Send in your gripes! Richard recently wrote to tell me, rather kindly, “While it’s lovely to hear what YOU have to say, I think the focus of the [Gripe Line] column is on the consumer (us) and our gripes. It would be nice to see these items as they used to appear in this column.” I could not agree more about the focus of this blog, so I thought I would take this opening to explain that my transition into Gripe Line was a little rough. There was an e-mail glitch that, as far as I can tell, sent your gripes into the ether or perhaps right back into your e-mail in-box as a bounced message. I apologize for that. That problem has been, I’m told, fixed. But while this glitch was doing its bit, your e-mails were not getting to me. So I didn’t get your — or any — gripes. Nor did I get gripes you sent before I came onboard. I got a few of your e-mails last week but nothing before that. I feel like the emcee filling air while the main act is having a crisis back stage. Now, I have been covering consumer issues for a long time, and I can keep this up for a while yet, but my vote is with Richard. I would like to get back to the gripes. And for that, I need you. If your e-mail bounced, please try again. If you sent a gripe before InfoWorld brought me in to take over Gripe Line, please resend it. If you are irked by something, want help with a transaction, can’t get a repair, or are miffed by a vendor, bring it to me. I will do what I can to resolve your gripes or get answers to your questions. That’s why I’m here. Technology Industry