Followup to HP 12C keyboard problems

[Eric Rechlin]

Just a follow-up to my post from last week about my 12C that had a defective [PV] key:

On Monday I called HP tech support to see if I could get a replacement.

The man with whom I spoke was very friendly and said they'd send me a replacement.

Well, today I just got a package from UPS from SPL Logistics Export Department of Miami, FL, containing a replacement calculator. But something looked different.

What was it? HP sent me a 12c Prestige to replace my 12C. It was just a bare calculator, wrapped in bubble wrap, with no case or anything. The serial number starts with CNA643.

I'm not complaining -- in fact, it was pretty cool to get a 12c Prestige. But what I find strange is how a model that was only sold in Brazil about 5 years ago ended up in the US HP warranty replacement inventory. The Prestige, for those who aren't familiar, is a rebadged second-generation 12c Platinum, but with a gold faceplate instead of a silver colored faceplate.

Eric

[Bob Cortopassi]

If the 12C with the problem was a 12C+ with the faster ARM processor, I'd consider this a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

Thanks for your comments on the Prestige, though, I'd never heard of it!

[Eric Rechlin]

Yes, that's correct, it was a 12C+ so it was a downgrade, but considering I can easily buy as many 12C+ calculators as I want yet can't buy the 12c Prestige, this is arguably worth more.

They didn't make me send back the old 12C, though, so I still have that (if I ignore the fact that PV doesn't work so well).

Eric

[Katie Wasserman]

Pretty Cool!

On the other hand, pretty terrible HP service. This is especially terrible since you're one of their resellers, is that correct?

[Eric Rechlin]

I don't know how many at HP are aware of that.

These days I buy most of my calculators for resale on Amazon.com because it's frequently cheaper to buy calculators from Amazon than from the official HP distributors. When I do rely on my distributors (like for the 15C) I tend to get screwed over anyway.

Eric