DO NOT SHOP COMPUSERVE AOL Rip-off ..mega-multi-media conglomerate like AOL-Compuserve-Time Warner-CNN ..They could care less.

In May of 2001, I was surfing the internet when my ISP, Compuserve (AOL) presented me with a pop-up window, titled "CompuServe Member Value", offering a Lexmark 3200 color printer for $ 69.95 after a $ 20.00 rebate, "exclusive to CompuServe members only". I was in need of a new and affordable printer, so I purchased the product and with a couplke of weeks it was delivered to my home.

In November 2001, the printer began to fail. It had a One Year Manufacturers Warranty through Lexmark. I contacted Lexmark for Tech Support. Upon producing receipts with serial numbers and purchase dates, Lexmark advised me the printer was purchased in June of 2000 and the 1 yr warranty had expired. Although I had a receipt with proof of purchase date, Lexmark then advised me the product was purchased in June 2000, sent back as defective, rebuilt and put back on the market by CompuServe as new. Lexmark advised me my issue was with CompuServe.

After several emails requesting CompuServe to provide customer service, I finally got in touch with Shop CompuServe (AOL) website. I obtained a telephone number and called them with my complaint. Well, guess what??? They passed the buck right back to Lexmark. They stated Lexmark should "honor thier warranty". Lexmark stated it was CompuServs problem because the printer was re-built.

After closer examination of the purchase receipt, I noticed on the product description line the product is described as a "RB Lexmark 3200" (a copy can be provided upon request). Lexmark stated this indicated the product was "re-built". CompuServe responded to this by saying "RB" meant "rebate", referring to the $ 20 rebate I was offered with the purchase. Catch 22???

I have owned two Lexmark printers, have been unhappy with both and am unlikely not to purchase another in the future. Despite this, I feel the blame lies with CompuServe for clearly failing to market this "member value" as a re-built product. They are buying them dirt cheap and selling them to members below retail cost of a new printer. But little do we know they are re-built and will have warranty/tech support problems when such services are needed.

Can you help??? I will not be happy until at least one of these parties lives up to thier promises. Once again, I feel CompuServe is the culprit and should back me up, considering I have used thier service for over two years at $24.95/mo. I am stuck until 11/02 to fulfill a 3 year service contract I signed in 11/00 to receive a rebate on a computer purchase. They were extreamly arrogant and obviously did not care about my problem. They refused to put a supervisor on the line to discuss this matter with me and thier CSR was immature, rude, arrogant and lacked knowledge. This is what the average consumer gets from a mega-multi-media conglomerate like AOL-Compuserve-Time Warner-CNN or whoever they are. They could care less.

Perhaps you have a precident to fall back on here.

Thank You

JF Crim

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