This evening I received an email that made me stop and think, unusualy about the project that I work on for paid work.

My parents want a new computer system so gave me a budget and asked me to purchase an entirely new computer. On recommendation, I went Dabs.com and filled my basked with all the necessary bits. I made absolutely sure that every item I ordered was in stock so that the computer would be delivered by the Friday (I ordered on Tuesday) since I was vising my parents this weekend.

When the order page told me my order was awaiting stock I was curious so filed a support request with their support team. The responce was awful and didn't answer my question of whether they were in stock (according to the website) or not.

So I decided to email the managing director, since housemate Chris knew his address. I received a responce within a few hours. He explained how a lot of their competitors showed the stock they had in their warehouses aggregated with the stock they had at the manufacturers already bought by them.

Dabs used to, apparantly, distinguish between these two types of "in stock" but the recent culture of buying by price alone, not support, meant that customers were going to those website which showed items being in stock, even if they weren't.

David Atherton, the MD, explains how Dabs was forced to switch to using that slight deception because of the disregard for previous service brought on by price engines.

The whole tone of his email was stressed, tired and exhausted. He is blatantly against the way the UK industry is becoming the `American "as we say or not at all" world`.

I was personally very happy that he took the time to respond and explain why I had experienced the apparant disagreement between the website and stock control system.

But it made me think, my project for paid work is a price engine for the low cost flight industry. There are many engines out there, but we're the best (of course). But for the first time, I've begun to think of the implications for the companies involved rather than the excitement about creating a webservice that can find flights from 100 airlines and book them without the user even knowing where they bought their ticket from!

I now wonder what effect the internet will have on the economy over the next 20 years or so as ecommerce becomes even more popular and as we use price engines to ensure we get the best deal going.

I for one, would love to go back to the old company/customer personal values that I remember existing even in my own life. The trouble is, I think, that the internet bandwagon is going far too fast to change direction now, sad as it is.

[Edit]Apparantly I was one of 10 "the truth" tests he was trying this evening. It worked for me.

`Another guy asked for dimensions on a flash card and I said you don't
need them, you're just testing if we have people. And he agreed.`

I hate people like that, who waste other's precious time. When ever I send correspondance it's always because I have a proper need, not as a stupid test like that.

And to close his email he wished me a good night. How often is it that the managing director of a huge company like Dabs does that. I shall sleep all warm and fuzzy tonight.[/Edit]