Your best and worst customer service experiences [rant & praise]

Zapp Brannigan

Randy Shafter wrote: »

Praise
XMusic in the redcow ind. estate. Very helpful staff who know what they are doing and know what they are talking about! Excellent customer service!

Yeah they're a deadly bunch of guys.

TheSpectator

NCT coming up? Need a servicing? Don't go to ATLAS TYRES, Drumcondra, whatever you do!

As they advertise themselves as an NCT expert garage, I had a handbrake shoe fitted there in August after the NCT found my old one was completely gone. Back to the NCT I go, and what do they find? The handbrake is only half as strong as it should be. While Atlas then fixed their earlier poor job (more on that later), I had to sit the NCT again, paying €50. Despite a manager being initially sympathetic to my complaint (the handbrake was the ONLY reason I failed), and after many phonecalls and dropping in, and plenty of "oh, I'll check with the boss," and "I'll get back to you," nothing.

But they fixed the handbrake, right? Well, I failed the new NCT...because not only was the handbrake STILL too weak, but when they "fixed" it the second time, the wheel drums were effected, so now they're imbalanced.

It's a legal grey area, and I pretty much gave up trying to get compensation. But just a warning, DON'T GIVE THOSE AMATEUR COWBOYS A PENNY!

dudara

If you can prove (via the NCT report) that the wheel drum imbalance was caused by the fitting of the handbrake shoe, then maybe you could consider lodging a case against them in the Small Claims Court.

TheSpectator

Thanks for that, Dudura. However, I do still want people to know about this nonsense. I want to use boards.ie and the market to let people know how people like Atlas behave. Infuriating.

dudara

Please remember that this is the Consumer Issues forum, not the "Axe to Grind" forum. If you are posting here for the sole pupose of badmouthing a business, then I will close the thread. If you are seeking advice on how to proceed, then that's fine.

dudara

TheSpectator

Again, what I want is for people to know what they ar getting into before they commit a lot of money. If I was going to spend a few hundred quid on any given product, I would be very grateful if I heard that this company or that has a poor customer service philosophy. This is certainly not an axe-to-grind rant.

dudara

OK. given that you have stated that your wish to make people aware of this company, then I'll merge this into the best/worst customer service thread.

dudara

DrumSteve

TheSpectator wrote: »

NCT coming up? Need a servicing? Don't go to ATLAS TYRES, Drumcondra, whatever you do!

As they advertise themselves as an NCT expert garage, I had a handbrake shoe fitted there in August after the NCT found my old one was completely gone. Back to the NCT I go, and what do they find? The handbrake is only half as strong as it should be. While Atlas then fixed their earlier poor job (more on that later), I had to sit the NCT again, paying €50. Despite a manager being initially sympathetic to my complaint (the handbrake was the ONLY reason I failed), and after many phonecalls and dropping in, and plenty of "oh, I'll check with the boss," and "I'll get back to you," nothing.

But they fixed the handbrake, right? Well, I failed the new NCT...because not only was the handbrake STILL too weak, but when they "fixed" it the second time, the wheel drums were effected, so now they're imbalanced.

It's a legal grey area, and I pretty much gave up trying to get compensation. But just a warning, DON'T GIVE THOSE AMATEUR COWBOYS A PENNY!

yeah i know how you feel...

went up to them to get a hole in my back box sorted, they said it was done, then low and behold my car failed the NCT on the back box emissions. brought it back and they gave me a voucher i could only use in one of their garages and got it fixed.... funnily enough i found out a couple of weeks later that the back box was leaking again!

Wouldn't go back at all...

i71jskz5xu42pb

TheSpectator wrote: »

NCT coming up? Need a servicing? Don't go to ATLAS TYRES, Drumcondra, whatever you do!

Which Atlas Tyres? There's one in Drumcondra beside the Skylon hotel and one just over the canal (on Dorset Street) from the bottom of Drumcondra.

I've used the one in beside the Skylon hotel and found them to be very friendly and reasonably priced. This was for a new tyre & a service.

TheSpectator

The branch in Drumcondra.

Yes, I found them to be friendly, too...until I realised (via the TWO NCT results) that they hadn't done the job...

ab20

I know this is an old post but I would just like to add my experience with Samsung was pretty horrible. First the American Fridge Freezer Broke down. I was told it would have to break down 3 times before they would replace it. This is what happend and eventually after 12 months I got a different Fridge LG to be precise. Then our 42 Inch plasma was also giving trouble and we had to do the same it went back 3 times before they gave us a replacement. It is terrible the way these big suppliers can get away with dragging consumers out like that. Sometimes it is not the retailers fault. You really have to read the small print on these things.

dudara

Above post moved to best/worst customer service thread

dudara

ab20

Don't start me off. I know this is an old thread but yeah, yeah here we go,

builders providers, in-house panelling centre, general merchants, do ya want more.

