Iain @ Internet

I’m just thinking about my review of the past year, so thought i’d re-post my review from the previous year – which i’ve not yet gotten round to copying over from my previous blog site.

Here’s the 2005 review, we’ll see what’s changed….

Supplier Review of the Year 2005

Ten Best Suppliers to Me in 2005

1) Ten UK, my buyer-centric ‘concierge service’ has to top the list. 95% of the time they do what is asked of them, well, with minimum fuss, and the rest of the time is not far behind – well worth the money.

2) Apple, their computers and dot Mac service continue to improve, Dot Mac in particular with its tight integration of basic stuff like e-mail, back ups, web site publishing etc makes it a service I don’t ever envisage being without.

3) Myserverworld – they host 8 web sites for me; simple to use, good value for money and very rarely any down time.

4) Starbucks, ‘always the same’ I agree, but their coffee, blueberry muffins and wireless internet work for me – from Sydney to Soho Square.

5) Marks and Spencer – consistently good food, even if their portions do shrink mysteriously after a new product/ version is first launched.

6) Hilton – My preferred hotel chain, very consistent – and in Hhonors the best loyalty programme around.

7) Adam Street Club, London – top notch club off The Strand, well geared up for small businesses and not too stuck up – unlike most of their peers.

British Airways – the best fleet around and good web site and loyalty programme – only held back by the weaknesses of Heathrow Airport.

9) Historic Scotland – the main supplier to our wedding, some minor hiccups but you can’t fault the property assets they have to offer.

10) Ridgeback – makers of my new bike, very impressive.

Ten Worst Suppliers to Me in 2005

1) Mapfre Insurance Company – straight in at number one, the insurer of my property in Spain. After a robbery in March 05, we still do not have the claim settled, un-paralleled degrees of in-competence and intransigence; i’ll have a lot more to say about this shambolic crew when I finally get the claim settled.

2) Spanish Builders – continuing the Spanish theme, don’t ever believe a Spanish builder when they give you a timetable.

3) Palm – the Treo 650 smart phone is a great idea, only problem being that it does not really work as a phone; and mine has had to go back for repair twice within 7 months. How did such a ground-breaking company allow themselves to churn out such half-baked products?

4) British Airport Authority (BAA) – i’m sure they try hard, but how come Heathrow Airport just continues to be a painful place to travel through? Far too many times this year i’ve spent 45 minutes or so sitting on the ground waiting for a place to park the plane. Passport queues get worse, food outlets are bland – and all in an airport that I used to regard as the best. That’s what comes from being too successful I suppose…

5) The Heathrow Express – This BAA subsidiary also merits a top ten place – just how many times can the prices go up by far more than the rate of inflation before the government (who paid for the thing in the first place) call a halt!!!

6) Wedding Photographers – Why should a photographer retain the copyright to pictures from my wedding – i’ve no idea but it is a model that has to break down before much longer. Bring on the guests with good digital cameras and save a bit of money!!!

7) John Lewis – another wedding supplier. How many separate deliveries does it take to deliver a complete set of about 100 wedding gifts. I’d never have believed it would take the 10 that it did, or the multiple trips back to the store with damaged or faulty goods.

Property alarm companies – I have experienced two of these this year, both were only interested in winning the business and after the installation don’t want to know. ….You know who you are….

9) Tesco Local – how to make a mess of what till then had been a nice looking street (Marylebone High Street).

10) First Direct – I had £900 stolen through ATM fraud, and for the first 36 hours of the experience I was treated like I was the criminal, and the assumption was that I had given my card/ PIN to someone. So why would I do that then when there was nothing in my long account history to suggest it. I got the money back, some 3 weeks later – but went right off First Direct in the process.

‘Could Do Better’

Here’s some organisations ‘in the middle’ that with a bit of effort might make my top ten.

1) Glasgow Rangers – a nice league win on the last day of the season, but what a down-turn. Sort it out, we’ll have a new manager in the summer please and I big clear out of the players that are simply not up to the job. And you know who you are too……

2) British Gas – why such a mix of great service staff and occasional duffers?

3) PPP – make up your mind, are you just an insurance company or are you actually interested in my health? The former judging by the lack of new health-promoting activity/ offers.

4) BT – what a great brand, what a reliable network, when are you going to do something interesting?