The idea behind GNU Consumer Reports is that we will start rating companies based on everything from their policies, prices, people, use of free and open source software, where their products are manufactured, services, compatibility, hack ability, reliability, stability, kindness, ability to speak English on the Phone, etc.
Submit your stuff to ultumix at mindblowingidea dot com
Rate the policy or agreement based on fairness and how much they trust the customer (1-5 penguins) And post a link to the current agreement at that time and date in a saved .pdf file that is on a private page or server so that it can't be altered by the company. Provide a link to their current agreement.
If they have any policies or agreements they are very vague.
User Reviews. if you can find them on line or reviews by other sites. (average their ratings and boil them all down into one 1 - 5 rating.
I was just about to purchase this product when I read this web site and found out that many people had been taken by this company. It's very tempting to get the free stamp, business cards, and sticky notes with your company info on them but It's not worth credit card fraud. Trust me I've been threw it before.
Product or service quality, value, Bang per buck ratio.
These free products with the adds for their site are not worth it because they will bite you in the end.
Similar products or services from other companies.
I've used Walter Drake before and they do a fine job of making standard black and white business cards.
Shipping rates, handling, and do they offer USPS, UPS, FEDEX or what? Do the items arrive broken? How long does it take for them to ship them out.
The shipping rates are even more outrageous than the review says they are on the web site linked to above because they charge $7.00+ to ship items that they are giving you free.
Payment Methods. I.E. PayPal, credit card, google checkout, Direct deposit, etc.
They don't use any verified method of payment.
Any personal experiences.
Not yet but I hope I never will.
Would the average consumer expect to have any of the problems mentioned here on a regular basis or is this something that they would have to be a customer for a long time before they experienced?
Yes from what I'm reading this company has these issues on a regular basis.
Does this company outsource? If so how much is outsourced?
Who knows.
Does the company say one thing and do another? Do their policies agree with what they say?
Yes they say they will charge you shipping and give you free items and end up charging you more later down the road.
Do they lye, Cheat, steal.
Yes, Yes, and Yes.
Warranty, return policy, RMA time. etc.
N/A
If you buy their product or service for a small fee do you end up paying more in the end?
YES
Linux Compatibility
N/A but with a name like VistaPrint would you trust them?
PayPal exchanges money between sellers and buyers on ebay.com and other sites and has been recommended by many news sites as a Verified Safe way to do business. There is a lot that they don't tell you abut customer complaints including over 5,000 complaints to the BBB in the last 3 years.
Rate the policy or agreement based on fairness and how much they trust the customer (1-5 penguins) And post a link to the current agreement at that time and date in a saved .pdf file that is on a private page or server so that it can't be altered by the company. Provide a link to their current agreement.
Their policy / agreement is very misleading. They say that they have buyer and seller protection when in truth only the buyer receives protection in most cases. When you do manage to play by PayPal's rules and a buyer breaks the agreement you will most likely not be able to get your money back. Current Agreement.
User Reviews. If you can find them on line or reviews by other sites. (average their ratings and boil them all down into one 1 - 5 rating.)
Call the companies 1-800 number 10 times but not one after another and see:
1. How many people can speak fluent English in an understandable fashion, 2. Are they rude or do they answer your questions (ask a different question every time you call) 3. how long do you have to wait on hold?
UPDATE! 05/02/2008! PayPal Just Ruined My Credit and they didn't even warn me! These Videos Below Are All Of The Calls. Skip the First Video If You Have Played The Audio Above.
Product or service quality, value, Bang per buck ratio.
PayPal charges you a huge percentage on each transaction and charges you per transaction as well. Ebay (who owns PayPal) charges you for listing fees as well. Also your not even paying for protection when you pay PayPal as you will hear in the recorded phone calls above.
Similar products or services from other companies.
Similar products or services such as ubid.com and Google Merchant Accounts are much better than PayPal.com's set up.
Shipping rates, handling, and do they offer USPS, UPS, FEDEX or what? Do the items arrive broken? How long does it take for them to ship them out.
PayPal provides USPS and UPS shipping services and while it seems convenient you will never ever be reimbursed if your shipping does not go threw.
Any personal experiences.
