Saturday, January 31, 2004
Adding a good experience to an already amazing trip! UNICOI OUTFITTERS!
Unicoi Outfitters’ main store is located within the North Georgia mountain town of Helen.
While in the Atlanta area for Craig’s wedding nearly two years ago, myself and my sweetie made an appointment for one of their “Gilligan’s Specials” in order to both work out any bad fly-casting habits I had picked up on and to acquaint Samantha with her first dose of fly fishing.
First off, the customer service was second to none! Second, the price was more than right! I’d pay the going rate merely for their expert instruction! Our guide, David, was an incredible teacher! He not only worked out my bad habits…but had Sam casting like a pro well within the hour of instruction. It was truly amazing!
We caught several very pretty rainbows that day on one of the most beautiful stretches of trophy trout waters I have ever seen. They really treat you like a “regular” even if it’s your first time in their store.
Sure, like any “outfitter”, they have a selection of trips that could cost you just as much as you’d ever dream of spending. BUT, at the same time, they have very affordable packages as well.
What I’m saying is….they know fly fishing isn’t an “elitist” sport. There are no noses in the air. There are no “holier-than-thou” attitudes! Instead, they are just a bunch of very knowledgeable fishermen who are willing to entertain any question relating to the sport and help you get started in any way possible.
They are honest, up front, and stand behind their reputation. Here almost two years later; I can give them a ring, from here in Texas and call upon their knowledge and advice. They are always eager to help. Please see their link located in the “Hall of Fame”.
Even tough I’ve only visited them one time; they’ve earned a permanent place among the best customer services experiences I have ever had. Give them your business….trust me, they’ll earn it ten times over!
Unicoi Outfitters, CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve been inducted into the most scrutinized “Hall of Fame(s)” you’ll ever know!
While in the Atlanta area for Craig’s wedding nearly two years ago, myself and my sweetie made an appointment for one of their “Gilligan’s Specials” in order to both work out any bad fly-casting habits I had picked up on and to acquaint Samantha with her first dose of fly fishing.
First off, the customer service was second to none! Second, the price was more than right! I’d pay the going rate merely for their expert instruction! Our guide, David, was an incredible teacher! He not only worked out my bad habits…but had Sam casting like a pro well within the hour of instruction. It was truly amazing!
We caught several very pretty rainbows that day on one of the most beautiful stretches of trophy trout waters I have ever seen. They really treat you like a “regular” even if it’s your first time in their store.
Sure, like any “outfitter”, they have a selection of trips that could cost you just as much as you’d ever dream of spending. BUT, at the same time, they have very affordable packages as well.
What I’m saying is….they know fly fishing isn’t an “elitist” sport. There are no noses in the air. There are no “holier-than-thou” attitudes! Instead, they are just a bunch of very knowledgeable fishermen who are willing to entertain any question relating to the sport and help you get started in any way possible.
They are honest, up front, and stand behind their reputation. Here almost two years later; I can give them a ring, from here in Texas and call upon their knowledge and advice. They are always eager to help. Please see their link located in the “Hall of Fame”.
Even tough I’ve only visited them one time; they’ve earned a permanent place among the best customer services experiences I have ever had. Give them your business….trust me, they’ll earn it ten times over!
Unicoi Outfitters, CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve been inducted into the most scrutinized “Hall of Fame(s)” you’ll ever know!
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
The "Difficult Customer" Strikes Again!
I was informed by the branch manager of Enterprise Rent-A-Car's Greenville, Texas location that I was placed on a "Do-Not-Rent" to list! I had never been told this before! I had just rented from them not 6 months ago and everything was fine! I never had any hint of ill-will from them towards me.
It seems that my insistent demands that they live up to even sub-standard customer service makes me a "Difficult Customer". This particular person has been at this location for several years and has recently been promoted to Branch Manager.
Anyone who's ever rented from Enterprise on even a semi-regular basis knows they promote their people to other positions about every 6 months. The fact she's been at the location for a few years now and has just now made Branch Manager, however, can not be her fault! It must be the fault of the customer. It does not reflect the fact she merely sucks.
Bottom Line: I've rented from this location many times over the past 3 years. I've never submitted an invalid form of payment for any service. I have never brought back ANY vehicle with even the slightest of damage.
