Gary Wilke of Appleton, WI purchased a $2600.00 *Gateway computer from a *Gateway Country Store for his daughter. Since Jan., he has had to return it for service or replair five (5!) times. That is not to mention the four (4!) home visits to repair minor problems and replace a hard drive. When he took it back the last time, this past Friday, he decided it would be the last time.
Setting the PC in the *Gateway Country Store foyer, he returned to his car and grabbed a sledge hammer. Cursing away, he smashed the thing to bits right before eyes of the staff and customers. He then wished them a good day and left. Later that day officers arrived at his home, took him into custody and charged him with a disorderly conduct misdemeanor. When learning it was a *Gateway computer, from the *Gateway Country Store, the authorities exercised pity and set his bond to $150.
I think we should applaud Gary, rally behind him and start carrying around our own “consumer dissatisfaction” sledge hammers. I think I’ll pay my first visit to Comcasts corporate offices with my cable modem. Next, the damn grocery store that pulls every bait and switch and meat/produce Ponzi scheme known to man, Kroger. Then I’ll… Oh, 2002 could be the year of the consumer.
* gratuitous over use of keyword for google’s sake