Category Archives: Customer complaints

Over-engineering

Posted in 2008 Chev sunrofs., CEO Princeple, Computers, Customer complaints by

I needed a battery charger so I bought one a few weeks ago; or at least I thought I did. It was a little expensive but it was a Die Hard name brand so I bought it. This afternoon I got it out to use it and realized it was more than I wanted and less.

Without asking it to, it analyzed my battery and said it was faulty and stopped. Now isn’t that neat. I don’t even get the option of charging the battery anyway. It just stopped. After several more attempts, it just kept saying the battery was bad and stopped. Sure am glad the car was a backup, otherwise I would have had to call a tow truck right then and there. I mean, if I can’t get the battery charged, I can’t drive the car up to the shop and get it replaced.

It might be a really slick battery charger, but in this case, I really did need a battery charger, not an analyzer. Whose idea was that, anyway? At least, now I know why the thing was so expensive. Now, of course I need a real battery charger so I can get my car to a place where I can get the battery replaced. Either that or I will need to call a tow truck. I sit here in front of my computer wondering just which will cost me more.

At any rate, I figured maybe others can profit from my mistake. If you need to buy a battery charger, you just might check before you buy it and get more than you want. Or is it less than you want. Well. actually, if you need an analyzer as well as a charger, it just might be what you’re looking for.

I guess I’ll keep it. Maybe one of these days, I’ll actually need a charger that is an analyzer or an analyzer that is also a charger.

Now! One might ask, why do I need to take the car to the shop to get the battery changed. Well, those that have read my posts for a long time know that I bought a Chevy that I am not so pleased with. One of the really neat things about it is that I can’t change the battery. I have to take it to a shop. That’s right, they really buried it. Some more over-engineering. I have changed over half a dozen batteries in my life. When they built this one, they wanted me to have to come back to the shop. Same for the $50 headlights. The total on that one is $100. 50 for the light and 50 to put it in.

That is another reason I will never buy another Chevy. Worse, they don’t like listening to my complaints. I have searched for hours trying to find a complaint department on the net. Back then it didn’t exist. Maybe they do now. If so, it’s too late. I already bought a Nissan.

Regardless, I suspect they’d not listen to me anyway. Otherwise, why did they make sure not to listen to me before. Those folks building GM autos might want to start making backup plans. If GM refuses to listen to their customers, I suspect their sales will fall, quickly.

And! by the way. It is just another reason to make me hesitate in buying another. It is what I call the CEO effect. If GM CEOs drove their own cars, I don’t think we, the regular customers would need to complain. The CEOs would make sure the problems were fixed.

As a side note to the side note, I bought a FOB over the internet. It’s been working now for about a year. Couldn’t get any of the others to work more than three months. Apparently, others have been having problems with them too. It’s sort of why so many have been selling on the internet.

Now, let me see. I wonder if the Die Hard CEO ever had to charge a battery with this battery charger. I wonder if it told him he had a bad battery.

Complaints

Posted in Christian values, Customer complaints, Petty theft, Rude Reporters, Social Media by

I guess I do my share of complaining, maybe a little more than I should. Sometimes I am a little ashamed of myself, especially when I find out how wrong I am in my complaint. However, I do try to reserve my complaints for those who deserve it.

More than that, I like to think my complaints just might help others. For instance, when I complained about the two Wendy’s employees that were busy shooting the breeze with each other when they saw me and others waiting at the counter. Right in front of them I counted loudly to five and said, “Okay. You don’t want my money. I’ll go somewhere else.” And I did. I have not been back.

On the other hand, there are those who will complain at the drop of the hat. I saw them in high school and I saw them in the corps. In the Marines, I heard it said that you can tell a happy marine by how he complains. I have to admit there is some truth in that.

Certainly, I noticed that civilians like to complain too. Moreover, the complains often precede the crime. The man that complains about having nothing is likely to go out and try to steal what he can’t buy. In some cases, he takes what he shouldn’t have. In still other cases, a person might kill the person he was complaining about just a short time earlier.

