I offer this video with no further comment.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
I Heard it Thought the Grapwevinwe
I offer this video with no further comment.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Condominium Musings - Different Perspectives
Those of you who are following this blog, but are not my friend or neighbor may not know I am the president of our condo association. I've not included much of that part of my life in this blog, but that is about to end.
This week I told the board that when my term expires in October, I will not be running again. With the terms of three members ending, it is impossible to predict that makeup of the board for 2015-2016. We spoke about what I can do to make the transition as smooth as possible and the need to recruit good candidates, as well as the systems we've already put in place to make things easier for future boards.
Though I am not going to be on the board, I fully intend to remain active as a resident and member of the building and grounds, and conservation committees, as well as the Sherwood Samaritans. I will also be more active in terms of communicating with residents on this blog, the Sherwood Beavers blog, and the website, something I have been unable to do as a board member, because time did not allow it, but more importantly I found there were things that I wanted to say as a resident, that I couldn't say as a board member. That ends today.
First a little background for folks who are relatively new to Sherwood Glen or don't know me. In 2009, my wife and I moved to be near my grandson. Shortly thereafter, I was asked to fill the term of the Board Secretary who was resigning. While I didn't really want to do it, I've always had a problem saying no to anyone who asks for my help, and I felt that it was a good way to immerse myself in my new community. So began my 6 year stint as a board member.
Then in October of 2013, the then president resigned. I became president, not because I wanted the job, but I was the one best prepared to take over. (If I had a nickle for every time I told Jill Coppi I would never want her job, I would be retired on an island somewhere.) For me. accepting the role of president was the beginning of the end. This was a job I knew I did not want as far back as 1970, and if you had asked me then if I would want to be the president of a condo association, I would have said NO in a heartbeat. Nothing has changed since then and nothing will change in the future.
Flashback to 1970... My 40 year teaching career was anything but typical. During my first three years, I worked closely with administration and saw more aspects of the school culture than most classroom teachers experience in a lifetime.
For three days a week during my senior year in college (I only had classes two days a week), I was a substitute teacher in Philadelphia. After graduation, my first teaching job was as a permanent sub in a new junior high of 1700 students. In my second year, they offered me a special class they were establishing. I would have a self-contained classroom of the 13 worst discipline problems in the 9th grade. They gave me carte blanche to run the class as I saw fit, and told me that I would handle grades, all subject, parents, and anything else that came along. They didn't want to be involved unless it was a police matter.
For that year, I ran my own mini-school within a school, and experienced the full spectrum of the school culture. I was principal, guidance councilor, mentor, and teacher. It was the toughest year and most rewarding year of my life. If my writing skills were up to par then, or my memory up to par now, I would have a best selling book. On the other hand, if I did today some of what I did in 1970, you wouldn't be reading my book, you would be seeing me on news at 11:00.
During the year, the principal and assistant superintendent kept encouraging me to go back to school for my administrative certificate, but having had a taste of administration, I knew it was not for me. I can remember what I said to Jim Moran when he suggested it. "No way, Jim. I would never be able to hold a job. I've seen the way you have to bite your tongue at board meetings. I would never be able to do that."
I proved that point later in the year, by being one of the team leaders in one of the second teachers' strikes in NJ. I did it with the knowledge that I would be "fighting city hall", and would not have a job the following year. Boards tend to frown on non-tenured teachers being strike leaders. I did it because I had the tools to do it and it was the right thing to do.
As my teaching career progressed I added to my skill set and became an association vice president, member of the negotiating team, and member of the grievance team. As time progressed, I honed my skills at being able to see conflicts from the perspective of both parties. It served me in my job and it was a skill I stressed in my teaching.
None-the-less, there were two other times during my teaching career where I was forced into leadership roles when my heart and soul said, "Don't do it. It's a job you hate," but my brain said, "You have the tools and skills to help those around you and if you don't do it, it will bad for your heart and soul."
That's the position I found myself in when I accepted the role of condo association president. Probably, the main difference between now and 1970 is that I've mellowed, can bite my tongue, and have been able to view things from the perspective of all parties involved.
I could go on for pages about, but I won't right now. I will do that in future posts. For now, I'll try to provide some insight into why I'm not going to continue on the board.
