Author: Teel

That’s it, it’s ordered. I decided not to wait to call back what’s-her-name tomorrow, since no one there really earned the commission. Random is fine with me. So, I called my bank first, to be sure the purchase would go through, and instead of just giving me a temporary increase in my daily spending limit, made a permanent increase to $2500/day. So, that’s good. Between that & some trouble re-ordering checks, working with my bank took about 18 minutes.

Then I called Bowflex, and since I had requested the video through the website, they already had all my information in their computer pulled up automatically via callerID & a clever database, which was nice. I just said I’d like to buy the Bowflex Ultimate, no I wouldn’t like an additional 100lbs of resistance ($99, available whenever I’m ready to order it), no I wouldn’t like nutritional suplements, and he verified my address, took my Visa check-card number, and told me it would be delivered in three to four weeks. Oh, and that it comes in multiple packages, not necessarily delivered at the same time. Which I always think is great; I imagine someone getting half a bowflex and wondering why it doesn’t go together properly.

So, the entire call to Bowflex, including their phone tree, hold time, and ordering, right through hangup was 2 mintues, 39 seconds. Effecient. I wonder what that guy’s commission is, for less than 2 minutes work. Oh well.

So, we’ll see how long it takes to get to me, and whether it arrives all at once, or over the course of several days, and I’ll post again about it. Until then, don’t worry, I won’t be posting about the Bowflex for a few weeks.

So, I received Bowflex’s free video and informational packets yesterday. The most interesting thing to me about the video is that it is apparently their infomercial on a cassette tape. It even asked me to call and request my free copy of itself a few times. Now, since I had never seen the full infomercial, only hundreds of shorter commercials, I actually got to see some material I hadn’t seen before. Watching people use the machine is a lot better than imagining it or looking at tiny still photos on their website. Plus, it was a lot of fun to watch muscle-bound freaks having trouble using half the resistance they were using with free weights due to the lack of momentum. Of course, they could all have been lying, but it was pretty clear there was only one actor in the bunch, and he was busy being the spokesperson.

The brochures and paperwork that was packaged with the video didn’t have any information that isn’t on their website, which says a lot of good things about their commitment to the internet. Actually, I believe there was some information (about accessories) that was on the website and not in the paperwork I was sent. So they’re actually keeping their website up-to-date faster than their physical promotions. Again, evidence that their website is a major source of revenue, and a respected part of their business.

Between the video & brochures and their web presence, I felt that the physical sales pitch was lacking, like a remnant of something that used to be relevent instead of a modern sales tool. Still, for anyone who has not seen the Bowflex infomercial and has never visited their website, this informational package could be quite valuable. I already have people asking to borrow it.

Oh, and the money appeared in my checking account this morning, and since I don’t really have any reason to give one person my commission over any other, I may just give them a call today to place the order. When I called last night to get some information that wasn’t on their website or in any of their documentation, the person I spoke to told me that it normally takes 3 weeks before it ships, which is where the four weeks shipping time comes from. Between this and Tuition payment next week, I couldn’t afford expidited shipping if they offerred it. Luckily, I’m pretty patient. I think I’ll call them at lunch.

I have begun the first steps on the way to ordering my Bowflex Ultimate. Last week I requested their free video & informational packet (look for a review when it shows up this week), which I should receive any day now. I called their customer service department today and found that their phone reps work on commission, and that they do not allow me to directly use my MBNA Gold Option Loan (originally for my iMac) to pay for a Bowflex. They accept all major credit cards over the phone, will finance me directly (which I do not want to do, since I already have the credit available for this, and don’t need additional new accounts openned in my name), or will accept a check, though that increases the time until I receive the Bowflex by up to a couple of weeks.

I called MBNA to see if they could somehow move the credit available to me on the loan to my MBNA/Desert Schools Visa (of course not, that would be too easy), or work something else out. They gladly xfered the $2200 I need directly into my Desert Schools checking account. When that xfer has been processed (within the next 3 days, they say), I can then use my Visa Check Card to purchase the Bowflex. The MBNA account has a normal interest rate of 15.99% (recently reduced from their introductory 19.99%), but for that $2200 it is only 9.99% through the end of the year, which is nice, depending on how much bonus money I can wrangle up during the rest of the year.

The Bowflex representative I spoke to has the next three days off, but asked that I call her back directly & gave me her name & extension & schedule (this was my clue that they work on commission). Since I have to wait a few days for the money to move around anyway, I have no problem calling this particular sales rep back on Friday. Since the purchase price is over $1500, I have to call my bank to let them know I’m going to make a $2200 purchase, and to allow it to process from my checking account before I call Bowflex. No problem. I’ve done that a few times. After I place the order there is a four week shipping time. $200 shipping fee gets it to me in only four weeks. So, if everything goes according to plan, I’ll receive my Bowflex Ultimate before September.

Is everyone bored yet? All these numbers and oh-so-mind-numbing information about moving money around and credit availability must be positively abhorrent. Still, they’ve been taking up quite a bit of my thought processes today, so I put them here anyway. I plan three more posts about the Bowflex Order: One a review of the free video, one after I place my order re:ease/difficulty of doing the things I have described here, and one after I have received the unit and constructed it re:shipping time & apparent value of $2200 device. Woo!