Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Well it's Friday night... was just outside getting the trucks ready for the winter storm that's going to hit and watched the last of the UPS trucks whip on by.. (no surprise), no modem as expected..

When you folks called and got a credit, was it the 1-800 number or the 1-888 number you called?



Thanks..

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 137

Credit

I talked with a rep named "Janner." I spoke with him before about the Minstrel S delay. He was friendly and helpful.

This morning he apologized for the delay and said that my account would be credited for $39.95. I didn't have to ask for it.

I'm assuming that all those affected by the delay will get the credit.

I'm sure the cost of the service will drop over next year, but remember we're getting the modem for free!

Mike

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

Email with Customer Service

I ordered mine on the 22nd, and called for update on the 27th. Then I was told that the modem would ship later that day and would arrive no later than the 30th (today). On the 29th (yesterday), I emailed customer service. What follows is the entire reply.

BEGIN EMAIL
Subject: RE:Order Confirmation [#xxxx]
To: [email protected]


Good day,

I have talked to Novatel everyday this week and they keep telling me that this is the day that they will catch up on sending modems out. Everyday they have then come back and pushed me back yet another day. They are having problems obtaining disks that they need to send with each modem. They have promised me that they will send them all out on Tuesday the 2nd. I am hoping so.

When they do send it out they will get a tracking number from UPS. They are then to send you an e-mail with the tracking number. It will be sent overnight. So, hopefully, you will receive a package from Novatel on Wednesday.

Hope you have a great New Year.

Sincerely,

Aaron Page



--Original Message--

Excellent, now if you could provide me with a date/time of order received,
and a date/time and tracking number of the modem being shipped. If the
modem hasn't shipped I would like to know why, as I had called on the
morning of the 27th of December and was given an arrival date of the
30th. Please be as specific as you can all the information I have requested.

Thank you,

Etanisla I. Lopez-Ortiz

At 07:53 AM 12/27/00 -0800, you wrote:

>Good day,
>
>Yes, I do see where you have been received. You have processed for a
>friends and family Min S modem. If you have any other questions, please
>do not hesitate to contact me.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Aaron Page
END EMAIL

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Now it's wednesday... then it will be thursday, then friday..

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

Well, I just called YadaYada today and ordered my modem. It has to get shipped to boston where all of the bad weather is supposedly supposed to go, but I'm not sure of that.
The rep that I spoke to one the phone was very helpful, and it only took about 3 minutes to process the order (but I did have a 6 minute hold time).
I can't wait for the brown wireless modem truck to come .
BEN

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 80

I ordered mine on the evening of the 21st through the web site and it arrived sometime before the 28th, as I got back from being out of town on early in the morning on the 29th.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lacutis
I ordered mine on the evening of the 21st through the web site and it arrived sometime before the 28th, as I got back from being out of town on early in the morning on the 29th.

---

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

Actually, if you work it out matchmatically, the people who got the 12 month requirement are guarenteeing that they will pay 80 dollars more than the people that get the 6 month deal, so WE should be getting the better modems .
BEN

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 80

I did not get any confirmation numbers via email, or tracking numbers for that matter.

I ordered the free modem, with 12 month contract on the 21st around 6-7pm CST over the internet.

When I got home around 8 am on the 29th it was sitting on my doorstep.

It was sent Next day Air.

I just looked on the box, there is a tracking number there, when I put it into the ups.com website I got this:

-----------------------------------------------------
Status: Delivered
Delivered on: Dec 22, 2000 10:13 A.M.
Location: FRONT DOOR
Delivered to: MCKINNEY, TX, US

Tracking Number: 1Z A95 F80 01 4160 265 0
Service Type: NEXT DAY AIR
-----------------------------------------------------

And

-----------------------------------------------------
PACKAGE PROGRESS
Date Time Location Activity
Dec 22, 2000 10:13 A.M. DENTON, TX, US DELIVERY
-----------------------------------------------------

So it seems to me that it was actually shipped that night and delivered at 10 am the next morning. Is novatel in Denton, Texas? How about YadaYada?

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 276

quote:

---

Originally posted by BEN
Actually, if you work it out matchmatically, the people who got the 12 month requirement are guarenteeing that they will pay 80 dollars more than the people that get the 6 month deal, so WE should be getting the better modems .
BEN

---

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what?<br>

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

This is how I worked the math:

12 month deal (required payments):

Modem = $0

Service = $39.95*12

total = $479.40


6 Month deal (required paymetns):

Modem = $149.99

Service = $39.95*6

total = $389.69


So, the people that get the 12 month deal actually are required to pay YadaYada some 90 dollars more than the people that get the six month deal, assuming that people only use the service for the contract period. If the people on the 6 month deal use their modems for more than 6 moths the numbers get all screwed up, and it works out to be about 8.3 month's of service to have the same price.

