OK, I just finished fighting with Delta/Porter Cable/DeWalt/B&D/etc.'s
useless website. They changed the servicenet a few weeks ago, and I've
noticed the following since then:
1) You cannot login without using IE.
2) You cannot get any information without registering and creating an
account. Previously, you could claim to be from out of the USA.
3) There is NO DIRECT LINK to the manuals. This should be the #1 link
right off of the stinkin' page, but it doesn't exist anywhere!!!
4) If you search for your tool's part number, you may or may not find
any documentation. About half of my tools (3-5 years old) were there.
None of my old ones were, except for my ancient circular saw, for which
I found a higher quality schematic online already.
This is easily the worst website I've seen in months, and I work in
IT. Several people at the company should be fired over this travesty.
Colin
> {snip}
> This is easily the worst website I've seen in months, and I work in
> IT. Several people at the company should be fired over this travesty.
>
> Colin
You are correct in that it is one of the worst websites to use.
However, from what I have read over some years following this NG, I cannot
state this is a travesty from the site's owner's point of view.
Re-Phrase: How do any of us know if the hard-to-use-website was not a web
design goal? What if the web site owner's don't want us to find the old
parts list.
What if the goal is to make us so angry we stop seeking old parts lists from
the web access and the service slowly melts away?
Question: Do any one here remember the term "built-in-obsolesce" and the
bean-counter's claim that supporting the product long beyond expected life
after manufacturing was cutting into profits? So, just what is the expected
life of a unisaw? I bet some here have good usable Delta saws pushing 40
years old at least.
Yes, that site is that bad.
Phil
Colin B. wrote:
> OK, I just finished fighting with Delta/Porter Cable/DeWalt/B&D/etc.'s
> useless website. They changed the servicenet a few weeks ago, and I've
> noticed the following since then:
I'm assuming you're talking about the following?
http://www.dewaltservicenet.com/servicenet_home.aspx
> 1) You cannot login without using IE.
Haven't verified that, but I can view the information with Firefox on
Linux without logging in. The colour choices are a bit odd though...
> 2) You cannot get any information without registering and creating an
> account. Previously, you could claim to be from out of the USA.
Hmm...without logging in I entered "50-760" in the little search window
on the front page and it took me to the information for my dust
collector. Clicking on the "instruction manual" link opened up a pdf
file. Same thing using "dw703" for my chopsaw.
> 3) There is NO DIRECT LINK to the manuals. This should be the #1 link
> right off of the stinkin' page, but it doesn't exist anywhere!!!
Enter the model number in the little "find it now!" search window at the
upper left.
Chris
On Nov 14, 11:26 pm, "Colin B." <[email protected]>
wrote:
> OK, I just finished fighting with Delta/Porter Cable/DeWalt/B&D/etc.'s
> useless website. They changed the servicenet a few weeks ago, and I've
> noticed the following since then:
>
> 1) You cannot login without using IE.
> 2) You cannot get any information without registering and creating an
> account. Previously, you could claim to be from out of the USA.
> 3) There is NO DIRECT LINK to the manuals. This should be the #1 link
> right off of the stinkin' page, but it doesn't exist anywhere!!!
> 4) If you search for your tool's part number, you may or may not find
> any documentation. About half of my tools (3-5 years old) were there.
> None of my old ones were, except for my ancient circular saw, for which
> I found a higher quality schematic online already.
>
> This is easily the worst website I've seen in months, and I work in
> IT. Several people at the company should be fired over this travesty.
>
> Colin
I have had good luck using www.ereplacementparts.com as a resource for
parts list and breakdowns. Sometimes their prices are higher
(sometimes lower) but the site is easier to use than service net. It
works fine with firefox as well. It's a good place to start anyway.
On Nov 15, 4:50 pm, Chris Friesen <[email protected]> wrote:
> Colin B. wrote:
> > OK, I just finished fighting with Delta/Porter Cable/DeWalt/B&D/etc.'s
> > useless website. They changed the servicenet a few weeks ago, and I've
> > noticed the following since then:
>
> I'm assuming you're talking about the following?
