Monday, July 11, 2011

A RAVE FOR A CHANGE!! WITH A SMALL RANT THROWN IN...

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!!  Welcome back! So... you have listened to me rant about SOOOO many things.  I figure it's time to let you know I DO appreciate GOOD customer service and am willing to share information about that, too!  :)

I don't use personal or company names for those about whom/which I rant.  Figure if any of you are truly interested, you will contact me.  Otherwise, no reason to name names.  However... I also figure that any individual or business who/that actually exceeds my expectations should be named.  That's why I am going to tell you about my stellar experience with Zappo's.  Some of you have probably already experienced their extremely appreciated customer service.

I wanted to purchase a pair of new walking/working out shoes (a story for another time).  I was referred to Zappo's by my friend who has had excellent experience with that firm in the past.  I wandered onto the web site and began a search for what I sought.  There were actually two pair of shoes I wanted.  I ordered them, provided my credit card info, then waited for them to arrive.  They did so within short order (quick packing & shipping!).  I tried on both pair and found I really liked one of them but I just didn't care for the way the other pair fit.  Aw gee.  Now I'm going to have to fight to get the darned pair returned and wait for it to process and probably call or email about when I should expect my credit... Nope.  That is NOT how it went, I am delighted to report.  The shipment to me arrived with information and instruction that led me very quickly to the web site to obtain a return shipping label.  Oh... did I mention that Zappo's pays for the return shipping?!?!?!?  Unheard of!  Yep.  They do.  So, I box the pair back up with all of the stuff then drop it off to the nearest UPS site on a Monday.  I figured it would take a while to get the store credit (which I had requested as I had found another pair that cost the same and planned to order them as soon as the store credit was issued).  To my surprise (and delight!), my return shipment made it, was processed, and my store credit was online the following Tuesday... and that's because Monday was the Fourth of July!!  Hot Diggety Dog!!  So, I go to my account online, go to my shopping cart which held the pair of shoes I wanted, processed my way through... and found that Zappo's was going to provide me with FREE OVERNIGHT SHIPPING on this order!!  WHAT?!?!?!?!?  What on earth has happened here?  That can't be right.  Yep.  It was.  My shoes arrived the very next day (and fit beautifully).  I cannot say enough good things about this experience.  Really.  So when you are thinking about new shoes, check out Zappo's first.  They have a huge selection and may have exactly what you want.  I'm going to bet their price is best, too.  Tell 'em I sentcha'!  :)

On another note entirely, I have had 2 really weird experiences here in my world of shopping.  The first thing was my call to a local eating establishment to place an order to pick up.  After a LOT of rings, I got the message that it would be closed the entire week, opening again the following Monday.  Hmmmm.  I don't remember seeing that information anywhere when I was just there a few days before?  I may have missed it.  Whatever.  Go to Plan B.  The second thing was my stop at a local downtown establishment where a friend of mine had indicated I could likely get a product that is not found just anywhere.  I pulled up in front of the place, piled myself out of the vehicle, and walked to the door... where I read the sign that said (I'm paraphrasing)... "Flexible Summer Hours.  Call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx if you need help."  Uh.  Okay.  I called and caught the individual finishing lunch... at about 1:30ish.  I was told the individual was most likely to be there between 10:00 and Noon in the mornings.  Okay.  I'll try again.  (I didn't as I found what I needed 45 miles to the south at a store that apparently has FIXED Summer Hours!)  *chuckle*  So... I'm wondering if "business hours" has a different meaning here?  I really prefer to have hours I can depend on.  Call me crazy!  Guess I'll just get in the habit of calling ahead before I go anywhere to shop or eat here.  Oh... and we did call another eatery here to find out what time they would open the next day as we wanted to pick up lunch for ourselves and the aunt.  Good thing we did.  That was when we were told they were closing the next day and would be closed for several days.  Alrighty then!!  Guess we'll have that lunch this week.

Finally, as I ramble on, I want to share a couple of photos sent to me by my friend.  Now... I am not going to make any assumptions about exactly what she and her spousal-unit are growing on their property... but if there are any Cheshire cats in this town, I'm guessing they are living (and disappearing) in my friends' back field.  I did not see the rabbit or the Queen of Hearts... but I will be cautious in my future visits to their home.  You'll see what I mean.  If you don't get it... go ask Alice!!


Until next post...

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