Have you ever had an experience with a service provider that made you wonder how the person you dealt with survives in the customer service business. I’ve had a few recently and I’ve selected the best to share.
On the last day of our vacation this past August, the kids had tickets to see a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. We reserved a rental car online with one of the major car rental companies so Chris and I could drop our music loving children off in Hollywood. We would then venture over to Citywalk for a dinner and movie.
When we arrived to pick up the car, they had no record of our reservation and no cars left. After waiting for the rental agent and owner to text back and forth, we were upgraded to a van. Not what we wanted but it would get us to Hollywood.
Our journey was just minutes old when we experienced a tire blowout. I managed to maneuver the van off to the shoulder of the Freeway. As we waited for AAA to assist in changing the tire, we called and alerted the rental company to the tire damage. AAA responded quickly but the delay resulted in the kids missing the first act at their Concert.
We returned the car the next day. Their representative examined the car, we paid the bill and drove off. Several hours later, we received a message indicating that we owed $150 for the damaged tire. I called the credit card company to file a claim with their Car Insurance Damage Coverage. When I tried to give the car rental owner my insurance claim number, he adamantly refused to accept my valid insurance. He demanded immediate payment and threatened to sue me in small claims court and jack up the price if he did not receive it. He then berated me for not taking their insurance and scolded me for returning his van with only three good tires. When I pointed out that threatening a customer with litigation was a novel approach to customer service, he justified his aggressive behavior by saying, “people don’t want to pay their bills in this economy”.
We allowed him to charge our credit card. I did write to the company’s corporate office inquiring if the chain endorses this unique style of service. Their response did not contain any comments from the company, only the franchise owner’s comments.
I was and continue to be flabbergasted.. How does someone like this stay in business?
Have you ever experienced anything like this?
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
On The Radio
A picture on the L.A. Dodgers Facebook page featuring Vin Scully and Dick Enberg, reminded me how much fun it was watching and listening to sports in Los Angeles in the 1970’s. The 70’s were when people still carried transistor radios instead of IPODS.
Vin Scully was and is the king of Baseball announcers. In the 70’s, only about 20 Dodger games would air on TV per season. Radio was how we really bonded with the Dodgers. Vin would paint the pictures with his colorful words creating an excitement that made the listener feel as if he was there sitting next to him. Others have proven that is not so easy to entertain while simply describing a game into a microphone. I have so many childhood memories that include a soundtrack supplied by Vin Scully and the Dodgers. In the car or on a transistor radio, it never felt like Spring had arrived until we would hear Vin say, “It’s time for Dodger Baseball!” for the first time each year.
Dick Enberg was the workhorse for GWB which owned KTLA Channel 5 and KMPC 710. As the longtime voice of the Angels, Rams, UCLA Bruins and Boxing from the Olympic, he was always on the air it seemed. During most of his tenure in SoCal, he had to endure some pretty bad Angel and Ram teams. It was during some of the biggest Angel blowouts, that he would really shine and keep his listeners engaged even though the Angels were losing badly and already eliminated. And it would only be June! His work with Don Drysdale with the Angels and Merlin Olsen with the Rams made for some great radio. He also co-created and hosted a great TV Game Show called “Sports Challenge”. The show had that special quality that made it both corny & cool. It is a shame that Dick Enberg is working for the Padres and not the Angels. I don’t know what they are thinking in Anaheim.
For those of us who loved sports in Southern California, we were blessed with the opportunity to hear Chick Hearn and Bob Miller with the Lakers and Kings. They both became Hall Of Fame announcers and kept fans rooting for some pretty poor teams. Bob and Vin are still behind their mikes but other less memorable voices now fill the Angel and Laker airwaves. The Rams, of course, moved somewhere a while back. I’m not sure where.
I’m thankful for the memories that SoCal’s Sports Golden Throats of the 70’s have left me with. Now, where did I leave my IPOD?
Vin Scully was and is the king of Baseball announcers. In the 70’s, only about 20 Dodger games would air on TV per season. Radio was how we really bonded with the Dodgers. Vin would paint the pictures with his colorful words creating an excitement that made the listener feel as if he was there sitting next to him. Others have proven that is not so easy to entertain while simply describing a game into a microphone. I have so many childhood memories that include a soundtrack supplied by Vin Scully and the Dodgers. In the car or on a transistor radio, it never felt like Spring had arrived until we would hear Vin say, “It’s time for Dodger Baseball!” for the first time each year.
Dick Enberg was the workhorse for GWB which owned KTLA Channel 5 and KMPC 710. As the longtime voice of the Angels, Rams, UCLA Bruins and Boxing from the Olympic, he was always on the air it seemed. During most of his tenure in SoCal, he had to endure some pretty bad Angel and Ram teams. It was during some of the biggest Angel blowouts, that he would really shine and keep his listeners engaged even though the Angels were losing badly and already eliminated. And it would only be June! His work with Don Drysdale with the Angels and Merlin Olsen with the Rams made for some great radio. He also co-created and hosted a great TV Game Show called “Sports Challenge”. The show had that special quality that made it both corny & cool. It is a shame that Dick Enberg is working for the Padres and not the Angels. I don’t know what they are thinking in Anaheim.
