Over at Tom’s Hardware, I have been watching a battle take place between reviewer, Tuan Nguyen and David Free of Macpadd.com/QMS Inc. Free is the alleged owner of QMS Inc the maker of the “Macpadd”, a custom mousepad for Macintosh computers. The problems began over two weeks ago when Nguyen order a Macpadd from Macpadd.com in order to review the mousepad for Tom’s Hardware.
No email, No answer
According to Nguyen, over the course of seven days he and others at Tom’s attempted to contact a representative of Macpadd.com. While they received an automated email response from Macpadd.com after the purchase of the mousepad, they only received verbal confirmation of shipping from the CEO. Which was apparently not good enough in their minds.
Eventually they stumbled upon the business contact number of QMS Inc. via the statement Nguyen received from PayPal.
Shots fired
With no immediate communication from QMS, Nguyen filed a dispute with PayPal and explained to PayPal what had happened up to that point. About five minutes after the dispute was filed, Free responded via email explaining that they mailed the mousepad and that shipping from their location in Canada to California takes a while longer. Not long after that, Tuan called and once again Free explained. Nguyen requested the tracking number within an hour. Free responded by saying he would email the number. Over the next 3 hours Tuan would proceed to call Free 13 times. Harassing him until he responded with profanities not to do business with Nguyen anymore and that he would be issued a refund.
How not to respond to criticism of a product or a service provided OR be a Journalist
On November 2nd, the day that Tom’s published the report saying that QMS Inc. and MacPadd.com are a fraud and a scam. Free responded twice on his website to the criticism from Tom's Hardware and the false information they were portraying. For a site the size of Tom's Hardware and the size of the Vendor, it really seemed like knit-picking. I've had personal experiences with Tuan Nguyen and I can tell you he is a harasser and a liar. Tuan was issued a refund and received his product. It can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44464688@N05/ He doesn't make light of that at all.
Tom’s published a third article about this subject. This time, Nguyen provided a detailed explanation why they have taken the actions they have taken. They even included the Canada Post tracking number Free provided. This number was for a shipment that had taken place three prior to the beginning of this saga.
According to Nguyen, Free has completely stopped all communication with him about this situation. He has reported QMS to the BBB, the Canadian Competition Bureau and the RCMP Fraud Prevention Department.
Some thoughts
To Tuan:- You are a sensationalist
- Posting or threatening to post things on your website to QMS or other people as a means of getting back at them, is something that should be reserved for 13 year olds on MySpace.
- You haven't followed up with your reports and the progress of your problems with MacPadd/RCMP/CCB/BBB ...
MacPadd
- Try to handle criticism a little bit more easy
- Tom's Hardware is going down hill. It's a tech tabloid. You've probably got more attention from it than anything. Good Luck.
- Improve your shipping.
- ANSWER YOUR PHONE.