One reason is that as president, I have to do things considerably different than I would be doing as an individual resident. For example, I sometimes get complaints about things that are clearly home owner responsibilities. A case in point would be the clearing of snow around cars parked in the driveway. Depending on the circumstances, as president, I have to explain (sometimes in vain) that it is not an association issue. Seldom does it leave me (or the other person) feeling good. On the other hand, if that same person had come to me as a neighbor and said, "Art, can you help me clear my driveway?" I would be out there in a heart beat and we would both feel better about the situation. In my capacity as neighbor AND a past president, I could even help them see why it isn't an association issue. The net results is that we will probably both walk away happier from a conversation with Art the neighbor, than Art, the president. This is taking a toll on my spirit.
Another thing that is contrary to my nature, is the way people view imperfections. When some of us look in a mirror, we are not happy with what we see. We see the pimple in the middle of our forehead and allow it to dominate our self perspective. We might think, that everyone who sees us will zoom in on that imperfection and judge us for it. Others see the pimple, deal with it, forget it, and let it clear up and heal as it always does.
Yesterday, we had mulch spreading and landscape work. Those who focus on the imperfections will who look out to their yard and see only the dead shrub that was reported last week. They lose sight of the fact that this is just one of 1400+ shrubs in the development. No one is judging them for let the small blemish dominate their perspective. It's just the way some people are wired, but while focused on the blemish, they ignore the immense beauty around.
Before you go trying to figure out, whose plant this is, it is not a plant from Sherwood Glen and I'm not referring to any one plant or any one incident. As always, some complaints are legitimate and others are not.
The reason this kind of incident bothers me is because if this plant was in front of my house, here is how I would handle it. I know that each year, the board walks the property with Outdoor Pride to see what needs to be done during spring clean up and planting. I would take a picture of the plant, send it to Great North and ask them to check it out. That would be the end of it. If it got replaced, great. If it did not, it's not a big deal unless this kind of thing was also happening all around the development. I know that people visiting Sherwood Glen will not judge me or our development based on the dead plant. They will judge us by what they see as they drive through our property.
Is your glass half empty or half full? Mine is half full and even at that level, there is more water in it than I need. I don't fault those who see the glass as half empty, because their perspective is different that mine. I consider myself lucky that I'm happy with what I have. When I look at what I have, my feelings are tempered by a constant view of those who have less, rather than a view of my neighbors or those who have far more than I.
So there you have my first Condominium Musing. Feel free to leave your comments and perspectives and I hope you'll continue following my ramblings.
This week I told the board that when my term expires in October, I will not be running again. With the terms of three members ending, it is impossible to predict that makeup of the board for 2015-2016. We spoke about what I can do to make the transition as smooth as possible and the need to recruit good candidates, as well as the systems we've already put in place to make things easier for future boards.
Though I am not going to be on the board, I fully intend to remain active as a resident and member of the building and grounds, and conservation committees, as well as the Sherwood Samaritans. I will also be more active in terms of communicating with residents on this blog, the Sherwood Beavers blog, and the website, something I have been unable to do as a board member, because time did not allow it, but more importantly I found there were things that I wanted to say as a resident, that I couldn't say as a board member. That ends today.
First a little background for folks who are relatively new to Sherwood Glen or don't know me. In 2009, my wife and I moved to be near my grandson. Shortly thereafter, I was asked to fill the term of the Board Secretary who was resigning. While I didn't really want to do it, I've always had a problem saying no to anyone who asks for my help, and I felt that it was a good way to immerse myself in my new community. So began my 6 year stint as a board member.
Then in October of 2013, the then president resigned. I became president, not because I wanted the job, but I was the one best prepared to take over. (If I had a nickle for every time I told Jill Coppi I would never want her job, I would be retired on an island somewhere.) For me. accepting the role of president was the beginning of the end. This was a job I knew I did not want as far back as 1970, and if you had asked me then if I would want to be the president of a condo association, I would have said NO in a heartbeat. Nothing has changed since then and nothing will change in the future.
Flashback to 1970... My 40 year teaching career was anything but typical. During my first three years, I worked closely with administration and saw more aspects of the school culture than most classroom teachers experience in a lifetime.
For three days a week during my senior year in college (I only had classes two days a week), I was a substitute teacher in Philadelphia. After graduation, my first teaching job was as a permanent sub in a new junior high of 1700 students. In my second year, they offered me a special class they were establishing. I would have a self-contained classroom of the 13 worst discipline problems in the 9th grade. They gave me carte blanche to run the class as I saw fit, and told me that I would handle grades, all subject, parents, and anything else that came along. They didn't want to be involved unless it was a police matter.