BEN

Registered: May 2000
Location: Wilmington, NC USA
Posts: 8

I have you all beat

I ordered my modem off their web site back on December 10th. That Friday (Dec. 15) I called them and they said it should arrive that day. I noticed on my online credit card statement I had been billed for the modem and the overnight shipping.

I left town that day and had a friend go check for a package at my apt. The next Thursday, (Dec. 21) I went to pick up the package only to learn it was something else I was expecting.

I called YY that day and they told me they didn't ship me the modem because I didn't have coverage in my town. I told them I did have service through Verizon and it would work in my town. [I still have yet to figure out why they didn't call me a week before then to tell me that fact or why they charged me for the modem if they weren't going to send me one.]

Aaron Page told me he would make sure the modem would ship that day and to call back the next day to make sure it had.
I called the next day and I was told again that I did not have service in my town. Apparently he didn't believe me, so I gave him the number to the local Verizon store. He called them and they told I do have the CDPD coverage. He called somebody in California and told them I had coverage. He said the modem should ship out that day (Dec. 23).

I called Tuesday (Dec. 26) and the lady then told me the modem would ship on Thursday (Dec. 29) because of the aformentioned disk shortage.

Apparently that did not happen. I have just about lost any patience I have with these people. If only Omnisky worked in my area...

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Good news all, I just got mine, it just arrived! (fyi - unannounced)

-Eric

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 137

I got mine this morning too!

Hey, all!

I got my YY modem this morning at 9:30am...Houston, TX!

They're all on the way!

Mike

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Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

Ben:

Regarding who is getting the better deal, the 12 month free modem group or the 6 month but pay $150 for the modem:

Your math seems right, except for one problem; it doesn't account for the "net present value" of the 12 month deal. $479 over twelve months is worth less today than $389 over six, particularly since almost half of that is paid up front. I'm frankly too lazy and math phobic to do the calculation, and I guess one could debate the discount rate, but my guess is it tourns out to be a wash.

I personally went with the 12 month option because it was easier to sell to my better half: "Hey, I get a $150 modem for free!"

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 94

VTL,

I kinda agree, I think we could all argue till we're blue about who gets the better deal, but in the end we're all still paying $40 just so we can get online from a handheld device with a 160X160 screen resolution! How much logic is there in that!

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 231

VTL:

Doesn't the modem retail for $300?

Anyway I just got mine! Yoo hoo! I'm boning up on the manual while it's charging.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 276

Got mine today...

Had a tumultuous argument (I evetually apologized for my behavior) with the customer service rep. He had no idea when it was shipping, so if you call them to find out when it is coming... don't even bother taking their word for it. Funny, how all the companies with no tracking number always have shipping problems (ehh hmm, Handspring... 10 weeks). The blamed the holidays and the CD, the software, Novatel, etc... when all I wanted was the truth, even if it was that they have no idea and just hold tight. So... if any company witnesses this thread and encounter shipping problems, please take my advice... tell the truth. I think others here will agree with me.

Funny thing, Yada Yada received so much as 2 million orders outstanding for the Minstrel. My guess, shouldn't have made it free.

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what?<br>

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 34

According to a YadaYada CS Rep, the free modem offer was supposed to be only sent out as private email to selected individuals, but 'somehow the information got posted to the Internet and we got slammed.' Hmm, I've seen the information posted in several locations, but their website only mentions the $149/6 mo service offer.

They are indeed suffering from the same problems Handspring did at first when they started up. I wonder if the folks over at Omnisky are watching this and wondering if maybe it wasn't such a good idea to disregard all those VDX owners as potential customers?

VDX owners have spoken! Unfortunately that din has also deafened poor YadaYada who wasn't prepared for this level of response. Let's hope they follow Handspring's lead and have a fantastic company and product line in a year's time.

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 85

quote:

---

Originally posted by Vegaman Dan
According to a YadaYada CS Rep, the free modem offer was supposed to be only sent out as private email to selected individuals, but 'somehow the information got posted to the Internet and we got slammed.' Hmm, I've seen the information posted in several locations, but their website only mentions the $149/6 mo service offer.

They are indeed suffering from the same problems Handspring did at first when they started up. I wonder if the folks over at Omnisky are watching this and wondering if maybe it wasn't such a good idea to disregard all those VDX owners as potential customers?

---

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