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greenenuf
Tl Posts:
1

Posted - 6/13/2001 9:52:35 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Sent this letter (by snail mail) to US Robotics today. Feel free to use it if you have had similar experiences with USR.

Dear Madame or Sir:

On June 1, 2001 I purchased a new US Robotics Sportster 33.6 internal faxmodem, Model 1125 from the remainder bin of a local retailer. It was the second US Robotics faxmodem that I have purchased in the past five years. A prominent panel on the outside of the box promoted the upgradability of the unit to 56k. In 1998 USR sent me a free hardware upgrade to upgrade my previous Sportster from 28.8 to 33.6 kbps. I naively thought that the Model 1125 56k upgrade might be free to registered owners or available at a nominal charge.

I wish you could have seen the way my jaw dropped when I logged on to the US Robotics web site, downloaded the upgrade wizard and subsequently found out that US Robotics charges SIXTY DOLLARS to upgrade this product to the v.90 standard. Needless to say, I did NOT furnish my credit card number to download the update, nor will I do so.

I am sure you are aware that NEW USR v.90 internal modems are available at retail for considerably LESS than the cost of the upgrade. Two or even three "Brand X" v.90 modems can be purchased for the cost of the upgrade. It is quite apparent to me that USR is preying upon gullible or uninformed users who are unaware that they have better options for upgrading what is unquestionably an obsolescent product. Perhaps USR's desperate attempt to wring this last measure of revenue from its customers is driven by a need to pay for the costs of the disastrous merger with 3Com.

"A continuing relationship with the consumer" is a popular phrase much heard in business circles these days. It appears that USR's take on this concept is not unlike that of the schoolyard bully who wants to be able to grab hold of the smaller children and shake out their pockets whenever he needs some cash. It goes without saying that I will not purchase any more USR/3Com products, nor will I recommend them to my computer-using friends and associates.

Sincerely,

SARGE
Tl Posts:
743

USA
Posted - 6/13/2001 6:56:18 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  SARGEs Homepage
2 giants have disappointed me - USR and Norton. Once the leaders of the pack...
timoch
Tl Posts:
16

Posted - 6/15/2001 6:44:42 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Last year, I had an older sportster 56k x2 given to me. I tried the internet sites download and got a similar message from the wizard. After a couple of call to the USR help center, and discussions with techs, one gave me a direct call number in IL that loaded another wizard that checked my system out and flashed my system to v90. It works well now. Sorry, I don't have the phone number anymore, but you can get with a little digging.
derangedlunatech
Tl Posts:
10

Posted - 6/27/2001 1:13:34 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Ya know,
If you hadn't bought a product that you KNOW to be old and obsolete, you wouldn't have had this problem. How long has it been since 33.6 was produced? you KNEW this was an old modem. In fact, at the time this modem was originally shipped (most likely) was right around the turn to 56k, and they had a free upgrade for a while. I know - I had one. USR has always maintained upgrades - for a fee - so that the user can, at thier choice, upgrade a modem rather than having to go through buying and setting up a new one. Don't bash them just because you expected something for nothing - but then again, I guess that's the American Way anymore, eh?

P.T. Barnum once said "A fool and his money are soon parted" - apparently you thought USR were the fools - but the tables got turned, and now you're pissed. STBY, but you have no-one to blame but yourself.

Guru
Tl Posts:
1

USA
Posted - 6/27/2001 1:46:02 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message

The only reason you got an upgrade from 28.8 to 33.6 was because there was no real change to the hardware. That was only a change of drivers to let it connect at 33.6 and the modems you are talking about that are v.90 and less than the upgrade are all winmodems. The're less because they have less hardware and more software. A comparable hardware modem is most likely going to be more than the upgrade price. Besides if it is such a big deal just buy a cheaper modem. USR modems do not cost more than everyones becasue they cost more to make. They cost more becasue they are better and the public is willing to pay more. You are paying for a name.

romantik
Tl Posts:
13

Posted - 6/27/2001 2:06:39 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
I've worked with several different USRobotics modems in my life, and I've never had a problem. If you are the one buying a 33.6 and expect a "freebie" isn't it your fault that you bought such an old modem? Are we supposed to expect every company to keep around products that are obsolete? Hey, Pack Bell!!! I want a 486dx please! And then when I buy it can you upgrade to a P4 1 gig? But you said you would upgrade to a P one 133 if I bought it! Oh, wait, you're out of business in America. No, but you said you would three years ago!*crying baby voice*

Get real. You're an adult and you should have known your choice would get you nowhere. You basically tried to work the system and found out that companies aren't stupid. You have no ground to stand on. Get a life

crzyjef
Tl Posts:
1

USA
Posted - 6/28/2001 9:51:13 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Hopefully you didn't pay more than $10 for your"new" 33.6 modem. Think about it...if you bought a "new" ford pinto then complained to ford that it is not running like a mustang and asked them to upgrade you free.. what would they say?????

A 33.6 modem is not a horrible modem it does still work and at a reasonable speed.

v.Richard
Tl Posts:
6222

USA
Posted - 6/30/2001 6:36:50 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
Actually, the 33.6k 'upgradeable' modem needs nothing more than software to become a 56k modem - and USR wants to charge $60 for the software. The cost to them is near zero.

USR modems don't 'cost more to make' than other comparable modems - they sell for more because people will pay more - something that's slowly changing as USR's reputation is becoming something less than it used to be.....

Aloha,
Richard

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