Earlene and List, I would like to add the following comments:
If the change in policy was implemented on November 8, then all of us should have received a written letter from HumanWare in late October or early November. HumanWare failed to send us this letter. HumanWare wouldn't have given us any notice at all if users on this list hadn't requested it. There is no excuse for this lack of communication. The prices for new displays on older units is far too high. People can get brand new 18 cell displays from the competition for $1995 and the price for the 32 cell display is highway robbery! The new displays have proved to be inferior in quality to the old ones, so why would anyone want to "upgrade" to an inferrior braille display? I believe HumanWare is not to be trusted. How can they say they will "honor existing contracts" when they have also said effective November 8 service contracts are no longer valid? At this point in time, I don't plan to upgrade my Mpower. I'm also seriously looking at the competition and when my BN no longer works, I'll buy from someone else. Remember that TeleSensory went the way of the doe-doe bird. If HumanWare doesn't begin to treat its customers with the same courtesy they used to have, then HumanWare will go the way of the doe-doe bird, too. Terri, Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Earlene Hughes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 8:42 AM Subject: RE: [Braillenote] mPower Extended Service Contracts : Thank you Maurice, for providing this information to us. : I want you to know that I always read your messages on this list when every you post them. : I also know that you work very hard to support the BrailleNote family of products. : For me, the US implemented the policy on the 5th of December, not the 8th, as described below. : I regret that Humanware staff here in the US could not have told us about the policy change in a more professional manner. : : I have been a customer of various blindness technology products since the 1970's. : I remember when Telesensory Systems could no longer get parts for the Optacon 1C models. I received a letter describing the situation and the policy change that would permit optacon owners to be able to upgrade their units to the newer model, the 1D. : I do understand that technology changes and sometimes, parts for products are no longer produced by the manufacturer. Sadly, I have lost confidence in Humanware's ability to treat their customers in a fair and equitable manner. Based on my recent customer experience here in the US from Humanware staff, I will not be upgrading my BrailleNote, or purchasing a new one. : : -- Earlene : -------- Original Message -------- : Subject: [Braillenote] mPower Extended Service Contracts : From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] : Date: Mon, December 10, 2007 8:09 pm : To: [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] : : : mPower Extended Service Contracts : : HumanWare US offers an Extended Service Contract on the BrailleNote family : of products. Customers in other countries should contact their local : HumanWare distributor regarding the service contracts provided in their : country. : : The Extended Service Contract comes into effect after the expiration of the : normal warranty and may be renewed on a yearly or two yearly basis. : Subsequent renewals are at HumanWare's discretion based on the : serviceability of the unit and the availability of replacement parts. : : Recent changes have been made to the availability of the Extended Service : Contract for mPower units that contain "transplanted" Tieman braille : displays. The changes do not affect mPower units fitted with the KGS : braille display, which may be distinguished by the one-piece integrated : cell cover and touch cursor switch. : : Effective 8 November, 2007 the Extended Service Agreement is no longer : available on mPower Transplant units that use the Tieman braille display, : and is now only available on braille machines that use the KGS braille : display. Such units will normally have a serial number lower than 17881 : for braille keyboard models, and 17951 for QWERTY keyboard models. The : Tieman cells may be further identified by the square rubber touch cursor : switch above each cell. : : All current Extended Service Contracts on units fitted with Tieman displays : will be honoured through to their expiration date. : : The reason for withdrawing the Extended Service Contract on mPower : Transplant units containing Tieman braille cells is that some of these : units are now approaching 7 years of age and it is becoming increasingly : difficult to source spare parts for these cells, with some items being : impossible to obtain. : : If your BrailleNote with Tieman display was transplanted and is in good : working order, there is no reason to upgrade to a new unit. You may choose : to pursue minor repairs if parts are available. If the technician : determines that the repair is expensive, a trade-in will be offered to : those with Tieman displays to upgrade to KGS. Many units are approaching 7 : years of use and the braille display no longer has the performance of a new : display. For this reason, several people have chosen the option to upgrade : their braille display only from a Tieman to KGS. Complete displays and : parts for KGS displays are available and units with the KGS display can : continue to purchase service contracts. : : Customers who already have an mPower fitted with a Tieman display may : upgrade from the Tieman to KGS display and will receive a one year warranty : on the entire unit. A 10% discount is available on Extended Service : Contracts taken out at the time of purchase of the Tieman to KGS braille : display upgrade. : : : Price to upgrade mPower Tieman 32 cells to KGS 32 cells is US$2995 : Price to upgrade mPower Tieman 18 cells to KGS 18 cells is US$1995 : Price to upgrade from mPower Tieman 18 to KGS 32 cells is US$2995 : : The cost of the Extended Service Contract is: : : BrailleNote 18 cell: US$340.00 yearly : BrailleNote 32 cell: US$500.00 yearly : VoiceNote BT US$200.00 yearly : VoiceNote QT US$200.00 yearly : : HumanWare reserves the right to review the policy relating to Extended : Service Contracts and their related pricing. : : : ________________________ : Maurice Sloane : Sales & Support Manager - Blindness : HumanWare : : : Direct Dial: +64 3 940 2223 : Mobile: +64 21 528 374 : email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] : Website: www.humanware.com : : : ___ : Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. : If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a : copy to the list as well. : : To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to : [EMAIL PROTECTED] : To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit : http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote : : : : : ___ : Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. : If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a : copy to the list as well. : : To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to : [EMAIL PROTECTED] : To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit : http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote : : : __________ NOD32 2716 (20071211) Information __________ : : This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. : http://www.eset.com : : ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