For that year, I ran my own mini-school within a school, and experienced the full spectrum of the school culture. I was principal, guidance councilor, mentor, and teacher. It was the toughest year and most rewarding year of my life. If my writing skills were up to par then, or my memory up to par now, I would have a best selling book. On the other hand, if I did today some of what I did in 1970, you wouldn't be reading my book, you would be seeing me on news at 11:00.
During the year, the principal and assistant superintendent kept encouraging me to go back to school for my administrative certificate, but having had a taste of administration, I knew it was not for me. I can remember what I said to Jim Moran when he suggested it. "No way, Jim. I would never be able to hold a job. I've seen the way you have to bite your tongue at board meetings. I would never be able to do that."
I proved that point later in the year, by being one of the team leaders in one of the second teachers' strikes in NJ. I did it with the knowledge that I would be "fighting city hall", and would not have a job the following year. Boards tend to frown on non-tenured teachers being strike leaders. I did it because I had the tools to do it and it was the right thing to do.
As my teaching career progressed I added to my skill set and became an association vice president, member of the negotiating team, and member of the grievance team. As time progressed, I honed my skills at being able to see conflicts from the perspective of both parties. It served me in my job and it was a skill I stressed in my teaching.
None-the-less, there were two other times during my teaching career where I was forced into leadership roles when my heart and soul said, "Don't do it. It's a job you hate," but my brain said, "You have the tools and skills to help those around you and if you don't do it, it will bad for your heart and soul."
That's the position I found myself in when I accepted the role of condo association president. Probably, the main difference between now and 1970 is that I've mellowed, can bite my tongue, and have been able to view things from the perspective of all parties involved.
I could go on for pages about, but I won't right now. I will do that in future posts. For now, I'll try to provide some insight into why I'm not going to continue on the board.
One reason is that as president, I have to do things considerably different than I would be doing as an individual resident. For example, I sometimes get complaints about things that are clearly home owner responsibilities. A case in point would be the clearing of snow around cars parked in the driveway. Depending on the circumstances, as president, I have to explain (sometimes in vain) that it is not an association issue. Seldom does it leave me (or the other person) feeling good. On the other hand, if that same person had come to me as a neighbor and said, "Art, can you help me clear my driveway?" I would be out there in a heart beat and we would both feel better about the situation. In my capacity as neighbor AND a past president, I could even help them see why it isn't an association issue. The net results is that we will probably both walk away happier from a conversation with Art the neighbor, than Art, the president. This is taking a toll on my spirit.
Another thing that is contrary to my nature, is the way people view imperfections. When some of us look in a mirror, we are not happy with what we see. We see the pimple in the middle of our forehead and allow it to dominate our self perspective. We might think, that everyone who sees us will zoom in on that imperfection and judge us for it. Others see the pimple, deal with it, forget it, and let it clear up and heal as it always does.
Before you go trying to figure out, whose plant this is, it is not a plant from Sherwood Glen and I'm not referring to any one plant or any one incident. As always, some complaints are legitimate and others are not.
The reason this kind of incident bothers me is because if this plant was in front of my house, here is how I would handle it. I know that each year, the board walks the property with Outdoor Pride to see what needs to be done during spring clean up and planting. I would take a picture of the plant, send it to Great North and ask them to check it out. That would be the end of it. If it got replaced, great. If it did not, it's not a big deal unless this kind of thing was also happening all around the development. I know that people visiting Sherwood Glen will not judge me or our development based on the dead plant. They will judge us by what they see as they drive through our property.
Is your glass half empty or half full? Mine is half full and even at that level, there is more water in it than I need. I don't fault those who see the glass as half empty, because their perspective is different that mine. I consider myself lucky that I'm happy with what I have. When I look at what I have, my feelings are tempered by a constant view of those who have less, rather than a view of my neighbors or those who have far more than I.
So there you have my first Condominium Musing. Feel free to leave your comments and perspectives and I hope you'll continue following my ramblings.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Hanes, the Untimate Fail
It appears that the final resolution in my two month Hanes odyssey is, CAVEAT EMPTOR! If you read Hanes Not Your Way and Hanes Continues to Fail, you know that on January 22, I ordered 6 items, two of which (deep navy and light steel #H5580) turned out to be out of stock and back ordered.
You also know that each time they gave me a projected delivery date, it would pass and be replaced by another projected delivery date. After NUMEROUS calls to customer support, on 3/12 I came to a semi resolution with a customer support manager. She located one of the items in an outlet store, substituted a different style for the other one she could not locate, and said the substitution was not a replacement for the back ordered one, which I would get when it came in.
