RANT
Customer Service
Dear Companies of the World:
You want our money. We want your products and services. In most cases, there are numerous firms competing for the same consumers. How do we, the consumers, decide which to do business with? Price is only part of the equation. Quality is only part of it as well. Service (especially these days) is yet another KEY part of it. That's right, service. In these days of near-perfect flow of information, prices and quality are fairly uniform. If you want to get us as a customer, and more importantly keep us (costs way less to keep one than find a new one) offer decent service. Most of us do not complain and are not out to cheat you, but that's the way you treat us. When we call or ask questions, answer them. Give us the benefit of the doubt. We are all not liars. In fact, most of us are honest to a fault. If you treat us better, we have a tendency to do the same to you. If you would just watch out for our best interests a bit more, we might not write letters like this one, and might just be inclined to spend more of our money with you. It's a win-win. Think about it, will ya?
Signed,
Disappointed Consumers
Theives
I hate theives. Period. Someone stole my dad's 9.9hp Johnson outboard motor. It was about a 95-96 model, back when OMC was an American company (pre Bombardier) and was one of the last great engines. Anyway, the sad thing is that it occurred at all. In days gone by, no one would have ever worried about someone taking something, but these days you can't trust your neighbors, or even your own family for that matter. It kills me to think such things, but I know that it's only a sign of things to come. I still believe that I am a citizen of and live in the best country in the world, but how much longer can we stay that way when our society can't trust itself. I don't know....maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic.
Injustice.....
I'm angry. Yes, ANGRY. I just found out that my old friend Suzette Bates, (update: I found the link) a 34 year employee of Lyon College was summarily fired about a month ago. Yes, after 34 years of service was handed a pink slip one day after work. She has been a Programmer/Analyst there for well, the past 34 years and was one of the people who probably let me play too much on computers so many years ago. I know Lyon's had some hard times as of late (which I DEARLY hope that the change in administration helps fix - the last one had the personality of a turnip) but please -- you DO NOT treat someone who has been that loyal to your institution, who has been a faithful employee, who never misses work, who has been recognized by her peers for outstanding service, and is such a stickler that if they take 5 minutes too long for lunch will stay 20 to make it up the way you treated her. Period. If you folks up there are reading this then know that I am ASHAMED of you. Find those with less seniority, those with fewer deep ties, ones who can more easily change careers. You do not treat your own that way (if I recall correctly, Suzette was #2 or #3 on the seniority list there. She's outlived every single member of the administration and all the faculty but 1). There are better ways to save a buck.
Don't bother asking me for a donation this year. You won't get it.