I have been told to avoid the complainer, the one who complains just because he likes to complain. Today’s complaints turn into tomorrow’s feeling of being treated wrong. Then of course, he feels like he deserves that which he doesn’t. Or maybe he does deserve that thing he lost. Either way, when he thinks he deserves what he doesn’t have, when he feels he has been wronged, he is likely to eventually do more than complain. Then, he gets in trouble and, if you are around him, you might get in trouble too.

If you have read your Bible much, you will have likely read about complaining. In many cases, God dealt with the complaining. He did have punishments for them, as well as those who were with the complainers. Those who kept their mouths closed and just put up with the trials were punished with those who grumbled. Never could totally figure that out, but it is the way God did it. Perhaps there is a lesson in that. Sometimes it’s just not enough to not complain. Sometimes we should open our mouths in praise and in thanks when those around us are grumbling. I don’t know. Just a personal observance.

Nonetheless, I’ve got to admit, sometimes I just like to complain, even when I know I shouldn’t. When I catch myself doing that, I try to ask for forgiveness and to thank God for the abundance which I have. I think it helps. Maybe it helps others too.

Still, those Wendy’s employees. I hope they got the message. Somehow, I don’t think so. Sometimes, no matter what, the complaining just doesn’t do anyone any good. It just gives Satan a toe hold. And we all know Satan knows what to do with a toe hold.

Cold & Flu

Posted in CEO Princeple, Customer complaints, experience by

I really like Alka-Seltzer Plus. It works. Usually I by the little green or red pills. They are easy to swallow and I don’t need to mix them with water. Made a mistake a few days ago. I bought the powder. My wife was feeling bad and her nose was stuffy.

Well, I tell you, I knew just what to do. I got out the Alka-Seltzer and opened the box, then I realized my mistake. The powder came in an envelope. The envelope has instructions on it, mainly warnings and cautions. I got out my reading glasses. Not enough. Held the envelope under a light. Not enough. Scrounged around and found a magnifying glass and finally read the instructions.

The instructions, by the way are simple. Mix contents of envelope in eight ounces of warm water. It was panic time again. I don’t have anything in the house for measuring water in ounces. I know this for a fact because I looked about everywhere.

Finally, I went to the computer. Glad I have some access to the internet. By the way, 8 ounces is one cup. You might want to remember that. It just might come in handy one day.

At any rate, I’m glad it was just a stuffy nose and achy muscles. I’d hate to think if it were something a little more important.

Well, you will be glad to know. It worked. My wife can breathe easy again and she is sleeping well. Thank you, Alka-Seltzer. But next time, can you please mark things a little more plainly. Not everyone who takes these meds have perfect vision. A small parenthetical (8 oz) would have come in handy too.

I’m going to need to get me a bigger magnifying glass. How small is that print anyway. I don’t even think it is four points. Maybe 2. I wonder if the Chairman of the board can read that print. I wonder if he ever tried.

Numbers

Posted in CEO Princeple, Customer complaints, Uncategorized by

I can remember the first time we got a phone, about 1958 or so. It had a little place where a piece of paper was inserted under the plastic. When the phone man installed the phone, he put the paper with the number on it under the plastic and none of us in the family had any problems remembering the number.

Of course, already we have an adage, that is to say an old saying, relating to it. We never remember our own number because we never call ourselves. Well, when I was younger, I didn’t have a problem remembering things. Now that I have trouble remembering my name, these cell phone companies expect me to remember my number, like that’s going to happen.

There is no convenient slot or piece of plastic to put a number under. In addition, most cell phones are black, making it difficult to write something on it. So, every time someone asks me my number, I suggest I call them and they use the caller ID.

No. That’s dumb. Sometimes it’s next to impossible. I suppose I could carry a card around with the number on it but I’d only lose it. Or worse, I’d still have it but I might spend fifteen minutes looking for it. Now there’s a thought for folks standing in a long, long line.

I do have something of a solution. My phone has a note pad. Mostly, I don’t use it. However, it does now have my number. Now, the trick is getting to that note pad while I’m in that long, long line. Do you have any idea how impatient people can be? And, of course, they angrier they get, the more difficult it is for me to find it.

