What's the GripeLog?

It's a place where customers of technology products can air their beefs with vendors and read about the problems and issues other customers are raising. Written by Ed Foster, long-time author of InfoWorld's Gripe Line column, the GripeLog combines a free weekly e-mail column with a weblog format that allows readers to interactively air their concerns and views.

The GripeLog is reader driven, and readers are encouraged to participate by writing Ed directly at foster@gripe2ed.com, by filling out the Submit a Gripe form supplied on the website, and/or by posting comments on individual stories appearing in the blog. The more participation, the better the GripeLog will be for everyone.

Reading and griping are free, and there are no hidden gotchas. You can sign up to receive the weekly newsletter column by submitting your email address sheet here and then responding to the confirmation message you will shortly receive in your inbox. You can also set up an account to post weblog comments or post anonymously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Runs the GripeLog?

The GripeLog is run by Ed Foster, former Editor, reporter and columnist for InfoWorld a newsweekly for computer systems professionals. For over ten years, he was the author of the InfoWorld Gripe Line column.

Who are the readers of the GripeLog?

Many are Information Systems professionals, but the column is open to all who have an interest in the topics Ed covers. To see a sample of subjects he covered over the last year in the InfoWorld Gripe Line, click <here>.

What Can I Gripe About?

Ed is an advocate for customers of technology products and services. Poor technical support, software licensing issues, shady e-commerce business practices, and digital fair use issues are all common topics, but everything and everybody is fair game. So go ahead and vent.

How Do I File A Gripe?

Just go to this form or write to me. If using the form, please be sure to include your e-mail address. Summarize your problem as briefly as possible. If Ed needs more details or to see supporting documentation, he will write you back.

How is the GripeLog Funded?

Good question. Ed is committed to providing this content for free, but he is also committed to not starving. Several revenue-generating ideas are being considered,including voluntary subscriptions.

What is your Privacy Policy?

We will never sell, rent, or give away your e-mail address or any other personal information about you. The only e-mail you will receive from us will be those you subscribe to receive or responses and questions from Ed about gripes you have submitted.

If I gripe, will you use my name in print or identify me to the vendor I complained about?

No. Ed keeps the identity of all reader sources strictly confidential. He will neither use your name nor the name of your organization in print, nor will he identify you to the vendor or vendors you are beefing about. If there is a good reason why you might want to be identified (for example, if the vendor has agreed to redress a wrong done to a specific customer), Ed will get your explicit permission before he does so.

Will Ed fix the problem I am having with a vendor?

Probably not. Ed's job is to identify those companies who are most guilty of abusing their customers and bring those practices to light. He cannot investigate every possible injustice he hears about. But while he might not solve your problem, helping him expose such abuses can help you and others from running into it next time.

How do I subscribe to get Ed's free e-mail newsletter?

Go to the sign-up sheet and enter your e-mail address. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to that address with instructions on how to complete the opt-in process. You will then receive the next edition of the newsletter, usually on Thursday of each week.

Can anyone post comments on the website?

Yes, anyone can post a comment. You can do so anonymously just by entering a subject line and the text of your comment in the fields provided. You can also create an account with a user name and password by clicking on the Make a New Account link in the login box.

Why was my post deleted?

We reserve the right to remove posts our readers find offensive or to terminate the account of anyone who abuses the comment-posting system with spam, guerilla marketing, or obscenities. For this purpose, and this purpose only, our weblog engine records the originated IP address of posted comments. Only the site administrators have access to the IP addresses, and they are not retained or associated with e-mail addresses or any other information about the participants.