God Forbid They Should Help Us Out,We're Only The Little People

M

MR.KAZ

Lurker
Greetings Junkies,

I'm not sure if this has been touched upon earlier,if so,please accept my apologies.

I was just wondering what your take is when it comes to customer service and teck support from big companies such as "Microsoft","Sony",etc.

If memory serves,Microsoft charges $49.00 for the above mentioned services.Is it just me,or is that extremely greedy?In all fairness,these companies are in business to make money,especially these days with the way prices on various items are constantly rising.

This is what ticks me off.Microsoft and Sony are multi-billion dollar companies.Would it kill them to offer free help for their customers?When I got my Dell computer it came with a 1 Year Free Service such as teck-support,fixing problems,etc.It's not like they will be declaring bankruptcy for offering free unlimited service for any of their products after the 1 year is up.C'mon.

To me it's just plain greedy.God forbid they should help out the customer who spent $300.00 on an X-Box that took 2 weeks of work to pay for.Am I wrong?
 
FF7 master said:
No one cares, stop trolling.
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Wow, seriously?

MR.KAZ said:
Greetings Junkies,

I'm not sure if this has been touched upon earlier,if so,please accept my apologies.

I was just wondering what your take is when it comes to customer service and teck support from big companies such as "Microsoft","Sony",etc.

If memory serves,Microsoft charges $49.00 for the above mentioned services.Is it just me,or is that extremely greedy?In all fairness,these companies are in business to make money,especially these days with the way prices on various items are constantly rising.

This is what ticks me off.Microsoft and Sony are multi-billion dollar companies.Would it kill them to offer free help for their customers?When I got my Dell computer it came with a 1 Year Free Service such as teck-support,fixing problems,etc.It's not like they will be declaring bankruptcy for offering free unlimited service for any of their products after the 1 year is up.C'mon.

To me it's just plain greedy.God forbid they should help out the customer who spent $300.00 on an X-Box that took 2 weeks of work to pay for.Am I wrong?
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Anyways, it depends. If the customer service isn't outsourced and depending on what my problem is $49 isn't as bad as what other companies charge for. I have never called MS (Since I don't really own any of their products) so I can't really say.

One way or the other you'll end up paying for the extra help, whether it be buying an extended warranty or paying after the warranty has expired. They have to pay their Customer Service reps and I'm assuming that's why they charge. Correct me if I'm wrong though.
 
As much as systems break down or have issues, they would lose too much money if they fixed everyone's system for free. Also, if they had to do that, they would have to pass on the cost somehow, and as a result we'd probably see higher prices on either consoles, games, or accessories to make up the cost. So either way the cost is passed on to the customer.
 
You can haggle with Dell over the price for an extended warranty (or anything else they sell, for that matter.) I got a 3 year full warranty on mine for an extra $50. Microsoft has been very helpful with my 360 problems, working with me to get my account transferred, router set up, etc..

Here's a tip: If you're ever stuck on a customer service line with a call center in India or some place just talk gibberish to them and they'll transfer you to someone who speaks English.
 
FF7 master said:
No one cares, stop trolling.
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That's ... pretty rude.

@ KAZ, I'm not opposed to paying for extra help should I need it with any product. Once it's out of warranty if I need something done in terms of repair, I'd rather have it done by the manufacturer so I'm sure it's fixed right, even if it costs a bit extra. It's still cheaper than having to just buy a whole new one, as Mai and I just went through with her 360. Repair = $100, replace = $200.
 
FF7 master said:
No one cares, stop trolling.
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Thank you for the lesson on how to fail. ::)

Dunno Kaz. Most respectible companies out there would offer free help. Especially when their junk is, well, junk. Maybe Bill Gates needs to pay off Jerry Seinfeld for those commercials. They're dumb, by the way.
 
Listen to you guys!!

Why are you being so damn tolerant to greedy companies!Don't get me wrong,why is everyone so passive aggressive these days?People complain about the high price of some goods,yet they turn around and pay it anyway.

If you see a box of "Froot Loops" at your local market that costs $5.00 for a bag you might get 3 bowls out of it,don't buy it! Don't let these people play you.Of course the price will never go down if people are willing to pay.

My apologies if I come across as mean,but c'mon people take action.If you complain about the price of something do it with conviction!Don't buy it!I know one person can't change the world,it's the principle of the whole thing.
 
MR.KAZ said:
Why are you being so darn tolerant to greedy companies!Don't get me wrong,why is everyone so passive aggressive these days?People complain about the high price of some goods,yet they turn around and pay it anyway.
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Microsoft has to make money somewhere. They've slashed the price of the 360 like crazy. They can't afford to cut the price that much, pay in full for every 360 that breaks, and still maintain a profit in their gaming division. They already lost a billion dollars to extend every 360's warranty two years when they found out that people were having serious problems.

