The company you keep

[Keroin]

I hope this doesn’t violate any advertising rules on Lit but I thought it would be interesting to have a thread where members can share stories of companies that have gone the extra mile for them.

What brought this to mind, for me, was a surprisingly pleasant experience I had ordering a pair of shoes online. The company is called solestruck.com and I was able to find a pair of brand name shoes for a price that made it worth paying the $30 shipping fees. What impressed me was that when I emailed with a question about international shipping, I received a reply in less than an hour…from a real person, not an automated response! (Oh, and I also didn’t have to search through 17 web pages to find contact info, which always drives me bonky.) The customer service girl was really helpful and friendly. I ordered my shoes and they arrived in about 2 ½ weeks, which is very quick, considering Amazon averages 5-8 weeks for their deliveries here. Now, I know most people here can just go to a store to buy shoes but if you live in a rural area then it might be worth checking this company out, (I think shipping within the US is free but don’t quote me on that).

If there’s a company out there that you’ve had a great experience with, feel free to share here. Likewise, if you’ve had a rotten experience.

I have a few more stories but I’ll let others jump in before I blather too much.

 

[Homburg]

I've had some very good experiences with Apple in the past year.

The big one was walking into the local Apple store ready to buy a new Mac. The salesguy covered his badge and said "You didn't hear this from me," then proceeded to tell me NOT to buy that computer. Mac was getting ready to announce the new version, and would be a pretty serious upgrade for the exact same price. I nodded, thanked him, and wandered out. A week later, sure enough, the new model came out. I got significantly more computer for the same amount of coin.

I like a salesperson that will lose a sale in the name of customer service. He even mentioned that using the website to order the new box would get it to me faster, and avoid the rush on the store when it was announced, and told me how to get a discount that I didn't know I could get.

I can't ask for better service from a salesman than that.

 

[Keroin]

I've had some very good experiences with Apple in the past year.

The big one was walking into the local Apple store ready to buy a new Mac. The salesguy covered his badge and said "You didn't hear this from me," then proceeded to tell me NOT to buy that computer. Mac was getting ready to announce the new version, and would be a pretty serious upgrade for the exact same price. I nodded, thanked him, and wandered out. A week later, sure enough, the new model came out. I got significantly more computer for the same amount of coin.

I like a salesperson that will lose a sale in the name of customer service. He even mentioned that using the website to order the new box would get it to me faster, and avoid the rush on the store when it was announced, and told me how to get a discount that I didn't know I could get.

I can't ask for better service from a salesman than that.

I've heard lots of good things about Apple. And I too love honest sales people - I'll be loyal to a company with people like that working for them.

Last year I took my iPod in to the Apple store, with one day left on the warranty, (while I was home for my visit), to see about having it fixed. (Small electronics do not like heat, humidity and salt air). It was, apparently, unfixable and the fellow at the sales counter told me that from what he saw the pod had obviously been immersed in water thus invalidating the warranty.

I politely-yet-firmly kept explaining about how I run with the pod as well as the effects of sweat and salt air. He eventually caved and called the manager out. Thankfully, she had spent some time in the Caribbean and knew whereof I spoke. They replaced my pod with a brand new one...that is now starting to die

So, overall, I was happy with the results and I understood that my kind of situation was not normal.

HOWEVER, installing iTunes on my non-Mac laptop wiped out my CD/DVD drive so I can't play or burn either, which makes me angry when I'm so far away from tech support.

 

[Homburg]

I've heard lots of good things about Apple. And I too love honest sales people - I'll be loyal to a company with people like that working for them.

Last year I took my iPod in to the Apple store, with one day left on the warranty, (while I was home for my visit), to see about having it fixed. (Small electronics do not like heat, humidity and salt air). It was, apparently, unfixable and the fellow at the sales counter told me that from what he saw the pod had obviously been immersed in water thus invalidating the warranty.

I politely-yet-firmly kept explaining about how I run with the pod as well as the effects of sweat and salt air. He eventually caved and called the manager out. Thankfully, she had spent some time in the Caribbean and knew whereof I spoke. They replaced my pod with a brand new one...that is now starting to die

I tend to stick with my Shuffles, and see them as transitory. With time, this too shall pass. They tend to last about 2-3 years for me before the battery gets widgey or something. Given that Apple tends to redesign on a similar schedule, I am generally having gadget-lust by the time the old one is going.

I do eat headphones like popcorn though. I just had my previous set replaced under warranty, and the new set is already blown. *grumble*

So, overall, I was happy with the results and I understood that my kind of situation was not normal.

HOWEVER, installing iTunes on my non-Mac laptop wiped out my CD/DVD drive so I can't play or burn either, which makes me angry when I'm so far away from tech support.

