I was always told "The pen is mightier than the sword" and so every once and a while I pick one up(a pen) and wield it at a deserving company that has crossed my path in an unsavory way. Here is one having to do with a rather unconventional sales flyer I received in the mail. I have never been a customer of theirs nor have I ever received any other fliers from this store.
It is kind of hard to read . The begining goes like this:
Dennis,
We need to MARK DOWN the FURNITURE and MOVE IT OUT before the year is gone. Send a letter to everyone on the mailing list and tell them about the GREAT SAVINGS!! up to 70% on all INSTOCK FURNITURE. Be sure to mention FREE DELEVERY + REMOVAL of old furniture! Scratch and Dent items As Is -BUT if they PAY CASH I will PAY SALES TAX!!! You should gives some examples of the DRASTIC PRICE REDUCTIONS!!
B***
Then it goes on citing different pieces of furniture.
I felt Mr McCorcle needed a letter.
So I wrote:
Dear Mr McCorkle,
I received a most unusual piece of un solicited mail the other day from your furniture
store. It would appear that you sent Dennis a note regarding a letter to be sent to everyone
on “the mailing list”. It would appear Dennis has made a great error by mailing photocopies
of the actual note you wrote to him. This error would appear to be an intentional act of passive
aggression by Dennis or perhaps a secretary of his or yours.
I would strongly advise you find out who is responsible for this infraction and see that
their problems with you, your store and anyone employed by you are addressed promptly
and appropriately as this type of behavior can lead to very unhealthy ends.
As a business owner the last thing you would want your customers or potential customers
to see would be your employees fighting with each other or with you. The letter I received
appears to be exactly that. With this one mailing someone at your store has alienated your
entire customer base. Damage control must be done and I sincerely hope you have an
apology letter going out ASAP.
In closing I would like to ask that you remove my name from your mailing list but fear
that by providing you with my name and address I may receive retribution from Dennis or
his secretary. So I eagerly await your apology letter mailing and trust you will be able to
get your sales flier drawn up soon. Given the condition of the economy I know there must
be plenty of graphic artists who would be eager to handle your project.
Thank you
And as long as I am posting letters...
I sent this one out to my local Wal Mart in 07 and I can honestly say it was the last time I set foot in that store. I will not shop at any of their stores except in very rare circumstances...like a gas huffing rampage!
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to you to inform you of a strange incident that occurred
to me in your store this evening. I had stopped in specifically to
buy some lunch meat. It was about 8:00 and I could see as I got near
the deli counter that there were a few people who were waiting
before me. I have experienced this at your store in the evenings before
and knew that it would be better to get the other things I needed and
return later when perhaps there would be no line. I meandered around
the produce a bit and then to the bread aisle. I came back to find there
were still several people in line so I continued with my shopping.
When I did return, indeed there was no longer a line. So all I needed
was the attention of whoever was working in the deli. I could see two
employees standing just around the corner of one of the walls there in
the deli. They were standing there fully engaged in a conversation.
After a few moments the gentleman in the conversation noticed me
and signaled to the woman to end the conversation. She then came
over to me and informed me that her manager had let her close early
because it was slow and that she was sorry. I was confused because
moments ago there had been a line of customers and others who like
me would be making a return trip to the deli once finished with shopping.
I was under the assumption that if there was someone behind the counter
(let alone 2) one of them could cut a ½ lb of lunch meat for me. She
then explained that even though she was behind the counter she had
“alot to do” before she could get out of there. Evidently this did not include
waiting on customers but would involve chit chat with the other deli worker.
I do not understand why leaving work early at the expense of
customers is so much better for the employee(less hours) or for the
store (less revenue) or the customer who is sure to spread the word
about their wonderful experience (you can bet your arse!). It seems
to me that your employees are either not instructed very well in customer
relations or your customer relations polices need serious review.
So I would now like to check out and as usual the 2 “express”
lanes have lines and looking down the row of vacant registers I can see
the other lines at the other 2 open registers. I do not know what is
more frustrating, looking down the rows of closed registers or knowing
that there is a self checkout that is never being used! I have seriously
considered just leaving my money on one of those registers and booking
for the door. I do not understand why they are not being used. I would be
so happy to not have to deal with a cashier at this point. I must say that
it is not a treat to deal with the a stressed out cashier at the very end of my
Wal Mart experience that I enjoy at the end of my work day.
In closing I will say that even though your store’s location is convenient
to me I will be going to the deli at Logli or Highlander so as to not further burden
your staff. I am also writing to you anonymously so that you may take
appropriate actions to fix these problems and not waste your time pacifying
the voice of one unhappy customer. My satisfaction will come on the day I can
shop at Wal Mart without the feeling I should have huffed some gas in the
parking lot in order to better communicate with the Wal Mart associates.
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