Well there were a few problems. Apparently, the clerk in the outlet store had problem, because the deep navy turned out to be black and identical to one of the items that WAS shipped earlier. Maybe they were saving money on lighting or maybe there was a color blind issue, but the color was wrong.
But things took a turn for the worse today when I got an email with the status update of the light steel that was projected to ship yesterday. I expected to see that another delivery date had come and gone. In a way it did, because IT IS SOLD OUT!!!
That raises a few issues, because the item has not been in stock since January 22, but has been continually sold since then, to hundreds or even thousands of customers. I assume that like me, each sale had a projected delivery dates 6-10 days after the sale. I assume that like me, each delivery date has come and gone, and been replaced by a new delivery date, which has come and gone. Finally, I assume that hundreds, if not thousands of people received an email similar to the one I received today, which states the product is sold out.
I can only wonder how many other styles and how many other customers have been treated the same way. Sorry, Hanes. This is the ultimate fail.
You also know that each time they gave me a projected delivery date, it would pass and be replaced by another projected delivery date. After NUMEROUS calls to customer support, on 3/12 I came to a semi resolution with a customer support manager. She located one of the items in an outlet store, substituted a different style for the other one she could not locate, and said the substitution was not a replacement for the back ordered one, which I would get when it came in.
Well there were a few problems. Apparently, the clerk in the outlet store had problem, because the deep navy turned out to be black and identical to one of the items that WAS shipped earlier. Maybe they were saving money on lighting or maybe there was a color blind issue, but the color was wrong.
But things took a turn for the worse today when I got an email with the status update of the light steel that was projected to ship yesterday. I expected to see that another delivery date had come and gone. In a way it did, because IT IS SOLD OUT!!!
I can only wonder how many other styles and how many other customers have been treated the same way. Sorry, Hanes. This is the ultimate fail.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Hanes Continues to Fail
This is a follow up to my post of 2/23/15 titled, "Hanes Not Your Way."
The March 9 projected ship date has come and gone. I called the order line. They said they are still backordered and the new projected date is April 6. (This is the third projected date that has come and gone.)
I then went online and started to place an order to the item I have been waiting for since Jan. 22. If I purchase today, the website is projecting a ship date of March 23. That means anyone ordering today is being told their item will ship a week before someone who ordered on Jan. 22. I have duplicated these same same steps THREE times since I ordered in Jan., each time with the same outcome.
Earlier today, I called customer support and spoke with a manager. I am no longer asking when my order will be shipped, because three projected dates have come and gone. It's like hearing, "The check is in the mail."
The question I posed was, "How can Hanes legally continue to sell a product it has not had in stock for a month and a half and CONSISTANTLY project earlier delivery dates to people ordering today, than to folks who ordered on Jan. 22, and are still waiting for their orders?"
I went on to state that at the very best, this is horrible internal communications and processes. At the worst, it is possibly deceptive advertising and consumer fraud. It could impact thousands of items on backorder.
If that is the case, it is not an individual customer service issue, but a practice that could involve state or federal consumer law.
To date, Hanes has had not acceptable explanations and the only thing customer support has done is tell me I could continue to wait or to cancel my order. The manager said she would look into the issue and let know what she found out.
At this point, it is not about my order, I will not cancel and will continue to document and report on the progress of this issue until it is resolved one way or another.
Update 3/12/15
The Hanes customer support manager never called back. Today, I called in again and spoke with another manager. This time, I informed her that I was recording the conversation for customer satisfaction. In short I told her that I had given up on trying to get an answer to when my backordered items would arrive. All that was happening is was the promised date would pass and I would be given another date.
I told her that at best, they had horrible internal communication and web site updating, and at worst they were engaged in deceptive advertizing. If it was happening to me, it was happening to hundreds, if not thousands of other customers. I now just wanted an answer to my question of how Hanes could continue to sell an item they do not have, do not know when they will have, and are projecting a ship date to current customers, earlier than they project for me, someone who ordered on Jan. 22.
I think she realized that I was no going away or giving up and that I would peruse the matter until it was resolved. She promised to call back within an hour with an answer, which she did.
She thanked me for bringing the matter to their attention and assured me they would continue to look into the communications and web aspect of my issue. They do not have the backordered items in their warehouse, but she located one of them in an outlet store and offered a substitute in an slightly different style, both of which are being sent gratis for my troubles.
At this point I will pursue the matter no further with customer support. However, I will continue to make weekly checks on the status of the one item still on backorder. and if you are having a similar problem, this blog is here for your reference and use. My next update will be after March 23, that latest projected ship date.
