"We probably don't want your business. Go away."
October 15, 2000 6:43 PM Subscribe
"We probably don't want your business. Go away." That actually seems to be the message here. I don't recall such a hostile advertisement before. (Via HardOCP)
Sounds to me like this is one or two guys, providing cheap dialup access and avoiding hassles.
Their hint pages appear to actually be mildly comprehensive, if you know what you're doing.
There was a thread here a few months ago linking to someone's site who was talking about cheap products without customer service, and these people appear to have taken it to the extreme.
They also don't seem to care if people resell the service, as long as they get their cut, which is pretty cool too.
Before getting cable, if this had been available in my area I'd have signed up in seconds.
posted by cCranium at 7:45 PM on October 15, 2000
Their hint pages appear to actually be mildly comprehensive, if you know what you're doing.
There was a thread here a few months ago linking to someone's site who was talking about cheap products without customer service, and these people appear to have taken it to the extreme.
They also don't seem to care if people resell the service, as long as they get their cut, which is pretty cool too.
Before getting cable, if this had been available in my area I'd have signed up in seconds.
posted by cCranium at 7:45 PM on October 15, 2000
well i certainly know my way around simple isp issues and likely would not require support. in fact, i never have required more than initial FAQ help. but i need to at least believe that the person whom i am doing business with cares about more than 'just the money'. here it is obvious they only care about the money. nothing else. nothing.
posted by daddyray at 8:13 PM on October 15, 2000
posted by daddyray at 8:13 PM on October 15, 2000
You know, I lived in Hawaii for 11 years and this is a fairly typical example of how things are done. If you have a problem you ask your auntie, not tech support.
posted by Nothing at 9:12 PM on October 15, 2000
posted by Nothing at 9:12 PM on October 15, 2000
As someone starting to feel like an intermediate user, I'd give them a try if I had a month to check their performance. I had a web-based e-mail account before I had a computer, and have changed ISPs 3 times in a year, so I wouldn't use their e-mail anyway. Until I live somewhere with reasonable & dependable DSL, I won't be thinking my ISP is permanent. My latest choice is peoplepc, which is $9.95/mo and has tech support but you can wait forever. Unless I have problems, that's an OK trade for the price.
That being said, the wording could be a bit more friendly and still draw the boundary. That would be more professional too.
posted by aflakete at 11:21 PM on October 15, 2000
That being said, the wording could be a bit more friendly and still draw the boundary. That would be more professional too.
posted by aflakete at 11:21 PM on October 15, 2000
Sounds like the whole deal is run by a couple of burnt-out tech support people. As someone who languished in that particular hell for too long, I know where these guys are coming from. If an ISP says they provide "technical support", that is too often interpreted by the customer to mean "a cadre of highly trained, incredibly resourceful, good natured young lads (and lasses) who will gladly, patiently, and repeatedly answer your dumbest question." These questions need have nothing to do with your dial-up internet service.
Can't turn on your printer? Give us a call. Grandma doesn't understand that she needs a browser AND a mail client? Have her call us to yell about it. Oh, and tell her that the more irate she is, the more we want to help her. After all, we're making up to $10.00 an hour for the privelege of having this conversation with you. And we would never DREAM of hanging up on one of our customers.
Just remember to do exactly as the technician tells you. And don't worry, "DELTREE Windows" is just a way of clearing out extra email.
posted by Optamystic at 11:32 PM on October 15, 2000
Can't turn on your printer? Give us a call. Grandma doesn't understand that she needs a browser AND a mail client? Have her call us to yell about it. Oh, and tell her that the more irate she is, the more we want to help her. After all, we're making up to $10.00 an hour for the privelege of having this conversation with you. And we would never DREAM of hanging up on one of our customers.
Just remember to do exactly as the technician tells you. And don't worry, "DELTREE Windows" is just a way of clearing out extra email.
posted by Optamystic at 11:32 PM on October 15, 2000
Hey, ya gotta admire their forthrightness.
But no matter how forthright, there are still idiots in this world that get some stupid idea in their craw and no amount of explanation is going to make them think otherwise.
DSL is a great example. 384K is your guaranteed sync rate, not transfer rate.
Why are the same people who chortle at people who complain that they're "only" getting a 50K connection with their 56K modem the ones who call 2nd Tier support complaining that they're ONLY getting 300K of throughput on a 384K DSL connection?
posted by ethmar at 6:25 AM on October 16, 2000
But no matter how forthright, there are still idiots in this world that get some stupid idea in their craw and no amount of explanation is going to make them think otherwise.
DSL is a great example. 384K is your guaranteed sync rate, not transfer rate.
Why are the same people who chortle at people who complain that they're "only" getting a 50K connection with their 56K modem the ones who call 2nd Tier support complaining that they're ONLY getting 300K of throughput on a 384K DSL connection?
posted by ethmar at 6:25 AM on October 16, 2000
Hey, Opta?
The Scary Devil Monastary is on the next block over, 'k? ;-)
posted by baylink at 7:26 AM on October 16, 2000
The Scary Devil Monastary is on the next block over, 'k? ;-)
posted by baylink at 7:26 AM on October 16, 2000
I think this is a pretty cool ad, frankly. I appreciate honesty, whether it's accompanied by attitude or not. I'd rather know what you're thinking straight out than have to wade through happy platitudes and guess.
Besides, I'm probably the kind of customer they're trying to get... so I guess the ad worked, eh?
-Mars
posted by Mars Saxman at 11:15 AM on October 16, 2000
Besides, I'm probably the kind of customer they're trying to get... so I guess the ad worked, eh?
-Mars
posted by Mars Saxman at 11:15 AM on October 16, 2000
A bunch of techheads with something up their asses quit their jobs at a big ISP and set up their own and don't want to offer tech support, believing every fault is on the customer's end. Instead of advertising as an isp for other techies, they decide to praddle on and on about how they don't want newbies using their service. Ever heard of professionalism? Oh and Optamystic you sound like you work for this place. Their services and prices aren't anything to be surprised for either..
posted by thirdball at 4:50 PM on October 16, 2000
posted by thirdball at 4:50 PM on October 16, 2000
Actually, Thirdball, if you visit FlexNet's main page, you will see a history of the site. The company is the original commercial ISP in Hawaii, and has helped most of the other ISPs there set up shop. It sounds to me like they want to be a boutique ISP going after a select group of people -- those who RTFM -- and using a price break to attract them. I don't think it's unprofessional at all. I would join a service like that in a heartbeat.
posted by rcade at 11:09 PM on October 16, 2000
posted by rcade at 11:09 PM on October 16, 2000
By the way kids, Re: my earlier rant....It is possible to be joking without including a friggin' emoticon...I love people. I was just blowin' off a little job-related steam....
posted by Optamystic at 2:00 AM on October 17, 2000
posted by Optamystic at 2:00 AM on October 17, 2000
What's unprofessional is the way they go about advertising for techies/saying they don't offer tech support.
posted by thirdball at 7:55 PM on October 17, 2000
posted by thirdball at 7:55 PM on October 17, 2000
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posted by adamsc at 7:33 PM on October 15, 2000