Before Christmas, I received an early present in the form of the comment left by an Avid Consumerist.
A couple of months back, I wrote a post about Tom’s Hardware and their situation with MacPadd (QMS, Inc.). Tom’s Tuan Nguyen ordered a MacPadd from MacPadd.com for review but never received the order. The situation exploded as Nguyen provided tons of evidence supporting his claims that MacPadd and it’s owner, David Free were engaging in fraud.
The comment left by Avid Consumerist only has a link to a post on MacPadd @ WordPress. The post praises The Consumerist (I can only assume they are referring to this The Consumerist) for removing an article about the fight between Tom’s and MacPadd. I never saw this article myself as I don’t read The Consumerist so, I cannot comment about what was contained within it. But hey, I got the hint there guy err girl err… whatever! *wink*
My response to this comment is simple: I will not remove my article about Tom’s and MacPadd.
What makes this comment even more fun is that there is a link in the Avid Consumerist username linking to an article about how the Tom’s article was false and fraudulent. Let’s go through that article!
The Tuan Nguyen incident has been nothing more than internet fraud and deception notwithstanding the continuing attacks by Tom’s Hardware and Nguyen on the Mac Community.
I love this “Call To Arms, my brothers!” Rewriting history in one sentence to make it seem as though the Tom’s article was slandering the entire “Mac Community” is hilarious. There was no mention of the Mac Community in any of the three Tom’s articles written about this subject.
MacPadd has never been contact by Police or FBI for possible fraud activities as Nguyen would have you believe
There was no mention of the FBI in any of the Tom’s articles. Nguyen said he had contacted the RCMP Fraud Prevention Department but the only thing that was said was that they were “aware” of reports and asked for details concerning the Tom’s case. No where in the articles does it say that MacPadd had been contacted already by any law enforcement agency. Lousy spin.
MacPadd does not make false claims (Lysol ™ wipes disinfect our anodized aluminium MacPadd surface)
Unfortunately, this is not the false claim to which the Tom’s articles were referring. MacPadd.com claimed that the mousepad was resistant to the H1N1 virus (the virus that gives you Swine and Bird Flu). This scientifically untrue claim has been since removed. (Read the American CDC’s facts on H1N1 transmission here) But I saw the claim with my own eyes as did many commenters of the Tom’s articles. MacPadd also stated that the surface of the MacPadd is antibacterial. This claim was also removed. However MacPadd.com currently states that:
MacPadd can be instantly disinfected with a sanitary/alcohol wipe.
Clean your work station and MacPadd daily.
MacPadd does not contribute to the spread of dirt or bacteria.
MacPadd will help you keep your hands cleaner longer
MacPadd is ideal for work stations in hospitals or clinics that has multiple users.
MacPadd can be put into an autoclave and then ready for use after its cleaning (special non stick surface available)
Neoprene mouse pads collect materials that contribute to an unsanitary office environment
I would like to see the research done on the MacPadd which proves that the MacPadd does not contribute to the spread of bacteria and dirt. Preferably research that is not credited to a “… Spaceman, Ph.D.” Or maybe it’s referring to after it and the work station is cleaned, disinfected and Lysol is sprayed everywhere?
- Apple is aware of MacPadd and have considered selling the product on their website
- MacPadd met with and talked with several Apple representatives regarding the sale of our product. No concerns were expressed at the time of discussion.
- MacPadd has sold over 8,000 customers
- We have 8,000 customers that have not been deceived.
- … I responded with my professional and academic background (MBA, Engineer, Certified Management Account, I sit on the Board of Governors for our profession)
- Unfortunately that did not stop him or his and his friends or co-workers phone calls and harassing and abusive messages (We had the police trace all phone calls and emails).
- I can assure you that because of this incident, the FBI, and Canadian Police Authorities (OPP) have been involved with respect to criminal harassment to Nguyen and his followers.
- CANADA POST DOES NOT PROVIDE TRACKING NUMBERS TO THE USA.
Two things in regards to the last item on the above list. Canada Post does provide tracking numbers to packages delivered to the USA. I guess the MacPadd blog posting was hoping that the people reading the posting were idiots who did not know how to search for Canada Post’s website. The second is about this:
THEREFORE THERE IS NO TRACKING NUMBER. Despite identifying that several times to Nguyen it seems he just couldn’t understand.
The problem with this statement is that it contradicts the evidence presented. The screenshot of this email exchange shows that MacPadd sent Nguyen a Canada Post tracking number which, was for a package that had been delivered weeks before Tom’s ordered the MacPadd.
I could probably go on longer but I think that I have dedicated enough of my time to this subject. I will however, point out this one last thing that was mentioned in the MacPadd blog posting:
The only fraud that has occurred in this instance is the multitude of falsehoods by Nguyen on his website and the breaches of Tom’s Hardware Code of Conduct, and Terms of Service. We delivered despite the abusive and harassing character of someone who is even legally eligible to work in the USA (no Green Card).
So, what is being said here is that Tuan Nguyen, staff member for Tom’s Hardware, is an illegal alien in the United States. Is there proof for this libelous statement?
The whole issue here is that Tom’s Hardware was well within it’s rights to publish the details of the situation. I and anyone else are also well within their rights to do so. David Free/MacPadd/QMS Inc. apparently also believe they are well within their rights to say something. However, you cannot have your cake and eat it too. You can’t deny someone the right to criticize your business methods, products, services while praising others who do so to other companies.
You are selling a product and public is trusting you to deliver. You allegedly did not deliver and Tom’s reported and provided evidence for the public. This was good journalism.
GophaSpeak 