This is a public service announcement of sorts and a bit random. But maybe someone will find this helpful :)
Customer service these days is a hit or miss. You can call or email. You might get a computer or might get a real live person. And they might speak English.
Examples of GOOD customer service:
1.Dominion East Ohio.
Call 800-362-7557. did you know you can call for a lower gas cost per MCF (unit)? We were paying $11.99 per MCF, I called the 800#, waited on hold for about 3 minutes, got a rep, asked for a lower rate, got $7.75 locked in until Oct 2010. We pay on budget, but when they balance out the account 3 times a year, we will see a lower bill.
2. Studio Calico Awesome Kit Club. More pretty kits for me to hoard. I really wanted their June kit - but it was sold out. So I emailed Scarlet & asked to be on the waiting list. She sent me a quick response back that she would be refilling kits and might have a few add ons and would let me know on Monday. and you know what? She emailed me on monday to let me know more kits were added and she had one add one if I wanted it. I emailed back and placed my order. Later that week - my kit arrived! Cute packaging and a coupon for dollars off my next order.
3. ddeforest
I saw this etsy shop linked on another blog. I checked it out. Filled with cute little notions, ribbons and button sets. But she didn't have any button sets listed. So I convod her - would she be listing any soon? So she convo'd me back - she was on vacation - but would be happy to do some custom sets for me - what colors? Below is one of the pink and green sets she did for me. Look at the bling! (this is her picture not mine)
but wait - it gets better! when my order arrived (I also ordered a ribbon set, an inspo set along with 3 button sets) cute package, tied with lace, a handwritten thank you note, and bonus: 3 cute ribbons for free!
4. ScrapbookPictures
I order all of my prints from this site(unless I need something one hour) $2.00 shipping! Always great sales! Lots of size options! Check them out now for their August sales and they just added books. Doug and crew will always get my business.
5. Giant Eagle
I purchased a steak for eddies birthday dinner. We went to cook it - it was GREEN on the bottom. It had been only 2 days since I bought it at the store. Even though I don't eat steak, I know it's not supposed to be GREEN on the bottom. I take it back to the store with my receipt. The cashier is grossed out as I am. She gives me DOUBLE my money back.
Bad Customer Service
6. Children's Place
I ordered matching Easter vests & socks for the boys back in March. They arrived, one too small and one kinda wonky. So I returned them by mail in April. Refunds will take 6-8 weeks to appear on your credit card. 8 weeks pass - no credit to my card. Try to find a phone number on the packing list. They only list: 1-877-PLACE USA. Seriously I have to spell it out on my phone. I wait 38 minutes due to high call volume. I get an operator, tell them I am looking for my refund, I am told returns take 6-8 weeks to process, thank you, click. yes. They hung up on me. After 38 minutes. I wait 2 more weeks. No credit. I call again as soon as lines open at 9:am. I am the 64 caller in line! I try to find an email link on their website. Send email - get a canned response - do not reply to this email, please call customer service at 877-PLACE USA. This goes on for months. 3 more calls to customer service, 16, 29 & 45 minutes on hold. Finally received my refund on 8-24-09. 16 weeks after my return.
7. Bank of America (and all other credit card companies)
Please stop the harassing phone calls. 8 times a day their number appears on my caller ID. Hang ups on my answering machine. I try to call the number back - the number can not be connected. I have a card, but it's current.
8. City of CF Sheriff's Office
Calling for donations. They got me because they were like Hi Rachel! How are you? It's Dave from the sheriff's office. Calling for support for the families of fallen officers. How could I not give? Anything to help local heroes. Connect me to the donations office - please just give us your credit card number. What ? Yes you will be helping us with our operating budget and funding. Are you kidding me? You just pulled sad cop, bad cop on me. No money for you.
9. A school that shall remain nameless, downgrades the version of FInale (used to write,compose, print music) without telling the band director who has an upgraded version on his laptop. Now he has to take our printer to school to print out music because the old & new program will not "talk" to each other or the school's printer.
10. My hairdresser left me without notice. I am super happy for her, a teaching job in North Carolina, but man some notice from her or the salon would be great since I did have an appt on the books, would have been nice. I kinda get attached to my stylist, trust them. So do you know any good stylists out there?
I did have more pictures to go to this post -but Typepad is upgrading again and pictures won't load. So I started this post 5 days ago so I figured it's time to post it....moving on.