Jeff Klopmeyer Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 I'd say that about 80% of my business is based on my online connection. See, I make ads that get put in magazines, which get sent to the magazines via FTP. I make web sites that are, by the nature of what they are, web-based. I write email all day to various music and audio industry people. Anyway, I awoke this morning to find that my intenet connection wouldn't work. After checking the usual things -- cables, system setup and so on -- I called Earthlink. Immediately, a prerecorded voice said that they were experiencing trouble with their DSL servers in Southern California. Well, I'll cut to the chase: it was down all day, just having come back a little while ago. So, I realize that although I pretty much lost an entire day of work, at least I'd have the right to charge Earthlink back for the service they weren't able to provide. So, lessee... fifty bucks a month, down for nine hours, pro-rate that...uh... SIXTY CENTS? Hold on, let me re-check that math. Yup. Sixty cents. that really shows you what a great value internet service is, but it doesn't make me feel any better at this very moment. [/rant] On a positive note, that was the first time in over five years with Earthlink that my service has gone down for more than a few minutes. - Jeff Marketing Communications for MI/Pro Audio My solo music and stuff They Stole My Crayon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offramp Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Oh, don't get me started on Earthlink. I've been a customer since March of '97. Ordered DSL on Feb. 1st of this year. Two weeks later, no equipment, no nothing. Getting on the website, turns out I couldn't get DSL here. Alright, whatever. Thanks for letting me know Next day, I get billed for $150 for Early Termination Fee. How can I get billed for something I didn't even get, much less terminate myself? Earthlink made the final determination for me, not me. Took me a month to get it back. At the end of it all (so I thought), the CSR said I'd get two months' dial-up free of charge for the hassle. Got my two months. Yesterday, got a bill for ADSL service. I'll just say that ALL of this has been EXTREMELY edited for brevity. I am so goddamned mad at Earthlink I can't even see straight. I can no longer recommend Earthlink. I will stay with them until I find a better service. Any recommendations? (Gotta be Mac-friendly, too...) I've upped my standards; now, up yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super 8 Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Jeff, I think you might be able to write that 60 cents off as a business loss.... Just thought you should know. Super 8 Hear my stuff here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 That's the nature of the beast I suppose, when you rely on your internet connection for business purposes. Technology finds it's way into our lives, changing the way we spend our free time and the way we do business. When it doesn't work, it's a quick reminder of how dependant on it we've become. The matrix is growing! G-bus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offramp Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Oh yeah...when I called the "award winning" Customer Service today, and gave them my e-ddress and password for verification, the non-English-speaking woman on the other end of the line addressed me as "Randy". Hello? My name isn't Randy... fuckin' idjits. I've upped my standards; now, up yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super 8 Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Maybe she was saying "Offrampy", and you misunderstood her.... Super 8 Hear my stuff here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendmik Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Offramp, I have Comcast. It's considerably more expensive than DSL, but I'v enever had a service problem (even those several instances the company has changed hands - 3 I htink, since I've subscribed). Whatever you do, stay away from Qwest. Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform. Mark Twain (1835-1910) -------------------- Reporter: "Ah, do you think you could destroy the world?" The Tick: "Ehgad I hope not. That's where I keep all my stuff!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug osborne Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 if it was only 50 Cent http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:Q2GPnP7XOHwJ:www.kwnz.com/images/50-cent.jpg Doug Osborne Music on Bandcamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
videoeditor1 Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 KMW, Something tells me you do not have "business DSL" - those rates are too low... - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nawledge Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Jeff is your DsL service faster or slower than cable service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovepusher Sly Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 I have SBC/Ameritech DSL. When it's not working right (which has only happened once), I can still use the dial up number. Sly Whasineva ehaiz, ehissgot ta be Funky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Originally posted by Groovepusher Sly: I have SBC/Ameritech DSL. When it's not working right (which has only happened once), I can still use the dial up number. Sly Given the problem was with Earthlink's servers, I think