These all think that they can take your order, take your money and you have to load up yourself. I wish I could have a business like theirs. The staff hide if they see somebody with a docket. I have often spent over an hour between getting served and getting out of a place. An hour that is 1/8 of a working mans day. Never mind the travelling to and from. And not as much as a kiss me arse on Christmas.

Now! Finished.

Lollipops23

Yesterday my mother and brother went to Superquinn (Swords) and said it was awful. Apparently there were only 3 tills open at 11am, loads of stuff was unpriced and the staff were really unhelpful. My mam has been going there for years and reckons it's getting progressively worse.

Went in myself this afternoon (half 12ish) and was waiting at the butcher's counter for aaaages before getting served, there was only one guy on it. Other customers walked off it took so long. The whole look of the place was crappy,like it was in a right state.

LeBash

Was in Peats on Parnell St today, and I was looking for some awkward parts (transistors, resistors, capacitors etc. Bassically a load of stuff thats hard to deal with and it costs so little).

I was kind of expecting to be given the open jaw and a head scratch, but I have to say, this was the best retail store I have every been in. The first girl I spoke to, got me a guy that was well clued into what I was looking for and he spent almost an hour going through catalogue and thier store room getting me exactly what i wanted.

While i was waiting, I was watching the other staff and they were giving some pretty good advice, and were pleasent and courtious for the most part. I have to say, if i need electronics or electrical equipment i will be making the effort to get into parnell st and get to Peats.

:D:D

SerialComplaint

Fair play to Eddie Rockets in Dundrum today. They only charged us for four out of the six kids meals served, because a good few of the kids didn't finish all the food. Takes some of the pain of the kids party away.

FunnyStuff

AutoStation in sandyford industrial estate. Sent my car in for a service and charged me 35% VAT on parts of the work. ****heads!!!

rameire

FunnyStuff wrote: »

AutoStation in sandyford industrial estate. Sent my car in for a service and charged me 35% VAT on parts of the work. ****heads!!!

how about you go back and find out what country they are working in and then advise them you shall take it further if they do not amend your receipt and refund you the overcharge.
and also advise the condumer association and any other body that should know about this, like Joe Duffy.

mikemac

rameire wrote: »

like Joe Duffy.

The most overused threat in Ireland.

I've giving a thumps up to the staff in Marks & Spencers, IFSC in Dublin. Always pleasant and great to deal with.

I'll give a thumps down to the staff in Tesco, Ballyfermot. Will check their texts and read Hello magazine while you stand like a fool with cash in your outstretched arm! :mad:
And not bothering to move empty baskets to the front door so you have to look for one is a pet hate of mine. I understand stores get busy and it's not always possible but realy, when you have staff standing around chatting and nobody has the initative to gather the empty baskets and move them to where they are supposed to be??

FunnyStuff

rameire wrote: »

how about you go back and find out what country they are working in and then advise them you shall take it further if they do not amend your receipt and refund you the overcharge.
and also advise the condumer association and any other body that should know about this, like Joe Duffy.

all been done my friend, got in touch with a solicitor specialising in tax and he told me what they did was totally legal, rang the revenue and was told the same. when i asked how the **** this can be done, i was told "they just can".

cute_cow

normally hate going into PC World in Jervis Centre, as staff are so unhelpful and friendly from numerous previous shopping trips there, however, on Monday, was helped by a guy called David, and he was fantastic. Really freindly, nice and very helpful.

Dublin_Gunner

cute_cow wrote: »

normally hate going into PC World in Jervis Centre, as staff are so unhelpful and friendly from numerous previous shopping trips there, however, on Monday, was helped by a guy called David, and he was fantastic. Really freindly, nice and very helpful.

Was in there today. They really don't knoiw their árses from their elbows in fairness.

Dublin_Gunner

LeBash wrote: »

Was in Peats on Parnell St today, and I was looking for some awkward parts (transistors, resistors, capacitors etc. Bassically a load of stuff thats hard to deal with and it costs so little).

I was kind of expecting to be given the open jaw and a head scratch, but I have to say, this was the best retail store I have every been in. The first girl I spoke to, got me a guy that was well clued into what I was looking for and he spent almost an hour going through catalogue and thier store room getting me exactly what i wanted.

While i was waiting, I was watching the other staff and they were giving some pretty good advice, and were pleasent and courtious for the most part. I have to say, if i need electronics or electrical equipment i will be making the effort to get into parnell st and get to Peats.

