What have been your best and worst customer service experiences and how
would you rate them? Just service, not the tools themselves. Here's
mine:

BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly
Lie-Neilsen

WORST
General International
Milwaukee

wrote:
What have been your best and worst customer service experiences and how
would you rate them? Just service, not the tools themselves. Here's
mine:

BEST

I should think that at least one line as to why in each would be
appropiate; it isn't right to knock a company without at least "refuse
to take back product damaged during shipping" or the like.

PK

BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly

THE ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME MOST SINCERELY BUTT-UGLY WORST:
Dell Computer
http://members.cox.net/valk_ryder/dell/

BEST : Lee Valley, Busy Bee.

MEDIUM : Sears (craftman)

WORST : Canadian Tire (Mastercraft)

S.B.

a écrit dans le message de news:
...
What have been your best and worst customer service experiences and how
would you rate them? Just service, not the tools themselves. Here's
mine:

BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly
Lie-Neilsen

WORST
General International
Milwaukee

Okay, good point:

BEST
Lee Valley- Everyone knows this, right? Great and helpful service.
Going out of their way to help. No questions asked on returns- I have
even returned stuff after months.
Grizzly- Immediately respond to questions, sends replacements without
fuss. Dito above.
Lie-Neilsen- Personalized service : )

WORST
General International- Ignored repeated emails for seven days, then-
not only did they not apologize- they layed blame on me for not using
telephone! Would not send missing parts on brand new tool(!), They
market to home users, without adequate support. Bad all the way up...
(took it to the Pres- no personal response, just more defensive
posturing from an underling).

Milwaukee- Completely refused to honor their warranty on a brand new
tool. Was mocked on the phone by customer service (no kidding!) when
asking to speak with supervisor.

Best:

Grizzly
Milwaukee
Porter Cable

Worst:

Dell - Took countless calls, e-mails, etc & 6 months to get a
rebate...Would not recomment Dell to anyone, unless you enjoy the worst
service ever.

Cheaper than Dirt - Sent the wrong item, refused to make it right. Got
nothing but lip service from the person on the phone.



wrote:
What have been your best and worst customer service experiences and how
would you rate them? Just service, not the tools themselves. Here's
mine:

BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly
Lie-Neilsen

WORST
General International
Milwaukee

Best:
Grizzly - Quick delivery even after backorder warnings.
Sears - Not the finest grade of tools but they do provide service and parts
for a long time.
Jet/Powermatic - Released a very poor and inacurate manual on their model 45
jointer. BUT responded to complaint quickly and positively with promises to
update. Also provided good tech support on JET lathe speed control
problem - it worked.

Worst:
Ryobi - They seem to be abandoning their customers to the aftermarket after
relatively short time. Recenly saw my planer blades go from $19 to $70. No
source but aftremarket.

On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 20:12:54 -0500, "RonB" wrote:

Best:
Grizzly - Quick delivery even after backorder warnings.
Sears - Not the finest grade of tools but they do provide service and parts
for a long time.
Jet/Powermatic - Released a very poor and inacurate manual on their model 45
jointer. BUT responded to complaint quickly and positively with promises to
update. Also provided good tech support on JET lathe speed control
problem - it worked.

Worst:
Ryobi - They seem to be abandoning their customers to the aftermarket after
relatively short time. Recenly saw my planer blades go from $19 to $70. No
source but aftremarket.


Which Ryobi planer do you have? I was having trouble finding
replacement blades for my model AP12 12 inch planer, and found that
the Delta brand Cat 22-562 that I got from Lowe's fit just fine. The
only differences I have observed is that the delta blades have 3 index
holes where the factory blades had 2. All other dimensions are
exactly the same within .001 on my calipers except overall length.
the are 1 MM longer but still fit and turn cleanly

Only $24.95

Brian

BEST
Jet - replaced my entire saw when signficant manufacturing flow
discovered in sliding table. Paid for two people to deliver and set up
replacement saw. In cooperation with excellent dealer - The cutting
edge in Houston.
Jet - sent replacement parts on drill press when manufacturing defect
suspected - no questions asked.
Jet - replaced belt with new design and no cost after warranty expired.
Lee Valley - excellent - replaced defective veritas part purchased
through local dealer, even though they did not handle original sale.
Amazon - fast consistent internet purchasing and delivery. no hassle
returns.
Coastal tool - provided good, personalized precise advice on the phone
and via email.

