Burnt Orange Report

We can demand that companies have their technical support services in the United States, and if they don't then don't buy their products.

What about companies with overseas tech support which IS effective? If you would still demand this, it seems sort of...nativist.

Byron,

I've had bad experiences with Dell as well. I got a desktop computer from them, only to discover that the preinstalled software didn't work. It just crashed whenever I tried to boot the thing up, right out of the box. It was obvious that it hadn't been tested.

It took SEVEN HOURS with tech support to fix the problem. Now I buy my computers from Computer Dynamix, a local company. At least with them I can just drag the thing in...

As a former longhorn living in Bangalore, India, I get to see first hand the development that has been brought about by the relocation of call centers in India.

In fact, many of my colleagues train call center workers in things like american culture, accent, sales, etc. so they are better able to serve their customers. I'm sure whoever wrote this article would be surprised to find that most of the people answering your tech support calls here in India have at least a masters or an MBA in an applicable field and will work happily long demanding hours.

I find it funny that the democrats are the ones constantly complaining about how the United States stiffles development in others countries through big bad organizations like the WTO, but when corporations do cost-effective things like outsource to countries like India that not only help the company grow in the US, but also helps people in India find jobs, they start complaining.

So, before you go off demanding that call center jobs be relocated to the US. Think of this: who is going to answer your calls in the US? Do you think that a recently graduated Longhorn MBA or Longhorn engineering masters would really take a job working from 12am-8am making the equivalent of $200 a month???? Um, I'm sure you agree with me that the answer is a resounding NO.

Jessica Rowland

Dell is a big financial backer of Republican causes. When you suppoprt Dell, you help fill GOP coffers.
On the other hand, Al Gore is on the board of Apple Computer.

THINK DIFFERENT.

I'd like to thank Ms. Rowland for sharing her opinion on the matter.

Personally, I don't mind so much if Dell relocates. That's business. Their job is to drive down the cost of personal computing (and that has been Dell's raison d'etre for years), and if that means that "Dude, you're getting laid off" well, thus spake the markets. If the people want tech support jobs in America, they can buy from another company.

(Yes, I'm still on the DSA's mailing list so maybe it's ironic that I'm, on balance, not really against globalization. And you know, I really could use a job at Dell right now, so I do wish they would post more openings.)

On the other hand, I think there is a legitimate gripe when the RNC does fundraising from India, at least as long as the Republicans are going to do the daily whine about "patriotism."

Blech... I'd sooner shove ice picks under my fingernails than use an Apple.

Just bought a Dell laptop as a Christmas gift for my son, a college sophomore. Laptop didn't come equipped as specified. Called customer service. Got someone who could NOT speak English. Couldn't understand that one; got transferred to someone else whose English was even worse than the first one--couldn't understand her. Asked to speak with someone who was more proficient in English--didn't get anyone; got transferred to Spare Parts Department. What was that all about? Called back--got another person who spoke halting English. Asked to speak to supervisor. Finally got someone who said her name was Jasmine. I could understand her. Resolved the problem--the laptop goes back to Dell. After four Dell computer purchases, I will no longer purchase one of their products. I don't care if you have the best hardware and software in the industry--if a customer cannot understand the individuals with whom he/she is speaking, cannot get the answers he/she is seeking because of communication barriers, then I say the company gets what it deserves when it falls on its face. If other Americans stop purchasing products that support other countries' economies and drain our financial and intellectural resources, perhaps we can stop the hemorrhaging of American jobs and restore the American dream for our children. I am a college professor and I plan to share my experience with every student with whom I come in contact. Dell won't win any praises from me. Oh, by the way, I teach in a department that trains future "tech support" employees--none of whom are willing to move to India. What are their job prospects?

I have been on the phone for over two hours today trying to purchase a Dell laptop. I have spoke to three different people who seemingly do NOT understand English, regardless of their educational background. I am now on hold once again and if I do not speak to an English speaking person in the next ten minutes, Dell will lose a $3,400.00 sale! This is ridiculous! One would think they were doing me a favor by taking my money!

I have been on the phone for over two hours today trying to purchase a Dell desktop computer. I have spoken to three different people who seemingly do NOT understand English, regardless of their educational background. I am now on hold once again and if I do not speak to an English speaking person in the next ten minutes, Dell will lose a $3,400.00 sale! This is ridiculous! One would think they were doing me a favor by taking my money!

No wonder why when someone who had my credit car d number, easily could buy a dell computer without
proper address billing verification. Thank god the
credit card company cleared this up.Dell could care less about the average tech worker. It is simple and plain,If they don't give benefits to american full time workers they save thousands of dollars per worker. If you look at it in an accounting standpoint they can't lose, instead of importing H1-Visas in the country they went straight to the source.

try gateway, or IBM, also try to browse for web pages that describes their tech support dept