I will close as is opened, with a statement that I am a fan of Hanes' products. All businesses go through rough times with supply chain problems, but sometime you have to acknowledge those problems and make things right with the customers even if it costs you money. It pays off in the long run. It's sad that Hanes failed to do that in a timely fashion and took so long to do what should have been done long ago.
The March 9 projected ship date has come and gone. I called the order line. They said they are still backordered and the new projected date is April 6. (This is the third projected date that has come and gone.)
I then went online and started to place an order to the item I have been waiting for since Jan. 22. If I purchase today, the website is projecting a ship date of March 23. That means anyone ordering today is being told their item will ship a week before someone who ordered on Jan. 22. I have duplicated these same same steps THREE times since I ordered in Jan., each time with the same outcome.
Earlier today, I called customer support and spoke with a manager. I am no longer asking when my order will be shipped, because three projected dates have come and gone. It's like hearing, "The check is in the mail."
The question I posed was, "How can Hanes legally continue to sell a product it has not had in stock for a month and a half and CONSISTANTLY project earlier delivery dates to people ordering today, than to folks who ordered on Jan. 22, and are still waiting for their orders?"
I went on to state that at the very best, this is horrible internal communications and processes. At the worst, it is possibly deceptive advertising and consumer fraud. It could impact thousands of items on backorder.
If that is the case, it is not an individual customer service issue, but a practice that could involve state or federal consumer law.
To date, Hanes has had not acceptable explanations and the only thing customer support has done is tell me I could continue to wait or to cancel my order. The manager said she would look into the issue and let know what she found out.
At this point, it is not about my order, I will not cancel and will continue to document and report on the progress of this issue until it is resolved one way or another.
Update 3/12/15
The Hanes customer support manager never called back. Today, I called in again and spoke with another manager. This time, I informed her that I was recording the conversation for customer satisfaction. In short I told her that I had given up on trying to get an answer to when my backordered items would arrive. All that was happening is was the promised date would pass and I would be given another date.
I told her that at best, they had horrible internal communication and web site updating, and at worst they were engaged in deceptive advertizing. If it was happening to me, it was happening to hundreds, if not thousands of other customers. I now just wanted an answer to my question of how Hanes could continue to sell an item they do not have, do not know when they will have, and are projecting a ship date to current customers, earlier than they project for me, someone who ordered on Jan. 22.
I think she realized that I was no going away or giving up and that I would peruse the matter until it was resolved. She promised to call back within an hour with an answer, which she did.
She thanked me for bringing the matter to their attention and assured me they would continue to look into the communications and web aspect of my issue. They do not have the backordered items in their warehouse, but she located one of them in an outlet store and offered a substitute in an slightly different style, both of which are being sent gratis for my troubles.
At this point I will pursue the matter no further with customer support. However, I will continue to make weekly checks on the status of the one item still on backorder. and if you are having a similar problem, this blog is here for your reference and use. My next update will be after March 23, that latest projected ship date.
I will close as is opened, with a statement that I am a fan of Hanes' products. All businesses go through rough times with supply chain problems, but sometime you have to acknowledge those problems and make things right with the customers even if it costs you money. It pays off in the long run. It's sad that Hanes failed to do that in a timely fashion and took so long to do what should have been done long ago.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Don't Get Gouged by Scratch Aide
Had it been me alone, I would have stopped right there, but my wife wanted it, so I decided to go online to see if I could just get the Scratch Aid and let them keep their BONUS.
Of course I went through the entire process, which included having OPT OUT of about a dozen different orders. I bet MANY of unsuspecting people order one or more those additional items without realizing it.
As I suspected, I had to enter all of my information, including credit card, before getting to the point where I found there was no way to refuse the BONUS. When I got to the point of the process before the final screen and confrimation, my $10 Scratch Aid was now up to about $29.
The thing that REALLY frosted me was that the BONUS was really a PENALTY, because you can buy the same items in any grocery store for less than 1/3 the price! $7.95 shipping for three sponges, when you can get a four pack of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for $3.14, is hardly what I would call a bonus. BOGUS maybe, but not a bonus.
At this point, I said, "HELL NO!" and closed the browser WITHOUT finishing the order. Incidentally, I've been purchasing things online since about 1980, long before the Internet, and I know the ordering process. I did NOT complete it. If that had been the end of it, you would not be reading this.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS WHAT PUSHED MY OUTRAGE BUTTON
The following day, I received a call from Scratch Aid wanting to ask me about my order to see if I was satisfied. WAIT! I just went to the website YESTERDAY and DID NOT ORDER ANYTHING. How could I be satisfied and WHY WERE THEY CALLING? I DIDN'T COMPLETED THE ORDER!
