Ironically, it appears that a lot of the negative ratings on resellertatings.com are because of Google Checkout. Seems as if this service was rolled out before being properly tested. You can keep an online mapping program in beta forever but anything that messes with someones $ better be solid or you'll suffer the wrath.
It was the same lens. The email I got notifying me of the shipment was from Google, not Ritz. I've used Ritz many times and never had a problem. I prefer B&H but went with Ritz because of the $20. Never again.
I have little ability to be sympathetic to Google's financial position. This was an investment that I assume was made after an appropriate level of business planning.
1. I've used Ritz many, many times and never had a bad experience so I can't comment on the assessment.
2. I do know that I managed to get through the first line of defense at Ritz (Indian customer support) and to talk to the Director of CS at their HQ and she was just as frustrated because they couldn't get Google to resolve this matter in a timely manner. It was over a week between the time I made contact with her and the time I finally initiated the cancellation. During that time, she was working hard to get this issue resolved because it affected a lot of customers.
3. Well, to counter you "observation", Google managed to send a "event" to the end user notifying me that the lens had been shipped and the card charged without getting an event from Ritz. Google has an excellent track record with certain types of applications. I'm not aware of a track record with any online applications that require such tight integration with ancillary/external systems and where all the necessary work flows and interactions are automated satisfactorily. I can also tell you, from first hand experience, that they obviously have no experience with customer service and quick resolution of customer satisfaction issues.
I purchased a back ordered lens from Ritz Camera and used Google checkout for the $750 purchase. I realized it would take some time to get the lens and was prepared to wait. I was pleasantly suprised, one week before xmas, to receive and email saying the lens had been shipped and my CC charged. I waited a week and called Ritz Camera to check on it's shipping only to learn it hadn't shipped and this was a mistake on Google Checkout's part. Then the horror began.
Many calls and emails to Google and Ritz failed to resolve the issue. Google would just blame Ritz. Ritz was obviously very frustrated with Google and told us they were trying to get them to resolve the issue because it had affected lots of customers. This went on for 3 weeks without resolution. My CC billing cycle was at the point where I'd have to soon pay this amount or challenge it as I couldn't seem to get a credit. My only option, and the option I took, was to cancel the order with Ritz.
I promptly received a wonderful email from Google telling me the order had been cancelled and the money credited. I then placed the order at B&H Photo.
... I accepted 2 automated updates from MS last saturday... didn't pay much attention and did an automatic reboot... the system wouldn't come up... the OS was missing... after 2 calls to MS, they said we have to do a clean install.
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Ironically, it appears that a lot of the negative ratings on resellertatings.com are because of Google Checkout. Seems as if this service was rolled out before being properly tested. You can keep an online mapping program in beta forever but anything that messes with someones $ better be solid or you'll suffer the wrath.
It was the same lens. The email I got notifying me of the shipment was from Google, not Ritz. I've used Ritz many times and never had a problem. I prefer B&H but went with Ritz because of the $20. Never again.
I have little ability to be sympathetic to Google's financial position. This was an investment that I assume was made after an appropriate level of business planning.
1. I've used Ritz many, many times and never had a bad experience so I can't comment on the assessment. 2. I do know that I managed to get through the first line of defense at Ritz (Indian customer support) and to talk to the Director of CS at their HQ and she was just as frustrated because they couldn't get Google to resolve this matter in a timely manner. It was over a week between the time I made contact with her and the time I finally initiated the cancellation. During that time, she was working hard to get this issue resolved because it affected a lot of customers. 3. Well, to counter you "observation", Google managed to send a "event" to the end user notifying me that the lens had been shipped and the card charged without getting an event from Ritz. Google has an excellent track record with certain types of applications. I'm not aware of a track record with any online applications that require such tight integration with ancillary/external systems and where all the necessary work flows and interactions are automated satisfactorily. I can also tell you, from first hand experience, that they obviously have no experience with customer service and quick resolution of customer satisfaction issues.
I purchased a back ordered lens from Ritz Camera and used Google checkout for the $750 purchase. I realized it would take some time to get the lens and was prepared to wait. I was pleasantly suprised, one week before xmas, to receive and email saying the lens had been shipped and my CC charged. I waited a week and called Ritz Camera to check on it's shipping only to learn it hadn't shipped and this was a mistake on Google Checkout's part. Then the horror began. Many calls and emails to Google and Ritz failed to resolve the issue. Google would just blame Ritz. Ritz was obviously very frustrated with Google and told us they were trying to get them to resolve the issue because it had affected lots of customers. This went on for 3 weeks without resolution. My CC billing cycle was at the point where I'd have to soon pay this amount or challenge it as I couldn't seem to get a credit. My only option, and the option I took, was to cancel the order with Ritz. I promptly received a wonderful email from Google telling me the order had been cancelled and the money credited. I then placed the order at B&H Photo.
... I accepted 2 automated updates from MS last saturday ... didn't pay much attention and did an automatic reboot ... the system wouldn't come up ... the OS was missing ... after 2 calls to MS, they said we have to do a clean install.