Customer Service

[ERD50]

Yeah Dell is horrible.

Dell, like most other computer companies, has gone to hell in a handbasket customer-service wise. Acer, as I mentioned on another thread, doesnt take phone calls and recently took 3 weeks to answer a "My computer is completely hosed" email.

< using my best 'good lawyer' voice, and only asking questions that I already know the answer to >

So, anybody know of a computer company that actually has reasonably good customer service?

- ERD50

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Glad you want to continue your cultism.

Dell actually tops Apple in many customer service surveys, and has whomped them severely in some past years.

But if you insist on excellent support, Dell lets you pay extra for direct access to their upper tier support specialists. You'll probably get the best support in the business, and you'll still pay less than you do for a mac.

Apple also sports the worst brand repair history in the market today. IBM, Compaq, Sony, Toshiba, Dell, Hp, and Gateway all top them in fewer repairs required.

 

[Moemg]

Target still continues as Numero Ono in the lousy service department . They have credited my account for $6.32 .Only problem is they owe me $146.82 .In the meantime I ordered a replacement baby playyard from Albee Baby . It was $20.00 cheaper and it arrived in two days .What is the problem with Target ?

 

[Gumby]

Not exactly customer service, but it has occurred more than once that I went to CompUSA to buy a specific item only to find that the employees were too involved in shooting the breeze with each other to actually sell me what I wanted. So I left. It's no wonder they're closing them all.

 

[Scrapr]

So, anybody know of a computer company that actually has reasonably good customer service

I like the little local shops. Yes they may be refurbed IBM and whatever name they changed to after Big China bought em. But if you need service (or help) they can help. They will build me one new. Configure how I want it. The works.

 

[travelover]

I had a bad experience with Enterprise Car Rental @ PDX over the Christmas break so I thought I'd [-]whine about[/-] share it.

I made the reservation through AARP (great price), but they claimed they had no record. I showed them the email confirmation - instantly found. They claimed they had the cheapo Ford Focus I'd reserved, but for just $7 more a day I could have a Sentra with power windows, etc. I declined. When we went to get the car - surprise Sentra in the assigned space. Also got a very hard sell on the collision insurance including the dire threat that I would pay a rental fee on a damaged car until it was repaired which could take a long, long time. These guys must be under pressure to squeak out additional profits.

On the plus side there was no additional fee for the spouse to drive.

 

[Caoineag]

< using my best 'good lawyer' voice, and only asking questions that I already know the answer to >

So, anybody know of a computer company that actually has reasonably good customer service?

- ERD50

I loved my alienware customer service but most people don't need that souped up bad boy. I had a graphic card bite the dust two months after I bought the computer. They had to walk me through the options of what went wrong and then removing the graphics card (was a bigger deal than it should have been because of a latch I couldn't see on the other side of the card). They never gave me any run around and were extremely patient with me.

 

[Caoineag]

Come on guys - one bad experince with a store and you are ready to judge them as being terriable? Would you apply the same criteria for your life? (I'm sorry honey this never happened to me before. - Think about it.)

Actually, studies have confirmed that generally women can be turned off of a store permanently by one horrible customer service experience and that men can be turned off of a store by them being constantly out of a needed item. I am actually surprised at the number of men who have said they wouldn't go back thanks to customer service since that tends to be more of an issue for my gender.

As to one bad experience, why in this day and age with lots of excellent stores would I ever return to one that has treated me badly the first time?

As to the criteria being applied to my life, why yes, yes I would use it.
Good example, if someone was nasty to me the first time I met them, I would not endeavor to meet them again. You must turn the cheek an awful lot...

 

[figner]

The ones that stand out for me:

Consistently good: Trader Joes, REI, Amazon, Sierra Trading Post

Consistently bad: AT&T

A few small specialty shops have been horrifically bad, but it's unlikely anyone's heard of them. Likewise with some that are really good.

 

[travelover]

The ones that stand out for me:

Consistently good: Trader Joes, REI, Amazon, Sierra Trading Post

Consistently bad: AT&T

A few small specialty shops have been horrifically bad, but it's unlikely anyone's heard of them. Likewise with some that are really good.

I actually had a good experience with AT&T today. Called to see if I could reduce my phone bill and got moved to a more basic service, ditto the attached DSL internet. Knock on wood.......

 

[WanderALot]

Well, I've bitched about customer service a lot lately so maybe my karma's finally coming through for me. I've had *3* great customer service experiences in the last month:

1. The soles of my < 1yr. Chaco sandals started separating from the footbed. Called them up and they emailed me a FedEx label. Within 10 days of mailing them back (including Thanksgiving and weekends) I had a pair of Chacos that were completely resoled, cleaned and had new webbing since they noticed that they were frayed. At first I thought they were brand new. These are more expensive sandals, but still, very impressive customer service.

2. LawnGenie sprinkler valve. Called them up because the top of the valve cover broke. Couldn't find the replacement part at the store but didn't want to replace the whole damn valve, they sent me a replacement at no charge even though it was out of warranty and they could have very easily charged me for the replacement.

3. Lux programmable thermostat. Had it for well over a few years. Couldn't program any days since the programming dial wasn't making good contact. Talked to them today and they are going to be shipping me a new one.

Maybe things are going downhill so fast after all!