>
> http://www.dewaltservicenet.com/servicenet_home.aspx
>
> > 1) You cannot login without using IE.
>
> Haven't verified that, but I can view the information with Firefox on
> Linux without logging in. The colour choices are a bit odd though...
>
No kidding! The link to the user manual is dark gray on a not-quite-
as
dark gray background. Nearly invisible until I rolled over it.
--
FF
Colin:
I feel your pain. But if you really want to spike
your blood pressure - go to MicroSoft's site-
using Netscape - on a Mac.
NINE pages, each with probably 30 cookies,
and S L O W loading pages at that, asking
for just about everything about me - including
my hat size (OK so that's a bit of an exaggeration.
Anyone still own a hat that isn't "adjustable"?)
- only to get a Page Not Found message at the end
of the ordeal. I felt like I was in a Monty Python
skit and had stumbled into the Office of Abuse
thinking I was meeting with The Minister Of Silly
Walks. I was sure my phone would ring and someone
on the other end would ask for my shoe size.
(non - Python people - ignore all references to
The Flying Circus show)
charlie b
"Colin B." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> OK, I just finished fighting with Delta/Porter Cable/DeWalt/B&D/etc.'s
> useless website. They changed the servicenet a few weeks ago, and I've
> noticed the following since then:
>
> 1) You cannot login without using IE.
> 2) You cannot get any information without registering and creating an
> account. Previously, you could claim to be from out of the USA.
> 3) There is NO DIRECT LINK to the manuals. This should be the #1 link
> right off of the stinkin' page, but it doesn't exist anywhere!!!
> 4) If you search for your tool's part number, you may or may not find
> any documentation. About half of my tools (3-5 years old) were there.
> None of my old ones were, except for my ancient circular saw, for which
> I found a higher quality schematic online already.
>
> This is easily the worst website I've seen in months, and I work in
> IT. Several people at the company should be fired over this travesty.
>
> Colin
This is to help those trying to find their way at the
http://www.dewaltservicenet.com/ site. It is not a great site, that is for
sure and could definitely use some fixing but this may help.
You should know the part number of the tool for looking up a part.
All parts are not available on-line but I'll use one that I just had to
order. I have a laminate trimmer (model 310 / 3101) that has a bad cord.
The overall part number of the trimmer is 3101 Type 2 for the Base. The
motor (w/cord) has a part number of 3102 Type 3.
So at the homepage of http://www.dewaltservicenet.com/ in the upper left
corner, you will see a box with "Find It Now!".
Enter the part number. In my case, I entered 3102. You can also enter in
text (i.e. laminate trimmer)
That brings up a listing of part numbers - some of which are not relevant -
but "3102 Type 3" is listed.
Click on the relevant listing and if it's available on-line, the next page
shows the parts listings.
Here's where you can access the Product Overview, Exploded Art and
Instruction Manuals - look in the top-left corner. Some of these are not
available.
In my case, the cord needed is listed as part number 875699. Clicking on
that underlined part number opens a page that shows which products this cord
works with if you're interested in that info. It shows the status of the
product, such as Discontinued w/o replacement or Normal Product or
Discontinued w/ replacement...
Back one page to the page that shows the cord part number 875699 with a
"Buy" icon to the right. After clicking on the last item you want to
purchase, click on the "view cart" icon at top left and follow the bouncing
ball.
No, the site is not intuitive, it does not have all the info for drawings,
manuals or parts replacements but on this page
http://www.deltaportercable.com/AboutUs/ContactUs.aspx
they list the contact phone numbers. I have called them in the past and the
nice lady is the one that showed me the secret hand-shake on how to find
things on their servicenet site.
If you find this helpful, send $19.95 to..........;-)
Bob S.
Colin B. wrote:
> OK, I just finished fighting with Delta/Porter Cable/DeWalt/B&D/etc.'s
> useless website. They changed the servicenet a few weeks ago, and I've
> noticed the following since then:
>
> 1) You cannot login without using IE.