WORST
Coastal tool - shipped order 7 days after they said it shipped with no
communication about delay. shipped wrong parts for new Bosch jigsaw -
provided replacement but never communicated that it was handled. I
left information and they promised to look into it but never
communicated back. 10 days later replacement part arrived (1 part to
replace the 5 that I originally ordered). They are personal and well
intended but I sense their business has outgrown their capability to
keep up. Amazon has spoiled me with their flawless internet sales model
and followup.

Bob
Houston, Texas

"JC" wrote in message
ups.com...
BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly

THE ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME MOST SINCERELY BUTT-UGLY WORST:
Dell Computer
http://members.cox.net/valk_ryder/dell/

Yeah ... but add Gateway to the short list. 83 year old Mom: "I have a USB2
port on my 2 year old Gateway, but it won't work with my iPod anymore?".
CustomerServiceoxyMORON: "Sorry lady, you're going to have to buy a new
computer for that to work".

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

wrote:

Milwaukee- Completely refused to honor their warranty on a brand new
tool. Was mocked on the phone by customer service (no kidding!) when
asking to speak with supervisor.

Pay with a charge card?

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

JC wrote:

BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly

THE ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME MOST SINCERELY BUTT-UGLY WORST:
Dell Computer
http://members.cox.net/valk_ryder/dell/

The thing that I see missing there is the snail mail to Michael Dell,

"Dear Mr. Dell,

Enclosed please find a copy of my recent correspondence with your customer
service department and a photo of my computer next to today's newspaper to
demonstrate that I do indeed have it in my possession at this time. All I
want is the WiFi card that, according to the order and the service tag, was
in the machine, but which in fact was never provided. I will call your
office on (date 7 business days after postmark of letter) to discuss this
matter"

And the transcript of the phone call, in which you talked to Mr. Dell's
secretary (in a company that size, the secretary is more in the nature of
the Executive Officer on a warship--she or he is empowered to implement
policy, including kicking ass and taking names, but not to create new
policy) in which you reiterated the situation--since you enclosed a photo,
the secretary will probably remember your letter, and in which the
secretary agreed to "look into" the matter.

And the the result, whatever it might have been, of that "looking into". In
my experience, the result is either whatever was expected with something
added to sweeten the pot or a phone call from an obviously terrified
customer service rep that will give you anything you want, possibly
including a BJ, in order to be allowed to keep their job.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 06:17:02 -0500, "Swingman" wrote:


"JC" wrote in message
oups.com...
BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly

THE ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME MOST SINCERELY BUTT-UGLY WORST:
Dell Computer
http://members.cox.net/valk_ryder/dell/

Yeah ... but add Gateway to the short list. 83 year old Mom: "I have a USB2
port on my 2 year old Gateway, but it won't work with my iPod anymore?".
CustomerServiceoxyMORON: "Sorry lady, you're going to have to buy a new
computer for that to work".

I'm typing on a Dell. I decided some time ago I would never buy
another. It's worked okay for several years until the built-in modem
failed and I gave up and installed an external hardware modem. But
when I tried to add memory I learned that Dell stuff is proprietary;
Kingston, etc won't work.

When tech "support" went to India, that sealed their fate. I called
them one time about the modem... "Sir, you are going to have to
reformat your hard drive."

"Wes Stewart" wrote in message
...
I'm typing on a Dell. I decided some time ago I would never buy
another. It's worked okay for several years until the built-in modem
failed and I gave up and installed an external hardware modem. But
when I tried to add memory I learned that Dell stuff is proprietary;
Kingston, etc won't work.