Microsoft just isn't obligated to fix every little hiccup that comes up in the 360 for free. A company's purpose (especially one in such a frivolous industry as gaming) isn't to go around helping the little guy. They are in it to make a profit, and once they ensure that they can, they frequently help out the customer (like Microsoft did when they extended the 360's warranty).
If you see a box of "Froot Loops" at your local market that costs $5.00 for a bag you might get 3 bowls out of it,don't buy it! Don't let these people play you.Of course the price will never go down if people are willing to pay.
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The price isn't going up because of some cereal price fixing consortium. It's going up because food prices in general are skyrocketing. and the price has to go up if they are to make a profit. Start a huge embargo on the cereal because you find the price to be "unfair", and you do nothing but force them to lower the cereal to a price they cannot maintain, and eventually go out of business if they can't make a profit elsewhere.
 
Homicidal Cherry53 said:
Microsoft has to make money somewhere. They've slashed the price of the 360 like crazy. They can't afford to cut the price that much, pay in full for every 360 that breaks, and still maintain a profit in their gaming division. They already lost a billion dollars to extend every 360's warranty two years when they found out that people were having serious problems.

Microsoft just isn't obligated to fix every little hiccup that comes up in the 360 for free. A company's purpose (especially one in such a frivolous industry as gaming) isn't to go around helping the little guy. They are in it to make a profit, and once they ensure that they can, they frequently help out the customer (like Microsoft did when they extended the 360's warranty).The price isn't going up because of some cereal price fixing consortium. It's going up because food prices in general are skyrocketing. and the price has to go up if they are to make a profit. Start a huge embargo on the cereal because you find the price to be "unfair", and you do nothing but force them to lower the cereal to a price they cannot maintain, and eventually go out of business if they can't make a profit elsewhere.
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Forgive me Homicidal,but I do believe you are talking out of your ass.It all boils down to greed.C'mon now!
 
MR.KAZ said:
It all boils down to greed.
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Greed being the companies wanting to not go bankrupt? I think you're the greedy one here, expecting them to hand you things on a silver platter. Like Cherry said, they have to make money somewhere, and if the completely optional(not everyone needs Xbox replacements) fee keeps mandatory fees down, why whine about it?
 
fhqwhgads said:
Greed being the companies wanting to not go bankrupt? I think you're the greedy one here, expecting them to hand you things on a silver platter. Like Cherry said, they have to make money somewhere, and if the completely optional(not everyone needs Xbox replacements) fee keeps mandatory fees down, why whine about it?
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Hi fhqwhgads,

Are you by chance a millionaire?If not,do you realize that the price of a 360 is like 2 weeks pay for some people?Microsoft is a multi-billion dollar company,they have more money coming in every day then they put out,you can't tell me that a free service from a company that huge is considered a loss.
 
MR.KAZ said:
Are you by chance a millionaire?If not,do you realize that the price of a 360 is like 2 weeks pay for some people?Microsoft is a multi-billion dollar company,they have more money coming in every day then they put out,you can't tell me that a free service from a company that huge is considered a loss.
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How do you think Microsoft's taxes are? Pretty high, yeah. How about their many factories that make 360's? They gotta pay for the buildings, pay the employees, buy the equipment, pay for upkeep, give benefits(maybe), etc. And that's just making the 360's. Let's not forget they fix all RRODs for free(see; >$1 billion), keep up the Live servers, and have in-house developers spending money making games.
 
MR.KAZ said:
Forgive me Homicidal,but I do believe you are talking out of your butt.It all boils down to greed.C'mon now!
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Yes, it is greed. The corporations want more money. What a terrible thing that is. What a terrible thing that Microsoft is able to employ thousands of workers. What a terrible thing that companies try to improve their products to stay competitive. What a terrible thing that this greed is keeping our economy working.

These companies owe us for buying our product. Even if the service we are demanding costs ten times more than what we actually paid, they owe us. Let the company sink, and let several thousand people lose their jobs just as long as they listen to the consumer's fiscally impossible demands.
MR.KAZ said:
Hi fhqwhgads,

Are you by chance a millionaire?If not,do you realize that the price of a 360 is like 2 weeks pay for some people?Microsoft is a multi-billion dollar company,they have more money coming in every day then they put out,you can't tell me that a free service from a company that huge is considered a loss.
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They lost $1 billion just covering people on RROD's. Their gaming division has been by far their worst financial sector for the last five years. They just pulled themselves out of the red for the first time two financial quarters ago. Make them cover every broken 360, and I guarantee that they slip back in the red, like they were from 2001-2007. How long do you think Microsoft will keep their gaming division around if they continue to lose money? They want to make a profit, so I would guess that if they can't make a significant one by the end of the 360's lifetime, they will abandon the venture into the gaming market altogether. They will severely downsize the gaming section of their company because there is no need for too many employees now that they aren't supporting a console. What would you say to someone who lost their job during those cutbacks? "Sorry, about the job, but I deserve free repairs,"?
 