Now, will those phone companies ever put a place for a number on a cell phone for me? Will they ever put something in the phone OS, that would make it easy for me to look it up? I don’t think so, leastwise until enough of us old folks start complaining. We need to tell them, no one remembers their own number. We need just a little help. Please. It’s not as if we are asking for a complete redesign of the phone. Just a small simple modification.

I suspect the first company that makes the modification will benefit greatly.

A Little Advice, Worth Every Cent You’re Paying for It

Posted in Customer complaints, experience, Fast Food, Pride, Vocabulary by

Any time that you are looking for employment, if you get to the point of an interview, I suggest you promise that you will keep your mouth shut and do your job.

Well, I suspect that just might overdo it just a little. Sometimes talking, such as in sales, requires talking. Nonetheless, there are those who think talking is their job when it isn’t. Indeed, talking may irritate customers and coworkers. Moreover, it can actually reduce productivity. The boss is not paying you to discuss last night’s date or the score of yesterday’s ball game. When it drives up the din in the dining room, it can actually drive customers away. It can become an irritant.

This is especially true when yelling and, or foul language is used. Believe it or not, there are still some of us who prefer a dinner in a restaurant where such language is not common. Even though I spent 9 years in the Marines, I am still irritated by such language.

Finally, when a person who is supposed to be taking orders is talking to a fellow employee or on a cell phone, it prompts people like me to look around. If there is another place across the street, maybe we’ll just go over there. Worse, we might discover we like the other place and never return to your place. It happens.

In summary, there are some places where loudmouths are not appreciated, especially in the workplace.

As a side note, the rest of us should remember that when in a restaurant, we customers really ought not be obnoxious to the other guests. As guests, we are encouraged to carry on conversations, not yelling contests.

Grid Lock in Horn Lake, Mississippi

Posted in Abuse of Power, Cancel Culture, Christian values, Communism, Crime, Customer complaints, Fast Food, FOC, Going Green, Lawyers and Representation, Liberals, Our Legal Systems, Politcal Opinion, Reading, Schools, Socialists by

I know. Those of you in NY, NY or LA, CA have little interest in what happens in little ol’ DeSoto County Mississippi, but you ought to.

Let me explain, please. In 1977, when I was discharged from the Marines, Highway 302 (also known as Goodman Road) was a little two-lane road that had more pot holes than any known human could count. When I moved to Desoto County, Southaven wasn’t a city; Olive Branch was a city, but barely.

Highway 302 was 2 lanes all the way from US highway 61 all the way past Olive Branch. Now it is at least 4-laned all the way from US 61 to US 72, about 34 miles. And, by the way, nary a pothole all the way.

Now why should you care, those of you in Southern California? What difference does it make to those of you on Long Island? Of what importance is it to those in the Windy City?

Well, here is the point. I tried to drive across through I-55 interchange today and I encountered gridlock. That’s right. It took me four lights in all to cross the 3 7 lane bridge in little old horn lake. We had gridlock. How can this be? When I first moved to DeSoto County, the Horn Lake population was about 5000. Now, the population is about 27 thousand. (Likely more than that, as it has grown since the census) If things keep going, I’d suspect that the city of Southaven will rival Jackson in a decade or two. If those dems keep messing thing us, up there, maybe sooner.

This is sort of odd if you look at the growth of Mississippi in general, which has been decreasing, at least for the last decade or so. Why is this? Why do we have so many traffic problems in our little towns in northern Mississippi.

Of course, I can only guess. I have no degree in such things. I have no degree at all. Yet, I have noticed a thing or two over the years. The businesses in southern Memphis are closing. They are shutting down. In some cases, they are closing their doors north of the state line and opening up offices and storefronts south of the state line.

Now how can this be? Memphis used to be a really nice place. I know. When I was in the Marines, I was stationed there, twice. I saw it as a really great place to live in 1968. Then, when I went back in 1972, I saw some deterioration. Finally, when I was discharged at Millington in 1977, I could see the beginning of the downfall.