I did not have that problem when adding memory to my Dell.




When tech "support" went to India, that sealed their fate. I called
them one time about the modem... "Sir, you are going to have to
reformat your hard drive."

On 6 Apr 2005 15:44:47 -0700, wrote:
What have been your best and worst customer service experiences and how
would you rate them? Just service, not the tools themselves. Here's
mine:

WORST
Milwaukee

The one time I had a problem with a Milwaukee tool, they took care of me
right away without problem.

On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 14:16:03 GMT, Leon wrote:

"Wes Stewart" wrote in message
...
I'm typing on a Dell. I decided some time ago I would never buy
another. It's worked okay for several years until the built-in modem
failed and I gave up and installed an external hardware modem. But
when I tried to add memory I learned that Dell stuff is proprietary;
Kingston, etc won't work.

I did not have that problem when adding memory to my Dell.


Crucial (http://www.crucial.com) sells memory for proprietary
architectures.

PC Power And Cooling (google it) sells power supplies for Dell computers
from the "Not Quite an ATX Power Connector" era, and I think the other
PS manufacturers sell them too.

On 6 Apr 2005 16:52:21 -0700, JC wrote:
BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly

THE ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME MOST SINCERELY BUTT-UGLY WORST:
Dell Computer

And my experiences with them have been all positive as well. Used to have
a couple hundred Dell PCs in a corporate environment, and a handful of
personal machines. No problems.

http://members.cox.net/valk_ryder/dell/

Sounds like a true cluster****. I'm glad I switched over to Apple.

On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:11:12 -0700, No-One wrote:

Worst:

Cheaper than Dirt - Sent the wrong item, refused to make it right. Got
nothing but lip service from the person on the phone.

Yup, I've heard this from enough people that I avoid them. Sarco is
slow, but at least they're competant.

JC says...

THE ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME MOST SINCERELY BUTT-UGLY WORST:
Dell Computer
http://members.cox.net/valk_ryder/dell/

Agree Dell is awesomely bad. I didn't know a company could treat its
customers the way I was. Long story, don't get me started...

THE ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME MOST SINCERELY BUTT-UGLY WORST:
Dell Computer
http://members.cox.net/valk_ryder/dell/


Naah! I nominate ANY cell phone service!

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

In article , lgb wrote:

Naah! I nominate ANY cell phone service!

Verizon Wireless takes the prize in my book.

Four years ago, they ran an ad in the paper touting basic cell service, 30
min/month during prime time and 1000 hours night/weekend service, free
phone, no activation fee, for $19.95. Called the toll-free number and ordered
one for my wife. Couple weeks later, I ordered one for myself, same plan. Only
difference was that I ordered mine in person at a kiosk in the mall, so I
actually had a signed contract for mine.

First bill comes in the mail for each account: $29.95. Plus charges for night
and weekend use.

Called them up and asked "what gives?" They denied that they ever offered such
a plan. I read them the plan code off my contract. They denied that such a
plan existed. Faxed them a copy. Turns out they *did* have a plan like that
after all. So they promise to fix my account.

What about my wife's account, the one I ordered by phone? Well, sir, since you
don't have a contract to prove that's the plan you signed up for, we can't
give you that rate.

I said, Don't go there. That works two ways: without a contract, *you* can't
prove that I agreed to pay *anything* for the service. You can't prove that I
agreed to any kind of early termination penalties. Fix the account, or I won't
pay.

She said if I didn't pay, they'd see me in court.

I pointed out that without a contract, they would have a pretty hard time
proving anything, and it would just be easier on all concerned if she would
just concede that since I'd already *proved* that I was telling the truth
about the first phone, I'm probably telling the truth about the second one,
too.

It took them *five*months* to get the billing straightened out. Every month,
for five months, I had to call them and make them adjust the bill. Idiots.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?

