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Archive through August 27, 2010

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: May 2010 ~ August 2010: The only Dumb question is the one not asked (Q&A): Archive through August 27, 2010 users admin

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Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 9:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Your carrier has a block of numbers available to issue.. don't think you can choose outside that block.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - 3:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Right, I am hoping to find a big list from that block from which to choose... But guess I'll stick with the 2 prefexes they told me about, make some combinations and then just keep asking if it (the certain combo) is available...

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - 8:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Few months ago when I got my iPhone . . . Fun, another number to remember. It just stuck without even trying?! The exchange seems familiar, but it would have been in a different area code (City of Chicago as opposed to 'burbs west of Chicago). The last four digits did just stick. Don't mean anything to me.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - 8:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Juliboo, you could try the reverse phone tab at http://www.whitepages.com/

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 5:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
I have to tell you guys a follow up to my wanting those 8 foot wide bamboo blinds from Sears.

Since DH was going past the mall anyway, he stopped in Sears to see if they had the blinds in the store. They did not, but they said they would order them for him for store pick-up. They said he would have to pre-pay in order for them to do this. DH said "fine".

So DH gets ready to order them from right there in the store and they ask him for his email address. He said he doesn't have one and that he can't remember his wife's email address.

Guess what? Even though he was going to PRE-pay right there on the spot, they would not place the order for him because he didn't have an email address. They said that's how they contact you to let you know the order arrived. He said "But I am PRE-paying. It's not like I am stiffing you for the order. Can't you just call me when the they arrive?"

Their answer "No".

He could have called home for our email address, but he was so ticked he walked out. I found another place online to order them.

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 5:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Whoami a private message Print Post    
If that were me, I'd contact the Sears' corporate office and let them know exactly why they chased a sale right out the door. That is such stupid business practice!

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 6:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
That's Sears for ya. I want nothing to do with them. You've given me another reason.

I think it was a national story some years ago when Sears sold used / defective car batteries as new. I got one of 'em. My car just quit in the middle of a busy road in the middle of a snow storm because of defective battery from Sears. Took it back. "Can we replace it for you?" You gotta be kidding?!

Then I handed a $15 check to someone in the office of the store to pay my account. Kept getting statements it wasn't paid. I'd call. "I'll take care of it" from various people. Nothing ever happened. Finally paid it (again) and closed the account. Sometime later I got a call, "We found a check behind a cabinet . . . ."

Sort of similar thing happened with another store. They took care of it immediately. Never got a second statement with that amount owing.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 6:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
And here's a truly biggie . . . .

Same Sears auto shop I had gone to. I took a basic auto maintenance class years ago. One thing I remember -- NEVER mix regular and radial tires on a car. Local story: Someone had bought tires at that Sears. Ended up with mix of regular and radial. Because of that, accident with fatality(s).

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 7:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
Those are truly horrible stories, Color. I never really had a problem with Sears before this. They are almost my sole shopping place for bedding and bathroom towels because their sales are so good.

I don't really feel like making a complaint, but I think I may be looking for bedding and towel sales elsewhere after this.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 7:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
If you do make a complaint, there is a decent chance that they'll send you a gift card for your inconvenience (plus to try to keep you as a customer). Couldn't hurt!!

Naja
Member

06-28-2003

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 7:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Naja a private message Print Post    
haha, I didn't even think of that, Julieboo :-)

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 10:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Most of this is quite a few years ago. Sears was and still is (?) headquartered here in the Chicago 'burbs not far from me. Back then I think I wrote (snail mail back then) to the president of Sears about my problems.

Sheets and towels . . . I buy them (and a lot of other stuff) ONLY from Lands' End. Good quality. Good prices. The best customer service. Sheets and towels especially I won't buy from any place else. One reason I like them -- their flat sheets, blankets, quilts, etc. are six inches longer than the norm. More for tucking under and staying there.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 10:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Naja, you're originally from Chicago area. This was the Oak Brook Sears store -- west 'burbs.

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 11:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Whoami a private message Print Post    
Its been eons since I set foot in a Sears store. Not cause I vowed to never set foot (that vow belongs to JC Penny's, long story), but because I just have no desire to.

I'd had a series of bad customer service experiences over the years with them, like a pair of "Good Old Boys" who were too busy leaning on their appliances with their butts while keeping their arms folded across their chests, and guffawaing at each other over their brilliant sense of humor when they said, "Oh gee, I dunno, do we" when I asked them if they carried a particular part for my Jenn Air oven. Or the teenager who could only mumble "uh....I dunno" to my questions about the bikes in his department (it was clear he was more interested in the fact it was near closing time, rather than the idea of making another sale).