Remember, I had to give all of my information. Obviously, they were using that to try to get the sale one way or another. Red flags were waving wildly in my mind. At best what they were doing was shady and a violation of consumer rights.
I stopped her in mid-sentence, which wasn't easy, and told her in no uncertain terms that I did not order anything and my credit card should not be charged. She informed me that had to be handled by billing, who I could reach them on Monday during regular business hours, and gave me the number to call.
I called a little while ago and after a long hold, I got through.(No surprise there!) After confirming all of my personal information, the agent said I see you ordered... Again I stopped her in mid-sentence by saying, "NO! I did not order anything! I never completed that order and my card should not be charged!"
At that point she politely told me that she would cancel the order, which she did. However, that is a problem in itself, because I DID NOT COMPLETE THE ORDER. If they had processed it, I believe that would be ILLEGAL.
I bet hundreds, if not thousands of people, end up paying exorbitant costs in over priced products and inflated shipping charges. In the end, it is CAVAET EMPTOR! DON'T GET GOUGED BY SCRATCH AID!
Monday, February 23, 2015
Hanes NOT Your Way!
Let me start off by saying that both my wife and I love Hanes underwear. However, right now I am in the midst of the worst (translate: most frustrating) online buying experience I have had in 35 years! Yes, that's right, 35 years. I've been buying and selling online since 1980, long before the Internet. Those were the computer bulletin board (BBS) and 200 baud modem days.
But enough of ancient history. Let's get to my current problem. On January 22, my wife received an email ad from Hanes and asked me to order three long-sleeve T-shirts for her. I liked the sale as well, and ordered three for myself.
As you can see here, the order shipped the SAME day, but two of the items were back ordered. The site indicated delivery would be in 6-10 days. No problem. That's typical, but most things I order come in well before that time. Not so this time.
Two weeks passed and I begin trying to find out where our shirts were. To make a long story shorter, at about the 3 week point it was determined that they were lost and they were re-shipped. (I'm not writing about the frustration I had to get this done.) To their credit, the replacement order arrived within the expected time.
Remember, it was my wife who initiated the request and the two shirts that were back ordered were for her. She was being very patient about it, but I was feeling guilty about getting and wearing mine while she was waiting.
I like the fit, but there was another problem that surfaced the very first time I wore the gray T-shirt. This picture clearly explains it. Incidentally, up to this point I have not mentioned the problem with
the hole in the seam on any of my phone calls. I wasn't going to confuse the issue with another problem, before the first one was dealt with.
Additionally, it's one thing to be wearing my order before my wife's arrives, but after 45 years of marriage, I know it would not be in my best interest to have a replacement arrive for my shirts before we resolve the original issue.
In the coming days, I kept trying to find out when the back-ordered items would arrive. I checked the website for updates and called their help line, with no definitive results. So last week, with a rising frustration level, I once again contacted the order center and tried to determine when her shirts would arrive. This time, the agent assured me that they would arrive by March 2 (only 43 days after the original order). At least I had a promised delivery date.
My frustration level was going down until last night when I got this email. As you can see, the promised March 2 delivery date is now MARCH 23! The email continues by giving me the option of canceling the order or waiting. Well, isn't that special?
You can imagine what the frustration meter was reading at this point, but before the night was over, it would continue to rise.
I went to the website and saw they were still selling the same T-shirt which at this point, would be delivered 60 days after my original order! I called once more trying to find out how they can promise one date and then change that date, and how they could be selling shirts to others while mine (and other customers') were back ordered and being delivered two months after being ordered. The explanation I received was that other colors were still available and that I should contact customer service during regular business hours.
The frustration level was rising, but it had yet to peak. After hanging up, I went back to the website and did a bit of checking. I saw that yes indeed, black was in stock, but just about everything else would be a back-order. That didn't put me over the top, but what did peg the needle was when I saw the projected delivery date of MARCH 9!
How the hell could they promise people who ordered today, a delivery by March 9. I (and others) ordered on January 22 and my order is now supposed to arrive on March 23?
Fast forward to today and my call to customer service. I just got off of the phone with them and they took the frustration level down perhaps a notch or two by explaining that the email I received is automatically generated 30 days after an item is ordered. (If that fact was included anywhere in the email, it would have been nice.)