Yes I have had 2 recent experiences that terminated my business relationship with PayPal.com. 1. PayPal told me that I was protected 100% by FDIC insurance against any fraud. So I decided to sell some Laptops. Someone from Indonesia decided to buy a Laptop from me by hijacking another person's PayPal account and paying me the $850.00 which went into my bank account. After waiting about a week I decided to go ahead and ship the item sense I had the money and I was protected. I even called PayPal to confirm that I was protected. (I didn't record that call) Then as you can see in the screenshot to the left the automated system said I was covered. Then I was billed for -$850 + shipping. So I called PayPal and asked them what was wrong. You can listen to that conversation by clicking 1 above.
2. A man in Auburn WA bought a second Laptop from me and everything was confirmed. His address was confirmed. He had bought the item. He had signed the no returns unless not as described or DOA agreement. I shipped it to him and he did a return to sender and again PayPal charged me -$850 +shipping.
In the first example I went on word of mouth and what their automated system said and in the second example I followed their rules. Both times I got the shaft.
Would the average consumer expect to have any of the problems mentioned here on a regular basis or is this something that they would have to be a customer for a long time before they experienced?
As they say in the recorded phone calls using PayPal.com is like playing Russian Runlet. Sooner or later you will get shot.
Does this company outsource? If so how much is outsourced?
Yes their foreign people in their debt collections department are not always easy to understand or work with.
Does the company say one thing and do another? Do their policies agree with what they say?
YES they never stick to their word.
Do they lye, Cheat, steal.
You better believe it.
If you buy their product or service for a small fee do you end up paying more in the end?
YES!
Linux Compatibility
Ya it's compatible with Linux.
We have reason to believe that the man known as PPman here has been e-mailing threats to www.screw-paypal.com from the Nebraska PayPal escalations office. If you have any information on PPman please comment here!
450 Watt Power Supply with tons of connectors. Includes SATA, extra 4 pin and 6 pin connectors.
User Reviews. if you can find them on line or reviews by other sites. (average their ratings and boil them all down into one 1 - 5 rating.
Call the companies 1-800 number 10 times but not one after another and see:
1. How many people can speak fluent English in an understandable fashion, 2. Are they rude or do they answer your questions (ask a different question every time you call) 3. how long do you have to wait on hold? The people there don't seem to have trouble speaking English and are kind and quick to respond but they didn't know where the product was made and had to ask others. Also the number was not toll free.
Product or service quality, value, Bang per buck ratio.
It's a great value for what it does but I felt like I sold my soul after I saw the packaging.
Similar products or services from other companies.
This item is much better than other Power Supplies for the price but I won't buy another one because it was made in Taiwan.
Shipping rates, handling, and do they offer USPS, UPS, FEDEX or what? Do the items arrive broken? How long does it take for them to ship them out.
It arrived ok but now it says that the item is discontinued.
Payment Methods. I.E. PayPal, credit card, google checkout, Direct deposit, etc.
You can buy this item at most online stores.
Any personal experiences.
So far I bought this thing and it arrived on my door step. I picked up the box all the computer parts came in and to my surprise it was unusually heavy. So I opened it up to see what was so heavy. It was this power supply and normally thats a good thing. However it makes me wonder if it has any lead in it. I don't think this is an unleaded computer. :( Also it didn't come with a Power Cord and a kid with a screwdriver or a paper clip could stick it into the back easily and shock themselves.
Made in Taiwan? I think you can tell by looking at the package.
Would the average consumer expect to have any of the problems mentioned here on a regular basis or is this something that they would have to be a customer for a long time before they experienced?
Well we don't know what their return policy is because we can't find it (you can't take their word for it on the phone) so if the thing breaks down how do you know it will be replaced? However due to the weight of the power supply unit I am pretty sure it will last a long time. It also has very good user reviews. The item has been discontinued from the site I bought it at.
Does this company outsource? If so how much is outsourced?
Taiwan is where they have all of their stuff made according to their customer support.
Warranty, return policy, RMA time. etc.
Can't Find one.
If you buy their product or service for a small fee do you end up paying more in the end?
YES! Big time! These cheap power supplies are made in Taiwan and so the money is going outside the US. If we keep buying from this company we will go further into debt as a nation.
Linux Compatibility
All power supplies work fine with Linux but lets get to their web interface. Their website sucks. You can't navigate their site with a regular Linux web browser like FireFox because of their flash code. You can get their support number but thats about it.
Click here for full size.
