Consumerism.

[Jackalope]

Last December my wife purchased two noise machines off Amazon for use in our kids rooms. Yesterday one of them gave up the ghost. Seeing that it is 6 months old and well past the Amazon return. My wife sent the manufacture and email through their customer support link on their website.

The manufacturer responded within 2 hours, on a Sunday, at 9 o'clock at night. They asked for the Amazon order number. My wife provided it and an hour later they had completely refunded the purchase price to our Amazon account, as well as provided her a 50% off coupon for a repurchase. What's really crazy is it was purchased through a retailer and not the manufacturer. I'm not sure if the manufacturer has some sort of refund agreement with the retailers or if they just ate it, but either way that is some gold standard customer service.

And your traditional brick and mortar stores like Kohl's for example can't understand why they're getting their asses kicked online. This was all completed from the comfort of our couch and in the Palm of her hand. There was no finding the original packaging, hoping you still had the receipt, driving all the way to the store, going inside, waiting in line, only to be told it doesn't meet their very arbitrary return limits.

Nope. Full refund and 50% off a new one.

 

[Jackalope]

On the flip side of that coin I purchased some tires for the Durango from midas on Saturday. They didn't have them in stock so we scheduled the install for today. I drop the truck off when they opened at 7:30 to allow plenty of time for install. Seeing as this has both car seats in it, it's not like my wife good pick me up in the other vehicle and give me a ride home, so I hopped an Uber back to the house.


I called them at 1 o'clock to check the status and was informed the tires w're not on the morning delivery truck but should be on the 2 o'clock truck as they run twice A-day. I was told I would get a call back at 2 o'clock. At 3:45 I called to check the status and was told they were not on the truck again. They were sure they should be on tomorrow's truck if I could bring it back.

My response was simply that they should have never scheduled an install for Monday if they couldn't guarantee the tires would be there on Monday.

I also need a new set of tires on our other vehicle. It should come as no surprise that those will not be at Midas. Yet I will probably go through Amazon's tire service where I can purchase a set of 4 tires, And the installation package that includes rotate balance alignments and everything. All through Amazon. Have them shipped to a local installer and schedule my install appointment right from Amazon's website.

 

[giles]

I’ve got a set of tires I’ll sell you...20’s on that pimp ride, right?

 

[Big_Holla]

On the flip side of that coin I purchased some tires for the Durango from midas on Saturday. They didn't have them in stock so we scheduled the install for today. I drop the truck off when they opened at 7:30 to allow plenty of time for install. Seeing as this has both car seats in it, it's not like my wife good pick me up in the other vehicle and give me a ride home, so I hopped an Uber back to the house.


I called them at 1 o'clock to check the status and was informed the tires w're not on the morning delivery truck but should be on the 2 o'clock truck as they run twice A-day. I was told I would get a call back at 2 o'clock. At 3:45 I called to check the status and was told they were not on the truck again. They were sure they should be on tomorrow's truck if I could bring it back.

My response was simply that they should have never scheduled an install for Monday if they couldn't guarantee the tires would be there on Monday.

I also need a new set of tires on our other vehicle. It should come as no surprise that those will not be at Midas. Yet I will probably go through Amazon's tire service where I can purchase a set of 4 tires, And the installation package that includes rotate balance alignments and everything. All through Amazon. Have them shipped to a local installer and schedule my install appointment right from Amazon's website.

I don't deal well with that kind of service. I would have told them to shove the tires up their ass and went somewhere else. Along with tire service I have never ever had trouble at Belle Tire. Last time I went there for tires I also had a wheel that had a rubber valve stem and wanted them to switch it out with one with the sensor one so the damn light would go off. Well it was that one and a second one that was out. They replaced both at no cost. They were $70 a piece when quoted. Could just be the location I go to but they seem to go the extra mile.

 

[Jackalope]

I’ve got a set of tires I’ll sell you...20’s on that pimp ride, right?

Nah. 265/60/18 on the durango. The sonata is what needs them but it'll be at the dealership for likely the next two months before Hyundai replaces the motor. Got a Hyundai paid rental until then. The funny thing is I put 2k a month on a vehicle so it'll be returned for service before my other one is even repaired.

 

[Jackalope]

I don't deal well with that kind of service. I would have told them to shove the tires up their ass and went somewhere else. Along with tire service I have never ever had trouble at Belle Tire. Last time I went there for tires I also had a wheel that had a rubber valve stem and wanted them to switch it out with one with the sensor one so the damn light would go off. Well it was that one and a second one that was out. They replaced both at no cost. They were $70 a piece when quoted. Could just be the location I go to but they seem to go the extra mile.

Nor do I buddy. I'm very fond of saying. ", I know this isn't your fault, but somebody is gonna hear it, and that somebody happens to be you"

 

[bowhunter1023]

We're a use it and toss it society to say the least.

 

[Archertl]

These internet only retailers are kicking ass. They have great costumer service. Recently jessie ordered 50 dollars of bath bombs for gift baskets for a work thing. Once they were delivered some jackass stole them off the porch. We have it on camera. Lush sent her a replacement package with additional extra items free of charge as well as covering shipping. They had no obligation to replace those items but they did it anyway.

 

[Archertl]

As for tires i watch for deals and buy online. Most online tire stores have free shipping. Take them to a mom and pop used tire store and have them mount your new tires to your rims. I did this with my motorcycle and saved 65 dollars compared to buying from a brick and mortor retailer.

 

[Jackalope]

Called autozone earlier for a part. "$14.99, we'll have to order it and it'll be here Tuesday" I politely told him nevermind and ordered it on Amazon for $6.98, it'll also be here Tuesday, delivered to my front door.

How have these businesses not caught on that consumers shop with them for one of two reasons. 1. You have it right now and can therefore charge more for it. 2. You have it cheaper so I'm willing to wait for it.

 

[Jackalope]

Another example.

Local oreilly. Not in stock, not available for ship to home, have to call the store to special order it.


Or I can order it on Amazon for 33% cheaper and have it brought to my doorstep in 2 days.

 

[Redhunter1012]

Yeppers. Unless I need that shit now, it's RockAuto or Amazon.