you also might have been SOL if the same thing happened to SBC/Ameritech. Not being a computer or internet maven, I could be wrong. But it sounds like Earthlink was just plain... unlinked! It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Klopmeyer Posted May 26, 2004 Author Share Posted May 26, 2004 A few replies... Offramp... Yeah, the support people I spoke to were obviously in Bombay or New Delhi. C'est la vie, right? Again, i can't complain... first time in over five years. It just threw me for a bit of a loop. Jeebs... You should check out a PBS series from about 12 years ago called "Connections". One episode was called "The Technology Trap". I fully agree with the theory that we become far too dependent on technologies, and when they're unavailable, we have no idea what to do. Drew... I have the same regular ole DSL account I've had for over three years. It's just fine. To be honest, I didn't even know there was such a thing as "business DSL". Nawledge... DSL can be as fast as cable, but it's all about your location and distance from the main DSL station. My speed isn't super fast as far as DSL goes, but it' plenty fast for what I need to do with my business. Groove... I thought for a sec about using dial-up as a temporary solution, but I'm often transferring files that are 30-40 meg in size. That wouldn't have worked so much. - Jeff Marketing Communications for MI/Pro Audio My solo music and stuff They Stole My Crayon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FULLREFUSAL Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Originally posted by Jeff Da Weasel: I'd say that about 80% of my business is based on my online connection. See, I make ads that get put in magazines, which get sent to the magazines via FTP. I make web sites that are, by the nature of what they are, web-based. I write email all day to various music and audio industry people. Anyway, I awoke this morning to find that my intenet connection wouldn't work. After checking the usual things -- cables, system setup and so on -- I called Earthlink. Immediately, a prerecorded voice said that they were experiencing trouble with their DSL servers in Southern California. Well, I'll cut to the chase: it was down all day, just having come back a little while ago. So, I realize that although I pretty much lost an entire day of work, at least I'd have the right to charge Earthlink back for the service they weren't able to provide. So, lessee... fifty bucks a month, down for nine hours, pro-rate that...uh... SIXTY CENTS? Hold on, let me re-check that math. Yup. Sixty cents. that really shows you what a great value internet service is, but it doesn't make me feel any better at this very moment. [/rant] On a positive note, that was the first time in over five years with Earthlink that my service has gone down for more than a few minutes. - JeffJeff If I were you, I would have a redundancy plan..As expensive as it is, if you need a broadband solution as i'm sure you do, I would have BOTH DSL and CABLE internet just in case one goes down, you can plug into the other...I have considered it, and honestly, If i did what you did for a living I would have both....I know it's $$$$.... www.seanmormelo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GY Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 This is a day old, but yesterday (the 25th) I awoke to the same problem. We're on Verizon DSL. Phone worked okay... no DSL. Checked everything on my end and called to place a "service ticket" with Verizon. I actually got to speak to a real person who informed me that they were encountering a massive outage in SoCal, which I guess included me. I was back on by 11:00 AM. My question is; aren't all phone line based DSL providers using the Verizon lines/trunk? GY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan South Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 Earthlink, rude b@st@rds! I kept my Earthlink dial-up account active (as a backup) for a while when I switched to cable (Optimum Online - awesome service!!!!). When I finally got around to cancelling Earthlink, they charged me for an additional month of future use that I didn't even use. Jeff, if I were in your position, I'd try to keep a backup, even a friend or relative who could let you use their service in an emergency. The Black Knight always triumphs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernest828 Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 I`m getting a cable modem installed tomorrow for business as well. I got to the point where the phone modem was killing me. Now I can`t wait. Anyway, being down a whole day is more than $.60. Think of the work you didn`t get out and add it up. Its annoying. Anyway, I heard that DSL and cable are pretty reliable so...knock on wood. Ernest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Klopmeyer Posted May 27, 2004 Author Share Posted May 27, 2004 They are reliable. I qualified the whole thing saying that in over three years of DSL, this is the first time it has been down for more than a minute or two. And yes, being down for a whole day is more than sixty cents. however, on a direct basis, that's the value of the connectivity itself. Obviously, in reality, it could cost me thousands to be down on the wrong day. Scary. - Jeff Marketing Communications for MI/Pro Audio My solo music and stuff They Stole My Crayon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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