Very Computer

Hello:

That's the advice I'd give someone who expected that ordering via
the Netscape Web Page here would give them fastest service:

   https://order.netscape.com/order2.html

I placed an order via that Web page at 10:20 am EST on 24 May 1995.
I checked the box for overnight delivery via Airborne Express. Given
that Netscape is on the west coast of the USA, the order was
received by their computer at 7:20 am that day.  I think it's
reasonable to expect that that is adequate time to ship that day
and that I'd get it the next day. However, it didn't come Thursday,
Friday, Tuesday (Monday Holiday), or Wednesday (today).

I finally called them on the phone (which is what I'd recommend you
do if you want this software) at 415/528-2555. What I was told
boggles my mind since it comes from people working for a company
that I would *think* would want to be the model of how great things
can work if you order via the Web.  They told me this:

   1. Although I placed the order early morning on Wednesday, 24 May,
the "Ordering Department" didn't receive the order until Friday,
26 May.

   2. Then the "Ordering Department" sent it to the "Shipping
Department" that received it on Tuesday, 30 May.

   3. The "Shipping Department" apparently has some time to do
their thing as well since they told me it wasn't even in line to
be shipped until Wednesday (and I'm not convinced it would have gone
out today unless I called).

   4. Assuming that they would have sent it Airborne Express, I
would have received this order *eight days* after it was made. As it
was, I told them it didn't matter how they shipped it now, so who
knows when I'll get it.

After it was all said and done, Melissa called me back and reminded
me that it says they have a two week processing period for orders and
that it says that on the page.  I checked and here is what it says:

| IMPORTANT
|     This form is designed for use by customers in the United
|     States and Canada who wish to order by credit card.
|     International customers should contact us by phone or fax
|     (see the numbers below). Please note, there is currently a
|     two-week lead time for processing orders.

Now my read of this is that there is a two week lead time for
processing International orders.  I suppose someone could say that
I need to learn to read better. However, advertising overnight
delivery on a two-week delay factor is rather stupid IMHO.

I know that if I call L.L.Bean and order some of their products,
they will ship them THAT DAY or tell me they cannot and when they
will be shipped, but in most cases, I get my stuff the next day if
I ask for overnight delivery.  It's just a matter of dedication to
customer service, which obiously Netscape lacks.

Mark Hunnibell

Mark Hunnibell complains about trying to order Netscape 1.1N.

While we're talking about ordering here, I have a really dumb question.  I
downloaded my copy of Netscape 1.1N.  How am I supposed to register it and
pay for it?  I looked all through the Netscape Home and couldn't find the
info.

                                                        --Fiona Webster

If I may say so, this has nothing to do with
comp.infosystems.www.servers.unix, but the answer to your question is that
you might presumably click on "Help" and  then select "Registration Info",
or God Forbid, that you Search the Netscape pages.

-Khan

--
        "Anarchy stands for the liberation of the human mind from.. religion
         the liberation of the human body from.. property; liberation from
         the shackles and restraints of government."
                                                        -Emma Goldman

Quote:> If I may say so, this has nothing to do with
> comp.infosystems.www.servers.unix,

If I may say so, I beg to differ.  Netscape is selling both
browser and server software.  Presumably they use their own
server software for their web pages.  My criticism was on
both the customer service aspect but also on the apparent
inability of them to get their server software to provide any
output to anyone until at least 48 hours after a order was
taken by their server.

That's why I posted, most thoughtfully, to both browsers.ms-windows
(for people considering in getting their client), and servers.unix
(for people considering buying their server software).

I hope this clears up any concern you might have about the
appropriateness of the post for these groups.

Mark Hunnibell

My argument was not with your post, it was with the follow up which asked
"How do I register Netscape", which, I can quite confidently say, doesn't
belong here since last I checked, Netscape was a browser.

Anyone wanting to follow up further can take this into alt.flame or just
e-mail me.

-K
--

 "I seem to have been only a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting
  myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than
  ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."

Quote:

>Mark Hunnibell complains about trying to order Netscape 1.1N.

>While we're talking about ordering here, I have a really dumb question.
 I
>downloaded my copy of Netscape 1.1N.  How am I supposed to register it
and
>pay for it?  I looked all through the Netscape Home and couldn't find
the
>info.

I called their office number and ordered it.  I didn't want to send my
credit card number over the net.  It took them over a month to get off
their ass and send me my original copies of Netscape 1.1.  Call their
office and order it that way.

I'm a firm believer in registering software that I think is outstanding
and that I use.  Some users of Netscape think it is free.  It is not
free.  

Quote:

>                                                        --Fiona Webster

Fiona

The onus is clearly on the supplier to provide the relevant info re
registration, payment etc. so if they are too lazy or obscure to do this,
I would recommend: enjoy!

Cheers

--

John                                                   J.R. LEE CHIN

                                tel. 61-49-215077  fax. 61-49-216980

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"Any preceding opinions are mine, not those of my political masters."