Sears Sucks!

Do you know what I hate?

The customer service at Sears.

Every day at lunch, I drive my car to Fairview Mall and walk the aisles in air-conditioned comfort - with my only concern the meanderings of women pushing baby-strollers, love drunk couples who suddenly have no concept of a straight line, and those idiots who are constantly checking their mobile phones for non-existent messages (no one likes you) or those who are talking on the phone while standing in the middle of the aisles being complete dicks.

Along with the walk, I will sometimes frequent various shops.

I am well-known and loved at LEGO, and am treated well at Shoppers Drug Mart, Coles, and EB Games. I've hit various other places as well including Manchu Wok, where they greet me with a friendly smile and decent friendly conversation because everyone is very nice there. I will add that the McDonald's is also very efficient, and I will forgive their very short shortcomings in the friendliness department only because they are so efficient with the larger hungry crowds.

And then there's Sears.

Sears - like many large retailers - has been having a tough time of it sales wise and I feel a tinge of sorrow for all large retailers.

While I have requested help (once) and was efficiently helped at Sears, my experience at lunch time on October 8, 2015, left me with a bitter bile taste in my mouth and a desire to never shop there again.

I needed a new belt for my pants, and easily found what I was looking for and moved towards the checkout.

There is only one checkout on the second floor - and that is a central one near the escalators, where there are four cash registers…

I got in line… standing in one line that would break up to the corresponding checkout depending on which one opened up first. Fair and easy to follow.

The line-up, however, was 12 people deep when I arrived. That's not a lot, so no big deal for me or the other patrons waiting to cash out.

After some 10 minutes of waiting, things hadn't moved up much—there were only two clerks working the check-out, when a third clerk arrived.

Of course, by that time, I saw three people leave the line in disgust throwing down their purchases at the long delay in being served.

Their departure, of course meant that I could move up in line a bit quicker… hence I only had to spend 12 minutes in line. Moving up via attrition.

So… I hand my belt to the clerk, she looks at it, asks if I will be paying with my Sears credit card - I don't have one.

She then suggests cash, but I suggest I would pay by my bank debit card.

She then tells me that the debit line is down and they can only serve me if I have cash… or if I would like to sign up for a Sears credit card.

How many people carry around hundreds of dollars with them anymore? I saw a man with a couple of pairs of coats and pants throw down his purchases with disgust earlier because of the wait.

What if he only had a bank debit card to pay for his purchases?

Sure many people have credit cards already in hand - I do - but most of us already have a lot of credit card debt, and perhaps like myself don't have the room on the card to add more.

I know I don't want any more credit car debt and am doing my best to make my monthly payments, let alone knock it down a wee bit every payment.

Earlier in line, I had watched the same clerk's incompetence in helping one woman start up a Sears Credit Card - couldn't spell the customers name correctly… it took her and the customer some five minutes… maybe more… I was only there for five minutes of it…to get a card... and another minute to pay the bill for her purchases.

I did have enough money in my bank account - today - to make the purchase, but did not have any cash on me to cover the cost of the belt.

In disgust at not being able to pay for a belt I can afford at this time, I take 10 seconds to complain to the clerk that at some point in time over the past 10 minutes-plus when I had been standing in line, they could have told us and the other customers that the bank debit line was down.

She says they had been making announcements.

Uh - no. If they had been, one had not been made in the 10 minutes I had been standing in line, or the five minutes I had spent finding a belt in my size that I liked.

I leave the clerk with the belt I was going to purchase and walk out of the store empty-handed.

Hey Sears… ever wonder why profits and sales are down, down, down?

You don't train your staff to provide even the most basic of customer service.

Sears as an entity deserves a belt.

Do you know what I hate?

The customer service at Sears.

Rogers Communications Doesn't Care

I should mention that over these past few years, I have ripped into many a wide range of general social behavioral topics, and into a few companies themselves, such as KFC, McDonalds, CIBC and Rogers Communications for their poor customer service.

I'm not saying things should go back to the good old days of the pre-1960s when everyone at at the dinner table, and mom and dad wore good clothes (picture Ward Cleaver in a suit and tie!), but the 21st century has already seen (by me) some pretty crappy customer service levels.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't say that I have enjoyed EXCELLENT customer service from many a restaurant, shop or service - so: Kudos to LEGO (in-store and help line), Coca-Cola (marketing), Fat Bastards and Burrito Boys, Manchu Wok, Mister Sub, Quiznos, Shell, and of course all of the small business I deal with such as my garage, barber, etc.

I'm a pretty friendly guy, and will not have to go out of my way to ask how someone is doing… it's as easy as a smile, which I also provide for free.

