It's Just Money

Tide To Go - This stuff really works!

When I use a product that not only works, but ends up saving me money, I definitely want to give it a shout out.  So, check it out.

Last Friday, I had an appointment with the dentist for a routine cleaning.  Without even thinking about it, I wore my usual attire, a white shirt and tie.  Like this:

Well, you can probably guess what comes next.  Now, this may be a case of TMI (too much information for those of you not from the 80s/90s).  But, while I brush regularly, I admit that  I have been remiss in flossing on a regular basis.  Maybe once or twice a week.  But you know what that means when you go to the dentist.  Heck, if that little piece of string causes some bleeding, you know my gums are no match for that sharp metal pick.

So, the dentist finishes the cleaning, unreclines my chair, and I look down at my shirt.  What do I see?  a bunch of little red dots all over the shirt.  Yes, they put one of those bibs over my shirt.  And no, it didn't help.

Thinking that my shirt is ruined, and I'm going to have to head straight to Ross Dress for Less and spend $18 for a new shirt, I was upset at how my day was beginning.  As I drove past a Rite-Aid, I thought to myself, "self... you should try one of those stain remover sticks."

So, I pulled in to the Rite Aid, and found the Tide To Go stain remover stick.  I walked up to the counter and the cashier did a once over of my shirt and said, "Ah, I see.  Well, good luck.  I hope it works."

I read the directions as I walked to my car.  "Press tip against stained area.  Rub fabric with tip to remove stain."  Skeptical, I got into my car, and went at the largest of the stains.

Like freaking magic, it disappeared!  I went right after the next one, and again, David Blane morphed into a little stain remover stick!  I love this stuff!

For a grand total of $3.78, I saved a shirt, and plan to keep this stuff with me everywhere I go.  I guarantee you there will come a day when this little thing is called on to rescue me from a coffee stain.

Way to go Tide!

"I apologize that you feel that way..."

What are the worst, least genuine, most off-putting words you can hear from a customer service representative?  I think it may just be, "I apologize that you feel that way."

I just called American Express for what seemed like a simple request, only to be denied.  I questioned the policy and was basically told, "that's just how it is," which may be the second worst thing you can hear from a customer service rep.

Frustration with Dollar Rent a Car

I have written a letter to Dollar's customer service department.  Instead of rehashing the entire experience here, I'll copy and paste the text of the letter.  Here you go...

Washington Mutual Servers Down for Two Days

For the last two days, when I tried to log on to my account at Washington Mutual, I received an error message.  Worst of all, here is how the error message goes,

Our online services are temporarily unavailable. Our technical staff is working diligently to restore service.

Bill payments and transfers scheduled during this period will be initiated as scheduled.

To apply for a home equity loan or line of credit please contact us at 800.933.3590.

You may also want to visit the wamu.com home page to learn more about the products we offer.

We regret any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

Are you kidding me?  I'm just trying to check my accounts to see if transfers have been complete, and the following happens:

Home Depot Inc. Standing in the way of Customer Service

Who doesn't love Home Depot?  They carry everything you could possibly need for your home, and at great prices.  Well, I guess your local hardware store owner, or nursery proprietor may not be a fan.  But other than the people they have put out of business (hey, it's just business, right?), could you not like the Orange Giant?

It's really not that difficult.  A company can provide all of the best products, with the lowest prices in town.  If their service lacks, all the rest doesn't matter.  The poor service is not even due to the employees with whom you deal.  In fact, in my case, the employees have been very helpful.  The company created a divided organizational structure that has made it extrememly difficult for the left hand to communicate with the right hand, causing all sorts of badness.  Here's my story so far...

Good flying experience on Southwest Airlines today

I fly Southwest Airlines Co. (ticker symbol: LUV) about once or twice per month.  Do you remember when they first came on the scene?  There's a reason their ticker symbol is LUV.  American Airlines may have taken the slogan "Fly the Friendly Skies" but Southwest really WAS the friendly skies.  The staff always seemed to be smiling, and helping.  They would joke with you, and the flight attendant safety information speech was always lively and humorous.

Then something changed.

