CONSUMER ALERT: NBA Audio League Pass--Strongly Not Recommended

[MavKikiNYC]

CONSUMER ALERT

NBA Audio League Pass--STRONGLY NOT RECOMMENDED


I did a one-month subscription starting on January 5. I was initially very enthusiastic about this service and talked it up to a number of fellow NBA fans. The problems only started when I actually tried to USE the service. The server links constantly broke down for me, which meant several 2-3 minute interruptions to close out the old link and re-establish a new one. This would happen on average 12-15 times per webcast. I tried to listen to parts of maybe 20 broadcasts over the month of January, and I NEVER had an interruption-free game. I attempted to get technical support a couple of times, but was never able to get anything more than a pass-off from one entity to another (RealOne to Yahoo.com to Broadcast.com).

As February 5th approached, I was bombarded with e-mails (five arriving simultaneously at one point) reminding me that my subscription was due to expire. Even at only $10/month, I had already determined that the product really wasn't worth the trouble and that this venture really didn't have the kinks worked out yet.

But the clincher came as I was listening to what was probably the most exciting game of the season so far--the Mavericks-Pacers 141-140 overtime thriller. Even more than usual, the connections failed (about 30 times maybe?). But finally, with 8 seconds left and the Mavericks setting up for the winning shot, the connection terminated and I received a notice advising that my subscription had expired. The subscription had been timed TO THE BLOODY HOUR, rather than to the day, but nowhere in the order confirimation or any of the renewal reminders was this mentioned.

My e-mail query advising them of the unfortunate happening and providing their customer service department with the perfect opportunity to appease a dissatisfied first-time subscriber (refund my $10?; extend my subscription free for one-month? 15 days?) generated the following response:

"You have purchased a month subscription to the NBA Audio League Pass. ...This monthly purchase will end at exactly 1 month after the date of your original subscription, which appears to be what happened. We apologize for this not being communicated from the beginning.

As for the other issues that you have incurred with your Real One Player, unfortunately that is out of our realm of support. We do not support the Real Products, but support and manage the Audio League Pass and help troubleshoot the streaming piece for the NBA.

Thanks!

Customer Service"

I can live with technological glitches, and decide whether or not to continue the subscription based on my experience.

But this kind of non-response from whatever passes for customer service at NBA Audio League Pass harkens to the days of fly-by-night ISPs who would go out of business overnight without notice or accommodation whatsoever, let alone a refund.

It's amazing how little customer relations foresight these companies have, and how little sense they have of how much ill-will and negative buzz they can generate with $10 worth of poor service.

I sooo look forward to the day when ventures like this can succeed, rather than just suck seed.