So… it is troubling when I feel compelled to write a diatribe about some crappy customer service received.

It IS my right to expect excellent customer service. And yes, you are correct… if I don't like it, I can go somewhere else… and I have. Crappy haircuts from First Choice no more - regardless of the fact that I enjoy the rapper between myself and the hairstylist.

Now.. while I have railed on, in the past about CIBC - and I know many of you loyal readers have as well, I will say that I was impressed by them when they tracked me down and physically telephoned me to discuss my complaint.

Someone was actually monitoring their social media (Twitter, Google, Facebook etc.) and saw my complaint.

It took two days, but they spent the time to track me down and actually apologize for the shoddy behavior of their credit card department - even though it is essentially a separate entity from the bank.

Now, now… I know nothing is perfect, and many of you have issues with the CIBC and CIBC Visa - I know.

Just know that social media is an effective tool.

Except when it comes to companies that simply don't give a crap about you and your opinions… like McDonalds, KFC, and god help me - Rogers Communications.

Anyone can mess up an order for food, or have delays - it just shouldn't be a 15 minute wait for an Angus burger or 15-minute wait for a burrito (that happened last week at KFC). Meanwhile… the drive-through is served quicker and sooner… I watched cars move in and move out, with packs of food larger than my own.

It's an Angus burger… a common product, not a camel hotdog that needs to be found in the bowels of the freezer in the basement!

But Rogers… Rogers….

My wife's great aunts used to babysit Ted Rogers father… and the Rogers family put the great aunts through school.

My father-in-law wrote a book on Reginald Fessenden - radio inventor - and met with Ted Rogers.

Myself, I have sat in Ted Roger's private box for numerous baseball and soccer games, as an employee of Rogers Communications.

We have a history… and a good one.

But one, whose near past and present continues to be tarnished by incompetence and plain old rudeness.

It's sad, really.

Maybe I expect too much… Maybe CIBC shouldn't have tracked me down after I wrote a nasty blog, and maybe shouldn't have apologized… then I wouldn't feel so slighted by companies like Rogers Communications.

It's been weeks, months and even years - with nary an acknowledgement. Granted this is a pretty small blog… but is there not someone monitoring social media to respond to either libelous comments or legitimate complaints?

I've previously beat my head against my desk trying to deal with people at Rogers over the incredible lack of service regarding my E-mail address that suddenly became blocked… with them simply stating there was nothing they could do about it.

There were all the people - twice now - calling me up offering me fantastic savings… but when one was interrupted by a fire alarm (yes, a legitimate excuse), they never called back.

When one called to offer me a MORE than half-price bundle that would save me around $1300 a year if I switched to Rogers for a 2-year plan… after I mentioned that I was a loyal Rogers customer, I was hung up on with nary a word.

And still… no one from Rogers has ever reached out (the way CIBC did) to apologize.

As such, I'm going to write about Rogers more often. Like now. At least one of us is trying to communicate… you know… like that big word that makes up part of your name… 

So… Rogers Communications doesn't care… I have experiences (and lack of experiences) that effectively back up that statement. Rogers does, too… as I would imagine it monitors it's call centers for accuracy… they can check their own RECORDED phone records to see if I am lying or mistaken.

I'm not.

The in-store folks at LEGO had previously thanked me for a compliment mentioned in an earlier blog - showing that some companies keep an eye out.  

Which also worries me regarding Bell Canada - hello?  

Andrew Joseph

Commercialism Of Memorial Day

Do you know what I hate?

It's the commercialism of Memorial Day as celebrated by the U.S.

Despite being a Canadian, I like and respect the United States of America.

While there are many things to like about my cousins to the south of the true North America (Canada, aka USA Jr.), I have always truly admired their patriotism.

It doesn't border on fanaticism, but it is something that all its citizens are keenly aware of and respect (for the most part).

Which brings me to Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is a U.S. federal holiday designed to honor those people who have died while serving its military.

Canada, like much of Europe and other Commonwealth countries, honors its fallen via Remembrance Day on November 11. It's a very solemn occasion. Although businesses are open, we make time during the day to stop whatever we are doing and salute the dead with a moment of silent respect. There no Remembrance Day sales. And that's fine by us.

So WTF is up with Memorial Day in the U.S.?

Memorial Day is the last Monday of May, so its actual date floats around the calendar a bit, but what it stands for shouldn't.

While I am sure the various military branches and towns and cities throughout the U.S. are very respectful of the day and what it stands for, how come retailers are not?

What's up with all the effing sales?

Yes, I'm sure I would like to save a few dollars on my car purchase, sofa, and even on my freedom fries... but to use Memorial Day as the springboard for such crass commercialism?