Nowadays, people are leaving the city by the thousands, and not too many people are moving in.

While I am sure, as the scarecrow in The Wizard of OZ, we can point in many directions for the problems the city has. Mostly though, we must point to the leadership of the city. Every time they even hint at making a really dumb decision, the value of my home goes up a percent or two. By the way, it also follows that the value of homes in Memphis decrease. I am sure there are many that would like to move south but they have homes they cannot sell for reasonable prices.

Could it be…? Mind you, I am only asking the question. Could it be that the democrats really don’t know how to run a city? I mean…, in every place throughout the country, when the dems took over, the property values plummeted, and not just a little. May I remind you of Detroit where they are bulldozing homes down. Apparently, they can’t even give them away and leaving them vacant only leads to more problems.

And now, if you look around, we see it is happening with states. I understand it is difficult to find a U-Haul to rent in California or New York. You notice there are counties wanting to detach themselves from Washington and Oregon to attach themselves to Idaho. I wonder why. Do you suppose they are all trying to escape the dems? Do you think maybe they don’t like the idea of living under communist regimes? Do you think maybe they are tired of their tax dollars going to those who are too lazy to work. Mostly, mostly, I suspect they don’t like the way the dems run the schools. They would rather their kids be taught how to read and write instead of pretending to be the gender they aren’t? Do you suppose, maybe they would rather their kids be taught math rather than global weather change. Just maybe it would be better to learn history rather than the lies and the brainwashing.

Look out folks. One day they will come up with a law to keep you from moving from a dem state to a Republican state. I mean, how can they spread their vile lies when the kids keep leaving?

As my aside, safety is certainly a big factor as well. I saw the other day on local news program that Memphis restaurant owners have had just about enough. They want the city to start enforcing the law for the safety of their patrons and employees.

It is why the folks are coming south to eat. It is why the businesses are moving south. Not only is it safer but that’s sort of where the customers are going. They are simply following the crowd.

Meanwhile, the little house of mine has gone from selling at 25,000 to a value of right close to 110,000 in about 40 years. I kind of like those dems…, as long as they stay north of the state line.

All You Have to Do….

Posted in Abuse of Power, Customer complaints, experience by

During a phone conversation, the young man was trying to sell me something. I don’t remember what it was. Maybe he was trying to get me to donate for something. It doesn’t really matter.

I do remember the last two things said. He said, “All you have to do is….”

I said, “I don’t have to do anything! ” I put the emphasis on the word have and hung up.

It seems to be, unfortunately a very overused very inaccurate phrase. When I was a private in the Marines, there were many things I had to do. When I was a child, there were many things I was required to do. Even today, as a citizen, as a driver, as a taxpayer there are things I must do. Last time I checked, as a potential customer, I don’t have to do anything other than pay for my purchases.

To be sure, there are things that are customary. There are things that are contingent. I mean, I do fill my own basket in a grocery store. Nowadays, I do my own scanning. Nowadays, I pump my own gas.

Before l can leave the store, I must make a valid payment. That is not just conventional but legal.

However, more and more these days I become angered when someone says all I need to do is….

It is wrong and it shows a wrong idea. As a customer, there are things reqired of me, to be sure. However, when this phrase is used, most of the time, it’s simply not true. It is very rare to be accurate by telemarketers and it is never appropriate for those representing charities.

Hence, unless a person wants to anger me, they should really avoid using the phrase, especially when not accurate. If on a phone the next sound they will likely hear is the click of a hangup. If in person, they will likely see me turn on my heel and leave. I’d suggest others do the same. Just maybe we customers might regain some of the control we deserve.

3 Hr Futile Attempt to Replace Turn Signal Light

Posted in Auto Quality Control, CEO Princeple, Customer complaints by

What sort of sane engineer makes things intentionally so difficult? I am normally a reasonable man. I can tolerate quite a bit, but the guy that designed 2008 HHR rear turn signal really has some serious explaining to do.

Why do highly educated people do things like that, anyway? It makes me wonder if they enjoy the thought of causing common folks like us frequent frustration. I wonder what psychologists call folks such as that. I’m sure they have a neat name for them.