Dave Hinz wrote:
On 6 Apr 2005 16:52:21 -0700, JC wrote:

BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly

THE ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME MOST SINCERELY BUTT-UGLY WORST:
Dell Computer


And my experiences with them have been all positive as well. Used to have
a couple hundred Dell PCs in a corporate environment, and a handful of
personal machines. No problems.


http://members.cox.net/valk_ryder/dell/


Sounds like a true cluster****. I'm glad I switched over to Apple.

That was Corporate Customer Support. Dell outsourced them for a short
while, then brought it back to the US. their large corporate customers
wouldn't put up with offshore support.
We regularly spend $5M a year with them for workstations and servers.
Joe

On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 17:05:10 GMT, Doug Miller wrote:
In article , lgb wrote:

Naah! I nominate ANY cell phone service!

Verizon Wireless takes the prize in my book.

I just tried to call a co-worker on his Verizon cellphone (it's lunchtime).
It didn't ring. It was on his desk...in downtown Milwaukee. No missed call
notification, no ring, no nothing.

"Can you hear me now?" Indeed not.

Wes Stewart wrote:

On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 06:17:02 -0500, "Swingman" wrote:


"JC" wrote in message
roups.com...
BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly

THE ABSOLUTE ALL-TIME MOST SINCERELY BUTT-UGLY WORST:
Dell Computer
http://members.cox.net/valk_ryder/dell/

Yeah ... but add Gateway to the short list. 83 year old Mom: "I have a
USB2 port on my 2 year old Gateway, but it won't work with my iPod
anymore?". CustomerServiceoxyMORON: "Sorry lady, you're going to have to
buy a new computer for that to work".

I'm typing on a Dell. I decided some time ago I would never buy
another. It's worked okay for several years until the built-in modem
failed and I gave up and installed an external hardware modem. But
when I tried to add memory I learned that Dell stuff is proprietary;
Kingston, etc won't work.

Did you go to the Kingston site and find the right part number then order
it? There are very few machines for which Kingston does not have
guaranteed-compatible memory.

When tech "support" went to India, that sealed their fate. I called
them one time about the modem... "Sir, you are going to have to
reformat your hard drive."

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 14:17:46 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
Wes Stewart wrote:

I'm typing on a Dell. I decided some time ago I would never buy
another. It's worked okay for several years until the built-in modem
failed and I gave up and installed an external hardware modem. But
when I tried to add memory I learned that Dell stuff is proprietary;
Kingston, etc won't work.

Did you go to the Kingston site and find the right part number then order
it? There are very few machines for which Kingston does not have
guaranteed-compatible memory.

I agree. Kingston is top-notch for availability and for service. And if
Dell is doing the "you can only buy parts from us" game, that's another
reason to avoid them. For what it's worth, I never ran into that with
a Dell, but again my experience with them ended about 4 years ago when
I went to Apple.

"Dave Hinz" wrote in message

I agree. Kingston is top-notch for availability and for service.

.... and been around a loooooonnnggg time! I remember ordering memory from
them out of the old BBS mag, _before_ Al Gore invented the Internet.

My first two 8 MB sticks were bought as an "investment" (so I told SWMBO),
because it didn't look like memory prices would ever be low ... in excess of
$400, IIRC ... Boy howdy, was that stupid, or what?

Funny though, she still believes what I say ... go figure.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

"Dave Hinz" wrote in message
Verizon Wireless takes the prize in my book.

I just tried to call a co-worker on his Verizon cellphone (it's
lunchtime).
It didn't ring. It was on his desk...in downtown Milwaukee. No missed
call
notification, no ring, no nothing.

Problem with all cell phones (and beepers) is the building. Where I work, it
is rare to get a signal at all no matter who the carrier is. Same at our
warehouse in a metal building. Walk 3 feet inside and it is DEAD. Few
years back I looked into 2-way radios. The guy assured me it would be just
perfect. We could not get them to work 200 feet apart, but they had a 10
mile range outside.

