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iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

community.garadget.com

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Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#11

Post by jimktrains2 »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #7
jimktrains2 wrote: post #3

I like how they chastise Martin for poor impulse control and then go for the nuclear option of disabling someone's account over a single review. "They think my service doesn't work now, well let me show them what not working is really like!" The irony is amusing, except for Martin. Also, I'd like to take this time to note that this is another reason that it's important to have control over your own devices.

The users who are arrogant and abusive usually have zero overlap with the ones who care about control over their own devices.

I mean, your statement is true for most subsets of users. "The users who are nice and kind usually have zero overlap with the ones who care about control over their own devices."

That said, I do view it as important for those of us that do care to be loud about it. It's in the benefit of all consumers for devices to be secure and usable without a external support.

I mean, even though I feel personally it should all be open hardware and software, I won't even go that far. Just let my stuff work when your servers stop working.

Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#12

Post by emsy »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #7
jimktrains2 wrote: post #3

I like how they chastise Martin for poor impulse control and then go for the nuclear option of disabling someone's account over a single review. "They think my service doesn't work now, well let me show them what not working is really like!" The irony is amusing, except for Martin. Also, I'd like to take this time to note that this is another reason that it's important to have control over your own devices.

The users who are arrogant and abusive usually have zero overlap with the ones who care about control over their own devices.

That's a baseless assumption.

Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#13

Post by Hydraulix989 »

finaliteration wrote: post #6
Iknowthatfeel wrote: post #2

Reading this, I have empathy for the developer. There is a small subset of customers that will give you a bad review at the drop of a hat because they know it hurts you. They're poison. Finally one of these people got some tiny payback.

Acting out in retributive ways when your customers (justifiably or not) have issues and leave negative reviews is a pretty terrible way to build and run a business. Is the spite towards that one person really worth it?

I honestly sympathize with Garadget a bit more in this case. Some people are just "assholes" that are all too quick to give a one-star review over the slightest thing, and it looks like this customer was one of them. The customer is not always right.

EDIT: Sorry for being inflammatory here.

Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#14

Post by toomuchtodo »

emsy wrote: post #12
toomuchtodo wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The users who are arrogant and abusive usually have zero overlap with the ones who care about control over their own devices.

That's a baseless assumption.

Most of my assumptions are baseless, and only generated based on my anecdotal evidence, life experience, and the occasional Google search. No refunds!

Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#15

Post by jimktrains2 »

Hydraulix989 wrote: post #13
finaliteration wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Acting out in retributive ways when your customers (justifiably or not) have issues and leave negative reviews is a pretty terrible way to build and run a business. Is the spite towards that one person really worth it?

I honestly sympathize with Garadget a bit more in this case. Some people are just "assholes" that are all too quick to give a one-star review over the slightest thing, and it looks like this customer was one of them. The customer is not always right. EDIT: Sorry for being inflammatory here.

> The customer is not always right.

"The customer is always right" never meant that customer service should be a door mat, but rather comes from advertising and the idea that consumers will spend their money on products that best fit their needs at the best value. If you sell something noone wants, or at too high a price, you'll gain little to no market share.

Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#16

Post by Lazare »

nneonneo wrote: post #4

For context, the associated review appears to be this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2XHHHGM6BEUG6/re...

I'm sure any negative review is painful, but that hardly seems to cross any lines.

"Abusive language" is really, really, really stretching it.

Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#17

Post by toomuchtodo »

jimktrains2 wrote: post #11
toomuchtodo wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The users who are arrogant and abusive usually have zero overlap with the ones who care about control over their own devices.

I mean, your statement is true for most subsets of users. "The users who are nice and kind usually have zero overlap with the ones who care about control over their own devices." That said, I do view it as important for those of us that do care to be loud about it. It's in the benefit of all consumers for devices to be secure and usable without a external support. I mean, even though I feel personally it should all b…

Carry the torch friend, I gave up the battle long ago. My last remnants of caring are my recurring donations to the EFF and Public Knowledge.

Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#18

Post by CaliforniaKarl »

finaliteration wrote: post #6
Iknowthatfeel wrote: post #2

Reading this, I have empathy for the developer. There is a small subset of customers that will give you a bad review at the drop of a hat because they know it hurts you. They're poison. Finally one of these people got some tiny payback.

Acting out in retributive ways when your customers (justifiably or not) have issues and leave negative reviews is a pretty terrible way to build and run a business. Is the spite towards that one person really worth it?

Look at the timing.

This was an Amazon purchase. The developer mentions Saturday, and how the Amazon review was left around the same time as the forum post, so presumably the the item was delivered on that same day. That's gonna be a bad experience for both sides: The purchaser has to wait until Monday to return, and the developer has to deal with (what I expect is) a drive-by flame. It's a Saturday night, and each side reacted poorly.

Honestly, I doubt the guy was going to continue attempting to use his device after leaving such a review, so the developer bricking it doesn't have any effect. In addition, the customer will get his money back via the Amazon return, so the developer was losing there anyway.

We don't know anything else, so I don't know what the actual problem would be. It could've been build quality, or shipping, or software, or the purchasers mobile device, or who knows what.

To be honest, based on what I see here, and speaking as someone who is just a customer, I believe the customer started the boulder running with his negative review and drive-by flame, and I feel lenient towards the developer.

Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#19

Post by [deleted] »

jimktrains2 wrote: post #15
Hydraulix989 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I honestly sympathize with Garadget a bit more in this case. Some people are just "assholes" that are all too quick to give a one-star review over the slightest thing, and it looks like this customer was one of them. The customer is not always right. EDIT: Sorry for being inflammatory here.

> The customer is not always right. "The customer is always right" never meant that customer service should be a door mat, but rather comes from advertising and the idea that consumers will spend their money on products that best fit their needs at the best value. If you sell something noone wants, or at too high a price, you'll gain little to no market share.

[deleted]

Re: iPhone App will not stay open - just flashes when trying to launch

#20

Post by dangrossman »

Garadget is a "cloud-enabled garage door opener" sold for $99 on Amazon.

The manufacturer seemingly disabled the product, or primary advertised features of the product, in retribution for a short negative review left on Amazon.

IMO Amazon should immediately drop the product when they catch wind of that, and so should any other retailer that carries it. The manufacturer's abused their relationship with the retailer (which now has to handle a return of a perfectly good device they sold) and the customers (who now have to fear retribution for reviewing products they purchased at retailers).

Regardless of whether the content of the review was justified or not, this probably won't go well for Garadget, whoever he is. A journalist has already reached out to the customer.

I can sympathize with being frustrated with customers. It takes a lot of self-control to remain professional at times. If you don't have that kind of self-control, you need to hire someone else to do customer support that does, or you won't have a very successful business. Being the boss doesn't mean there are no repercussions for your actions.

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