against the NPGMC. It's one thing to want to get what you paid for, to go to NPGMC first to try to get things resolved, and another to attack a company you aren't even a part of. That's pretty sad, and it is happening.

As in any business transaction, you agree to spend money for something, and get what you expected in return. I believe many, upon joining, failed to save the "promotional join page", and therefore are "remembering" what was on the page. Even assuming what was there. Attacking a company - however you choose to do it - without solid backing, well, it just isn't right. But of course, companies get sued all the time by those seeking compensation, just for the money - or the glory.

Anyways, do what you all have to...if the club shuts down, and Prince sinks back into recluse, I for one won't be very happy.






[This message was edited Sun Dec 8 6:32:43 PST 2002 by LaVisHh]

I won't be happy either.

very well said...

"Complaints the BBB Handles

The BBB can handle the following complaints involving marketplace activities:

Misleading Advertising.

Improper Selling Practices.
Non-delivery of Goods or Services.
Misrepresentation.
Unhonored Guarantees or Warranty.
Unsatisfactory Service.
Credit/billing Problems.
Unfulfilled Contracts."

When I read over this list on the BBB site, thats when I decided to write the letter. When asked what compensation I was seeking, I chose none. My intent was more or less to bring attention to some concerns I and some others have had about the club.

If this happens yet again for a 3rd year in a row, maybe people forwarned this time who chose to sign up anyway, will go the extra step of saving the pages throughout the year as proof if they later need them.

There is also http://www.archive.org which has some of the pages in storage from NPGMC year 1, I don't know when year two will begin showing up there.

Lastly, by customers speaking out about the NPGMC's practices, there is also the other possible outcome that they will finally feel to compelled to get organized, keep track of their members properly, and provide what a reasonable person would expect to recieve based on their promises.
[This message was edited Sun Dec 8 7:58:51 PST 2002 by Tom]

Tom said:

What exactly would this attention handed over to the BBB do? Isn't it better to tell NPGMC why you are not joining again? If there are complaints directly to them, and a dramatic drop in membership - things will change. But bringing in the BBB, imho, only adds to the problem.

Personally, I don't see what happened with NPGMC as reason to contact them. I don't...I just think someone posted to contact the BBB, stirred the pot so to speak, and folks ran with it.

Sad really, to me. I would only contact the BBB if I was being ripped off, literally. Not if it was an interpretation of me being ripped off.




[This message was edited Sun Dec 8 8:04:43 PST 2002 by LaVisHh]

LaVisHh said:

The BBB is a mediator between the consumer and the company. Many of us who emailed the NPGMC frequently have gotten no reply, or a rude reply which doesn't answer the question. They are more likely to respond tactfully to the BBB. I emailed the attorney representing the NPGMC prior to emailing the BBB. The BBB will contact NPGMC and more or less explain the complaint and give them the opportunity to defend themselves. When its all said and done, if the BBB deems our complaints without merit, then no listing or action will be taken against NPGMC.

Though this is the first time I have ever filed a complaint, I've watched the process a few times when customers of my employer filed complaints against their company.

I took issue with the three follwing items:

Misrepresentation
Unsatisfactory Service
Unfulfilled Contracts

I know these have been debated to no end on here, so I don't want to get into all that. We just have a different point of view.

Tom said:

I agree with you on one point, unsatisfactory service. I would be happy to see things done better in that department.

Oh, and the debated to no end

I enjoy reading what folks think though.

Let me add to this a little.

I worked several years for Ticketmaster. I saw complaints come in by the truckload! And no matter how nice (not all mind you) we were in assisting them with their complaints, many were not happy in the end.

Most often it was seats promised, but not issued. Interesting to note however, that one of the things the ticket sellers were "beat over with sticks" was to NOT promise the customer their seats, but to say the best available seats at this time are...but may not be the seats they end up getting.

Until paid for, tickets are up for grabs. If there is a problem with the credit card, the seats are held for a very short time (unless declined or stolen), and later released.

This is just one of the many issues. It's tough handling complaints, and even inquiries, esp if understaffed, which I bet the NPGMC is.

So in essence, I understand - but I wouldn't contact the BBB unless I personally felt I did not get what I paid for. I haven't found the need yet.

LaVisHh said:

Gage.com is handling the retail section; I presume they are being paid by the NPGMC. I do not know what deal they have but I think some research could have helped them estimating the (wo)manpower needed for the task.
And there's the thing that the lowest bidder gets the job...

That's your personal opinion. I think that there's at least a few things wrong; depending on the 'evidence' that can be produced you can make things hard enough to hand them to the BBB.

udo

I have sent them 4 e-mails over the last 7 days inquiring about the status of my order. Still waiting for a response!

PageTurner said:

Those are the things that would eventually get me to contacting someone like the BBB to help me get things resolved.

let's all remember what the music club promised when it was time 2 sign up. a) 4 CDs within a year
b) access to special events (soundchecks, aftershows
c) ticket presales.


The club has come through on every single one of these things. Case closed.

concordance said:

simplist.

udo

concordance said:

a.) the club touted new music, we got 6 new songs.
b.) i bought the tickets for ONA as a member of year 1 cuz the tickets went on sale before my mebership expired. they even sent an email to me granting me access to the presale. but a day before the concert, after i inquired, they told me i had to join year two to actually get into the sound check. two memberships for one concert. he canceled the tour that was supposed to be part of year 1 before it came anywhere near me.
c.) there were 10 more rows of people in front of me at the concert than there were at the sound check, negating the benefit of a presale that I paid for.

Much Love,
LoLinex
[This message was edited Mon Dec 9 13:00:05 PST 2002 by lolinex]