US Customer Service is Awesome

I've ordered winter LT tires for my truck from TireRack, raceland coilovers from RaceLand, and subaru rally light pods for the rallycar from Primitive Racing.

Every single one of them has gotten back to me that day via phone (primitive via email) to cover any concerns they had about the order, or provide me with more information I requested.

I would kill to get service like this in Alberta. I'm always going to buy my stuff from the US :D

On the other hand, apparently www.SafeRacer.com is too good for me to get back with answers about how they ensure their FIA belts aren't already a year old :(

I'm surprised they didn't reroute you to Calcutta.

I have recently noticed that customer service at companies who make what they sell (not a reseller) has gotten considerably better over the lat few years. Im hoping we are seeing a trend that continues in other sectors of business...I for once would like to have someone just pick up the damned phone when I call the bank, or my student loan people, or a car lot etc etc, and not talk to a computer for 10 minutes first...

Supply and demand. The people who really need (or really want) your business give you good customer service.

4cylndrfury wrote: I have recently noticed that customer service at companies who make what they sell (not a reseller) has gotten considerably better over the lat few years. Im hoping we are seeing a trend that continues in other sectors of business...I for once would like to have someone just pick up the damned phone when I call the bank, or my student loan people, or a car lot etc etc, and not talk to a computer for 10 minutes first...

The key to this (assuming you have an account existing through them) is just to utterly lose your E36 M3 a few times until they assign a "specialist" to your account who will then either give you their direct extension, or tell you how to spoof the automated system. (I usually hit the zero button about 50 times in rapid succession.)

The key to this (assuming you have an account existing through them) is just to utterly lose your E36 M3 a few times until they assign a "specialist" to your account who will then either give you their direct extension, or tell you how to spoof the automated system. (I usually hit the zero button about 50 times in rapid succession.)

This has worked at my wife's job. She's got two or three accounts she's saved and taken as her own after some bad incidents.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: The key to this (assuming you have an account existing through them) is just to utterly lose your E36 M3 a few times until they assign a "specialist" to your account.....

I had a similar, funny, experience with the cable company once. I was getting routed through the automated system that used voice response and it routed me into some sort of Add Service area. Being pissed off by that I yelled "I don't want any F@ing added services!!"..... the system immediately routed me to an operator!

aircooled wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: The key to this (assuming you have an account existing through them) is just to utterly lose your E36 M3 a few times until they assign a "specialist" to your account.....

I had a similar, funny, experience with the cable company once. I was getting routed through the automated system that used voice response and it routed me into some sort of Add Service area. Being pissed off by that I yelled "I don't want any F*@*ing added services!!"..... the system immediately routed me to an operator!

I usually try to answer the automated systems in the most strange ways possible in the hopes that they're being recorded and someone else will have a laugh.

I've had automated systems hang up on me for cursing, though... THAT was strange.

aircooled wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: The key to this (assuming you have an account existing through them) is just to utterly lose your E36 M3 a few times until they assign a "specialist" to your account.....

I had a similar, funny, experience with the cable company once. I was getting routed through the automated system that used voice response and it routed me into some sort of Add Service area. Being pissed off by that I yelled "I don't want any F*@*ing added services!!"..... the system immediately routed me to an operator!

I've had that happen too! I was going around in circles with stupid menus that didn't take me anywhere I wanted to be, and said "Jesus berkeleying Christ" in frustration. Immediately transferred. I think they recognize keywords that suggest that you're super-pissed, then route you to an operator. Ever since that happened, if there's no obvious way to get an operator, I'll just say "I just want the berkeleying operator", and it usually works.

I just had my dog's wireless fence collar E36 M3 the bed.

I called the folks at Haveahart and after 30 seconds to verify my purchase - new one on it's way.

They are in Lilitz PA. I actually spoke to a person... in PA. You might be on to something.

+1, just got off the phone with Weber's customer service and it was great! I will never buy a different brand grill again.

carguy123 wrote: I'm surprised they didn't reroute you to Calcutta.

A lot of US companies are bringing CS back to America. The ill will generated was not worth the lower cost.

I have to say that I normally get great customer service from US companies.

That being said, Year-One will never see another dime from me.

I placed a $500 order the other day for a customers Plymouth Duster (spit), it included a windshield seal and backlight seal. Normally, if these need a lock strip, they are included. No-where on the pages for the seals could I find that they needed a lock strip.

Parts get here, guess what, I need a lock strip for both seals, I finally find it buried in the "accessories" section of the seal pages on their website.

I phone them, get put on hold, get hung up on.

I phone them back, speak to the order guy and express my displeasure at having to pay shipping on another item which I would have gladly ordered with the initial order, doubly so since they jacked me $90.00 to ship it within the USA!!!

He said he would ship the next order free of charge, asked me hold and hung up on me again.

Classic industries got the order for the lock strips.

Idiots...

HiTempguy wrote: I would kill to get service like this in Alberta.

As a BC'er, I agree - Alberta service, in particular, s-u-c-k-s.

SkinnyG wrote:

HiTempguy wrote: I would kill to get service like this in Alberta.

As a BC'er, I agree - Alberta service, in particular, s-u-c-k-s.

The only time I find BC service better is when it is not a franchise. Privately owned business seem to kick-ass in BC. Here, it just sucks no matter what.

In reply to Trans_Maro:

Please don't spit on the Duster.

Next time just order the gaskets right from Steele. I've found them to be very helpful, and they will make and ship any seal not on the shelf in 4 days. Needed a windshield gasket for a Road Runner and they had it on the way with nothing missing.

Customer service over here still impresses me 18 years on. It's not just mail order. Restaurants, shops, every day personal interactions are so much better than England you just can't begin to compare them.

Recent example. Home Depot. For years I had a Black and decker 'mouse' sander, it was great. Back around Xmas time it finally crapped out, no problem it did good service. I nipped down to HD and bought another. Now it happened that after 10 mins of use I was done so put it away. 6 months later I get it out and it dies after 10 mins use. I go back to HD with no receipt, no proof of purchase and since it's been so long, nothing in their system. No problem, they swapped it out for another one without issue. If this were the UK and it had crapped out after even 5 mins I would have had to fight to get my money back, they would have tried to send me to the manufacturer, six month later they would literally have laughed at you.

A couple of years back in the UK we were in a local pub for dinner. We ordered, the kids were starving so we asked for their food to be rushed. Over an hour later after the adults have eaten, the kids food isn't there. I walk past the bar, I can see into the kitchen, the kids food is sat there and everyone is talking. I walk in and ask for the food (which is now stone cold). You'd think the manager would come out groveling and apologizing wouldn't you? No, I get sworn at and told to get the berkeley out of his pub for disturbing the staff, how dare I enter the kitchen. No E36 M3. There's a reason I have a Blue passport these days.

[Watergate]Wait, what? We down here in the Great Satan finally do something right in the eyes of our betters in the frozen North? Must have something to do with all those guns n' bombs n' planes... [/Watergate]