Verizon Wireless Service Shines

A week and a half ago my Fiancee bought the LG VX8100 from Verizon Wireless.  She had her previous phone for over two years, and was tired of the poor reception, lack of bluetooth capability and lack of picture messaging.  Given that she was a customer of Verizon for the last two years, she qualified for their $100 credit for a new phone.  We did our research on cnet.com, and the VerizonWireless page, and decided that the LG was the best phone for her.

Here was the deal.  The phone's retail price is about $250.  After the new two year contract activation, and the credit, her out of pocket was $70 and some change.  But, it also came with a $50 rebate!  So, her true cost is only $20.  Pretty sweet!

So, she's happy with her phone, and all is dandy.  Then last Sunday, she finds an ad in our Sunday paper for that same exact phone from Verizon Wireless, including a bluetooth headset for free!  Now, this headset is the Motorola one that sells for like $70!  We go to the nearest Verizon store (not even the one she originally bought the phone), and show them the ad and her receipt.

They were hesitant at first, and suggested that she should go to the store where she bought the phone.  However, she was still within her 15 day return period.  We suggested that she could go ahead and return the phone right now and rebuy it to get the headset.  The sales clerk smiled, and said, "well, yea, that's true."  She talks to her manager, does some stuff on the computer.  Goes back and forth a couple more times.  Bottom line:  She hands my Fiancee the $70 headset and says, "okay, there you go."

Wow!  I'm impressed.

Here's the headset:

Honda Service Stumbles, then Comes Through

Last weekend, my Fiance took her car to the Honda dealership for an oil change and routine service.  She pays something like $19.99 for the oil change, and, of course, they look for other things that they can recommend fixing and charge money for.  Well, they tell her that her battery is very low and they highly recommend changing it.  They also tell her that she has a power steering fluid leak, which should be changed immediately.

I'm skeptical of the service centers at dealerships.  Here's why.  One day, with my last car, my air conditioning went out.  Being in the middle of August in Southern California, this was not acceptable.  I took the car to the nearest dealership and asked them to check it out.  The guy tells me that the whole A/C unit is busted and I'll need to chage it for something like $1,400!  Ouch!  "Well, don't do anything," I told them.  I picked up the car, and took it to a shop owned by a guy my dad knows.  I told him my story at the dealership, and without even looking at it, he says, "Well, I can give it a shot of freon.  It'll be thirty five bucks.  I don't know if it will work, but it's worth a shot."  I tell him to go for it.  Thirty five bucks of freon later, the A/C worked just fine.  It continued to work just fine four years later when I finally sold it.

So, back to my Fiancee's story.  My Dad knows a guy who owns a shop and specializes in Hondas, as he used to work at a Honda service center.  We take it over to him, and he tells us that the power steering fluid leak is a hose leak.  He tell us that both the battery and hose should be under warranty, as the car is only a 2004.  My Fiancee calls the Honda folks, and find out that the battery warranty is good for 24 months, and the hose is covered for the lesser of 36 months or 36,000 miles.  Well, she bought the car in late December of 2003 (27 months ago) and has 37,000 miles.

We didn't get an estimate on the hose, but my Dad's guy said that it could be pretty high.  The battery was about ninety bucks.  Luckily my Dad's guy still knows the people at the local Honda service center.  He tells us whom to ask for, and sends us over there.  After talking to the recommended guys, they tell us that they could change the hose under warranty, but she would have to pay for the battery.  Better than nothing.

The disappointing part is that she takes the car to Honda certified service centers for everything, and nothing was said until JUST after the warranty expired.  We got the more expensive part taken care of, but may not next time.

So, the lesson is to always be aware of what your warranties cover and for how long.  This goes for cars, electronics, appliances, and anything else with full or partial warranties.  Take it to a service center just before the expiration, and ask them to specifically check that out.  If they tell you that it's fine, get it in writing.  If it suddenly needs changing just after the warranty expires, take that documentation to a supervisor or directly to corporate.  In most you'll get that specific item repaired or replaced under warranty.  If not, blog about it, so we can all slam the company to everyone we know!

In the end, Honda gets a B-.  At least they covered the more expensive item.