Amuse me…

Contrary to my last blog, Palm Pre WILL be available to all consumers (new and existing) on the launch day, June 6, 2009.

After the last blog, I was contacted by corporate representatives of  Sprint (thanks guys =)), who informed me that the information given to me by two Sprint Store representatives on Monday was, indeed, incorrect. They assured me that the Pre will be available to both new and existing customers of Sprint.

So suffice the frustration of Monday… I pass along the correct information today–which is: PALM PRE for ALL (as long as supplies last–however I am still hearing that they won’t last very long. =()

Muahs ppl =)

AKA Paris E.

So, you’re a current Sprint customer, and you are siced and excited–and can’t wait to get your hands on the new Palm Pre? Well, sit back and tune in, because I am you, and I was at my Sprint Store today and got an earful. It seems that Sprint’s idea of business is ‘out with the old and in with the new’ when it comes to the sale of  the Palm Pre and existing customers on June 6th, 2009 (which is the official release date for the Palm Pre)–if you’re an existing customer, be prepared to WAIT.

First of all let me say that I am a 15+ year loyal Sprint Business customer, and also a 10+ year loyal Palm and Palm Treo user (I have had every Palm PDA (beginning with the Tungsten’s) and Palm Treo phones made–and upgraded to each new device at full price each too–as only new customers got the special prices!!!).

Today, I had to go to my local Sprint store to have them repair my Treo 755p which was having a keyboard issue. While at the Sprint store, I spoke to a representative regarding existing customers and the impending Palm Pre release on June 6, 2009. I inquired as to how current Sprint customers would go about getting the Pre on June 6th, and whether we had to stand in the lines with new customers or if we could order via internet, etc…, I was immediately told that existing customers cold not get the phone on June 6th, and that they had to have received ‘special invitations’ in the mail to ‘pre-order’ the phone–and have already pre-ordered it–and that the phones that were pre-ordered by existing customers already were on back order in excess of 8 or 80,000 (cant remember which 8 number he rattled off).  At this point I have to admit that I was in utter shock and told the rep that I have been a Sprint business customer for 15+ years with 5-6  phones on account and was never offered any type of invite to pre-order the Palm Pre. The representative told me that the pre-order was the only way a current customer could get the Pre–but that it would not be on June 6th. As I was becoming a bit disappointed and angry, I began questioning the rep on the logic and business ethic of  ‘dogging’ existing customers, he then solicited the aid of another representative to further ‘explain’ this logic to me. This other representative told me that yes it was true that existing Sprint customers have had to pre-order the phone–but it would be on back order and we would not and could not get it on the release date–thereby verifying his colleagues earlier response. When I began to get a little wound up in all my outrage, the second rep then began shh-ing me and replied that he wasn’t sure and that I could come on the 6th and TRY to get the Pre phone but he couldn’t say whether I would be successful because the supply was only for new Sprint customers. Then to top off my fit of anger, the first rep began telling me how it is better to wait until the 2nd and 3rd releases anyway–as it was a new phone–to wiat til they ironed out the glitches–like that was supposed to console me in some way. WHAT?!

If what I was told at the Sprint store today turns out to be true, then Sprint is really being unfair to it’s existing loyal customers!  Like I said… is this a business ethic and attitude of  ‘out with the old and in with the new’… foregoing the satisfaction of existing current customers to gain new ones? Sprint needs to remember that many of us existing customers were waiting a long time for the Palm Pre to come out, and many of us are at or beyond our contract renewals (been saving our upgrades for Pre)… whereby many of us can LEAVE Sprint and go elsewhere… like to Verizon or AT&T and wait another 6 months for the Pre–since it’s not like we won’t have to wait anyway!!

As a 15+ year loyal existing customer of Sprint, I sincerely HOPE that both of these reps had it horribly wrong, because if  foregoing the existing loyal customer to get more new customers in the door is Sprint’s idea of good business, it is not a business that I will continue to put my money in to.

I would really like to hear from Sprint people on this. All comments welcome.

Cheers,

AKA Paris E.

@Paris_E

After such a long wait and wading through numerous rumors about its release, Sprint has officially announced the release and the price of the infamous Palm Pre. Palm Pre will be on the street June 6th at $199.99 (–of course only after signing a 2-year service contract, and either a $50 or $100 mail-in-rebate).  The Palm Pre will be available on June 6th, 2009 at Sprint stores, Best Buy, Radio Shack, select Wal-Mart stores, and online at Sprint.com (notes: available in the US only on this date; the wireless charging dock/touchstone is sold separately and is an additional $69.99).

First of all, I have to ask what is wrong with some people that they feel so insecure within themselves that they make blocked caller ID phone calls? If you are going to call some one, why block your number? In my opinion, if you have to block your number, you shouldn’t even be making the call in the first place–obviously you have no plans to identify yourself… so placing such calls is cowardly and pathetic–it really makes no sense at all. If you have something worth the call to say, man up and say what you really want to say and don’t block your number… identify yourself.