MR.KAZ said:
Hi fhqwhgads,

Are you by chance a millionaire?If not,do you realize that the price of a 360 is like 2 weeks pay for some people?Microsoft is a multi-billion dollar company,they have more money coming in every day then they put out,you can't tell me that a free service from a company that huge is considered a loss.
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Two weeks pay? I can buy a 360 with half of one paycheck, and I work at Wal-Mart. If a 360 costs someone two weeks of paychecks, they either have a crappy job and should find something better, or they shouldn't buy a luxury item like a 360 to begin with.

Let me quote myself since you seemed to have missed it.

Mai Valentine said:
As much as systems break down or have issues, they would lose too much money if they fixed everyone's system for free. Also, if they had to do that, they would have to pass on the cost somehow, and as a result we'd probably see higher prices on either consoles, games, or accessories to make up the cost. So either way the cost is passed on to the customer.
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Just an FYI, Most console manufacturers have something like a .001% profit margin on the system they produce. Thats just doesn't justify the cost of getting it to a store. In fact they are losing money on the hardware itself. The real profits are in accessories, game revenues, and licensing. Thats why stores try to get you to buy games and extras when you go to pick up a system since they have virtually no markup or say in pricing. Yes, these companies have a lot of money, but things like out of service warrenties would kill them since they arent making anything on the product if they offered it for free.

Yes, the 360 and the PS3 are expensive, but if there is a problem with the hardware you can be assured that there is a warrenty out of the box. As long as it hasn't been tampered with. If you just got your system and it broke right away, should the manufacture shrug the shoulders, you'll just return the system to the store and both them and the manufacturer will lose out on those profits.
 
Nova said:
The problem is that you're looking at them from a consumer standpoint, not a business one.
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Why should Kaz look at it from a business standpoint, when he is a consumer? And why are the two at odds? If a business's philosophy does not coincide with the needs and wants of the people who are receiving the product/service, then doesn't it make sense for the business to adjust its philosophy, and not the other way around?

I think what Kaz is getting at here is that it would be nice if Microsoft would take a hit in the profit margin to provide their customers with full support for their products. Whether or not this is a realistic proposition when filtered through our current economic mindset doesn't change the fact that Microsoft can afford it, and from a societal standpoint, should. Its not as though Microsoft's profits would vanish overnight because they actually stood behind their products, and as customers of this business we should at least encourage, if not expect, that Microsoft acts in a socially responsible manner. Making a profit, yes, but not an obscene profit at the expense of everyone else.

To put it another way, if Microsoft announced that they were going to do what Mr. Kaz proposed, would any of you honestly say it would be a bad idea because Microsoft would be making less profit than before? If Microsoft were to take the initiative on something like this, wouldn't it benefit each and every one of us in a positive way?

MR.KAZ said:
Forgive me Homicidal,but I do believe you are talking out of your butt.
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That's not going to persuade anyone Mr. Kaz. This issue is clearly something you're passionate about, see to it your comments in this thread are based around the issue itself, and not the other people discussing it.
 
stealth toilet said:
Why should Kaz look at it from a business standpoint, when he is a consumer? And why are the two at odds? If a business's philosophy does not coincide with the needs and wants of the people who are receiving the product/service, then doesn't it make sense for the business to adjust its philosophy, and not the other way around?

I think what Kaz is getting at here is that it would be nice if Microsoft would take a hit in the profit margin to provide their customers with full support for their products. Whether or not this is a realistic proposition when filtered through our current economic mindset doesn't change the fact that Microsoft can afford it, and from a societal standpoint, should. Its not as though Microsoft's profits would vanish overnight because they actually stood behind their products, and as customers of this business we should at least encourage, if not expect, that Microsoft acts in a socially responsible manner. Making a profit, yes, but not an obscene profit at the expense of everyone else.

To put it another way, if Microsoft announced that they were going to do what Mr. Kaz proposed, would any of you honestly say it would be a bad idea because Microsoft would be making less profit than before? If Microsoft were to take the initiative on something like this, wouldn't it benefit each and every one of us in a positive way?
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But the issue isn't just about MS. At least that's not how this topic started. Sure it wouldn't affect MS too much by taking a price cut but what about other companies? Not every company can afford to do that.

MR.KAZ said:
Are you by chance a millionaire?If not,do you realize that the price of a 360 is like 2 weeks pay for some people?Microsoft is a multi-billion dollar company,they have more money coming in every day then they put out,you can't tell me that a free service from a company that huge is considered a loss.
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Like Mai said, if you can't afford it then don't buy it. If you really feel this strongly about it then just boycott MS. It's one of the reasons why I own a Mac. I don't like MS PC products so I just stay away from them.

MR.KAZ said:
Forgive me Homicidal,but I do believe you are talking out of your butt.It all boils down to greed.C'mon now!
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Seems you already have your mind made up. Why even discuss it then if you're not going to be listening to others?
 
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