[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Lyarham

Massey should be ashamed of themselves for taking advantage of people. I would not pay that $65

As I always say: imagine it was your parents or grandparents that were on the receiving end - how would you like them to be treated?

Unfortunately, making the biggest profit seems more important than good customer service.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by RICH1

the insect/rodent infestation is cured when the food source is eliminated… pet food , bird seed or a nearby trash receptacle will also bring them to your area . Good luck

Thank you RICH1 - good advice.

We also encourage snakes (black racer and corn) so that the pests will themselves be part of the food chain

[jparsoneau@aol.com]

I had an issue at the bank one day and the manager asked me don’t you read the fine print in the contract you signed. It says it right there in the contract. I told them to you read the fine print on every contract you’ve ever seen in your life? She would not answer that question. I told her I also do not do business with people that I have to read the fine print and cannot trust.
As far as Maddie goes, I didn’t trust them when they delivered my pest certificate for the new house. They showed up with approximately 25 different contracts, wanting me to sign for this and that anybody who has that many contracts and wants to lock you in I don’t trust never have use Massey never will because of that.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Lyarham

Massey should be ashamed of themselves for taking advantage of people. I would not pay that $65

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

As I always say: imagine it was your parents or grandparents that were on the receiving end - how would you like them to be treated?

Unfortunately, making the biggest profit seems more important than good customer service.

Yes, imagine it was your parents or grandparents. They signed up for Massey Pest Prevention. They were offered the opportunity to save money by paying one year in advance and took it. The one year ends.

Now what happens?

1. They don't get service until they pay another year in advance
OR
2. Service continues on a month-to-month basis

If your parents didn't pay attention to when they initially signed up a year ago, do you want their service to unexpectedly end or do you want the service to continue with a monthly billing?

Do you expect your lawn mowing service to come just one month and then wait for you to call again? Or do you expect them to keep coming until you cancel?

Massey isn't trying to rip you off, they are simply continuing the service that was started. You didn't contract for a single year of service, you contracted for continuing service until you canceled. The one year upfront payment to get a discount wasn't a contract, it was just a prepay.

My services that work month-to-month until I cancel: Internet, lawn mowing, several Massey services, cell phone, water, electric, Netflix, Hulu, every other streaming service, ... None of these cut me off at the end of the month until I ask them to continue, they all continue until I ask them to stop. For most people, including my father, this is exactly what they expect.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

My services that work month-to-month until I cancel: Internet, lawn mowing, several Massey services, cell phone, water, electric, Netflix, Hulu, every other streaming service, ... None of these cut me off at the end of the month until I ask them to continue, they all continue until I ask them to stop. For most people, including my father, this is exactly what they expect.

I was referring to cutting me some slack for being a "valued" customer for the past 13 years and having forgotten what was in the small print in 2010.

Yes, it was my mistake and I have paid Massey their money. That doesn't detract from my considering that they could have handled it better. I probably feel that way because I ran my own business for twelve years and customer satisfaction was Job One.

[lindaelane]

I bit the bullet and learned to do my own. It was not hard. "Do It Yourself Pest Control" has supplies that work. I got some to spray indoors and outdoors around the outside and inside baseboards - safe for me and any pets. I also got some "ant goo" and "ant houses" to put out for those pesky ghost (tiny) ants that come in from time to time. No more pests, and no more $45 every two months to Massey.

A sprayer can be purchased (Amazon, local hardware stores, etc.). Needs doing every six months.

The same sprayer can do weeds, though I had to purchase a terribly strong weed killer to control mine. (Professional grade stuff, bought online) - slightly tricky to make sure breeze doesn't blow it onto plants, however. I use a very big piece of cardboard on a day with no wind. Only needs doing every six months.

I am now saving several hundred dollars a year by doing two things every six months.

[Velvet]

I guess type of service may depend on your techy. My guy came out last year for some small black worm like things, put sticky paper and a few were caught and then nothing. He treated the outside too. Came again next week did the same, checked the sticky papers. One month later I was up north, he called me up north and said he treated the outside again, asked if Empty Nest should let him inside. Empty Nest reported there was nothing inside. Six months later techy called again about the situation. Still ok. So that’s my Massey pest control experience.

[Laurawilcox]

Would you mind sharing the products that you use? Are you doing termites by yourself as well? Thank you.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

I was referring to cutting me some slack for being a "valued" customer for the past 13 years and having forgotten what was in the small print in 2010.

I guess if you provide a great service for a fair price (and by fair, I mean you make a profit) - you dont need to play those contract games.
If Massey lets original poster out of contract, he might become a customer again in the future - now, they lost one, and probably more customers for life.

[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by jparsoneau@aol.com

I had an issue at the bank one day and the manager asked me don’t you read the fine print in the contract you signed. It says it right there in the contract. I told them to you read the fine print on every contract you’ve ever seen in your life? She would not answer that question. I told her I also do not do business with people that I have to read the fine print and cannot trust.

As a retired contracting officer I can't tell you how much I have saved because I read the terms and conditions of every contract. Every. Single. One.

Still, I have empathy for you. My spouse doesn't read the fine print and often gets taken advantage of.

[EastCoastDawg]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

I guess if you provide a great service for a fair price (and by fair, I mean you make a profit) - you dont need to play those contract games.
If Massey lets original poster out of contract, he might become a customer again in the future - now, they lost one, and probably more customers for life.

It can be a struggle for businesses to attract new customers to replace those leaving. However, with thousands of new homes going up each year in The Villages they just have to wait for them to call, so keeping existing customers happy isn't as important.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

As a retired contracting officer I can't tell you how much I have saved because I read the terms and conditions of every contract. Every. Single. One.

Still, I have empathy for you. My spouse doesn't read the fine print and often gets taken advantage of.

That's certainly the best tactic, Toymeister, especially in a professional capacity.

There was a company that deliberately put nonsense in its extensive Terms & Conditions, asking the reader to contact them about it. Needless to say, they were rarely contacted.