Received Great Customer Service from Ziploc Bags

  I love sharing stories of great customer service, and we just had such an experience.

We purchased a box 4 of Space Savers bags, and one of the large bags had a tear in the bag at the bottom and is unusable.

   I contacted Ziploc via their website and provided the store info, the UPC code, the date and time and location purchase and the description of the product that was damaged.  Within one day they responded with this great letter and will replace the damaged storage bag. THIS is Great customer service!

  The EMAIL RESPONSE:  As only the best is expected from Ziploc® Space Bags®, I'm so glad you brought this to our attention. Your faith in Ziploc® means a lot to us and we want you to receive full value from each of our products. Therefore, a new Large Dual Use bag is on its way to the address you provided. Please expect this to arrive within the next 7-14 business days.

 And since the detailed information you provided as well as the codes you included are very helpful to our Quality Assurance folks, it is not necessary to save the bag or sent it to us.

 Thanks again for writing. 

Bravo, Ziploc!  You have confirmed loyal customers and by sharing this great story, we hope you get a lot more. BTW- the Vacuum storage bags are GREAT. 

Massive Snow Storm Destroys Travel Plans / AirTran and Hotwire.com are Useless

(PHOTO: Dolly flapping her ears saying "I don't want a foot or two of snow! Franklin the dachshund will have to make a tunnel to pee!")
Because of the massive snowstorm upon us after midnight tonight here in Maryland, we've canceled the trip to Boston, and have to eat $250+ in airline and rental car penalties. I'm really, really, really ticked about it.
I'm not only ticked that Air Tran is such a miserable airline charging fees when there's a winter storm warning (they're charging us $150), and Hotwire.com, where we booked the rental car absolutely, positively gives NO refunds. So, we lost over $100 there, too. That means nothing will get your money back: winter storm warning, blizzard warning, heavy snow warning, canceled flights, natural disaster, etc. I've learned an expensive lesson here. NO more Air Tran. NO more Hotwire.com.
My nephews told my brother they're really disappointed we're not coming and I feel horrible. At least we mailed all their presents weeks ago, and they've got them to open. My mother also managed to get a flu, too- so we couldn't have seen much of her either. What a mess of a holiday.
On the good side, our friend Darold drove up from Florida (he's moved here for a job) and arrived last night safely. We were able to move all his stuff in storage, return his moving truck and get him situated in our guest room. Now we'll spend the weekend in the house with Darold and not have to put the dogs in overnight boarding, either.
We have a Winter Storm warning here starting at midnight tonight through 12 noon on SUNDAY. Snowfall totals are expected between 1 FOOT and 2 FEET. Yes, I said FEET OF SNOW. Last year, our entire winter snowfall was 7.1 inches. This is going to be a tough winter.

Another Company Gets It Right - PELLA Windows and Doors

The other day, the handle to our sliding glass door (connecting the kitchen to the backyard) broke off our Pella door. I was horrified, because 1) I've never seen a sliding glass door handle break and 2) It happened to me and not Tom - so he naturally thought I was slamming the door or yanking it like a madman... neither of which were true.
Anyway, Tom called the local PELLA Door and Window store in Beltsville, MD, and a gentleman named Dan in the Parts Department helped him identify the needed replacement part. Dan checked stock and said he had it in, and we could get it the next day.
I went to the Pella store, found Dan in the Parts dept. and he knew who I was- which is a great sign of customer service. He took the broken part I brought in, and immediately got the replacement piece. He said that the sliding glass door was made in 2003 (he could tell by the part) and it was under a 10 year warranty, so there was no charge at all. THAT is customer service!
Bravo, Pella Doors and Windows! You've got our business.

Kohl's Cares for Customers, too!

One of our favorite blogs is "Consumer Wingman" and the blogger has the BEST consumer news there. She recently cited our story of great customer service at Adirondackchairs.com, and reminded me of another great experience.
Here it is: Tom and I had a great customer service experience recently at the Kohl's store in Glen Burnie, Md. (Quarterfield Road). We drove up there in search of a stuffed duck toy that they sold as part of their "Kohls Cares for Kids" promotion in June. Our dog, a weimaraner, loved the duck, and it's wearing out (Weims have an inbred hunting/retrieving instinct). The toy was $5 and dog-safe (no sand or foam inside). I asked a young lady working there about the stuffed duck toy, and she remembered them and said the promotion ended July 1. But, she took me to the toy dept. where any extras are placed (there were none there either). She checked the back stock room, she walked me to the front of the store from the back and checked 3 other locations. We didn't find one - they were truly sold out, and even SHE was disappointed we couldn't find one for our dog. I would drive out of my way to go back to that Kohl's store again. THAT is great customer service!

DogBedworks.com Comes Through With Great Customer Service

After buying an expensive Crypton fabric dog bed, - with a design on the heavy canvas-like material (it was a William Wegman design with weimaraners, which is why we wanted it), the dogs weren't comfortable on it. I contacted Dogbedworks.com, and was told that the cover was non-returnable. However, the customer service representative went above and beyond and allowed us to exchange it for a cover the dogs would actually sit/sleep on. We're grateful for the fine example of customer service at www.dogbedworks.com. My letter to them is below.
Nov. 4, 2008
TO: Dogbedworks.com
Hi Heather - I just wanted to write and confirm that I did receive the other dog bed cover in Suede Marsh Fabric, yesterday, Nov. 3rd. The dogs do like the fabric, and have been laying on the bed without issue. I greatly appreciate your exchanging the cover, and providing one that is usable, and very asthetically pleasing as well.
I will recommend Dogbedworks to friends, and tell them to get the Suede Marsh Fabric. I am grateful for the great customer service you provided.
Thank you again, Sincerely, Rob Gutro

Crypton Dog Beds...

UPDATE: Nov. 5, 2008: Since I wrote this, Dogbedworks.com came through for me. They DID exchange the cover for a suede Marsh Fabric Crypton cover. The dogs WILL sleep on that one. I DO recommend DogBedWorks.com for the Suede Marsh Crypton fabric bed.
BOTTOM LINE- if your dog likes soft cushions to lay on, the Wegman collection of fabric, although beautiful in appearance, won't be comfortable for your dog. Ask for the suede crypton fabric instead.

ORIGINAL POST: Okay- I tried to do a good thing. For us and for the dogs. For YEARS I've been reading about this Crypton fabric being used in dog beds that is spill, stain and dirt resistant, and comfortable. Well, it's 3 out of 4. They are NOT comfortable.
I paid $160 for the bed (which I would NEVER pay in a store, but you know,it's easier on-line)... only to find that the Crypton fabric is like Canvas. Yes, as rough as a canvas.
The design was beautiful, but the material is not comfortable at all. I wouldn't even want to use it for a pillow.
Needless to say, the dogs TRIED to sleep on it the first night. They were up all night. It was NOT comfortable. It was a CANVAS-like fabric- with weimaraners on it (the William Wegman collection).
So, I contacted the maker: dogbedworks who informed me that it was not exchangable : "This is a custom made item and we cannot accommodate returns or exchanges of these beds. As always, we are here help if you have any questions." I didn't see the fine print on the order. So, read everything when you order on-line.
DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE I MADE. Get a regular, comfortable bed from a pet store. If there's not enough stuffing in it, buy a $2.00 bag in Walmart and add to the bed. NOW I've got to figure out where I can get a new cover for this unusable bed.