I was wondering how many of you have written, emailed, or called to complain/give praise to a company about service you've received, or the quality of products you have purchased.

I have always tried to lob praise (and tips) on good service providers, often making sure someone else knew what a good job they did. Likewise I will email corporate headquarters of a chain restaurant if they provided an awful experience.

Lately I have been having more and more problems with purchased items. Either they do not include what they state they do, or the item breaks immediately. I have really decided that I am going to become a professional bitch-er. I just can not spend $$ hand over fist for products that seem to be declining in quality as they increase in cost. I just feel like we must demand more from the companies we give our salaries to. I have vowed to email, call, write every single time I am dissatisfied.

Anyone else jumping on the bitch wagon?

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Yes

The few times that I have 'driven' the bitch wagon rather than just jumped on it I have had mixed results. 1 time I received a free $50 gift card, the other time I didn't get anywhere and still owed the bill (which I will never ever pay).

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A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend, one human soul whom we can trust utterly, who knows the best and worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults.

"Anyone else jumping on the bitch wagon?"

Hey everybody, it's a hayride.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

lmfao@^^^

I'll hitch my team up to your wagon Lil!

Yes...I praise good service and good products. But I am in total agreement that quality is slipping to an all time low!

Not too many years ago we bought shutters for all but 2 back windows of our home. That's 12 windows...2 shutters per window. They were "guaranteed" to withstand even the harshest of weather and never fade...as the color went through and through. They faded to almost a pinkish color (from a deep burgandy) now. The company recommends a "wash" product to bring back the color but does not make that particular shutter anymore. Another company makes such a similar product and we wanted to finish off the 2 back windows...so we chanced it. We've had the newer shutters up for 3 winters/summers now and they haven't faded a bit. AND...the new ones are on the back of the house which receives the harshest conditions of all sides of our house! So what do we do? Replace all the other shutters? Wash them with that idiotic stuff that we should have never had to use? If we take them down there'll be holes in the stucco beside every window. Arrrrrgggggggg!

Even simple things like...I bought a wrap-around light for our umbrella pole on the picnic table. It didn't work so I took it back and got another. It didn't work either!

Even more ridiculous...Healthy Choice® soup. I was buying the chicken noodle and on a few occasions in a row there was hardly any noodles or chicken. Each container had mostly carrots and broth. So I thought, "It happens from time to time that they hit the bottom of the batch so I'll wait a while before getting anymore...giving my store a chance to renew their stock". Usually this product is chock full of noodles and chicken. Well...waited a while and purchased again. Same thing! I wrote to the company and received coupons for 4 free containers! Uh...you gotta be kidding me!

And don't get Mr. Lixy started on this subject! Only difference with him is he'll only bitch to me. He won't return a faulty product unless it's an exchange. But boy oh boy can he rant on about this very topic! I make him make the store test a product on site now! This used to embarrass him but he's getting used to it.

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

Slighty different example but similiar topic. I just did a long and professional move where I purchased insurance to cover replacement value of my "stuff" should anything get damaged in the move. The insurance for essentially one week is three times my renters insurance for a year - so not exactly cheap. I had things get damaged and some flat out destroyed. I requested a claim form and was shocked to see the following - copies of original purchase receipts should be included! Are you kidding me? I had two lamps and two different shades get destroyed. You think I kept receipts for the lamps? Maybe I'm just bad at record keeping but I don't keep receipts for most things I own unless it is a really large purchase with a warranty.

I really don't want to fight with these people, in total my claim will be about $300, which is less than the insurance cost so they are still coming out ahead.

Not to mention the service they provided was downright horrible. Which I will be relaying in the customer service survey letter I received.

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When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and swing.

I've called to say thank you - I actually did it with Olay body wash once because I so love the stuff.

I rarely call and complain. The last time I did it was with a hotel experience about 18 months ago. We paid $$$$$ for a nice room and had it filled with smoke all night. I got $100 voucher for my next stay - which somehow I was not motivated to use (given that I would have to pay an additional $250 for the pleasure of anothe rnight there).

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Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney

Well, I'd like to bitch (again) about the lack of service I've received in having the garage door replaced. Shit, it's been four months of broken appointments, and lame excuses.

OTOH, I have occasionally called corporate head to particualrly praise a product or service.

Like the one time my wife & I were standing in a Blockbuster when a couple of guys walked in with guns and robbed the cash register. The manager was massively professional about it, ushered everybody he could out the "in" door, tried to make sure the gunmen didn't hurt anybody (they didn't), made sure his employees were safe, etc. best service I've ever received that had nothing to do with the product or service being offered by the establishment.

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On the kinkometer, my kink measures as a sine wave.

Ugh, I've heard such horror stories about moving companies. I think that's why I have always moved on my own (also because I'm a strong woman of Irish/Czech stock and travel light ).

A good friend of mine had her belongings held hostage by a moving company because she refused to pay the full fee (mainly because they were horribly late in the first place).

I've dealt in forms of customer service in all my jobs (don't most people, for that matter?).

My philosophy is: Work hard out of respect for my employer, work hard out of respect for everyone who uses the services of my employer, work hard for me because hard work is its own reward (not necessarily in that order) — I think this attitude is sorely lacking in the 20-something generation who man the customer service centres of our nations. Shit can flow upwards and downwards, it might seem.

Oh...and speaking of the 20 something generation (mostly below... but 17-20ish)...

I so rarely ever want fried anything. But I had a hankering for fried chicken one evening a few years back (so few fast food joints around our place unless we drive miles) and I hate to fry myself (curtains stink for days and then there's the spatter...yuck!) and so I sent Mr. Lixy out for KFC. I had a coupon...so that might have been my first mistake.

