD brand cartridges, it's only 18 months. I have sent them 3 e-mails and done a live chat requesting that they replace the 6 LD cartridges with ones having a later expiration date. Their response: NO RESPONSE -- NONE! The only thing I got from them was an e-mail asking me to rate them. I replied saying I didn't think they would want me to do that just yet since I'd not had a response to the expiration date issue. No response to that reply, either.

I note, too, that they do NOT participate in ResellerRatings monitoring program for feedback and issue resolution - a telltale sign of a rogue company. I have installed only one (big black) cartridge and it works fine/print looks good, but this will probably be my last order with them because I can't count on ANY customer service should I have have a really serious problem (like cartridges that are not the right ones or don't work).

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2/5

posted May-11-2011

I manage the entranceway island for our development in northern New Castle County, DE. I needed a colorful, spreading plant to replace an area that had formerly been populated with Black-eyed Susans. A resident who knows a lot about plants suggested a Flower Carpet (a spreading rose bush). After reviewing the colors they came in, I opted to get the "Scarlet" variety.

Because it was created by a German in Germany in 2007 (relatively recent) and none of the local nurseries had it, I concluded (erroneously) that it might be "rare", so searched the Web. I found it at Amazon.com via Clifton's Nursery (Calif). Price: $44.98; shipping, $16.49. Pretty steep, but I THOUGHT I had no choice, ordered and received it.

Problem 1: What arrived was about 1/3 the size of the picture on Amazon.
Problem 2: I thought the S/H charges were a bit much.

I registered feedback on Amazon and, to their credit, Clifton's returned the shipping charge. However, on Sunday (3 days ago) I visited a local nursery and found that they had the same plant - larger, and from the same grower (Monrovia) for $29.99.

So the "Scarlet" variety of this plant is apparently not scarce, but Clifton's is charging like it is. Before you order from them, check your local nurseries.

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1/5

posted Nov-05-2004

Based on PC Mag and other ratings of Dell over the years, I thought I was buying from a technically savvy company. No so. I purchased a new Dimension 4600. It arrived late 9/20/04, and I sent it back on 9/22/04. Here's why.

The OS in this system was WinXP-SP1a. I started setting it up the morning of 9/21, and for two hours, all software installed perfectly, and I transferred my working files from the old computer. Then happened to see a banner on Dell's Web site about downloading the latest update for XP... SP2. So I did. Major mistake.

First thing I noticed is that I could no longer connect to the Internet. Called Dell tech support (TS). While on hold, messages streamed thru the phone about downloading SP2. When I finally got a live (Indian) rep and told him what happened, guess what he said? "We do not recommend installing SP2; it's an untested program with which we've had a lot of problems!" So the first letdown is the UNBELIEVABLE disconnect between Dell's Web site and phone messages on the TS line, and what Dell TS says. He told me that I should use the WinXP disc that came with the PC to reinstall XP-SP1a. I am NOT a computer novice, and protested that I had never seen the install of an OLDER version of an OS over a newer version work. The new version invariably alters or replaces files that wind up being incompatible with the older version. But he insisted it would be OK, so I did.

Another big mistake. Now my e-mail was totally screwed up; identity properties were blank; mail from the main identity were in the secondary identity, and that identities mail was nowhere to be found. Could not send or receive e-mail. Called TS again. This time the rep confirmed that you cannot install 1a over 2, and that I would now have to delete the partition and reinstall everything. So I did. WinXP installed fine. Then came the drivers. You have to install them from your "ResourcesCD", which is supposed to contain the drivers for your PC. First driver, OK. Second driver, OK. Got to the video driver, and got the error message "32-bit module has encountered an error..." and it wouldn't install, despite rebooting and trying a second time. Mind you, this is a CLEAN hard drive on which nothing existed but WinXP-1a. At that point, I disconnected everything, put the computer back in the box with all accessories, and told UPS to pick it up.

It's too bad. The machine was compact and quiet. But it obviously had a driver disc that was not the right one for the machine, and it was backed by incompetent TS. Immediately after sending it back, I ordered a computer from Puget Custom Computers, which cost 50% more, but with which I'm extremely happy.

I am unlikely to ever buy again from Dell. What is even more amazing is that I have not had an e-mail or phone call from Dell asking me why I returned the computer, a further indication to me that they don't give a damn.

This review was modified by Rover on November 05 2004 01:10:17 PM

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5/5

posted Nov-21-2011

I'm bewildered by the number of negative reviews here. I recently purchase a Samsung 46" TV and Polk soundbar from HHGregg. Although I had to wait a couple of days to get the TV because they were out of stock, I picked it up on the day and time they told me to come get it. In addition, they "deal". I showed them the Amazon price for the same TV, and they came within a few $$ of matching it. A month later, they advertised a somewhatlower price for the same TV. I went to the store and asked for a price adjustment and they gave it to me, no hassle, no problem.

These experiences have led me to believe that when we next need a washer/drier/refrigerator or other TV, HHGregg will the first place I will go to buy it.

