On 01/08/2010 6:20 AM, Harry  wrote:

We know U.S. corporations have no compunction about firing workers in
order to further enrich their execs, and apparently they are the same
way about their products, too.

One of my computer printers is dying. A competent repair shop diagnosed
it and informed me a certain part needed replacing. The printer is a
couple of years old and parts are available, but the manufacturer will
not sell the part in question, even to its authorized service depots.

So I called the printer company Friday, and, after brushing off its
first line of defense, a barely English-speaking clown in India (I
asked, he told me where he was*), I got connected to a series of
U.S.-based service/technical folks.

At the end, the best deal I was offered was to buy a new printer from
the company at a "special price," which was *only* $50 more than anyone
could buy it for from any of at least 100 retailers.

The company I was dealing with used to have a stellar reputation. No more.

Anyway, this leads me to wonder if anyone is maintaining a list of those
U.S. companies that still provide good products and good service.

There is none that I know of except Costco. Buy most of my stuff there
too. One of the few retail chains I will deal with. Used to deal with
Sams Club but they don't have an aoutlet around here.

--
We are all self-made, but only the rich will admit it.