Slack Service – Not
Posted: Mon 17 September, 2007 Filed under: Customer Services, Cynicism 1 Comment »Last weekend I wrote about some of the slack customer service we’ve been dealing with recently.
In order to provide some balance, this week we’ve also had some really good experiences too.
On Saturday we went and saw a local place that supplies wood-burners, coal and logs. We needed some fire tools as well for our wood-burner, but also needed that much-written-about load of logs for our woodpile. We bought the tools, and ordered a trailerload of logs, along with three bags of kindling. We needed a pallet as well to be used as flooring for the wood pile, which they just chucked on, no charge.
It was due for delivery “Late morning, early afternoon” today. It’s already here, and arrived by 8am. Definitely a place we’ll be going back to.
Also, that cycle shop mentioned last week had my bike ready and waiting when we went to collect it- and charged me less than I’d expected!
So yes, all told, fairly impressed.
Now, if the plumber turns up it’ll be a good day…
Can I just add a word of caution about Boiler Juice? I used to recommend them highly, but, just recently, their prices have been up to 5p a litre more than local suppliers, which soon mounts up on a tankful. I’ve been keeping a very close Witchy eye on them and their ‘buying weekends’ and ‘someone else has ordered in your area’ emails are no cheaper than standard price.
Keep a couple of local numbers to hand and give them a quick call before ordering. It’s worth asking it they’ll price match other quotes, as several of them will.
Also – logs – have you thought about getting in touch with local tree surgeons or builders? Several round here will happily deliver you wood (trees or building site offcuts) for nothing as it would otherwise cost them money to dispose of it. Your £75 a load sounds very steep (but I guess you’re paying the wood burner retailer’s add-on commission).
We only bought logs the first year we were here (12 years ago) and since then, friends, buildres and our own ‘finds’ while in the countryside have kept us freely supplied. OK, so cutting it up takes a bit of time, but it keeps you fit!