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:


"Dave Hinz" wrote in message
Verizon Wireless takes the prize in my book.

I just tried to call a co-worker on his Verizon cellphone (it's
lunchtime).
It didn't ring. It was on his desk...in downtown Milwaukee. No missed
call
notification, no ring, no nothing.

Problem with all cell phones (and beepers) is the building. Where I work,
it
is rare to get a signal at all no matter who the carrier is. Same at our
warehouse in a metal building. Walk 3 feet inside and it is DEAD. Few
years back I looked into 2-way radios. The guy assured me it would be
just
perfect. We could not get them to work 200 feet apart, but they had a 10
mile range outside.

I just shelled out 400 bucks for a repeater so that my cell phone will work
inside my house--foil vapor barrier is death on electronic signals.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

It isn't always the cell phone company's fault a phone doesn't ring.
I've got a Star Tac that won't ring where other phones (my wife's, for
example) ALWAYS ring. I tried another phone, but didn't like the
features so I'm hanging on to the Star Tac until a better phone with
speaker phone capability comes out. I tried on of the LG's but it was
so loud on the softest setting (earphone; not spkr) that I couldn't
stand it. And I don't want the V710 either.

Dave

Dave Hinz wrote:
On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 17:05:10 GMT, Doug Miller wrote:

In article , lgb wrote:


Naah! I nominate ANY cell phone service!


Verizon Wireless takes the prize in my book.


I just tried to call a co-worker on his Verizon cellphone (it's lunchtime).
It didn't ring. It was on his desk...in downtown Milwaukee. No missed call
notification, no ring, no nothing.

"Can you hear me now?" Indeed not.

Sweet Jesus add Sprint to that list of worst customer support ever.

I had a cell phone that kept thinking it was charging and then not charging,
about 10 times a minute. The phone made a nice little beep every time a
"connection" was made or broken. It sat on the counter of the Sprint store,
beeping incessantly, for 2 hours before someone got to me to look at my
phone. They took it in the back and said "see that green on the connection
terminal?" "no." I replied. "Well, that green on the connection terminal
is corrosion, which means that the warranty is void." Then the woman voided
out my warranty and said "you can buy a new phone for $170 or you can add
another line and get two "free" phones for $69.95."

After I informed her that $69.95 was not free, I said "well, since you just
sat there and voided out my warranty, I'm gonna get a screw driver and take
the damn thing appart and see if I can't fix it myself." I took it apart
and cleared out a piece of sand or salt that was on the circuit board and
the problem was fixed. There was no corrosion. *******s.

Josh.

wrote in message
oups.com...
What have been your best and worst customer service experiences and how
would you rate them? Just service, not the tools themselves. Here's
mine:

BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly
Lie-Neilsen

WORST
General International
Milwaukee

Hasn't Sprint always been a company without scruples? Weren't they one
of the offenders in the slamming schemes years ago, or am I thinking of
MCI? or both?

Dave

Josh wrote:

Sweet Jesus add Sprint to that list of worst customer support ever.

I had a cell phone that kept thinking it was charging and then not charging,
about 10 times a minute. The phone made a nice little beep every time a
"connection" was made or broken. It sat on the counter of the Sprint store,
beeping incessantly, for 2 hours before someone got to me to look at my
phone. They took it in the back and said "see that green on the connection
terminal?" "no." I replied. "Well, that green on the connection terminal
is corrosion, which means that the warranty is void." Then the woman voided
out my warranty and said "you can buy a new phone for $170 or you can add
another line and get two "free" phones for $69.95."

After I informed her that $69.95 was not free, I said "well, since you just
sat there and voided out my warranty, I'm gonna get a screw driver and take
the damn thing appart and see if I can't fix it myself." I took it apart
and cleared out a piece of sand or salt that was on the circuit board and
the problem was fixed. There was no corrosion. *******s.

Josh.

wrote in message
oups.com...