Well...he got to the KFC and 7-8 "kids" were hovering around the counter. It was about 7:30pm and other than the hoverers no one else was in the place...seated or waiting to order. He stood in line, as best as he could figure the line, and waited to be waited on. The "kids" never moved aside and the clerk never made them move. He has more patience than I and was gonna prove a point (when he got home to bitch to me), so he stood there and waited. I asked him if he was seen coming in and he said yes. And he waited...till finally the "teen" behind the counter said to let him up. The crowd parted...he walked up and ordered and gave over the coupon, to which the "teen" snickered and went to get his order.

She came back with three bags...all of which looked like the fried chix hadn't been drained...and told hubby his coupon wasn't necessary because it called for an everyday deal at that time of day. He ended up paying full "daytime"price (which he couldn't have known in tally) and brought home "meal deals" which had nothing to do with the coupon I sent him with.

I called that KFC as soon as he got home and asked for the shift manager. A young girl got on the phone and I proceeded to relate hubby's experience...when she suddenly stopped me and said she had been the person to wait on him and she remembers him implicitly. She said SHE was the manager. I asked her age and she said 19. She said hubby was rude and she didn't have to take "this shit" from irrate customers.

If you knew Mr. Lixy...you'd call her a liar and ask for corporate headquarter's number. I got her name and did just that!

All boiled down? I got friggin coupons for free KFC of my choice. $50.00 worth! Um...WHAT?????????????????

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

[QUOTE=maddy I requested a claim form and was shocked to see the following - copies of original purchase receipts should be included! Are you kidding me?

Not to mention the service they provided was downright horrible. Which I will be relaying in the customer service survey letter I received.[/QUOTE]




Maddy ask whomever if they have the receipts for the underware they have on! In a stern voice and tell them not to give you the receipt crap!

I've had to do this to a few store managers myself when retuning broken or non-working crap and so far its worked every time.

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The mind never forgets what the hands have learned

Good advice jay-t!

It could be anything maddy...anything they are wearing that doesn't require the receipt a year or two from now. Stand in front of the manager/supervisor of the company and look to see if he/she is wearing something older than a year or two.

And on another note...ask them where it says anywhere that EVERYTHING moved should have original purchase receipt if moving insurance is purchased...in case of a claim.

Just a thought!

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

Oh, I like that second thought Lixy and will use that if necessary. It is replacement cost insurance, so I like to think I should replace my things and give them those receipts as proof. They can come pick up the damaged crap if they want, I don't care.

The last mover was incredibly easy to deal with, I submitted the form and had a check within 5 days. I asked if they wanted pictures and they said no. Of course, their form didn't ask for original receipts either.

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When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and swing.

My wife and I both will give compliments to good workers. Going so far as to track down the manager and telling them that such and such cashier was exceedingly nice or what ever.

We also don't hesitate to call and complain if we get bad service in a restaurant. One thing I always make sure to do when complaining to a restaurant is decline what ever freebies they offer. Sometimes going so far as to tell the manager I don't want your free appetizer to get me to come back in I want the problem fixed. I've worked in various food service jobs long enough to know that most complaints are scams to get free food. I want them to know I'm not after their food I have a legitiment complaint.

As always I should have known...I am not alone in this battle against "them".

LIL...I will jump on your bitchwagon, hell I will even drive it you want me to take over sometime.

In everyone of your experiences I could see myself. Expecially Jude. I too have had my fair share of jobs in the food industry and I know how things should work, what customer service really means.

I have even worked at the service desk at Wal-Mart( complaint department) and OMG... it got that some of the stories were so outrageous that I would stop them in mid sentence and ask them "would you like the refund or just a replacement?" WE even had one guy come in EVERY 85-90 days and get a new pair of shoes after he had worn the previous pair for all that time. After all the 90 day warrenty was still in effect. He came in about 6 times until the management stepped in.

But seriously I am one to give cuddos for something done right or someone going out of their way to help me. And on the same notion I will complain when something isn't done right or works right.

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DAMN, YOU ARE A SEXY ONE-skipthisone

I beleive in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve, and I beleive in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. Kevin Costner/Bull Duram

"Your body as well as mine has needs. This is juat a little foreplay to highten our desire for each other. If we play out the game of love to it's natural conclusion, you'll experience fulfillment. Give yourself up to me and I'll guide you along the path to pareadise. Together we will be like fire and ice, love and hate, life and death." Virginia Henley

WANTED: a moment when you kiss someone and eveything around you becomes hazy. And the only thing in focus is you and this person and you relize that he is the only person your suppose to kiss for the rest of your life. And for one moment you get this amazing gift. You want to laugh and you want to cry. Cause you feel so lucky that you found it and so scared it will all go away at the same time.

Had a good experience at Lowe's once, very helpful guy in the hardware aisle, I made a mental note of his nametag & intended to let Lowe's know they should do whatever it takes to keep that guy. I'm ashamed to say I never got around to it...oh well.

I have had so many incidents of bad service form fast food joints, you'd think I'd give it up...but everybody expects me to take care of dinner, & some nights I just don't feel like cooking. The topper was a few weeks ago at Jack in the Box, waited forever (fast food, my ass!) they got the order wrong, short one sandwich, & then the b&^%$ looks away while handing me my change & lets half of it drop on the ground under the pickup window...when I got home, half the order was fucked up as well...they have a website called telljack.com, & I sure did...

I'm now the proud owner of a "guest redemption certificate", good for "one single menu item (excludes combos)"...whoopty-freakin-do...

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