The final straw was when my sis (with 3 kids in tow), my Mom and I stopped off at a Sears where I was looking for a particular TV that was shown on sale in the local ads. His hostile glares and body language were such that I am convinced he was offended that a group of women dared to be out late shopping for an item we should be asking permission of our husbands for. He flippantly told us the TV in question was out of stock. He not only refused to see if there were any in stock in the back room, but also refused to call the store in the next town (the direction we were driving) to see if they had any in stock. So basically this guy flat out refused to sell us a TV.

That's when I fired off a letter to the corporate office. I got a "form letter" apology, and a "we'll pass along the complaint to the appropriate party" stuff. Never got another word. So then I cut up my Sears card and sent it to the corporate office, with a copy of my original letter, and a copy of their "form letter" response. I said if they wanted me to step foot into any of their stores again, the ball was in their court. It was up to them to decide if they wanted me as a customer or not.

The manager of the "TV Store" called me, said he'd never gotten the original letter. He apologized, and sent me a 100$ gift card.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 5:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Again, that's Sears for ya. I don't know if I'd use the gift card. It's no profit for issuer until it's used.

Brenda1966
Member

07-02-2002

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 7:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Brenda1966 a private message Print Post    
I've bought all my applicances at Sears and so far have had great luck with people helping me (even though I'm just a little woman LOL). I don't really find that most of the people in most of the stores really know much about the products they are selling.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 7:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Their customer service has stunk for a long time. Several years ago, I received a call from them (automated) saying that my 'wired-into-the-wall' microwave could spontaneously catch on fire. they said to call for a service appt *immediately* so they could repair it.

Well, I called. Turns out they couldn't send anyone out for THREE WEEKS to take down my microwave that could catch on fire any minute.

So... I had a friend come over and we took it down. A month later a Sears rep came and replaced the defective part, and get this, he REFUSED to reinstall it because they didn't take it down.

Never ever will I buy an appliance from Sears again.

Mack
Member

07-22-2002

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 8:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mack a private message Print Post    
Sears used to be so good but that was years and years ago. My father was in the Air Force and all we bought was Sears appliances because we could get them serviced anywhere he got stationed. I stuck with Sears up until probably ten years ago and now buy wherever I get the best price. Last major appliance purchase was at Best Buy on a killer sale.

Dfennessey
Member

07-25-2004

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 8:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dfennessey a private message Print Post    
Mack, my parents only bought appliances from Sears and I bought a washer from Sears and it did last me over 20 years

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 9:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
This day and age though, is there anyone giving better service? I've not had much luck with any store - they all seem to know little and sound/act like they'd rather be anyone else but serving you. It feels like if you haven't researched it online you're going to leave with a lemon.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 9:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
Lowes has amazing customer service. They are knowledgeable and friendly and almost over-eager to help. So much unlike their counterpart, Home Depot.

Dfennessey
Member

07-25-2004

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 9:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dfennessey a private message Print Post    
I have heard that before Escapee but this past April I did buy a new washer and I bought it from Home Depot and the people that I dealt with were very pleasant and knowledgeable.

Christy358
Member

07-10-2007

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 10:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Christy358 a private message Print Post    
Customer service can be sporadic for so many reasons. One bad apple on the floor, or a bad advertisement (that the salesperson has been beat up for all day) or a bad corporate policy that just runs down hill.

As far as using the gift card- I know at my store when I issue a giftcard to say "I am very sorry for our mistake", it comes out of a certain account. I am not responsible for that account and it in no way impacts the bottom line on the depts I am responsible for. If that gift card is used, I get a sale, if it is not, eventually it is written off. That again does not impact my bottom line.

The secret to getting what you want from a store, (and I am sure this works for many places) is to keep being polite but persistant as you move up the chain of command. If the sales person will not call the other store, ask for the manager. If that person will not do what you want, ask for the store manager. Just keep asking for the next person on the chain of command and asking for what you want. Be polite, be calm, be persistant.

Eventually, what you want will be such small potatoes for the person you are talking to that they will say yes just to make you go away. :-)

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 4:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
Escapee, I wonder if that is unique to our area. (I'm in northbay - Son. Co.). That has been my experience too.

Overall, I think Customer Svc. has gone downhill in all areas - retail and other. I find it rare that there is truly great customer service these days whether it's that they are friendly and try to be helpful but just aren't equipped to help...or they are rude...or they are ok but make mistakes in math or whatever, etc etc. It seems there are many companies now that the customer ends up having to do part of the job of the business they are using.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 4:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Lands' End has THE BEST customer service. I am a good Lands' End customer.