Why we love and hate Walmart
Having gone for a run today at lunch [on a side note, thank you god for the first semi warm lunchtime] After the run I decided that I no longer wanted to put my cell phone through the ups and downs of yogging [because its a soft j]. Having such great luck with my last player, I decided to go with SanDisk Sansa again, this time it is the
Clip model. I have thought a 2GB player, which is twice the size of my current player, ought to be big enough for my exercise, yard work and travel needs.
So down to my local Walmart I go to pick one up. When looking through their display the only model they have is a pink 2 GB for $44.88. Pink is not quite my color of choice so I tried to get some help from the two workers at the technology counter but neither of them seemed interested in helping but they both seemed quite interested in sending text messages. Once I did get his attention I asked if they had any other colors than pink and after he searched the locked cases I was informed pink is all that they had but even those were sold out. I guess low cost comes with low levels of service, but that's ok - it is what it is. For some reason I thought I would take a look for myself and what did I find but a black 8GB player - for $49.99! List price
of this model is $99.99 and`out on the web, this model lists for $79.99. Interestingly enough, this model is not currently listed on their website so I guess I was lucky to get one while they last.
So with a little effort and persistence, I was able to get a new mp3 player for basically half of the list price and again see that Walmart is by the far the price leader, even if I hate going there and dealing with the people and their stores.
Labels: Shopping
f'in FTD part 3
After waiting the 48 hours FTD said it would take to look into my order situation and the arrival of the less than great bouquet of flowers they shipped I decided to see if I could call them now. They are now finally accepting calls again and after waiting 33 minutes on hold I final got through to a representative. I was trying to keep my cool and just get a refund but that was really challenging, especially when the representative told me she could see that I had emailed them several times. She asked if I would like a replacement order and I responded with an abrupt Absolutely Not. Then she finally asked if I wanted a refund which I told her Absolutely. Note if she had just read either of my last two emails she would have already know that answer. Anyway, I hung up and about 2 minutes later I got this email:
Thank you for your recent purchase from FTD.COM for Lisa L.
Despite our best efforts to schedule your delivery as you requested, due to weather conditions out of our control, we were unable to deliver your order on the date requested. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. A refund in the amount of $55.98 has been posted to your credit card.
If you are interested in rescheduling a delivery for after Valentine's Day, we would be happy to assist you. If you choose to do so, you will be entitled to receive$15.00 off on all orders placed with FTD.com through 2-28-2007 by clicking through on the following link http://www.ftd.com/love.
Thank you for shopping with FTD.COM.
Sincerely,
Carol
http://custserv.ftd.com/
Thanks Carol, I think I'll be passing on this type of service from now on since your "best efforts" is a delayed shipment, a bad product, worse customer service and a complete lack of ability to communicate with your customers. Maybe the downturn of their stock on Friday is a sign of things to come for FTD.com
Labels: Customer Service, Flowers, FTD, Shopping
f'in FTD part 2
This what I ordered:
And here's what arrived:
Note quite what the online picture showed. Maybe it was the two days in Ohio that caused the flowers to look like they were half dead...
Labels: Customer Service, Flowers, FTD, Shopping
f'in FTD
So like many men, I bought flowers for my wife and had them sent to her office for the big VDay. Unfortunately for me they did not arrive and I was left with nothing while my loving wife gave me some nice soap for my new bathroom, massage oil for - well massages, and wine bottle neck sleeves to catch the drips. All very thoughtful gifts and what did I have last night - NOTHING! Thanks FTD.
So I checked into the situation yesterday afternoon and I got this email from their service department:
From:custserv@ftd.com
To:edl
Subject:Re: FTD.COM Delivery Request
Date:Wednesday, February 14, 2007 2:51:41 PM
Thank you for contacting us regarding your recent order. We are always happy to hear from our customers and enjoy assisting you.
We are so sorry to hear that there are questions surrounding the delivery of your order. We will contact the florist immediately regarding the details of the delivery. Our goal is to respond to you within 24 hours.
Thank you for shopping with FTD.COM.
Sincerely,
FTD.COM Customer Service
Order Number: FNMxxxxxxx
http://custserv.ftd.com/
I checked back with them today since DHL still shows my package in Wilmington, OH and I got this reply [note their reply was almost 24 hours from the one above]:
From:custserv@ftd.com
To:edl
Subject:Re: FTD.COM Delivery Request
Thursday, February 15, 2007 2:22:38 PM
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your recent order. We are always happy to hear from our customers and enjoy assisting you.
We are actively working toward an answer for you and will contact you upon completion. Our goal is to respond to your email within 48 hours.
Thank you for shopping with FTD.COM.
Sincerely,
FTD.COM Customer Service
Order Number: FNMxxxxxxx
http://custserv.ftd.com/
Shop: http://www.ftd.com/
I particularly like that this service representative added the shop link because I am so happy with the service so far. Now I thought I should call them and really give them a piece of my mind and here is what you get when you call 800-SHOP-FTD and select #3 for customer service:
You've reached the FTD customer service hotline. For quality assurance, this call maybe monitored. Please have your order number available to assist us in handling your call. Please hold while we connect your call.
RING.
Thank you for calling FTD.com. Due to the holiday rush we are experiencing extraordinarily high call volume and are temporally unable to take your call.
Please be advised, that if your call is regarding a delivery confirmation we regret that we are unable to confirm deliveries scheduled for today's date.
We apologize for any inconvenience and ask that you try your call again later.
CLICK.
Now there's a new level of customer service. Take the customers money, don't deliver as you planned and now make it impossible for them to reach you. Sounds like one of those internet scams you read about in the paper and say, that's would never happen to me.
The thing I really find odd about this is, was it really unexpected? I mean first off it's Valentines Day. One of the 3 biggest flower giving holiday's of the year. Second, the storm that hit the northeast on the big day slide across the entire country so it was a pretty well known meteorological phenomenon. So what was it that FTD and it's "approximately 20,000 North American retail florists" were not ready for? Plus Valentines Day does occur in the winter ever year, has it not ever snowed before?
Well the end of the story is they will probably get back to me after my half-dead flowers finally arrive on Friday just in time for the big, big holiday known as "2 days after Valentines Day". A heart felt thanks for nothing to f'in FTD.
Labels: Customer Service, Flowers, FTD, Shopping
