So I sent my computer that controls the speed of my chair in to the manufacturer. The casing was cracked and moisture could get in, not good. I was cool to be pushed around all week because I needed it to be fixed. But when I got it back, they had updated the software and all my speeds and settings were erased. I can’t even turn on my chair by myself now. I did not ask for the updates. And one five-minute call would have been so easy, like “Hey, do you want us to update your software?” But they were being nice to the disabled girl who can’t possibly make her own decisions. This company deals with disabled people only. You would think they would have a clue!
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That reminds me of the time I brought a PC in for repair and when they returned it I found they had erased my hard drive. I was not exactly happy about that particular service. How long will it take you to get your chair set up properly again?
ReplyDeleteOh no, that's awful. Did they make a backup or anything useful like that?
ReplyDeleteNoooo! That's awful. You're right. People need to ask permission about "improvements."
ReplyDeletehas nothing to do w/this post, but I gave you a shout out http://uppity-crip.blogspot.com/2009/12/more-button-experiances.html
ReplyDeleteThat sucks! Too bad they don't read your blog!
ReplyDeleteOh, that sucks! I'm curious as well - how long will it take you to get all of that reprogrammed? It sounds like a lot of work, and I can't believe that they wouldn't have a process in place for backing up your settings when there's a firmware update that they're going to do. (Aside from the fact that YOU should be the one deciding whether you want the update.)
ReplyDeleteThis definitely puts my angst about getting my mp3 player to work on my mac in perspective.
Ok these people must be completely like stupid or something it is your way of walking how is it that they think they can change that? how frustrating.
ReplyDeleteWhen my boyfriend switched to a new chair, we recorded all his settings so we could program the new chair to the exact same settings. Grrrr, that must be frustrating. Have you got it now where you can turn it on yourself again? If not, they need to put it back the way it was--free of charge.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of early this year when my wheelchair was in the shop for six weeks while they added the right legrests... when I finally got it back, I didn't notice they had erased all but the lowest speed setting. Figured it out the hard way the next day on my way to catch a flight and couldn't go any faster than .6 mph. It was actually faster to disengage the motor and let myself be pushed! Made the flight by the skin of my teeth, and monkeyed around with the controls until I managed to coax it up to a slightly more reasonable 1.2 mph. That's still really slow, but I wasn't about to let the techs touch my chair again without my supervision, so I waited until the AbilitiesExpo to get it reprogrammed. I must have told the poor Permobil guy "Don't screw up!" half a dozen times...
ReplyDeleteI don't get why so many people in the field are so clueless about the realities of disability life! These things frustrate me so much!
ReplyDeleteI almost hope you were unlucky in this case - I don't know what their returns/repairs deal is, but I know with computer OEMs and such, occasionally this happens--they're supposed to backup personal data or at least warn people to do so beforehand. You'd think with something like this they'd have a bit more of a clue though, not to mention fewer customer calls or repairs. Or maybe that's the problem.
ReplyDeleteEither way, dumb. One of the ways in which I'm lucky to not have to rely on technology more sophisticated than a cane (yet) - no firmware for that! At least, not until I start modding it...