El--- Another poised to bite the dust,,,
Nov. 4, 1999 (PCWorld via COMTEX) -- Beleaguered Microworkz.com,
which has drawn consumer complaints for its slow response to orders and
uneven service, has switched from cheap PCs to software sales only,
even as its home state files suit against the company.
Microworkz.com failed to deliver equipment, honor warranties, issue
refunds, and respond to customer inquiries about its Webzter computers,
according to a suit filed Thursday by Christine Gregoire, attorney
general for the state of Washington. The AG's office has received 95
complaints against Microworkz.com this year.
But Microworkz doesn't deny it. The company has already admitted to
not complying with the consumer protection act in the areas the
Washington AG suit alleges, says Richard Latman, Microworkz chief
operating officer. Latman has resigned from Microworkz, effective
November 15, but will continue to chair the company.
"We discontinued the Webzter and we do not make or sell computers
anymore," he says. "We build the operating system for [Microworkz'
newest machine] the iToaster, which is manufactured by someone
else." That change occurred in late September, he says.
Repeated complaints from Washington consumers spawned the suit,
according to representatives of the attorney general's office. Even
before the system started shipping in April, there was concern that
Microworkz.com couldn't meet demand for the Webzter PCs, priced from
$299 to $699.
Microworkz.com is also being sued by EarthLink Network over a breach
of contract; EarthLink Internet access software was to have been
bundled with the Webzter PCs, until EarthLink canceled the deal in
August.
Refunds Are Coming (Slowly)
Since announcing the Webzter in March, Microworkz has repeatedly been
the subject of complaints and company problems. The company has failed
to meet demands for the Webzter or honor the $100 service package that
promised a Microworkz technician would come to your house to fix any
problems. Refunds have been difficult to obtain and in August, the
chief executive officer announced his resignation.
For Webzter customers seeking refunds, Latman says, "most consumers
who are waiting for refunds have gotten them; this is our cash we're
spending to refund them." |
