21/02/2003
Today, in an attempt to rebuild his battered PR image, Tony Blair is visiting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the his holiness the Pope. I wonder whose ring he will be kissing.
I quick rant now. First of all my BT saga looks set to continue. Even though I cancelled my broadband order they went ahead and sent all the stuff for installation. I think I will have fun with this one!
Next lastminute.com. Harry, sensible chap that he is, sent flowers to the Handbrake on valentines day. I did this via Lastminute.com as I was as usual very much last minute in my planning. The flowers did turn up and Harry got bonus points however what arrived at Handbrake Towers were without doubt the mangiest, bedraggled roses that have ever been seen. They were about as healthy as Deutsche telekoms balance sheet and duly expired the day after delivery. Lastminute have chosen not to answer my emailson this matter and will now have to face the consequences.
I have therefore decided to come up with a ratings system which I feel will be both informative and fun. Looking back over the last year we have slagged off a number of companies, many of whom have subsequently seen their share price decimated. I do not claim responsibility for the share moves. they fell because they were either crap companies or else had a fundamental reason why their business model was changing. Over the past 12 months we have pasted:
Regus: we were customers of theirs very briefly and didn't enjoy the process.
Lloys TSB: we were customers and became sick of talking to a help desk in the asian sub-continent.
British Airways: we found out that at the beginning of last year a large proportion of their business class passengers, transatlantic, were upgrades.
Dixons: was a customer; something which will never be repeated.
BT: tried to become a broadband customer but the process was just too painful.
Our ratings system will work as follows and be will incorporated into the new website with a discussion forum: We will have a Hall of Fame for good companies and a Hall of Shame for bad ones. Companies that we are looking at will go on " Harry Watch " and will have a positive or negative outlook. Members will be asked to give their views on the companies and come up with other potential candidates.
Lastminute.com is now on Harry Watch with a potential negative outlook I.E. going into the Hall of Shame.
All you dodgy companies out there, beware. theres a new Sheriff in town.
Marshall Harry