Uh-oh... Look out, I'm starting to rant...

Well, I guess part of what blogs are about is opinions. And well, I guess that would be mine in the case of my blog, eh? I've got some great, some good and some... hmmmm... we'll say not-so-good to discuss. Some service issues and some product reviews. I'll get through a few and go over others later.

First, you can find my amazon.com reviews here. My Cnet discussions/comments and reviews here. And a few Netflix movie reviews here. Sure, I have more stuff floating in hyperspace on discussion boards like Apple knowledge base, and overclockers forums (from when I was researching how to build a PC), but mostly that's tech stuff better left to experts. If you (for some odd reason) appreciate my opinions, you can find more of 'em in these places away from blogland.

I'm gonna start with an amazing service story. Callaway Golf. Yup. Financial bankrollers to Annika Sorenstam and other pro golfers like Charles Howell III (uh, certainly I'm not one of 'em). I met someone on a course (Tilden Park) that said, "I had that same (Steelhead II) bag until last year. My buddy said Callaway would warranty it, because it (the black nylon) faded as bad as yours. Call 'em up." Sure enough I did. Hardly even a question other than the address they could send a new bag to, and which brand new bag (Rev Stand) did I want for free? Geez. Free shipping, and post-paid return shipping for the bag return also? Yup.

Well, during this more than muddy winter, I somehow lost a little plastic base that connects to the legs on the wire frame (I think it sank into mud and stayed there). The plastic part is not replaceable according to Callaway. All it's supposed to do is press the wire frame so the legs extend open. So, once again, they sent me a new (Terra Firma Xi) bag. I told them I would pay for an upgrade; they wouldn't take my money. Amazing. I'll buy Callaway products whenever possible from now on... I even got their shoes now.

On the other side is Golfsmith. How bad could they screw up an order? Well, I started a custom club build order in late October last year, trying to order the shafts online. I bought and paid for them, but then they said they weren't in stock and were discontinued. After many discussions and changes in my order, they were supposed to be built in January... Then February, March... You get the idea. I finally called Austin, TX corporate and talked to two VP's who got this done in a hurry. The good news is my $600 order ended up costing me about $100 after the problems. I got my completed clubs in May... And the second time I hit my 3-iron the club head flew off about 65 yards out into the driving range! After sending my clubs in to Austin for priority re-building by their Director of Clubmaking Operations, I now am playing these Cleveland CG2 Irons, Cleveland CG10 Black Pearl wedges, Cleveland Launcher woods and a Titleist 983K Driver. I am very pleased with the results. I can talk more about my club build another time.

I had gotten so fed up with Verizon Wireless that I switched to Cingular, after 3 years w/ VZW. I had so many dropped calls and dubious charges and false billing fees it was borderline illegal. Just like cable tv companies and internet (think SBC-now-AT&T), they know you don'thave many choices and get stuck easily. Verizon never resolved my issues of over two years' billing.

Cingular appealed to me because they have the nicest equipment (IMHO) and rollover. For a guy like me who can use only 150-250 anytime minutes some months and 900 the next, rollover is my friend. Well, all didn't go smoothly with Cingular at first, they sold me insurance for an unisurable phone (Motorola MPx220) and then removed the insurance without my knowledge. My phone died and had to get it warrantied. Then I wanted an insurable phone. Eventually a level III (yes, a THIRD level manager) said it was their fault and would replace it with whichever phone I wanted (Sony Ericsson w600i). It took about 4 months total for THAT to happen. And many, many hours of calls. Well, they even let me keep the MPx220, no charge. Oh yeah, I didn't mention I started by ordering Cingular service through Amazon.com with a free Moto Razr and bluetooth headset w/ activation. Well, they sent an unregistered phone, no sim card, no account set-up, and no phone number. Basically, all went back as a return to Amazon and it took 12 weeks to get a refund. I would NOT suggest using Amazon for cell phone service orders. Cingular call quality is far better, and the service plan gives me MUCH better value with minutes rolling over (I have over 960 rollover minutes since plan started in December).

The bottom line? Businesses now seem too big to care if you're satisfied with your service. When they screw up, they will claim they didn't screw up. You will need to be persistent... As in MORE persistent than THEM. In the end, things will likely get sorted out in your favor. But be prepared for some serious phone call time with most companies.