Interesting OLPC discussion thread from Amazon
OK, really for sure, my last update for the day on the Amazon OLPC sales. Just wanted to post a conversation thread from the one, concerned, negative reviewer on Amazon:
Refund Policy?, November 17, 2008 By Marilyn Jones Last year, there were many problems with the Get 1 portion of the Give 1, Get 1 promotion. While I'm sure that using Amazon for the shipping will take care of the majority of troubles, none of the information given here addresses the issue of refunds. If someone takes advantage of the G1G1 promotion and is unsatisfied with it, will the refund be for the full $399 or will it be for only half that amount? Last year it was very difficult to get the "Give 1" portion refunded along with the "Get 1."
Update: This review has received two comments to the effect that I am being a poor sport. This is my answer:
If I had wanted to make a donation of $200 without the bribe [of the Get 1], that's what I would have done long before the first G1G1. This was the case with almost all the participants! Anyway, the refunds (I was not the only person who requested one) were desired by people who never received their XO's or whose XO's were stolen off their porches prior to their receiving them or who received XO's with defects and then had trouble getting replacements. The refunds were not requested by participants who received working XO's.
Painting me as unreasonable for wanting what I paid for is not the way to attract new participants. I've written 81 reviews on Amazon, the majority of which were positive (look at the number of other reviews posted by the people who gave this product five stars). I am a normal consumer. If only saints should participate in the G1G1 program, then that should be stipulated along with that refund policy!
Initial post: Nov 17, 2008 7:34 AM PST G. A. Kaiser says: May I suggest that, in the event you are dissatisfied with the XO for your own child, that you take the $200 refund and say "Thank you," realizing that you're helping a child far less well off than yourself with the relatively insignificant $200 you "lost?" This is what I'm thinking for my daughter for Christmas this year, and if I had to return it, I wouldn't even think of asking for the money back for the "Give 1" portion.
Posted on Nov 17, 2008 8:17 AM PST Jim of Oz says: I don't see why anyone should expect a refund of the "Give One" portion of this program. You're giving something, not buying something. I wouldn't expect a soup kitchen to return my donation if I didn't like the soup they served, so I wouldn't expect a return of the $200 I gave for the XO computer if I wasn't satisfied with the computer I finally received.
In reply to an earlier post on Nov 17, 2008 8:24 AM PST Last edited by the author 1 hour ago Marilyn Jones says: If I had wanted to make a donation of $200 without the bribe, that's what I would have done long before the first G1G1. This was the case with almost all the participants! Anyway, the refunds (I was not the only person who requested one) were desired by people who never received their XO's or whose XO's were stolen off their porches prior to their receiving them or who received XO's with defects and then had trouble getting replacements. The refunds were not requested by participants who received working XO's.
Painting me as unreasonable for wanting what I paid for is not the way to attract new participants. I've written 81 reviews on Amazon, at least half of which were positive. I am a normal consumer. If only saints should participate in the G1G1 program, then that should be stipulated along with that refund policy!
Posted on Nov 17, 2008 9:00 AM PST Jonathan Eisch says: Ultimately, it seems the review was of a store, not of the product listed. Since that store wasn't Amazon, I don't see how any of it is relevant for a review of a product listed on amazon.
Marilyn Jones says: It is about the REFUND policy, which is not mentioned. This is a legitimate concern and very relevant to the sale of the item through Amazon.
So what is the refund policy?