You mentioned this before, and I was thinking about it. This happened to me too. In my case, I uninstalled my CD drive and reinstalled it with fresh drivers off the net. I also updated Window Media Player at the same time, as it was apparently a conflict with the black magic that my system was doing with WinMP and the CD driver. Weird tech shit, but reinstalling the driver and updating WinMP was the fix.

 

[JMohegan]

Hubby Hubby.

Gotta love B&J.

 

[Keroin]

Hubby Hubby.

Gotta love B&J.

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing. I think I will link to this article in my next blog posting.

 

[WriterDom]

http://www.ccmcoffee.com This place. Good coffee cheap. Shipping is high but they usually have it here in two days.

Caracolillo Coffee Mill is a third generation, family owned and operated, business based in Tampa, Florida. The business was founded in 1936 by Anastasio Fernandez (an immigrant from Asturias, Spain) in the small garage of his family home. Anastasio formally retired in 1955 and turned the business over to his son-in-law Eusebio Faedo. Today the business is operated by Eusebio and his sons Julian and Michael.

 

[Keroin]

I tend to stick with my Shuffles, and see them as transitory. With time, this too shall pass. They tend to last about 2-3 years for me before the battery gets widgey or something. Given that Apple tends to redesign on a similar schedule, I am generally having gadget-lust by the time the old one is going.

I do eat headphones like popcorn though. I just had my previous set replaced under warranty, and the new set is already blown. *grumble*


You mentioned this before, and I was thinking about it. This happened to me too. In my case, I uninstalled my CD drive and reinstalled it with fresh drivers off the net. I also updated Window Media Player at the same time, as it was apparently a conflict with the black magic that my system was doing with WinMP and the CD driver. Weird tech shit, but reinstalling the driver and updating WinMP was the fix.

Yeah, it's no big deal if the pod dies when I'm in a place where I can buy a new one but when it dies here...not so good.

The driver thing is a pain in the behind. I met an IT guy last year who fixed the problem but it took him about an hour and a half. And then the problem just came back one day. So weird. I'll wait until I get back and then I'll ask one of my techie friends to help me. I just wish I'd known about the problem before I bought the pod and put all my music into itunes.

 

[Keroin]

http://www.ccmcoffee.com This place. Good coffee cheap. Shipping is high but they usually have it here in two days.

Caracolillo Coffee Mill is a third generation, family owned and operated, business based in Tampa, Florida. The business was founded in 1936 by Anastasio Fernandez (an immigrant from Asturias, Spain) in the small garage of his family home. Anastasio formally retired in 1955 and turned the business over to his son-in-law Eusebio Faedo. Today the business is operated by Eusebio and his sons Julian and Michael.

I love when small- medium sized, family businesses manage to hang on over generations. Usually it's the ones who focus on quality and customer service that have staying power.

Cool!

 

[Keroin]

Another great experience I had was with Maui Jim sunglasses. Anyone who spends a lot of time around sea and/or snow, knows the value of a good pair of polarized sunglasses and Maui Jims are the best I've found. They're pricey but they last. I bought my second pair in 2003 then used and abused them for the next four years. Before I came here, I sent them to the main office to have the nose piece repaired and get new lenses installed - $70 as opposed to $250 - with a note saying how much I loved their product, and especially this particular model. They sent me the glasses back two weeks later.

They didn't repair them, they gave me an entirely new pair.

For no charge, not even shipping.

They have a customer for life.

 

[WriterDom]

I've been happy with Amazon. Since I don't have a decent bookstore for miles. They have gotten me a book in two days with free shipping and their prices beat Walmart.

 

[midwestyankee]

L L Bean. They were the original customer-service focused company. Their stuff wears like steel, is well designed to boot (pun intended) and is located in the single best place in the world. You will never, ever have a bad experience with their customer service staff.

 

[Keroin]

L L Bean. They were the original customer-service focused company. Their stuff wears like steel, is well designed to boot (pun intended) and is located in the single best place in the world. You will never, ever have a bad experience with their customer service staff.

They're located in Nelson, BC??!!



I don't think I've ever purchased anything from LL Bean but now I'm curious...

 

[ecstaticsub]

They're located in Nelson, BC??!!



I don't think I've ever purchased anything from LL Bean but now I'm curious...

The flagship store is located in Freeport, Maine. Awesome place. It's open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I'v only been there once but am planning another trip this fall.

 

[WriterDom]

I'm really impressed with Dish Network. Their customer service is top notch and I love the Dish. Cable can go fuck themselves. Oh and the rumors they started about it going out in bad weather is a fucking lie. It never goes out.

 

[WriterDom]

Keroin's box isn't full. Tell her she is missed.

 

[Harmony_1985]

I have to say Simplybe have always given me top notch service when I've bought clothes from them, but that said, I've got a catalogue bill that was over £400 12 months ago with them, so that might be why LOL.