Technoethical grievance
Hello Trisquel community
I have found this https://trisquel.info/en/forum/technoethical-bankrupt thread from March 2018 and have similar problems with Technoethical, especially the contact with Tiberiu. Maybe there are somebody else who has also such problems??
I have bought a X200 in September, after a few weeks to late I got it but there were a few problems:
.) The battery is not the right one and the capacity is much lower than the promised minimum.
.) The cardreader doesn't work.
.) The display makes an high pitch sound and is not equable lighted (I found the "BLC_PWM_CTL" solution but it's not possible to save this value).
.) The notebook reboots a few times per day.
I wrote to Technoethical (Tiberiu) and also filled out the return form (2018-10-01) on their website (they promise 30-days return policy), but they did not react. I have written them again and again, after some weeks I got just a strange email with "What's going on?". I'm waiting since more than 1,5 months for a solution, but they didn't care about. The communication in the beginning was already tricky, but after they got my money, the communication was nearly terminated. By the way, they did never release my negative review on their product page - there are just good reviews and so I pratfalled on this good reviews.
On 2018-10-04 I wrote to Tiberiu that I'm already disappointed and that this case should not take another many weeks. I also wrote in the return form that I can't and don't use the delivered notebook, and I'm waiting for the confirmation to send it back - til now in vain...
I thought I buy a FSF #RYF certificated product and can trust Technoethical, but this is a very bad experience for me. And I think it is also a big disadvantage for the #floss community resp. new people who want to give #RYF hardware a try. Now I got in touch with FSF US who has certified them.
First time i read something like this for Technoethical.
-Wow-
And that it how we lost people from fsf world .
Companies must be more reliable .
You gave 480 euro to take a crap used laptop to support them...
I'm glad to see this being addressed here. The comment made on the fediverse (as I emailed Technoethical and suggested they ought to do), was this:
> "We at #Technoethical are working hard to deliver grade A, like new, devices that respect user’s freedom. We are humans too, and it's depressing to see such a customer reaction, despite our best efforts and way too much time put into adapting to another customer’s special requests. We have started working on a detailed statement to clarify the situation, and we’ll publish it here once it’s ready. We are too small to have a designated person for communication, and we all have to work on hardware."
It's clear Technoethical, like any business, is obliged to provide customers with the promised products, or return their money. The last person who complained about slow customer service from Technoethical on this forum did get a refund, and this is only the second complaint I'm aware of. I think it's reasonable to conclude that nothing malicious is going on here, but rather that Tiberiu occasionally struggles to keep up with customer service as well as technical work. But please aiw, and Tiberiu, keep us informed about what happens in this case.
I wonder if it would help for small shops like Technoethical to form a federation of similar software freedom enterprises, that could pool their resources to fund dedicated staff to deal with customer service and communications? Perhaps Enspiral offers a model that could be adapted to the specific needs here? Most of their member businesses develop or deploy software with a social mission, but they also have unit that help all the members businesses deal with accounting and legal needs. A multinational co-operation, you might say:
https://teamhuman.fm/episodes/ep-110-enspiral-better-work-together/
I would be willing to help bootstrap a cooperative effort along these lines, as I'm sure would plenty of other people who want to support businesses supply freedom-respecting hardware. Feel free to contact me to discuss this concept:
http://www.coactivate.org/projects/disintermedia/danyl-strype
Over 3 Months later, no answer from Tiberiu nor from Technoethical, still waiting for my money or an answer - is this the way how modern ethical looks like? *facepalm*
On 21, November 2018, they published on Mastodon: "We have started working on a detailed statement to clarify the situation, and we’ll publish it here once it’s ready. We are too small to have a designated person for communication, and we all have to work on hardware."
Half a Year ago...
>We are too small to have a designated person for communication,
These are not words of people who do business, it seems.
The owner of the car company said that he had been having his cell phone alongside him since more than 20 years ago. Even while he is asleep, while he is taking a bath, to rescue his customers from the car accident.
They would be underestimating or waiting the time of ruin according to their thanatos.
If it is a fact, you should file a lawsuit. I understand that it is too troublesome to do it. Because you have to spare your time, money, or else further. You should demand the minimum wage of your country ×hours which you spent, too, with interest. They are not your bank. And if possible, for mental damage, too. You must have been getting not good feelings each time you remember that. I understand the feeling very much. You have the right to regain them. They never change.
Let's pocket an insult. I or my Fellows never forget their names. This kind of story irritates me. Our time is limited. They take the time and somehow even money away from us with irritating nonsense childish excuses, especially silence. That is their business.
It would reflect off themselves as their wish. They would be ignored by the society. Satisfy their wish :) in a way.
I'm interested in FSF's statement about this matter.