[Sidney Lanier]

Unbelievable.... Any apology? Any explanation? Geez!

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Sidney Lanier

Unbelievable.... Any apology? Any explanation? Geez!

No. >

[captain1202]

I was involved in in-home sales for sunrooms for a couple of years. Can't tell you how many sales I would get simply because I showed up on time.

On the sales side, my gripe was homeowners who would make an appointment for a sales call, then be a no-show when you arrived on time. Heard all the excuses, but the bottom line is if you can't make the appointment, call and cancel. The commissioned sales person who has just driven 1 1/2 hrs (I covered the state of NH) will thank you for not wasting his gas and time.

An earlier post said it all...it is WE the consumer who now have the power. With the advent of the 'net and blogs such as this, the tables have been turned on providers large and small. Don't let them get away with it..hit 'em where it hurts, the pocketbook by posting your experiences and sharing with friends.

I'm not sure why I need to "be careful" of the Yoder's as was suggested. If they provide crappy service, they don't get my business, period. I'm sure there is another spa/pool company in Florida. Jan, will you patronize them again?

[samhass]

This may be part of the problem. Employees can be unreliable..or having a bad day, and the owner gets skewered. I have had many dealings with T&D and Florida Pool and Spa. I have found them to be forthright and superb to work with. They seem to uphold a high standard in their workmanship. The best pools in my neighborhood have been built by T&D. I'm not sure why having ties to the Developer is a bad thing. The Morses have built an incredible community here in TV. I admire them tremendously, but then I am a capitalistic wench at heart. ;D I will not pretend TV has no flaws, but with the scale of this project, it's surprising there aren't more. Am I angry that the Morses got rich from all of us? No way. More power to them. They put their collective arses on the line, gambled and won. It's the American way.

Originally Posted by chuckster

The point of contact is the problem in all of these cases. Poorly trained minimum wage with minimum skills. ???

[Barefoot]

Great post Samhass.

Originally Posted by samhass

Am I angry that the Morses got rich from all of us? No way. More power to them. They put their collective arses on the line, gambled and won. It's the American way.

I haven't dealt with the Florida Pool Company. It sounds as if they suffer from disorganization at the front desk. But I have had outstanding service from contractors, painters, construction workers, lawncare companies, Comcast installer, landscapers, and just about everyone I've dealt with in Florida. All estimates I've requested have been promptly and cheerfully provided.

I've never been treated as if I'm stupid, senile or worthless. And sometimes I yam!

[Rokinronda]

Jan, it was good to hear it arrived...phewwwwww! I was in customer service my entire life and am still involved. Sounds as though many many co's. here need customer service counsultation. BIG TIME!

[Villages Kahuna]

Florida Spa & Pool built my pool, maintains it on a weekly basis and has added two separate additions to my birdcage and pool deck. I have found them to be extremely responsive, polite and the pricing for their construction and services are very fair. I wouldn't even think about contracting with another provider of pool products and services.

[Russ_Boston]

Just an observation:

It seems that VK and Talk Host live in different communities from their comments (not just on this particular subject either). This makes it difficult for us future TVers to gather good intell. In the end I guess we all have to do our own homework anyway so I apprecate hearing from both sides.

[needleptdoc]

If you want to see bad customer service , go to South Florida. The rudiest uncaring merchants in the country !!! I lived there 30 years and it really is awful!!! I find the merchants in central fl. WONDERFUL, Comcast, embarq, seco included. I have problems with Publix up here. There is always a mistake on my bill. The wrong price, they charge twice for an item, buy one get one don't come off. This happens almost every week. Don't just assume your bill is correct. Check each item.

[Sidney Lanier]

I have heard that repeated time and again about bad customer service in south FL.

As far as our dealings with local merchants is concerned, sure, we can go only by our own experience, and not everyone's experience is the same. Buying anything, whether an actual item or a service, carries with it a caveat of 'buyer beware' (which I often find myself saying regarding things as crucial as medical care), and yes, we have to find out for ourselves, hopefully not by getting burned. However, I do NOT accept as an excuse for any company that the employee is minimum wage or had a bad day or is not well trained; there is a bottom line, which is that the employer has to be responsible for all aspects of his business, including (and maybe particularly) his or her employees who are the 'face' of the company as far as the public is concerned!

Related to this, I strongly feel that we need to complain when appropriate and not accept and make excuses for poor service, but we also have to be more conscious of paying compliments for quality service. I do this when it's appropriate and often there is a pause and confusion, and occasionally a quiet gasp (!), as it's such a rarity that businesses don't know how to handle it!