<VV> Shipping-NO CORVAIR

[Hank Kaczmarek]

Ron

First of all, remember that "The UPS Store" used to be a franchise company 
called Mailboxes, Etc. I don't know if UPS holds the former franchises or 
not, but in my little town, the same lady who had the Mailboxes ETC runs the 
UPS Store.

I haven't ever had time to ask her if she is now just a manager paid by UPS 
or if it is still her store, and she just pays a royalty to UPS instead of 
someone else. I do know that you can still rent a mailbox there, or buy 
stamps or send things parcel post, so I am assuming that it is the latter 
case.

These days, it seems as if one can never expect consistent customer service, 
no matter when you seem to go. Could it be that this person that waited on 
you was a temp for the Holiday rush, and didn't know what the hell he was 
doing??  Possible.

The same problem is encountered at your FLAPS. I won't go off on a rant 
here, but most chain parts houses hire inexperienced kids cheap and hourly, 
and does the kid really care if you get what you want? He gets paid the same 
regardless.

 It can be tough to find anyone behind the counter (except at a NAPA) who 
knows how to use the catalogs behind the counter. It can also be a problem 
at some NAPA's these days too. If the computer says "check paper catalog", 
these newbies say "we don't have it".   Just a similar example.

Since I have been in customer service for a long time, I now make it a habit 
to let someone know when I have recieved poor or bad customer service.  I 
have had people do it to me, even when I went the extra mile and still 
couldn't help them out.

By all means get on the UPS website and inform them of what happened to you. 
Helps you get if off your chest, and most companies do something to help 
make it right.

I guess I am as frugal as the next Corvair owner in some respects, but when 
I go to an eatery, I expect well prepared food, served in a timely manner by 
a courteous server.  And since I'm "paying the freight", if I don't get 
satisfactory service, just about every eatery chain has a website.  And I 
send an e-mail about it, referencing the unit, day, transaction from the 
receipt, name of the server and why I feel like I got poor service.   They 
usually make it right. At least you will get an apology. And they do look 
into this kind of stuff.

And of course, not to be an SOB, when I go to an eatery and have a great 
experience, I get online and tell them that too.  This also extends to 
things like Airlines, Car Rental Places, Hotels.....I thought the folks at 
the Hilton in Raleigh did a great job helping CORSA NC host the Fall Affair 
this year, and I sent an E mail to Hilton to tell them so. Ditto for Holland 
America Line for the cruise I recently went on.

So anyway, do it. Let UPS know. Let them know DHL and FedEX is out there, 
and they ain't the only show in town..

HANK