Subject:
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Customer "Service"
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Fri, 17 Jan 2003 05:15:52 GMT
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Viewed:
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690 times
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***long post warning***
Submitted for your amusement:
I got a non-Lego ad in the mail, and responded to it, asking the
company to "Bill Me Later". Today I got what I considered a snotty letter,
my first contact after asking this company to "Bill Me Later", that looked
to me like a "You're delinquent so pay up" letter. I was grumpy, and I replied:
(some names and numbers have been changed to protect identity)
16 January 2003
Jicawea Fleebnork
Customer Service
National Spamcake Society
P.O. Box xxxxx
Somewhere, USA xxxxx
Ms. Fleebnork,
I'm not sure I understand this.
First, I sent your company a check (#1234, dated 1/3/03, which it has
cashed) for a subscription renewal, and not for a single year - for two.
This was $59.00 that I spent on your company's products, after a previous
year's subscription for which I spent my money on your company's products.
Then I returned to your company forms from advertising that it sent me
unsolicited, forms that indicated my interest in purchasing more of your
company's products. One form was for magazine slipcases and a mapcase,
luxury items that I might not normally consider spending any money on at
all, let alone another $59.00, except that I truly enjoy and appreciate your
company's magazines. The other form was for a gift subscription to National
Spamcake Kids magazine, for which I indicated that I wished to spend more
money. On both (unsolicited) forms, I was given the choice to either
include payment or to ask you to bill me, and I chose to be billed, and
returned them to you, indicating that I wished to spend my money on your
company's products.
Imagine my surprise when this happy customer/company relationship was
marred by the letter I recieved from you today. It says, in part:
"We are sure you will understand that like all businesses we must set
credit limits on the number of purchases outstanding at one time. If we
ship this order now, your account will exceed that limit."
I'm confused.
First, why is there the need to set any limits at all on what a loyal,
returning, paying customer would like to spend on your products? Isn't this
similar to telling a gentleman who's ordered a steak dinner in his favorite
restaurant that, regretfully, we can't go around just feeding anybody who
wants to eat, so if you'll pardon me, you'll have to pay first?
Second, did I ever ask your company to send anything before I had paid for
it? No. I checked the box marked "Bill Me Later.", which generally means
that I, the customer, want you, the company, to send me an invoice for the
product or service for which I'm interested in paying your company my money.
It is generally assumed that after your company sends the invoice, the
customer sends a payment, and then your company ships the product. I never
asked for anything else. I never applied for a line of credit. I'm not
buying a car, I'm buying magazines and boxes for more than $70.00.
So here's the part I'm not sure I understand. I'm still going to send you
a check for the products I was interested in purchasing, even after your
rude and snobbish letter. I'm still going to send you my money after you
sent me an insulting demand for my money instead of the invoice that I
requested, using the little check box on your company's unsolicited
advertisement that said I was interested in your product and wanted you to
send me an invoice which I wanted to pay. I'm still going to pay your
company after one of it's representatives treated me like a rich man might
treat a homeless man asking for spare change. I'm offended, but I still
want what you're selling. This is what I don't understand.
But I do understand that the next time your company sends me an unsolicited
advertisement for a product or service, I'll think twice before wanting to
send it any more of my money. I'll tell my family, friends, and coworkers
about how I was treated, and encourage them to think twice, also, before
spending money with a company that treats returning customers as if they
were beggars instead of valued clients.
You've offended me, and I'm not going to forget it.
Sincerely,
Anthony Alexander
1234 Brick Plaza #0
Omaha, NE xxxxx
[Appended in my own handwriting before mailing]
No - I've changed my mind. Cancel my orders - I don't want your boxes now.
I'm not going to give the gift subscription - I'll get a better gift. When
my 2-year subscription runs out, I won't be renewing again. You can't treat
customers like dirt and expect that they'll stay customers. APA 1/16/03
My question for you, my fellow Lego enthusiasts, is this: am I
overreacting, or is this a discourtesy that should be challenged? Please
let me know what you think.
Peace and Long Life,
Tony Alexander
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Customer "Service"
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| In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Tony Alexander writes: <snip> (...) I like it, well written. I had a very similar incident with a subscription to a magazine "gone bad" in which I wrote a very polite yet "take yer subscription, you misrepresented bonus (...) (22 years ago, 17-Jan-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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