Microsoft Corp’s after-sales service of its Surface tablet has attracted criticism from China’s state-owned radio, following similar reports in the past month targeting Apple Inc.
The Surface Pro should follow China’s law requiring notebook computers to have a one-year repair warranty for the whole device and a two-year warranty for main parts, as compared with the company’s one-year warranty for both, China National Radio reported on Monday.
Beijing-based Microsoft spokeswoman Joanna Li said she could not comment on the report.
After a March 15 report by China Central Television criticized Apple’s customer service, Chinese government mouthpiece the People’s Daily published more than a dozen articles on the subject.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook apologized to Chinese consumers on April 2 after two weeks of being lambasted by state-run media for arrogance and poor customer service.
China should not loosen regulations on Apple because of that apology, the People’s Daily said on Monday.
China National Radio reporter Pan Yi (潘毅) said the station looked into the story after listeners complained about Microsoft’s after-sales policies.
“Our story is not really related to CCTV’s Apple story,” Pan said in a telephone interview. “A lot of foreign companies are not very familiar with China’s after-sales policies.”
Microsoft began selling Surface tablets in China in October and made its first global sale in Beijing as the US company tried to win favor with local consumers tired of waiting months for access to the latest Apple products, which are sold in the US first.
In the March 15 report, the state broadcaster said the owners of Volkswagen AG’s cars in China have reported instances of abnormal vibrations, loss of power and sudden acceleration. The problems are related to the cars’ direct-shift gearbox system, it said in its program marking World Consumer Rights Day. Volkswagen said at the time that it will contact the involved customers and make any necessary repairs.
China’s quality watchdog introduced laws this year allowing the government to order investigations and impose fines should manufacturers and importers fail to recall faulty vehicles in a timely manner.
DIVIDED VIEWS: Although the Fed agreed on holding rates steady, some officials see no rate cuts for this year, while 10 policymakers foresee two or more cuts There are a lot of unknowns about the outlook for the economy and interest rates, but US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled at least one thing seems certain: Higher prices are coming. Fed policymakers voted unanimously to hold interest rates steady at a range of 4.25 percent to 4.50 percent for a fourth straight meeting on Wednesday, as they await clarity on whether tariffs would leave a one-time or more lasting mark on inflation. Powell said it is still unclear how much of the bill would fall on the shoulders of consumers, but he expects to learn more about tariffs
NOT JUSTIFIED: The bank’s governor said there would only be a rate cut if inflation falls below 1.5% and economic conditions deteriorate, which have not been detected The central bank yesterday kept its key interest rates unchanged for a fifth consecutive quarter, aligning with market expectations, while slightly lowering its inflation outlook amid signs of cooling price pressures. The move came after the US Federal Reserve held rates steady overnight, despite pressure from US President Donald Trump to cut borrowing costs. Central bank board members unanimously voted to maintain the discount rate at 2 percent, the secured loan rate at 2.375 percent and the overnight lending rate at 4.25 percent. “We consider the policy decision appropriate, although it suggests tightening leaning after factoring in slackening inflation and stable GDP growth,”
Greek tourism student Katerina quit within a month of starting work at a five-star hotel in Halkidiki, one of the country’s top destinations, because she said conditions were so dire. Beyond the bad pay, the 22-year-old said that her working and living conditions were “miserable and unacceptable.” Millions holiday in Greece every year, but its vital tourism industry is finding it harder and harder to recruit Greeks to look after them. “I was asked to work in any department of the hotel where there was a need, from service to cleaning,” said Katerina, a tourism and marketing student, who would
i Gasoline and diesel prices at fuel stations are this week to rise NT$0.1 per liter, as tensions in the Middle East pushed crude oil prices higher last week, CPC Corp, Taiwan (台灣中油) and Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化) said yesterday. International crude oil prices last week rose for the third consecutive week due to an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, as the market is concerned that the situation in the Middle East might affect crude oil supply, CPC and Formosa said in separate statements. Front-month Brent crude oil futures — the international oil benchmark — rose 3.75 percent to settle at US$77.01
RSS