Monday, January 28, 2008
G1G1
I don't know how many of heard of this, but there's a movement out trying to set up a new paradigm (hate that word) for teaching kids. This particular one is known as OLPC (One Laptop Per Child). A pretty cool idea of coming up with a simple, yet robust and inexpensive laptop that could be purchased by third world governments for use in educating their kids. As part of that, they also had a program back in November called G1G1 (Give 1 Get 1). This is where you could pay for two computers, get one of them and the other would be donated as part of the program. Sounds good, but boy, did they screw it up.
There are several wikis and web sites around full of folks complaining and other folks who are complaining about the complainers. Miscommunications abound, no communications is the rule, and in my experience so far, this thing is currently FUBARed beyond belief (but there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel - maybe).
I was an early participant. I put my order in the first day and as it turns out, I was in the first 10,000 orders. Supposedly, this meant (and the shipping info web site still states) that I would more than likely get my computer by December 24. I waited until the end of December before making a email inquiry about the order and was rewarded with an autoresponse saying they'd get back to me in 3-5 working days. And today (Jan 17) I finally got that response which asked for the same information I sent them in the first email so many days ago.
I did find the 800 number to call and tried that a week or so ago. The first call I made I found out that they couldn't send it because I had used a PO Box. When I told them I'd already given them a change of address (discovered the non-delivery to PO Boxes buried in the terms and conditions which I finally discovered Nov 18) they said, yes they'd gotten that and I would get my laptop by Jan 15.
As you can imagine, Jan 15 came and went and when I was able to call them again, I was told it would be delivered Jan 20 - which of course is a Sunday. Today I finally got an email from them and it asked for order information all over again. Unlike some others, I'm not going to cancel - it's too late anyway to do that - but I'm really unhappy with the whole experience.
OK, now let me answer those who think I'm too judgmental about the process. Yes, I do realize it's a non-profit run by a lot of volunteers and their first priority should be the kids for whom the whole program is about. However, they still should have some responsibility to their supporters. I don't need much, just a mass-email once in awhile (they have my (and others) email address) saying, "oops, we mucked it up big time and you really need to wait until we get it all straightened out hopefully by December, January, February, March..." Instead, it's been almost a month of silence on their part. That's what ticks me off.
Oh, by the way. I just got a response back from them. My computer should be here by January 15th. Sigh...
Update - Jan 23A couple of days ago there was an email posted on various OLPC forums saying how the G1G1 program had just found out there were many unfilled orders. To fix that, they'd put aside 5000 computers to be shipped on Jan 21 and would email people their Fedex number. Guess what I haven't seen.
Yesterday I once more called to check on my laptop. This time I was told it would be delivered late February - no reason, just late February. Guess what? This morning I get an email (at least I got an email, that's an improvement) saying they have no record of me for shipping!!#@#%@#! and they give me another number to call. So I call it, and good heavens, no wait -- the lady answering the phone takes my shipping address -- once again -- and now says the laptop will be delivered in 7-10 days. Needless to say, I'm not holding my breath.
Update - Jan 28There's been a veritable flurry of info flying around about the G1G0 problems. The latest news seems to say not to expect a computer until later in February sometime. Thank goodness it's a leap year, that gives them one more day. They have also updated the shipping status page where you can enter your order number and see the status. In my case it states, "Your donation is at our warehouse and your laptop is in the process of being shipped." Which means who knows what. I also entered the order numbers one before and one after mine. The one before got their computer Dec 19th and the one after mine got theirs Dec 18th.
And I have to honestly admit, I didn't get into this only to give some kid in some third-world country a computer - although that did enter into the offer. I really want one of those little green things, which I guess makes me a selfish, greedy techie capitalist, unlike all those who gave for the express purpose of giving.
