Minor Kudos to Delta

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In a follow up to a previous post, Delta has sent an email stating that a check will be mailed for our currier expenses, and we have received $100 each in travel vouchers. That's a better response than I expected.

Don't Fly Delta

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I can't put it any more plainly than that.

I'm uploading pictures as we speak, and I know everyone wants to hear about the cruise. It was amazing, but first, I must tell the tale of how it nearly didn't happen.

We had a Delta air travel plans, that took us from Chicago's midway airport to Miami via Atlanta. I've flown through through Atlanta many a times over the last 18 months, and was comfortable with this plan.

At 5:30 AM, we happily boarded our plan, happy to be flying in the cold temperatures, no snow or ice, so all should be well. We were both thrilled to be heading off to some sun and warmth for Christmas.

Our flight was to depart at 6, and our lay over was only 45 minutes. Soooooo, about 6:30, still at the gate, we both began to worry. Soon there after, the pilot announced the potable water hose froze to the plane. "Perhaps this is the first time a flight has left mid-way in sub-freezing weather," I sarcastically thought.

The one bright spot of the morning was our flight attendant, who had previously worked in the ticketing call centers and helped us find a good number to call and to know when to request someone in the supervisor ranks. As the plane pulled away, nearly 8:00 that morning, he allowed the bending of FAA rules as I finalized our adjusted travel plan with a supervisor in their Salt Lake facility.

Jump to Atlanta, and we walk off the plane and confirm with a gate agent that we are both confirmed on a plane leaving for Ft. Lauderdale in about an hour. No problem, a bit extra on the cab fare, but we'll be there. Alright, with travel plans seemingly secure, it was time to get a sandwich and call the good folks at Carnival to let them know we were running late.

As our flight time approached, our gate opened for business and it was time to get boarding passes for our flight. Now, I pause to ask, have you ever had one of those moments when you know you don't necessarily need to tell EVERYTHING you know?? Well, our new gate agent had one of those moments, and she told us too much!

Casually, she says, "You know your bags have gone on to Miami, right?" As my face exploded in shades of crimson, she continued, "That flight left about twenty minutes ago. I'm not sure why you didn't go stand by on it. Let me check... umm... Yes, it had four open seats."

At this point for me, it gets a little blurry, I think the hulk came out, but if I recall, I stopped just short of speaking in any other languages. As we boarded the plane, she told us for the 15th time that although an airline can bring bags to your door when they lose them, they are unable to transport them within a metropolitan area like Miami.

I called my parents and provided all of the details of our bags, ticket numbers, etc, and then, as the flight attendants were not as pleasant as the earlier flight, we shut off our phones and left our fate up to the gods...

Lost in all of this, is that Carnival requests you be on board by 2:30 for a 4:00 departure. While in the airport I called to let them know we were now landing at exactly that time. They noted the passenger roster, and let me know that all would be well. That was reassuring, but didn't give us the time to navigate two airports.

Once on the ground, we frantically began calling and it turns out, my Mom had created our own little Christmas Miracle. There were still some very tense moments, as we got to the dock at 3:00 and our luggage arrived about 3:35, but Mom had come up with a 24/7 messenger service that was able to get our luggage from MIA and deliver it to us, in hand, at the dock, without a minute to spare.

If you are ever in need, and I hope you aren't, look up On Time Delivery at 954-564-5447 or www.otddelivery.com. And Thanks Mom!!!!

Philly Post II

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The most important Philly post... the Cheesesteaks!!!


Ok, so two places are the most talked about, they are Geno's and Pat's. After a wonderful walk through the Italian village and some interesting parts of South Philly, we eventually found our destination.

Then there was the moment of indecision... Two places, one meal, and way to far to make the walk again. But the problem was solved, when the two of us split a cheesesteak in both locations! Great thinking!















Both were good, but they were up staged by our hotel's recomendation, Jim's. Eviedently, all good cheesesteaks were founded by short named men. We had a vote of 2-0 that Jim's won among the three we sampled, and it wasn't just the beer talking. Great atmosphere, better sandwhiches.

Stuarts Draft - Harrisonberg, this is for you...

Great News - as of last week, Direct TV offers locals to our market. Call 'em, click over to them, leave comcast as soon as you can!


:o)

First Consumer Feedback Entry

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And a double wammy too!
If you know me, you know I have strong opinions about customer service. I’m sure I’ll have additional entries both good and bad, but today I want to share one of each….

The Good:
For any labeling, signs, etc., I urge you to check out http://www.signspecialist.com/. Not just because they give me a discount for saying so! Soon after we moved, I got some decals for the mail box. They were great. Similar application to the cling I added to the front door, but easier to handle (in part due to size and my recent experience with the cling, but still I think anyone could do it). Here’s their pitch:

Our Decals, Graphics, Signs, and Lettering are not 'off the shelf' stickers. But are custom made to your design specifications. Design your own Sign, Decal, Lettering, or Stripe Online.

You really have to check it out, I can’t list all they do, from the little letters I got, to car decals, to camo (they’ll do your whole truck or boat!), on and on and on. What really impressed me was the depth & variety of images they have that you can use with your decals.

Yes, I am easy, part of the motivation for me is to display pictures of their work for future discounts, but this proves, I will be using them again. Here’s a look at our mail box, after completion, which was back in October. It looks the very same today, through rain, ice, snow, wind, & sun:








For the type of customer service I usually rant about….
I understand that Comcast has agreed, in part, to purchase insight cable which services Bloomington. I know that many of you are there, and I want to say right now…. GET A DISH! I’m partial to DirecTV, but it doesn’t matter which dish you get, just don’t let it be Comcast.

I’ve heard the stories before, but as a DirecTV customer for the last 7 years, as my parents have been for much longer, I’d forgotten just how bad cable can be.

In VA, I have Comcast for cable & internet. I’m on my second modem, which doesn’t work well. I know they can’t control outages, and there have only been a couple, but they’ve been the full day to two day variety.

Worst of all for me personally, is that their call center is inept, does not follow up, and will generally talk down to you, though in six short months, I’ve become more skilled at diagnosing my cable boxes issues then they are. I’m also on my second cable box. The channel lineup has changed twice in six months, and again, customer service is not where they pride themselves.

In the last two months, Consumer Reports have discussed Comcast in a variety of ways. Two months ago, they spoke highly of the trend toward “triple play” options, which Comcast offers. I agree that these are good things, however Comcast ranked overall 9th of 10. Verizon FIOS won hands down, for more on that see Chris’ blog and know that my answer is “one day, I’ll have it too!”

Breakdowns were done for each category, but TV service was ranked again this month. The top four, in order, were Verizon FIOS, DirecTV, Bright House (a local cable provider), and Dish Network. Comcast was 10th of 12.

All I’m saying is my experience has not been an anomaly. There is a reason for the ratings, and listen to me Bloomington, get a satellite!!!