Columbia house now has you needing to call in to cancel your membership.
After being jacked around for 30 minutes with people from India, I'm done.
I'd rather pay a higher price elsewhere.

Unless we stop buying from companies that outsource, none us will have
jobs in 5 years.

How do anyone know where the reps are from?

I can understand people from indian or russians for their specific voice but when people say that they talk to a panamanian rep confuses me. How do you know they are panama? could they be hispanic people from other countries. It's just weird.

I'm afraid you will have to call in to the dvdtalk toll free number to discuss this topic further. Thank you very much.

One customer rep told me that his call center was in Panama.

Geez...if only people took the time to understand what they are talking about before they make such ridiculous predictions.

Maybe he's just trying to live up to his user name ....

I'd just quit the game and only keep my DV2 now ch.com account open.

Has anyone tried putting their intent to cancel into a snailmail or email to [email protected]? Doesn't that work? I don't have time to fiddle around with someone on the phone for 30 minutes.

Uh does it really matter WHICH foreign country they are from?

NO!

I personally don't care where they are from at all. I was just wondering how people knows they are from panama.

Don't mind him. He's one of the more pugnacious folks around here.

When Columbia House first started using CSRs in Panama it was a big deal here because we had a lot of trouble with them. So it was investigated and we found out their location. (That's not to say that they haven't branched out to call centers in other Latin American countries). Since then, questioning the CSRs has determined that they also use reps in Canada and India in addition to the US.

30 minutes seems like a long time to be on the phone. What was the problem?

I trust that you are aware that one can call in and not have to wait on hold. If not, you can check out The Wolf Husky Phone Bypass thread. While the phone system has changed a bit, the general phone queue bypass still works. If anything it is a bit easier now, pressing 0 after beginning the "place an order" process usually leads directly to a CSR:
Press 1 (English)
Press 1
Entered account number
Press 0

After my 6th straight undeliverable email to CH, I called using the bypass system. Was only on the phone for about 5 minutes total. Had to cancel an order and to get a replacement for a sratched copy I received of Raging Bull SE. Surprisingly, I only had to say no 2 times during the "sales pitch while you're on the phone..." I hope their email system is just down and not them forcing people to call in.

Or maybe he has a valid point, and you (marty888), searspsycho, and lxjenkins need to understand that your negative comments are not needed. Why dont the three of you start your own thread about how great it is that many American jobs are being outsourced to other countries.

I agree with the OP. I too will stop using CH for that reason and several other reasons as well.

USA! USA!

Oooh, I see. I thought CH operations were only handled only in the US.

We got us cheap labor!

...and many people wonder how CH manages to stay in business with such low prices.

Easy just pay Customer reps $1 dollar or less an hour

The air is so clear and fresh from way up here on my soap box (see my post#15)! Sorry, I couldn't help but rant.

I will end up paying more for the dvds I purchase outside CH and will not have fun paying more $$$. Then again my total spending may decrease because I will no longer buy a bunch of par and sub-par movies. More power to those who can continue to use CH and enjoy the savings per title.

Columbia House lost me as soon as the fucked with my FunCash just a couple of weeks before cashout. The fact that I can't talk to a decent CSR is just one issue of many.

Goodbye CH. It was great knowin' ya.

>Geez...if only people took the time to understand what they are talking about before they make such ridiculous predictions.

I agree lxjenkins, you should take the time to understand what you are criticizing.

I am referring to the news stories from last year about Columbia house
offshoring their customer service to India.

Feel free to call the customer service and hear for yourself.

I just canceled online today.

Actually the US economy is getting back on track since 9/11 and one of the reasons is due to outsourcing. US Corporations save big $$ by outsourcing. Think about it, they dont have to pay healthcare, 401K, severance package and other benefits to people in India. All they have to pay is minimum wage to get their job done.

Dont blame the people in India for taking our jobs, blame the mighty US Corporations in our backyards!

"Actually the US economy is getting back on track since 9/11"

Dude, lay off the Fox News...have you checked the market lately? Bankruptcy anybody? How about a tank of gas...yeah, outsourcing really works!

It's hot today? Global warming!!!

It's cold today? Global warming!!!

Outsourcing: Today's economic bogeyman. It's right up there with the ballooning trade deficit that is guarranteed to destroy the US economy...25 years ago.

We are over 7 trillion dollars in debt (and billions more each month with the war in Iraq). Meanwhile, more tax cuts for the rich (the top 1% received 52% of the tax cuts). How much did you get? How much do you have left over after fueling the car? Who is going to pay the U.S. debt? Bush said Iraq would pay its own bills. Bull$hit! Meanwhile, the CSR's in Panama are not answering the phones! I called repeatedly last night to get some box sets under the old rules, and everyone must have been on "siesta."

Guess you didn't notice my "wink" icon, huh? Lighten up.