What have been your best and worst customer service experiences and how
would you rate them? Just service, not the tools themselves. Here's
mine:

BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly
Lie-Neilsen

WORST
General International
Milwaukee

On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 14:19:17 -0700, David wrote:
It isn't always the cell phone company's fault a phone doesn't ring.
I've got a Star Tac that won't ring where other phones (my wife's, for
example) ALWAYS ring.

Well, put it this way. Some coworkers have Sprint phones, and they
don't suck, where those of us with verizon phones do have service that
sucks. And they're the same models of phones, so...

"Can you hear me now?" Indeed not.

On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 16:37:50 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

Problem with all cell phones (and beepers) is the building. Where I work,
it
is rare to get a signal at all no matter who the carrier is. Same at our
warehouse in a metal building. Walk 3 feet inside and it is DEAD. Few
years back I looked into 2-way radios. The guy assured me it would be
just
perfect. We could not get them to work 200 feet apart, but they had a 10
mile range outside.

I just shelled out 400 bucks for a repeater so that my cell phone will work
inside my house--foil vapor barrier is death on electronic signals.

Do you have a link? I can ask my boss to spring for one, next time I
miss a work-related page/call.

Dave

On 7 Apr 2005 18:52:37 GMT, Dave Hinz wrote:

On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 14:17:46 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
Wes Stewart wrote:

I'm typing on a Dell. I decided some time ago I would never buy
another. It's worked okay for several years until the built-in modem
failed and I gave up and installed an external hardware modem. But
when I tried to add memory I learned that Dell stuff is proprietary;
Kingston, etc won't work.

Did you go to the Kingston site and find the right part number then order
it? There are very few machines for which Kingston does not have
guaranteed-compatible memory.

I agree. Kingston is top-notch for availability and for service. And if
Dell is doing the "you can only buy parts from us" game, that's another
reason to avoid them. For what it's worth, I never ran into that with
a Dell, but again my experience with them ended about 4 years ago when
I went to Apple.

And you have more options for buying hardware upgrades from Apple? G
A

Worst

Anything with Wagner's name on it.

wrote in message
oups.com...
What have been your best and worst customer service experiences and how
would you rate them? Just service, not the tools themselves. Here's
mine:

BEST
Lee Valley
Grizzly
Lie-Neilsen

WORST
General International
Milwaukee

Robert Wagner?

wrote:
Robert Wagner?

Which would make the best Natalie Woods. Reminds me of Blake and
Shatner.

Dave in Fairfax
--
Dave Leader
reply-to doesn't work
use:
daveldr at att dot net
American Association of Woodturners
http://www.woodturner.org
Capital Area Woodturners
http://www.capwoodturners.org/
PATINA
http://www.Patinatools.org/

Which Ryobi planer do you have? I was having trouble finding
replacement blades for my model AP12 12 inch planer, and found that
the Delta brand Cat 22-562 that I got from Lowe's fit just fine. The
only differences I have observed is that the delta blades have 3 index
holes where the factory blades had 2. All other dimensions are
exactly the same within .001 on my calipers except overall length.
the are 1 MM longer but still fit and turn cleanly

Same machine and you had the same experience I did just this week. A fellow
at HD was glad to let me open the package and stand there and measure the
Delta blades. The Deltas fit fine. I almost had a heart event when I found
out what the aftermarket blades cost.

In article , reply-to, is, disabled, to, stop, spam wrote:
wrote:
Robert Wagner?

Which would make the best Natalie Woods. Reminds me of Blake and
Shatner.

OK, so now we're drifting back toward somewhere approaching on-topic...

Q: What kind of wood doesn't float?
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
A: Natalie.





--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

Nobody ever left footprints in the sands of time by sitting on his butt.
And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?

Dave in Fairfax wrote:

wrote:

Robert Wagner?


Which would make the best Natalie Woods. Reminds me of Blake and
Shatner.

Dave in Fairfax
Natalie? Isn't that one of the only woods that doesn't float?

;-)
Glen