BUT, I have had to make the same reservation at two different locations (both the Greenville and the McKinney locations). This is because every time at the last minute one of them manages to screw the whole thing up and I'll be out of a vehicle. So I do what I call "Idiot Proofing" in order that one of the locations ends up with a vehicle. On more than one occasion I've been left needing an SUV and have been stuck in an Escort. They think this is service! After all, I got a car! Screw the fact I can't get my expensive equipment in the Escort, that's my problem...I'm the customer! They give me a car, it's not what I paid for, not what I reserved, but it's my problem to make do because they've "done all they can"!!
When I inquired as to the reason I made their little list I was told: I lied about reservations (I guess on a few occasions I ended up at the McKinney location out of fear of Greenville's incompetence!). I lied about being promised "upgrades" (wrong again, I was given the FREE upgrades due to their previous screw-ups). I lied about rental dates....this thought must be accompanied by black helicopters as well. Last, that I was just a "chronic liar".
WOW The mere fact this even came out of their mouths proves they're CUSTOMER SERVICE IDIOTS!
At any rate, I spoke the V.P over the Texas region and for now the dog is back in her cage. I guess I need to start bringing a rolled up newspaper with me every time I visit the location. The V.P. made the comment that she (the Branch Manager) feels like a "mutual" apology is in order. Well, she shouldn't hold her breath! I'll submit payment, take the keys, bring the vehicle back on time and that's all she's getting from me.
If I ever "offended" her she has one of two options:
1) Grow a thicker skin and actually work for the customer.
or
2) Put on her sandwich board that reads "Will work for food" and park her butt on the nearest street corner! Period!
When it comes to the deep dark closet of customer service: "Enterprise Greenville, Texas...... YOUUUUUUU'RE OUT!
It seems that my insistent demands that they live up to even sub-standard customer service makes me a "Difficult Customer". This particular person has been at this location for several years and has recently been promoted to Branch Manager.
Anyone who's ever rented from Enterprise on even a semi-regular basis knows they promote their people to other positions about every 6 months. The fact she's been at the location for a few years now and has just now made Branch Manager, however, can not be her fault! It must be the fault of the customer. It does not reflect the fact she merely sucks.
Bottom Line: I've rented from this location many times over the past 3 years. I've never submitted an invalid form of payment for any service. I have never brought back ANY vehicle with even the slightest of damage.
BUT, I have had to make the same reservation at two different locations (both the Greenville and the McKinney locations). This is because every time at the last minute one of them manages to screw the whole thing up and I'll be out of a vehicle. So I do what I call "Idiot Proofing" in order that one of the locations ends up with a vehicle. On more than one occasion I've been left needing an SUV and have been stuck in an Escort. They think this is service! After all, I got a car! Screw the fact I can't get my expensive equipment in the Escort, that's my problem...I'm the customer! They give me a car, it's not what I paid for, not what I reserved, but it's my problem to make do because they've "done all they can"!!
When I inquired as to the reason I made their little list I was told: I lied about reservations (I guess on a few occasions I ended up at the McKinney location out of fear of Greenville's incompetence!). I lied about being promised "upgrades" (wrong again, I was given the FREE upgrades due to their previous screw-ups). I lied about rental dates....this thought must be accompanied by black helicopters as well. Last, that I was just a "chronic liar".
WOW The mere fact this even came out of their mouths proves they're CUSTOMER SERVICE IDIOTS!
At any rate, I spoke the V.P over the Texas region and for now the dog is back in her cage. I guess I need to start bringing a rolled up newspaper with me every time I visit the location. The V.P. made the comment that she (the Branch Manager) feels like a "mutual" apology is in order. Well, she shouldn't hold her breath! I'll submit payment, take the keys, bring the vehicle back on time and that's all she's getting from me.
If I ever "offended" her she has one of two options:
1) Grow a thicker skin and actually work for the customer.
or
2) Put on her sandwich board that reads "Will work for food" and park her butt on the nearest street corner! Period!
When it comes to the deep dark closet of customer service: "Enterprise Greenville, Texas...... YOUUUUUUU'RE OUT!
The Intro!
This site will manage to make some businesses very mad. Others, however, will understand its potential both as a measure of their success with the customer and as a guide to changing status quo in respect to "Big Business's" treatment of the common customer. I hope this helps everyone in some way.