> 2) You cannot get any information without registering and creating an
> account. Previously, you could claim to be from out of the USA.
> 3) There is NO DIRECT LINK to the manuals. This should be the #1 link
> right off of the stinkin' page, but it doesn't exist anywhere!!!
> 4) If you search for your tool's part number, you may or may not find
> any documentation. About half of my tools (3-5 years old) were there.
> None of my old ones were, except for my ancient circular saw, for which
> I found a higher quality schematic online already.
>
> This is easily the worst website I've seen in months, and I work in
> IT. Several people at the company should be fired over this travesty.
>
> Colin
I worked my way around that website to find out where the tech support
was. I finally found an email address and sent them an email asking
three questions about my Delta 14" wood lathe. I sent the email on Nov
8. On Nov 9 I received an automated reply (From DEWALT supoort) stating
that I should receive a response withing 24 hours. This is the 14th and
I have not seen the response yet. I had to stop holding my breath.
Wayne
Phil-In-Mich. wrote:
>> {snip}
>> This is easily the worst website I've seen in months, and I work in
>> IT. Several people at the company should be fired over this
>> travesty.
>>
>> Colin
>
> You are correct in that it is one of the worst websites to use.
>
> However, from what I have read over some years following this NG, I
> cannot state this is a travesty from the site's owner's point of
> view.
> Re-Phrase: How do any of us know if the hard-to-use-website was not
> a
> web design goal? What if the web site owner's don't want us to find
> the old parts list.
> What if the goal is to make us so angry we stop seeking old parts
> lists from the web access and the service slowly melts away?
Then why spend the money to even have them online at all?
> Question: Do any one here remember the term "built-in-obsolesce" and
> the bean-counter's claim that supporting the product long beyond
> expected life after manufacturing was cutting into profits? So,
> just
> what is the expected life of a unisaw? I bet some here have good
> usable Delta saws pushing 40 years old at least.
>
> Yes, that site is that bad.
> Phil
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Phil-In-Mich. <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> {snip}
>> This is easily the worst website I've seen in months, and I work in
>> IT. Several people at the company should be fired over this travesty.
>>
>> Colin
>
> You are correct in that it is one of the worst websites to use.
>
> However, from what I have read over some years following this NG, I cannot
> state this is a travesty from the site's owner's point of view.
> Re-Phrase: How do any of us know if the hard-to-use-website was not a web
> design goal? What if the web site owner's don't want us to find the old
> parts list.
> What if the goal is to make us so angry we stop seeking old parts lists from
> the web access and the service slowly melts away?
>
> Question: Do any one here remember the term "built-in-obsolesce" and the
> bean-counter's claim that supporting the product long beyond expected life
> after manufacturing was cutting into profits? So, just what is the expected
> life of a unisaw? I bet some here have good usable Delta saws pushing 40
> years old at least.
Well, my bandsaw is from 2000, and I had to phone Delta to get a manual for
it. If they make a bandsaw is supposed to be chucked after seven years, then
they're not a company I'll support. That's really the key: If they're not
willing (or able) to provide reasonable support for the products, then I'll
be happy to buy from their competitors because they clearly don't deserve to
stay in business. Not only do they not benefit from me replacing their gear
with newer stuff, but they've also lost me as a customer for net-new
purchases.
Bottom line is that I don't care. If I don't get support from a company, I
won't support the company. Planned obsolescence is short-term thinking which
will gut companies in the long run, and good riddance to 'em.
Colin
"Colin B." wrote in message:
<respectfully snipped
| This is easily the worst website I've seen in months,
Amen! I just bought a used PC omnijig and wanted some additional templates.
Guess what? I could find nothing on the website, not through any search. I
called the Delta regional center and they said that all those templates were
discontinued. They said that I might find them on the website. I told the
guy that he should look at this himself and try to find anything. Good and
approiate post, Colin.
("The rest of the story", I did find the templates at a retailer on the net
after a long search.)
woodstuff