So let me see if I can give a Reader's Digest recap...
Ordered 1/22 with a 6-10 day delivery schedule
Order lost
Order replaced and delivered with two items back-ordered
One item damaged
Call on 2/10 promises back ordered items by March 2
On 2/22 an email now promises March 23 instead of March 2
On 2/23 the website projecting a March 9 ship date for new orders
Multiple calls, conflicting information, promises made and broken
Lots of frustration!
Now with all that said, this problem is trivial when you consider wars, famine, starvation, and global warming. So I'm not going ballistic and I'm not going to stop wearing Hanes underwear, but this does represent a serious issue with customer service, communication internally for Hanes and externally with their customers.
What is happening to me must be happening to hundreds, if not thousands of other customers. Every call I made started out with standard disclaimer that the call would be recorded for customer satisfaction. I certainly hope someone at Hanes is listening to my calls! In the meantime I will do a little online posting to Facebook, answer this customer satisfaction email I received the other day, and supply this link.
Maybe my wife will receive her LONG-SLEEVE T-shirts in time to wear for the 4th of July celebration. We can always hope for a cool summer!
But enough of ancient history. Let's get to my current problem. On January 22, my wife received an email ad from Hanes and asked me to order three long-sleeve T-shirts for her. I liked the sale as well, and ordered three for myself.
Two weeks passed and I begin trying to find out where our shirts were. To make a long story shorter, at about the 3 week point it was determined that they were lost and they were re-shipped. (I'm not writing about the frustration I had to get this done.) To their credit, the replacement order arrived within the expected time.
Remember, it was my wife who initiated the request and the two shirts that were back ordered were for her. She was being very patient about it, but I was feeling guilty about getting and wearing mine while she was waiting.
Additionally, it's one thing to be wearing my order before my wife's arrives, but after 45 years of marriage, I know it would not be in my best interest to have a replacement arrive for my shirts before we resolve the original issue.
In the coming days, I kept trying to find out when the back-ordered items would arrive. I checked the website for updates and called their help line, with no definitive results. So last week, with a rising frustration level, I once again contacted the order center and tried to determine when her shirts would arrive. This time, the agent assured me that they would arrive by March 2 (only 43 days after the original order). At least I had a promised delivery date.
You can imagine what the frustration meter was reading at this point, but before the night was over, it would continue to rise.
I went to the website and saw they were still selling the same T-shirt which at this point, would be delivered 60 days after my original order! I called once more trying to find out how they can promise one date and then change that date, and how they could be selling shirts to others while mine (and other customers') were back ordered and being delivered two months after being ordered. The explanation I received was that other colors were still available and that I should contact customer service during regular business hours.
The frustration level was rising, but it had yet to peak. After hanging up, I went back to the website and did a bit of checking. I saw that yes indeed, black was in stock, but just about everything else would be a back-order. That didn't put me over the top, but what did peg the needle was when I saw the projected delivery date of MARCH 9!
How the hell could they promise people who ordered today, a delivery by March 9. I (and others) ordered on January 22 and my order is now supposed to arrive on March 23?
Fast forward to today and my call to customer service. I just got off of the phone with them and they took the frustration level down perhaps a notch or two by explaining that the email I received is automatically generated 30 days after an item is ordered. (If that fact was included anywhere in the email, it would have been nice.)
So let me see if I can give a Reader's Digest recap...
Ordered 1/22 with a 6-10 day delivery schedule
Order lost
Order replaced and delivered with two items back-ordered
One item damaged
Call on 2/10 promises back ordered items by March 2
On 2/22 an email now promises March 23 instead of March 2
On 2/23 the website projecting a March 9 ship date for new orders
Multiple calls, conflicting information, promises made and broken
Lots of frustration!
Now with all that said, this problem is trivial when you consider wars, famine, starvation, and global warming. So I'm not going ballistic and I'm not going to stop wearing Hanes underwear, but this does represent a serious issue with customer service, communication internally for Hanes and externally with their customers.
Maybe my wife will receive her LONG-SLEEVE T-shirts in time to wear for the 4th of July celebration. We can always hope for a cool summer!
Monday, August 11, 2014
Boston Comic Con, Cosplay, and My Inner Child
In a little over a week, I will turn 70, but I know, and those who know me, know that there is a kid alive and well inside me. It's there just below the surface, coming out as a joke or a bad pun, but the outer adult, constrains the inner child to fit the social situation. This weekend, the kid got loose, if only for a little while.