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5/5

posted Aug-29-2009

I've had my first JNCS computer for over a year now. It has an Intel DQ35JO mobo with an E8400 Core 2 Duo 3.0GHz CPU, 2MB Kingston RAM, and a 500GB Seagate SATA-2 HD. The OS is XP Home. I use it primarily for my consulting business and designing MS Access databases.

As other reviews mentioned, one of the nice services they offer is to look at the config you choose and suggest ways to enhance performance at little or no extra cost, or reduce cost without losing performance. E.g., I don't need a 500GB HD, but for $30 more, it's far faster than the smaller drive I had picked.

Shortly after getting the computer, I noticed that it ignored my power settings, and if I put it into standby or hibernate manually, when I brought it back out, it would crash and reboot. I sent the computer back with the programs I had put on it intact. They discovered (in just 3 days) that software I was using (SystemSuite 9) conflicted with the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) on the mobo, even though the latter was disabled in the BIOS. There was nothing physically wrong with the computer. I uninstalled SystemSuite, and it has worked perfectly ever since.

BTW, I had a strong requirement that this computer be QUIET, and the case they recommended is so quiet it's difficult to know by sound whether it's on or not. It's great. My previous computer, which was custom built by a competitor and for which I had also requested a quiet case, wasn't; noisy as hell...which is why I didn't order from them again.

Only issue I ever had was one of their tech reps was not very responsive to e-mails. He was very tech savvy, but you had to call him vs. using e-mail. Other than that, terrific company. I recommend them highly.

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5/5

posted Oct-24-2004

I've had my Puget system for only 10 days, so can only address the buying experience, my impressions of the system, and of the quality of the tech support based on the (very) few problems I've had.

Buying experience: Best/most personal I've ever had. Unlike storefronts or the "biggie" Web sites (Dell, HP, etc.), the people who review the configuration you've chosen know computers first hand. They even tell you that you don't need something and can save money by eliminating it! They responded rapidly (usually same or next day) to questions I asked before and during the build. System was ordered on 9/28/04 and shipped 10/6/04 by the cheapest method (5-business-day ground). I got it 10/13.

What did I get: Asus P4P800SE mobo with Intel P4 3.0GHz (Prescott); mobo includes onboard sound, network controller, and supports RAID; 512MB PC3200 DDR RAM; Western Digital 80GB drive; MSI GeForce MX 440 64MB 8x AGP video card; Lite-On 8x DVD±RW/CDRW combo drive; Creative Labs fax modem; Enermax 350W "Whisper" power supply; Vantec CPU cooling fan; Nero Express 6; and Windows XP Home, all housed in a Lian Li mid-tower.

Impressions of the system: It's unlike anything you can get from the "biggies". I had stipulated a quiet system, so the component of most interest was the Lian Li case. All aluminum with three fans. Sound insulation on side panels, and a front cover with rubber seals, all designed to dissipate heat rapidly and quietly. The case added a lot of $ to the cost. Is a special case like this worth it? Depends on your needs. As you see from the configuration, my needs are minimal; this is not a gaming computer, and I don't need 12 drives (which is the capacity of the case). Because of it's potential for holding far more devices than I'll ever need, the system has a total of 6 fans: the 3 that come in the case, the Vantec over the CPU, and two in the power supply. The Vantec is noisy and vibrates slightly. The system IS quieter than the one it replaced, which had a total of 3 fans, but not as quiet as the Dell 4600 that I had for 48 hours before sending it back (a long story for which there's no room here)! The point is that unless you're extremely knowledgeable about computer hardware, you can spend extra $ on things that wind up meeting your needs no better than something less costly. I.e., I could have gotten a smaller case with fewer fans and no sound insulation that would probably have been as quiet as this one. The case does a good job of quieting the 6-fan racket inside… but IMO, this modest system doesn't need that much ventilation, although since heat is the #1 enemy of solid-state devices, it will probably prolong the system's life.

Layout inside: Beautiful. Instead of the wire gaggle you get with mass-marketed systems, this one is laid out almost like a schematic; all wiring neatly bundled and out of the way, everything easily accessible.

Software: Best approach to loading software that I've ever seen. First, you get NOTHING you didn't ask for. No "try AOL", AOL messenger, Dell Jukebox, and on and on. It came loaded with only Win XP, Nero Express, and the drivers required for the devices. Second, all drivers and software are the latest version. WinXP, for example, came with SP2 already installed. And the disks you get with it are not proprietary (like Dell's Windows or ResourcesCD). You get a REAL Microsoft-produced Windows XP-SP2 disk! The entire system is tested for 24 hours to make sure everything works.

Tech support: Fabulous. E-mails are answered same or next day. The owner, Jon Bach, even e-mailed me the solution to a minor BIOS problem. It is a completely different experience than I've had with biggie tech support where the reps have a thick accent, are talking to you over scratchy lines, have no in-depth knowledge of hardware or software, and read the answer to your question from a database of "boilerplate solutions".

