Stranded In Syracuse
As a frequent American Airlines flyer I thought I had seen the worst the airline had to offer short of an accident. If you fly them you know what I’m talking about. Last week though may have established a new low. Read More »
The Highs and Lows at Lowe’s
My wife and I just purchased new window shutters from Lowe’s and experienced a full range of good and bad customer service. If you have ever purchased custom shutters you probably know some of the drill. Find a product and price you like, the store sends out a rep to take exact measurements, pay the bill, and then wait 4-6 weeks. Everything proceeded well until about the six week mark when my wife called Lowe’s to inquire about installation dates and was told the installation could not be completed in the agreed upon timeframe. Apparently a store employee waited 9 days after we purchased the shutters to turn our order into the manufacturer. That’s when events took a turn for the worst. Read More »
Mortgage Lenders Joining March Madness
Forget about Bernie Madoff. Forget about AIG. Whatever happens there will happen and it won’t impact most of us anyway. But there is good news that can help many homeowners with their finances and the economy too. Read More »
Breaking Up (With AT&T) Is Hard To Do
If you think that when your contract with AT&T ends you can cancel your service, better think again. I eagerly awaited the end of my two-year contract on a wireless card and called AT&T to drop their service the day after the contract expired. Unfortunately for me, and you if you are an AT&T customer, you have to wait until the end of the billing period. In my case that was almost another month. Oh well, you say, I should have read the contract when I bought the card. Nope, the Customer Service Rep told me this policy was a change made in January. So if you are thinking about buying an AT&T phone or wireless card with a 2-year contract, plan on it being for 25 months.
75% – The Value Of Great Service
My wife and I had an interesting shopping experience recently that illustrated the value of great customer service to both a retailer and a consumer. Since my wife needed some clothes we headed downtown to check out some of her favorite retailers here in Portland. On the way to her destination we walked by an upscale men’s clothing store with large signs in their windows screaming “75% Off Sale.” Heading inside we found numerous shirts, pants and a jacket that looked and fit great, all at the advertised 75% off. Although I had not intended to buy any clothes the bargains were just too good to pass up. I doubt whether the retail made any profit on this sale. Read More »
Shoppers Haggle For Better Deals
American consumers have never been comfortable with the idea of haggling for a better price. If you disagree, ask a few friends how much they enjoyed buying their last new car. Yet according to a recent AP article, consumers are starting to haggle with retailers for better bargains. And desperate retailers are more open than they have ever been to keep consumers happy and make a sale, even if there is little or no profit involved. Many retailers need to get rid of inventory and may be willing to sell merchandise at cost.
Not sure you are ready to haggle? Check out these tips from Consumerist.com and you will be ready to haggle all night long.
Retailers Make It Easier To Return Merchandise
Go ahead and take that Christmas sweater or toaster back where it came from. MSNBC reports that many retailers are relaxing their returns policies making it easier to return unwanted gifts. Why would they do this in a retail environment where sales are so hard to come by? According to the National Retail Federation, retailers are attempting to improve customer service. They claim to have improved their ability to spot bogus returns, so they are not as concerned about accepting returns that are not legitimate.
Now if only they could do something about those crowds.
How To Avoid Scams
The Bernard Madoff scandall on Wall Street has more than rich fat cats concerned about protecting themselves from scam artists. If the rich and powerful can fall prey to alleged scam artists like Madoff, say concerned consumers, what chance to we have? You should be very concerned about Ponzi scams and other types of hoaxes. While scams will always be a threat, there are many ways to minimize the threat to your finances. Read More »
Verizon Best Cell Service Provider
Confirming what many Verizon users already suspected, a recent Consumer Reports survey of its readers in 23 cities rated Verizon cell service superior, although cell phone service improved across the spectrum. Survey respondents cited fewer problems with connectivity, fewer dropped calls, and the ability to widely receive service that’s free of static.
Spend Your Money With Local Businesses
If you don’t know that these are difficult times you are either very rich or have just woke up from a five year nap. This is not your father’s recession, it’s closer to your grandfather’s depression. Millions of Americans are out of work and more soon will be. Large and small businesses are feeling the pain right along with the rest of us. Most large businesses will survive due to their easier access to credit. Unfortunately, many local businesses will not – unless you act like the government and provide your own bailout package. Read More »