The House Company **

Good afternoon! First of all, let me say how gorgeous it is in FL today! I am loving this spring weather. It puts everyone in a happy go lucky state of mind!
With weather being my reference today, then let me add to the moment....
"the black cloud from Galveston, TX is closing in" ...
Let me explain:
My husband and I have a home in Galveston, TX, which was recently re-built after last year's hurricaine. Our property managers (The HOUSE Company) were salivating at getting their rentals back in rent-ready status, so we obliged by being the first on our block to get our house "rentable".

( just this week got it listed on their website. www.thehousecompany.com if you want the tour)

The house was "showable" in January.. and now it is March... and yet our house stands empty.
I am not upset by this, as I know that there are cycles to everything, however our property manager Brian has been less than helpful.

One Example of many...
We only ask that we be kept in the loop after home showings, so we know what they people liked/disliked, wanted or found lacking, ..and, of course, was rent reasonable. Not much to ask right?
Now up until just the past two weeks, we had to call Brian to get this information.

(we recently had a come- to -Jesus meeting with him and now he calls us..... finally)

Before this 'Meeting', I sent an email about our displeasure with the level of communication to the owner of the company (according to the website), and wouldn't you know... I have yet to hear back from the owner. Not even a "thanks for your concern, .. I will check into this" type of email.

You know the type of email that is auto-generated to appease the angered customer... not even that.

Now, if you ran your own successful business, would you not call or at least email someone that had an issue with the level of service that you provide?

I guess we are the few, the proud,......... the battered consumers!

(you thought I would say.. the Marines?... Ha! My husband would kill me :)

Bottom Line: The House Company gets two stars. I don't think that rating will change, as most of our colleagues that also use them, are more dissatisfied than we are. Amazing huh?

(they have a monopoly on the island... so FYI, if you are interested in opening your own rental agency, you will have a steady stream of converts!)

Let's start on a Positive Note: Talbot's Stores

Today I visited my local Talbot's store. (women's department store for those of you unfamiliar)

I have to say, that I walked into the store with a Victoria's Secret bag full of Talbot's clothes (classy, I know), needing to make a few returns.

("Returns" normally make for a not -so -pleasant experience, and considering the economic downturn, this really could have been an uncomfortable situation.)

However, today , I was greeted by the most sociable and happy sales associate who was more than willing to assist me however possible. (African American Female, very pretty, and I forgot to get her name....) See... the individuals that are good at their jobs rarely get the credit.
**I am so sorry Talbot's associate! You are a GREAT example of Customer Service!**

Instead of returning my clothes, I got so excited that I was greeted with glee instead of a snarl and a look "down the nose", that I swapped out the clothes that I could have had credited back to my account! I even went so far as to give the associate my cell number in case a pair of khaki's came back in stock. (They were FABULOUS Khakis by the way)

Today is a good day. Kudos Talbot's in Pensacola, FL. You really know how to step up your game!

I still have hope for American Customer Service

I will be honest with you, I have had my dark days in customer service and understand that there are times when you are just not so "customer oriented". Lately, (meaning the last 5 years or so), I have found that more-so than-not, Customer Service is indeed DEAD in America.

Well, maybe not completely dead, but most certainly with a weakened pulse, and dying... quickly.

I call myself a customer service junkie, not because I CRAVE good customer service like ice cream or pudding pops, but because I truly am just a happy person when I actually FIND good customer service. (so maybe I do crave it?)

I think most Americans enjoy individuals that are happy in their jobs, and are glad to offer great customer service. (if not, that makes this blog very unimportant).

It rubs off on you like puppies, or a warm sunny day, and you just cannot help but smile, (which is contagious as you well know) and it adds a little skip to your step.

As of late, I have had the dreary days of overworked , well paid, bad attitude, smug and in general, nasty individuals surrounding me at every stop along my way.

***Thus, the creation of this blog, to REWARD those of you that truly make the world go round with your strong belief in the customer! (who might I add, are rarely rewarded for their service).
And of course, to BOLDLY DISPLAY (on my little blog) those of you that should be held accountable for a job poorly done.

*as a side note, I will list the businesses that these folks are affiliated with, in hopes that the good will see their reward, and the bad will have their day as well... in a much different way.

Shall we begin?

What is in the past, is past, and I will let those stories that I have told at business meetings go by the way side and into the hall of fame of "customer service nightmares".

Today is a new day... so hold on to your pantyhose!