--about poor customer service.
BUT, every once in a while someone comes along who knows how to take care of their customers.
As you might recall, I was miffed this past weekend when I couldn't find any replacement bird feeders that were as good as the ones I already had. The whole post is here, but it boiled down to the fact that the new feeders had crappy plastic perches and lids (ready to be gnawed away by the stupid tree rats), and I had to fix them with leftover parts from my old feeders. Sorta. I still had two plastic perches, and the bottoms were still nice, chewy plastic.
IN a fit of pique, I e-mailed the company's customer service rep, explained my situation, and asked if they had any of the metal parts for sale--perches and lids.
After a couple of go-rounds where I tried to make it clear I didn't need a whole feeder, just the parts, the lady I was corresponding with said she'd check the warehouse and see what she could find. Which I thought was very nice of her. I told her I would be glad to purchase anything they had if she could find anything.
ON TO TODAY, where, as I was sitting here minding my own business, the secretary brought in a long white box. Not expecting any Volvo parts deliveries, of course my first inclination was to check and make sure it wasn't ticking.
Hearing that it wasn't, I saw that it had come from the Heath company. I had no idea why they'd sent such a huge box for some piddly little bits of pot metal.
IMAGINE MY SURPRISE when I opened it up, and inside was the Model 493 Silver Sky PREMIUM feeder--fully assembled, all metal components, and lifetime warranted! Metal cap with a metal rod holding the hanging bail. Metal perches. It even has a metal bottom held in place with SCREWS. This baby is the top of the line!
I just now wrote the nice lady back and thanked her (I hope profusely enough) for sending along a whole feeder, since I only needed the parts, and asked her how much I owed them.
"I couldn’t find any parts so that is why we sent the feeder at no charge. Enjoy the birds!"
So, in the spirit of giving credit where due, I would like to thank the Heath Outdoor Products Company, and most especially their Customer Service Manager, Ms. Nanci Beck, for making me one happy possum!
Take THAT you stupid squirrels! ::shakes fist::
Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 16, 2006 02:21 PMI might put one of those outside the birds' window. The August BirdTalk suggests one to amuse indoor birds.
Posted by: Janis at June 16, 2006 02:36 PMJust be sure you've got a place underneath that you don't mind being filled with dropped seeds. The doves usually get most of ours, along with the squirrels, and whatever chipmunks and voles and rabbits and shrews and wildebeests happen to wander through the yard at night.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 16, 2006 02:44 PMThat is really nice service. Good for them, and you!
Posted by: Nate at June 16, 2006 03:19 PMMaybe good customer service maybe just a bunch of people who like to torment squirrels.
Posted by: jim at June 16, 2006 04:11 PMWell if that's the case, then it's not just good customer service, but GREAT customer service!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 16, 2006 04:25 PM