Jill and I decided to spend a weekend in Boston and do the tourist thing. We hadn't been there since my daughter graduated from B.U. We were going retrace the visits of 20 years ago, hit the shops on Newbury St., visit Faneuil Hall, eat a Durgin Park, and stroll the Freedom Trail, but our plans changed about 5 minutes after we checked into the Harbor Marriott.
As we looked out our 10th floor window, we noticed a group of costumed super heroes gathering in the courtyard across the way. A minute later, Jill and I were walking toward the group. We had no idea Comic Con was in Boston the same time we were, let alone a block from our hotel! We had chanced upon a small photo shoot of a group of folks from the Boston Super Heroes Facebook group during one of two photo shoots we caught during the weekend.
The kid inside me smile as I remember the summers on the farm in the 1950s, and long hours of playing Flash Gordon and Superman with my brother and cousins. I began snapping pictures, and flashed from the 50s on the farm to the 70s, my first years of marriage, a Halloween party, my wife as a hot Cheshire cat and me in my homemade a Captain Klutz costume.
A few more pictures and I flash forward another 30 years to when I was presenting at a national education conference. It was again Halloween, and it was New Orleans! Nuff said? A friend and I went out to get costumes for partying later that evening. He was the Grim Reaper, and I was Cousin It. The kid in both of us came out as we crashed one of the major sessions given by another friend.
As I snapped a few more pictures the inner kid sighed, realizing his costumed superhero days were gone. Comic Con would be cool to visit and rekindle memories, but there was little chance that the 70 year-old was going to don a Spider-man costume and participate. Just about then I heard, "Let's get Stan Lee into the picture!"
As I looked around looking for Stan Lee, I realized he was talking to me. I doubt that the Cosplayers saw it, but I know my wife saw the inner kid take over as I went from observer to participant.
I didn't get to formally meet any of the Boston Superheroes Facebook group, but formality was not needed then. I joined the Facebook group and hope to get to know more of them, not because of the super hero thing or the kid thing, but because of the spirits that live under those costumes. The atmosphere and the feeling I got from them was one of openness, comradry, and acceptance.
Even though it was just for a few minutes, the kid was loose, but now that he is out, he's already getting ready for next year. Thanks Boston Superheroes!
Jill and I decided to spend a weekend in Boston and do the tourist thing. We hadn't been there since my daughter graduated from B.U. We were going retrace the visits of 20 years ago, hit the shops on Newbury St., visit Faneuil Hall, eat a Durgin Park, and stroll the Freedom Trail, but our plans changed about 5 minutes after we checked into the Harbor Marriott.
As we looked out our 10th floor window, we noticed a group of costumed super heroes gathering in the courtyard across the way. A minute later, Jill and I were walking toward the group. We had no idea Comic Con was in Boston the same time we were, let alone a block from our hotel! We had chanced upon a small photo shoot of a group of folks from the Boston Super Heroes Facebook group during one of two photo shoots we caught during the weekend.
The kid inside me smile as I remember the summers on the farm in the 1950s, and long hours of playing Flash Gordon and Superman with my brother and cousins. I began snapping pictures, and flashed from the 50s on the farm to the 70s, my first years of marriage, a Halloween party, my wife as a hot Cheshire cat and me in my homemade a Captain Klutz costume.
A few more pictures and I flash forward another 30 years to when I was presenting at a national education conference. It was again Halloween, and it was New Orleans! Nuff said? A friend and I went out to get costumes for partying later that evening. He was the Grim Reaper, and I was Cousin It. The kid in both of us came out as we crashed one of the major sessions given by another friend.
As I snapped a few more pictures the inner kid sighed, realizing his costumed superhero days were gone. Comic Con would be cool to visit and rekindle memories, but there was little chance that the 70 year-old was going to don a Spider-man costume and participate. Just about then I heard, "Let's get Stan Lee into the picture!"
As I looked around looking for Stan Lee, I realized he was talking to me. I doubt that the Cosplayers saw it, but I know my wife saw the inner kid take over as I went from observer to participant.
I didn't get to formally meet any of the Boston Superheroes Facebook group, but formality was not needed then. I joined the Facebook group and hope to get to know more of them, not because of the super hero thing or the kid thing, but because of the spirits that live under those costumes. The atmosphere and the feeling I got from them was one of openness, comradry, and acceptance.
Even though it was just for a few minutes, the kid was loose, but now that he is out, he's already getting ready for next year. Thanks Boston Superheroes!
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