Aside from from the traditional *57 (line trace that only law enforcement has privy to), cowards who hide behind blocked ID numbers will now have to find a different way to place their cowardly calls as there is an identifying technology currently available for any one (for a fee). For those of you who have not heard, this new technology is called ANI, Automatic Number Identification technology.  This ANI technology is the same technology that is used by 911 dispatchers every day. Currently, there are companies that offer a service known as ‘trap line’  service that uses the ANI technology and you can easily start using it on all of your phones to make sure you never get another blocked call again.  Trap line services are available all over the internet… so if you (like me) are having issues with cowards from blocked numbers calling you, you may want to look into this–just do a search.

A few companies offering trap line services are:

OneCall

http://www.getonecall.com

Ureach

http://Ureach.com/

Universal Communications

http://uccweb.com/

My last post was about my excitement related to the long awaited release of the Palm Treo Pro for Sprint, wherein I still had the dilemma about which phone to covet because of the no-video issue with the ‘supposedly’ soon-to-come Palm Pre (which promises to be spectacular!!). Well, I guess my decision is delayed anyway, as the Pre will not be released as expected (or leaked). Perhaps this will give them some time to include video capability??!!! Okay,  so that is a doubtful… but it never hurts to put it out there!

This just in from TinyComb:

• Just received an inside tip from a Palm design employee stating the Pre is officially delayed. It’s no wonder there is a scheduled Sprint and Palm webcast on Thursday, March 12, centered around the Pre. The Webcast starts at 11 a.m. PST on March 12 with 20 minutes scheduled for the presentation and 20 minutes allowed for Q&A. Wonder what ingenuity Dan Hesse will drop on us this time?

I am soooo excited!!!

Palm finally set a date for the new Treo Pro SPRINT version release!

This excerpt from GearLog toay:

Sprint’s long marketing nightmare is over. After delays which left even Sprint’s ad-buying department fatally confused, Palm has announced that Sprint’s version of the Palm Treo Pro is going on sale on March 15 for the advertised $249 minus a $50 mail-in rebate.We loved the GSM Treo Pro, so we’ve been eagerly anticipating the Sprint version of this well-designed Windows Mobile phone. But I can’t help but wonder if all the stutters and starts reflect that there’s something really wrong with this handset. First Sprint launched, and then unlaunched it; then Best Buy did the same; then they started running print ads claiming it was launched, before it was launched. We’ll get one in for review as soon as we can to find out if Sprint was merely waiting some extra time so they could make it perfect.

——-END EXCERPT—–

So now… here is a qustion on the decision-making process—should we just wait for the Treo Pre said to be coming out in May–but rumored to be released March 15 also??? (*Keep in mind that the first Pre release does not have video–shame!)… Oh what to do….

Opinions?  Comments?

Happy Wednesday…xo

AKA Paris E.

I have a $4000 52″ Mitsubishi DLP widescreen HD television, it is only 4 years old. This would be my 2nd repair made to this set out of warranty. Today, I had a repairman come in AGAIN, and it cost me $800 and the POS still isn’t working… ?

After doing some research on the model, I found that I am not the only one with the same exact problem with this TV model. Apparently, when building the television, the manufacturer placed capacitors on the boards (DM board mentioned in particular) that were not strong enough to take the heat that the television/lamp produces, so they overheat after about 3000-4000 hours of play and swell, then they are completely non-functionable. The television then shuts down and will not boot back up. My internet research found a significant number of cases reported on ONE web site alone, and there were plenty more cases on other sites being reported. A few technicians even reported that they have fixed hundreds of this particular model in the last 4 years…yet Mitsubishi refuses to do anything about it for their customers. In my opinion, there should have been a recall… Mitsubishi should have shown good faith to their customers, and notified us that this could happen and offer to replace the TV or replace the faulty part–however they did not… and they won’t provide any type of consult or discussion on the topic with those of use who have called in regarding the SAME exact issue with this model.

To me, this is unreal! I cannot believe that such a large company can dupe their customers this way… I feel a class action suit coming on… I also intend on writing every consumer protection agency to file complaints and will justly share the info with those who have been affected by this injustice…

I don’t like throwing away my hard earned money… and I will not submit to losing it this way!

I am making it my GOAL to faithfully seek out those people who have had this issue, and gather a “class” for the action suit.

The TV model is the Mitsubishi WD52525 DLP Television.

I will of course keep you all abreast of my progress.

Peace… (and hell to Mitsubishi…)
Paris

The question of the day is what is Twitter.  The answer, however is not easily translated. Easily answered–though not thoroughly explained, bottom line, Twitter is a social media platform.  Personally, I have been impressed withTwitter’s ability to bring MANY people together socializing, networking, and sharing media, be it specifically ranged topics to personal conversation. I use twitter, basically to network with other like minds. In my Twitter que, I receive messages such as technical updates, fashion trends, the newest MAC product, headlining news, and even personal opinions on the latest episode of 24. I enjoy twittering with my network, and reading the latest posts and blogs and also sharing my thoughts and good reads with my like minded community.

Different from the typical social media spheres like Facebook or MySpace, Twitter offers short concise–to the point messages…which you can decipher at a glimpse. On the business end… with Twitter, you can reach a lot of people at once–one message… whatever it may be.

There is so much more I can say about Twitter right now, but you all kno–I truly don’t have the time–LOL…Twitter is something you simply must try for your self. Personally I LOVE it!  For those of you who would like to give Twitter a spin… Check out “How to build community on Twitter” to begin to build your Twitter “network”.

Once you get the hang of it, catch me… @Paris_E