For shame! Shame!

Shame on everyone offering sales and deals on anything on such a solemn day.

Shame on those who try and save a buck on such a solemn day.

The fighting men and women who died fighting for global freedom - for all these life liberty and pursuit of happiness ideals you yearn for and have - to celebrate their sacrifice in such a crass manner is disrespectful beyond contempt. You might as well go and spit on the flag, ol Glory, herself.

This is MEMORIAL day… a day to REMEMBER and pay one's respects.

You don't have to have actually lost anyone during any particular conflict - you just need to show respect for those that did.

Have a picnic, be with your family. Be with friends. Watch some fireworks, if you will. And pay your respects.

But… paying respects by offering deals to sell your products or services? That's just crass!

Maybe retailers COULD provide special deals to actual serving military personnel and their immediate families… to thank them for their sacrifice in protecting your borders. But these folks are Veterans (Veterans Day honors the living who have previously served), and this isn't their day. It's a day to honor the dead who died wearing a military uniform.

The dead.

The dead shouldn't shouldn't have their memory desecrated by mega retailers seeking greater profits. What… do you think they are doing this to honor the fallen? No… they are doing this to grease their own pockets.

And anytime you have made a purchase thanks to a 'Memorial Day sale', you have fallen into their trap.

I'm not picking on any one retailer in particular, but I like how Walmart's tag line (in the FIRST page of my internet search engine, image above) states one should "Live better."

Yeah… all you dead people who gave your life for America and the concept of freedom… Walmart wants you to 'live better'.

It's not just Walmart, it's damn near EVERY American retailer.

As in any war, there are always profiteers. This, in my opinion, is no different.

Stop trying to capitalize on people's greed and your own! If you didn't need a twin bed two weeks ago, you don't need to get one on this date.

While this may be what America has become, it's not what it was founded on.

Even I, a stupid Canadian, know that.

Wake up, America! Stop celebrating Memorial Day with commercialism. Honor it.

And yeah, I know you enjoy all of those Rights given to you in the Constitution, and all those other ones via Amendments, but the right to dishonor the military fallen? I'm know that's not in there.

Hey look... U.S. retailers have every right to hawk their wares, and they have every right to offer you all fantastic Memorial Day savings. You also have the right to tell them that's not patriotic by not purchasing products listed as such.

I used wish Canadians were half as patriotic as Americans... now, I'm not so sure.

Do you know what I hate?

It's the commercialism of Memorial Day.

Tsk. Tsk.

Rogers Communications

Do you know what I hate?

I hate Rogers Communications.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are aspects of Rogers that I like and respect, having once been an employee of Rogers Communications - a writer for an industrial magazine they owned until they sold us.

No hard feelings, because I like my new overlords, but I do still miss my Rogers 50% employee discount on TV, Internet, Telephone and even Blue Jays baseball tickets. Who wouldn't? Oh yeah, I don't have a cellular phone and don't want one.

As of now, I spend around $205 a month on the TV, Internet and Telephone. That's what it is, and I'm not complaining, though five years ago, that was only around $90 thanks to the Rogers employee discount.

Anyhow, today, May 23, 2015 at around 7:15PM, the telephone rang... a 1-905 area code number, implying that it could be from somewhere outside the city of Toronto boundaries (though not Mississauga... you don't need the 1 to dial Toronto).

Whatever. The missus and boy are in Thornhill, Ontario tonight for a family reunion, and I'm at home playing MLB 2015: The Show.

I answer the telephone, I'm told that the gentleman calling is from Rogers and he asked me how I was. I responded politely (as usual) with a 'fine' and asked how he was this evening. A 'good, thanks for asking' was offered.

All great, right?

Then he goes into the spiel... but it's an interesting spiel.

Rogers is offering a two-year bundle for Television, Internet, and Telephone for $92, with no strings attached, no hidden fees... just a two-year contract.

Now... the implication from the Rogers representative (and thus Rogers), was that it seemed like he wanted me to join Rogers, so I said:

"Uh... I'm all ready with Rogers."

CLICK.

He effing hung up on me.

He never said a word... just used his Rogers tool to say everything that needed to be said.

No offer given to me to accept this great deal that would save me money. Nope.

No apology for the confusion and thanks for being a loyal Rogers customer. Nope.

Just CLICK.

A big EFF YOU.

Thanks, Rogers. It's great that you not only know WHO your customers are, but that it is apparent you know how to treat said customers with respect.

Let's make some new commercials showing Canada just what you are really like!

Do you know what I hate?

I hate Rogers Communications.