Would anyone care to share any +/- experiences?

Thanks,
Anthony

--
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\  Anthony Baker           amba...@iastate.edu                    /
/  Aerospace Engineering   http://www.public.iastate.edu/~ambaker \
\  Scalable Computing Laboratory, Ames Lab, USDOE                 /
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\  As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.   /
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--ADAM

I and a friend are both negotiating for systems from EPS.  We have heard very good things
regarding the quality of their systems.  However, I would suggest that you avoid a salesman
named Chris.  I recommend Jesse, or Creighton.  During the ordering of the systems, both
my friend and I said we required 2 8M SIMMS (standard is 4 4M SIMMS).  Chris said that
was no problem.  When the invoice came, it indicated 4 4M SIMMS. (I'm making him fix it
and fax me a revised invoice).  Also, when we found out about proce drops from other
salesmen, Chris denied it.

Overall, the systems are reportedly good, response time seems reasonable, the other
salespeople seem more reliable than Chris.

Their # is 1-800-477-0921 7a-7p M-F 9a-3p S CST

Good Luck!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
| John Newcomer          | My opinions can be found in "SWBT Employee  |
| CNA Team               | Opinion Policy" Section 3C, Part 4, Page 16 |
| 314-235-0084           |                                             |
| jn8...@valinor.sbc.com | Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar! - Frank Zappa  |
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I promptly called technical "service", and a very nice lady said that everyone
was busy, could they call me back. I left my number and waited a day. The next
day I called them again, got the same nice sounding voice, same story. I
called several more times that day, and eventually I started telling her,
"I'll wait on the line until someone is free." Being an 800 number, I knew
they wouldn't like this, but she let me wait, for what seemed like forever,
and then eventually told me she couldn't let me stay on the line any longer.
No one ever called me back.

Next I called my salesman, (difficult, but I eventually got through to him)
and I told him that unless I got some technical advice, his system was coming
back. He got someone on the line for me, who left me with instructions for
changing the SoundCard IRQ, which he said would fix it right up.

Needless to say, I made the changes, but the tape backup still didn't work. I
logged another several hours on various 800 numbers trying to get Tech
"service" again, but those darned guys were still just so darned busy. I went
through another session similar to the above, had another Tech explain another
operation, which also didn't work. At that point, I decided to return the
system, but guess what?  I needed to talk to Monty to get an RMA number. Now
this may sound like just a coincidence, but Monty was very busy. I left my
number, and he didn't call me back.

(Sensing a theme yet?) I laid on the 800 number for the next two days trying
to catch Monty just walking in in the morning, or staying late in the evening,
but he was just too hardworking a guy to be found. The nice sounding ladies on
the phone soon began to recognize me, and were much less likely to allow me to
"hold on the line" for Monty to take my call. I think I finally asked one of
the ladies for her name so that I could include her in the lawsuit I was
seriously considering, when suddenly, Monty had just walked in!

I wish I could say that talking with Monty cleared everything right up, but it
didn't. I had a horrible customer attitude by then, and his customer service
attitude didn't fit what I needed to hear. He required me to fax a copy of my
sales order to him before he could even talk to me about returning the system.
I was sure that if I hung up the phone, I would never speak to him again, and
I told him so, but nothing I threatened would cause him to break the rules and
give me an RMA until he received my fax.

I never spoke to Monty again, but the next day, after I sent the fax, I did
get a very nice lady named Deanna to give me the RMA number, and I shipped
that sucker out within the hour.

EPILOGUE: Even though the advertisement guaranteed a free 30-day trial, I was
still charged for the CD-ROMs that I had opened, and the CD-ROMs were
returned to me. They were not titles I would have gone out and bought, but it
wasn't worth arguing about. I still would like to know how one is supposed to
check out a system that has a CD-ROM drive without using a CD-ROM in it, but
maybe that is typical for mail-order...

I still do not think the system had any real problems, other than some IRQ
conflicts, but because of their inept "service" department, I'll never know.
If you choose to order from them, just don't make any plans to get service
from their Techs.

: >Hi, I am contemplating purchasing a pentium system through
: >E.P.S. Technologies.  They seem to have a good price/features/
: >warranty setup on their systems, but I don't have any first-
: >hand experience with the company.

: I bought a Pentium from EPS recently, and ended up sending it back to them,
: [justifiably irate comments skipped]

I am afraid I must echo other sentiments.  I would not purchase from EPS
again.  The major problem is chronic understaffing in their customer
service and tech support departments.  I have been able to get through
but it has taken extreme persistence to do so.    Leaving voice mail
(which their answering system kicks you into after 15-30 seconds) does
no good because calls are _never_ returned.  Like Rick wrote, I do not
believe the systems have anything intrinsically wrong in general (though
mine _does_ have a significant problem).  Their prices are very good but
you must expect to be virtually on your own after your purchase.

When I have gotten through to real people in the C.S. and T.S
departments, they have so far been helpful and friendly.

Bottom Line: Avoid this company -- pay more and get good technical
support.

-gil

--
Gil Gilliland                   jsgi...@wolf.ecte.uswc.uswest.com  
US West Technologies            Platform Design & Eng.
1475 Lawrence Street            Denver, CO 80202

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