From: golbone@milton.u.washington.edu (Sima Hashemifar)
Subject: Re: Informix Support Problem
Followup-To: adtaiwo@peponi.mats.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 08:14:54 GMT

In article <9208211400.AA01350@salmon.demon.co.uk> neil@salmon.demon.co.uk ("Neil S. Briscoe") writes:
>In article <1992Aug21.054836.3498@u.washington.edu>
>From: golbone@milton.u.washington.edu (Sima Hashemifar) writes:
>[...]

>>But you would post to the net to clear your/company name? Why did you not
>>email your response?

>Some at Informix choose to, some don't.  In either case I don't see it
>as trying to make the company look good.  It may be that they care
>what customers feel about the company *and* themselves.  They're
>trying to do you a favour.

You are quoting me out of context and I do not like that. Whereas the
engineer would would post his response, he asked me to use e-mail. That was
why I asked him for his motive, publicly. You quickly forget that I did not
get adequate support until I brought the case into the public forum.
Anyway, he has since replied by email thank you.

>what customers feel about the company *and* themselves.  They're
>trying to do you a favour.
I beg no favor from this particular engineer nor Informix.
The product hangs up my machine!! In my opinion, this is a fatal
bug and should be given immediate attention. The fact that the problem
was deffered till after work shows a lack of commitment to good
quality on Informix's part.

>>You may think that working at home is a sign of support, I think of it as a
>>sign that either the engineer is overworked meaning that Informix is
>>cutting corners in support by having too few hands, or the engineer is lazy
>>at work and has to take the spill home. I have a strong feeling the reason
>>is not the latter.

>Most of my customers are also good business colleagues.  I've spent
>social occasions with these people. 
Some of us do not think we need to kiss customers A** to keep them. We believe
in good work; you know, the type that advertises itself.

>(I'm lucky we're small enough to
>allow this.)  In any event, working from home after a day at the
>Silicon Face is nobody's idea of fun.

The point I made clear was that the engineers are probably overworked. I
guess you missed the point. I wrote:
>>You may think that working at home is a sign of support, I think of it as a
>>sign that either the engineer is overworked meaning that Informix is
>>cutting corners in support by having too few hands, or the engineer is lazy
>>at work and has to take the spill home. I have a strong feeling the reason
>>at work and has to take the spill home. I have a strong feeling the reason
>>is not the latter.

>Silicon Face is nobody's idea of fun.
At least you get to work, my machine hangs up, get it? MY MACHINE HANGS!!

> I've been 'phoned at work
>before and asked if I would be available at the weekend due to this
>being the only time the customer could perform a particular job.  In
>most cases I've agreed.  I don't get paid extra, the customer doesn't
>get charged.  With an attitude like yours, however, you'd get past me
>just once.  After that, boy would you be paying through the nose.
>More likely, I'd just be busy that weekend, and all the following
>ones.
There are some of us who would pay for what is proper, that hope to
socialize with an A**kisser like you, or even owe you a favor. Furthermore,
If I have just paid your company for work and it is not done because,
imcompetents like you are busy socializing with friends/customers, I 
would not hesitate one second to bring it into the public forum. I 
will not hesitate to tell the world that I have not been given support
that is due me, because, I have paid. I am not asking for a favor. I am
not begging Informix for a donation. I bought a software package and
the damn thing hung my machine on first try!!! I waited for three
months before I said anything in public.  I think I have every right
to scream FOUL!!

>You guessed.  You've agitated me.
Who cares? You could be dead for all I care. I am complaining that I have
a $2000.00 dollar program that hangs up my machine and Informix is not
doing much about it. Some of us do have to pay for our dinners, we do
not wine and dine with customers. We get in their favor by doing good
works for them.