For those of us who loved sports in Southern California, we were blessed with the opportunity to hear Chick Hearn and Bob Miller with the Lakers and Kings. They both became Hall Of Fame announcers and kept fans rooting for some pretty poor teams. Bob and Vin are still behind their mikes but other less memorable voices now fill the Angel and Laker airwaves. The Rams, of course, moved somewhere a while back. I’m not sure where.
I’m thankful for the memories that SoCal’s Sports Golden Throats of the 70’s have left me with. Now, where did I leave my IPOD?
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Rainbow Connection
Many years ago, Chris and I were going through a very difficult trial that never seemed to end. At the darkest point we were extremely disappointed by some people we trusted. We wondered would this season ever change. Why weren’t our prayers being answered.
On a rainy day we were driving together. The sun emerged and seemed to chase the rain away. As I made a turn on a Bellflower street, we saw this amazing rainbow. I had never seen anything like it before or since. The colors were so bold and vibrant. Even though rainbows aren't supposed to have actual bands of colors, we saw clear separation between distinct bands of colors. It was breathtaking and without even saying anything to each other, Chris and I both, immediately, knew that we had witnessed a confirmation that God honors his promises.
Shortly after our rainbow sighting, things changed and our prayers were answered.
Now every time it rains I remember:
1. Rain must fall
2. God is faithful
3. A rainbow always follows the rain to remind us of number 2.
On a rainy day we were driving together. The sun emerged and seemed to chase the rain away. As I made a turn on a Bellflower street, we saw this amazing rainbow. I had never seen anything like it before or since. The colors were so bold and vibrant. Even though rainbows aren't supposed to have actual bands of colors, we saw clear separation between distinct bands of colors. It was breathtaking and without even saying anything to each other, Chris and I both, immediately, knew that we had witnessed a confirmation that God honors his promises.
Shortly after our rainbow sighting, things changed and our prayers were answered.
Now every time it rains I remember:
1. Rain must fall
2. God is faithful
3. A rainbow always follows the rain to remind us of number 2.
Monday, January 18, 2010
It Never Rains in Southern California
Rain in Southern California brings two things to mind
Number One: It convinces me that we are weather cry-babies. There are people who live in areas that face mudslides or other dangers and people who have physical conditions effected by the weather. They have legitimate concerns. But so many of us complain about getting hit with rain. We act like we are the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz and we are going to melt if we get wet. Not only that, we gripe when it is too hot, when it is too cold, when it is too dry, too wet, too windy, etc.
Number Two: There are so many songs that I think of when it rains and then I can’t get them out of my head. Here are a list of my favorite rain songs.
1. It Never Rains in Southern California
2. She Rather Have The Rain
3. Baby, The Rain Must Fall
4. Rainy Days and Mondays
5. Rain
6. Another Rainy Day In New York City
7. Go Ahead and Rain
8. Fire and Rain
9. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
10. Pray For Rain
11. Midnight Rain
12. Walking in the Rain
13. December Rain (I wrote that one)
I challenge my readers to name the artists who recorded these songs. How many can you name?
Number One: It convinces me that we are weather cry-babies. There are people who live in areas that face mudslides or other dangers and people who have physical conditions effected by the weather. They have legitimate concerns. But so many of us complain about getting hit with rain. We act like we are the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz and we are going to melt if we get wet. Not only that, we gripe when it is too hot, when it is too cold, when it is too dry, too wet, too windy, etc.
Number Two: There are so many songs that I think of when it rains and then I can’t get them out of my head. Here are a list of my favorite rain songs.
1. It Never Rains in Southern California
2. She Rather Have The Rain
3. Baby, The Rain Must Fall
4. Rainy Days and Mondays
5. Rain
6. Another Rainy Day In New York City
7. Go Ahead and Rain
8. Fire and Rain
9. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
10. Pray For Rain
11. Midnight Rain
12. Walking in the Rain
13. December Rain (I wrote that one)
I challenge my readers to name the artists who recorded these songs. How many can you name?
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Time For Another Blog
I received some free music downloads. Searching for hidden gems that I wouldn’t normally be interested buying enabled me to dig deeper and find some little sonic treasures. My Itunes Top Ten is being dominated by some of these obscure examples of ear candy. In no particular order, here is my current list of favorites.
1. Where We Started From-David Pack & Timothy B.Schmit
2. Grouch of the Day-Squeeze
3. I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better-The Byrds
4. 10 Simple Rules-Mercy Me
5. This Is Love-The Archies
6. You’re My Favorite Waste of Time-Jeffrey Foskett
7. I Can Hear Music-Kathy Troccoli w/The Beach Boys
8. Love In Time-Dan Fogelberg
9. Here I Am to Worship-Tumes, Ashton And Denté
10.I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times-Sixpence None The Richer
The Archies? Yes, the Archies!
1. Where We Started From-David Pack & Timothy B.Schmit
2. Grouch of the Day-Squeeze
3. I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better-The Byrds
4. 10 Simple Rules-Mercy Me
5. This Is Love-The Archies
6. You’re My Favorite Waste of Time-Jeffrey Foskett
7. I Can Hear Music-Kathy Troccoli w/The Beach Boys
8. Love In Time-Dan Fogelberg
9. Here I Am to Worship-Tumes, Ashton And Denté
10.I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times-Sixpence None The Richer
The Archies? Yes, the Archies!
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