Then, on the other hand, maybe it’s those in management. Maybe they don’t like the untrained performing even the simplest maintenance. I can’t say. Your guess is probably better than mine.

I still want to talk to that engineer. He should still know better.

I Don’t Do Surveys

Posted in Being woke, CEO Princeple, Christian values, Crazy Nuts, Customer complaints, Gathering false infomortion, Politally Correct, Truth, Twitter by

I have had a little to say about surveys already, but maybe it is a good time to revisit the idea. The problem with the surveys is the wording of the questions. Many times, there is no true answers. They ask true false questions when the reply is neither true nor false. They ask multiple choice questions when they don’t have my answer listed. Unfortunately, they do not include a choice of none of the above.

Generally, after the 1st 3 or 4 questions, I know the purpose of the survey and who is behind it. Without doubt, the questions are worded to benefit those sponsoring the questionnaire. Indeed, the survey is obviously intended to affect opinion more than determining opinions.

The promp for me writing this is a request for my cellphone phone provider to take a survey. Thought about taking it just to gather evidence. You think, maybe those questions just might be worded without bias? I think not.

On the other hand, if you want my opinion on my provider, I will be glad to tell anyone. But don’t expect it to be either rosey or horid. However, there is one thing I would like to tell one and all. They have included some things on the phone that I cannot remove. For instance; I can’t remove tic toc. There are holidays on the calendar that cannot be removed. Perhaps worst, I keep setting the ‘do not disturb ‘ function unintentionally and without knowing it. As a result I missed 5 calls, 3 of which were important… sort of the reason I carry a cell phone.

It does make me wonder if that was in some way on their survey.

And, oh yes. I am still wondering how I turned the do not disturb function on. Just maybe I’ll find out one day…hopefully before I miss another important call, as when my wife is desperately trying to call me.

Water Spots

Posted in Advertising, CEO Princeple, Customer complaints, FOC, GMC, Microsoft Windows problem, Pride, Priorities, Reporters by

Over the years, working in the Marines and then in a few different civilian organizations, one thing I have learned is the importance to detail. Being a large picture person, I realize that I must constantly remind myself of the importance of dotting all the “i”s and crossing all “t”s with precision.

Maybe one of the best examples I’ve heard is the story of the couple that went to a classy restaurant where they were given nice flatware wrapped in high quality napkins. Once the couple took the flatware in hand, they noticed water spots on the flatware.

They each took a few seconds and the nice napkins to rub out the water spots and soon the spotless eating implements were set neatly in place. They then sat and enjoyed the dinnner. When done, they left without mentioning the water spots at all. Then, of course, they never returned.

As for me, the water spots would have not mattered. On the other hand, I have seen folks that would have asked for “clean” silver. Then others would have simply walked out before ordering.

Regardless of anything else, it is an example in 2 ways. First, as in a previous post, it speaks of competition. It seems, in this case, the lacking in one detail causes the loss of repeat customers. There are any of dozens of such details that can cause a restaurant owner, or any such businessman grief.

Worse, the managers might not be aware, which brings me to my second point, the un-voiced complaint. Every owner, every manager should seek complaints vigorously. Otherwise, how will he become aware thar something needs correction?

If the couple in the little story complained, the restaurant might have still lost the customers, but it might allow the correction before the loss of others.

Yet, I look this way and that way, and I find one business after the other where the owners seem to continue to try to remain oblivious to any problems in their business. In the long run such businesses will surely suffer. They may continue but not strong as they could. Mostly, they will fall behind the competition.

It would seem to some that encouraging complaints from a customer is contrary to success. However, how can a person hone his ability to compete if he doesn’t see where honing is truly necessary.

You might consider the following. There are customers that will notify the management of of a messy restroom and those who won’t. On the other hand, there are businesses that will clean the restroom when notified and there are others that basically say, “So what.” There are those who simply don’t care about customer complaints, even when they are meant to be helpful.

The question, “Do you really want to lose customers over water spots?”