Price: It's unlikely you can get a Puget system with the same hardware for the price of a mass-produced biggie computer. Mine cost almost 50% more (delivered) than a Dell with the same devices. However, does that make the Puget system "more expensive"? That question is difficult to answer. IMO, judging whether or not something is "expensive" depends on what you get for what you pay. For example, while a Dell has a mobo, is it an Asus? Does it support RAID should you ever want to do that? It has a DVD±RW/CDRW drive, but who made it? Is it a Lite-On, which has a solid reputation? Is the case metal or plastic? Is it sound insulated? Are the fans ball bearing (the ones in the Lian Li case are)? Can you even get such a case from a biggie? Does it contain proprietary parts that bar you from using industry-standard hardware? Is the tech support worth a tinker's damn?

Would I buy from them again: You bet! Based on the experiences I've had thusfar, all of my next computers will come from Puget Systems.

This review was modified by Rover on October 24 2004 09:19:22 AM

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2/5

posted Mar-01-2012

In late December 2011, I purchased a king-size Spa Sensations 8" memory foam mattress from Walmart at the bargain price of $245 (it's now $269 – a 10% "roll UP"; they only tell you about the "roll backs", not the "roll ups"). I wrote a comprehensive review of the mattress after I'd slept on it for 3 weeks, and again after 2 months, both of which were mostly positive, primarily because it's the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on.

But here's the strange thing: Before I purchased the mattress, I read many of the reviews, of which there were over 1,000. My first review was for a short time one of the 1,000+. When I went to write the 2nd review, I noticed that Walmart had zapped ALL the previous reviews. On the date I'm writing this RR review, there are only 7 reviews of this mattress on Walmart's site. I wrote and submitted another one. It's not there.

The question is why? I think I know the answer, and it's worrisome. While I love the comfort of the mattress, it has off-gassed (put off gaseous components, primarily isocyanates, the major component of all urethane foams) from day 1. It was, of course, stronger after the mattress was initially expanded (they are shipped compacted), but is still evident 2+ months later. Since I have allergies to some substances, I reacted to the gases in the form of vertigo at night and dizziness spells during the day. Other purchasers of foam mattresses for all sources have reported the same thing (Google "foam mattress off-gassing"). I mentioned this in the first review. . . but after 2 months, the vertigo/dizziness are no longer a problem, because the off-gassing has diminished and/or my tolerance for the gases has increased - a fact that I mentioned in the 2nd review. Walmart apparently took umbrage at the "off-gassing" comments and not only zapped my reviews, but will not allow me to submit additional reviews, despite the review page saying my review was submitted.

So, it appears that one cannot trust the reviews on Walmart, because they are suppressing reviews that contain ANY negative information. Caveat emptor!!!

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3/5

posted May-13-2008

For about a month or so, I had been looking for what I thought would be a common device – a power strip with at least 4 outlets that could be mounted horizontally [outlets had to be upright (ground receptacle DOWN) when mounted horizontally] and which were spaced far enough apart that they would accept transformers in adjacent outlets. Tried Lowe's, Home Depot, local hardware and electric supply houses to no avail. A long search on the Web finally turned up X1UP.com in Ontario, CA, which had a 2', 6-outlet metal strip that appeared to fill the bill for $21.99 + 8.86 s/h. The X1UP.com site indicated the item was on back order, but I was desperate, so ordered it anyway.

Well, turns out their Web site is not updated often, because the item was apparently in stock and shipped shortly after I submitted the order. Shipping was fairly prompt (but not as prompt as, e.g., Amazon.com); took about a week, maybe a day or two more, as I recall.

Upon opening the box, I found that Fed-Ex had handled it pretty roughly. One of the plastic covers for the end mounting tabs was cracked and the tab was bent slightly. Didn't particularly matter, because I didn't need the plastic covers and easily straightened the tab with pliers. However, I noticed immediately that (a) the cord, which was advertised at 3', was actually about 10% short of that and (b) the orientation of the outlets was such that if mounted where I wanted it (near a workbench outlet), in order for the cord to reach the workbench outlet, all the strip outlets would have the ground part of the receptacle UP (not down). This orientation was no good for the transformers I had to plug into it, because they and their wires would protrude upward and above the workbench. If I turned the strip around 180o to put the ground receptacle DOWN, the cord would not reach the workbench receptacle (because it now had to traverse the entire length of the strip).

X1UP.com sent an e-mail confirming the order and their message included, "If you have comments or suggestions, email us at customerservice@x1up.com." So I e-mailed them to let them know that (a) one of the plastic cover tabs had been destroyed in shipping, but that was no problem since I didn't intend to used them, and (b) was there any way to open the strip and rotate the outlets 180o to accommodate the way I needed to use it? That was on 5/5/08. Today is 5/13/08 and I've had no response.

Final rating: Quality of product, very good except for exaggerated length of cord. Quality of customer service: Non-existent. This product is made in China (what isn't these days?) and the California company that distributes them is probably woefully understaffed and oriented to selling rather than servicing. So buyer beware; make sure what you're buying from them is EXACTLY what you need because you will not get customer service after the sale.

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