:D:D

I've been getting electronic components from Peats for over 10 years now. Not only do they usually employ staff that might actually have qualifications in electronics, but they usually have the stuff in stock! (though I was disappointed they did not have a thyristor I was looking for one day )

matt70iu

Best: o2 customer care, polite, helpful and prompt at dealing with issues

Worst: Carphone Warehouse, only interested in dealing with you if you are there to buy something, you can see them all run into the back if you have a bag in your hand!! That comes from the top though and need to give staff an incentive to provide good customer service.

McChubbin

Rave:
-O2. I've been with them for the better part of a decade now and I wouldn't dream of switching. The staff in the Pavillions store are so helpful and informative, their customer care hotline is speedy and efficent, they are always happy to block any spam callers (rare but it happens) and every year n my birthday, I get €20 of free credit!
Also, I've been getting a free ITunes download a day as a Christmas/Customer Loyalty perk.

Rant:
-Dunnes Stores Food Departmen.
Was trying to find mince-meat (The sweet, sugary mince pie variety) for my mother last week but coming up short so I located a floor assistent to help. I wished I hadn't had not only did she have NO IDEA what I was talking about, she kept leading me to the butcher's counter and could only look at me blankly when I had to explain and re-explain what I was looking for.

Cue her talking to TWO of her collegues-neither of whom had a clue what i was talking about-, several trips to the cold meat and butchers counter until I just gave up and walked out.

Sure enough, I found the mincemeat in Superquinns about 5 minutes later after explaining it to a very helpful young lad who was even kind enough to recommend a band cheaper than what I was looking for.
So, the moral of the story? Shop at Superquinns. The staff actually have brain stem activity!

DublinWriter

McChubbin wrote: »

So, the moral of the story? Shop at Superquinns.

No, the moral of the story is actually you get what you pay for.

pjmn

NCT - trying to book car in for test for the past couple of days - website not working! Poor service.

beauty101

Good:

Waterstones Dawson St: the guy working spent ages helping me find a particular book, i didnt know wat it was called/who it was but etc (ur typical annoying customer) but he was really helpful
O2 Customer Care: Really polite helpful staff
Harvey Normans Carrickmines: excellent customer care when my iPod nano was broken, they repaired it and gave me a new one! Couldn't beat that.
Avoca Kilmacannougue: I got a hair on my cake + brought it up to the girl who gave me a refund + an entire cake!
Zara: I always find their staff extremely friendly + helpful
Topshop Arnotts: One particular girl spent half an hour looking for a skirt in my size that wasn't really around anymore, eventually she found it..I was delighted!

Bad:

Meteor: I've had so many experience, one where they wouldn't give me my unlocking code for 2 months.
Brown Thomas: Refused to honour a gift card that was 3 weeks out of date
Armani BTs: Wouldn't exchange a lipgloss which they had given me in the wrong colour even though it was sealed + I had the receipt + it was less than 24 hours later!
Dunnes Cornelscourt: Staff are mostly rude + obnoxious.The other day in the grocery dept. the cashier short changed me €10. When i spotted this she's already closed the til + couldn't open it. She said I'd have to wait for her to serve the next customer, there was nobody in the Q behind me + she was staring off into space. I waited a minute + then asked could a supervisor not open it? to which she rang some bell + started making faces. Eventually i got my tenner + a dirty look.
Peter Mark Style Club SWS: The most arrogant staff ever. They don't listen to what you want + they think they know it all.
Centra Dun Laoghaire: Apparently it's a crime to ask for your roll to be cut in half!

Lunabu

I've noticed that there are a lot of negative comments about PC World in this forum.
Until yesterday, I would have agreed with a lot of them: the staff in PC World stores (and Currys) had been less than helpful and less than knowledgable in my past experience. In addition, I always found if very difficult to find any sales staff at all. Waiting in line to talk to someone or being ignored seemed to be the norm.
However, yesterday in PC World Limerick, I dealt with not one but two very friendly and knowledgable staff. I wanted to buy a new LCD TV and was undecided between 2 or 3 different models.
The advice I got was excellent and I ended up buying a bigger telly for less money than I had anticipated. The guys I dealt with were very friendly, knowledgable and polite and didn't try and push me into any sales I didn't want to make.
I did go for one of the insurance options, but it was my decision and I didn't feel pressurised.
They also had enough staff on (maybe because of the January "sales"), so I didn't have to hang around and wait.
Thumbs up!

alansweeney100

Post up the screen size, manufacturer, model number & price you paid for it.