Fwd: OLPC Crisis: Customer Data Lost

[Ted Roche]

Kristian Erik Hermansen wrote:
> 
> I have posted some info about the situation to Linux Journal, where I
> am on the advisory panel...
> http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/olpc-crisis-customer-data-lost

I see this as far less than a crisis and more of a "non-profit screws
up, thinking retail is easy." Just as you might have a dispute with
another mail order vendor, the basic laws of commerce apply: you paid
for something, they need to refund or fulfill. They screwed up their
order system (Amazon didn't get my order right for Xmas either, and
they've had practice at this stuff!), and they have an obligation to
straighten it out.

OLPC had voiced doubts about whether they wanted to get into onesies and
twosies orders and customer support; that's not what they are about and
feared it would be a drag on the main purpose. Looks like they were
right to be reticent.

Since email and phone seem to be ineffective, I'd recommend a polite
letter with copies of the documented order. Make a copy, send it
registered mail. Only if that doesn't work should you have to refer the
matter to consumer protection or AG agencies. The address I found on 
their web site is:

OLPC Foundation
P.O. Box 425087
Cambridge, MA 02142

You may want to notify your credit card company that the amount is in
dispute, but if they went through Paypal, you're likely to be out of 
luck pursuing that avenue; most credit card companies explicitly do not 
cover Paypal with the same merchant warranties as others.

Sorry to hear it hasn't worked out for you. The OLPC is very cool, and
we just heard at PySIG last Thursday night of another family that is 
very pleased with theirs. I hope that the OLPC folks are able to 
straighten this out asap.