Filed under: customer service

CafePress Customer Service

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I have a few different CafePress shops. Nobody buys anything from them--I just have 'em set up so I can buy my own custom stuff from time to time.

I recently placed an order for an iPhone 4 case with my new logo. I followed the shipping progress on the UPS site, eagerly awaiting its arrival. The day of delivery came, and I waited patiently.

At around 2pm I received an email from UPS saying that the package had been delivered. Odd, since I hadn't heard the UPS truck, or doorbell. I ran to the front door like a kid at Christmas, flung it open, and found... Nothing.

I don't know if it had been stolen in the short amount of time between delivery and that email notification, or if UPS just dropped it at the wrong door (it's Condo Hell up here.) Either way, no custom iPhone case for me. I tried to get in touch with UPS to confirm the delivery address, I walked up and down the sidewalk in front of the condo to see if maybe it had been delivered to another door step. Nothing. Can't even get to a live person when calling UPS customer service.

When I tried to file a claim on the UPS site, I was informed that I had to contact the shipper. Odd, since CafePress had done its part by shipping the package. So I emailed CafePress and explained the problem.

That same day, I received a response. CafePress apologized for the inconvenience and they're sending out a replacement, with expedited shipping. It wasn't even their fault, but they took care of it. Why? Because they apparently have some kick-ass customer service.

If you've had any kind of customer service training at all, you know that pissed-off customers are generally the loudest. I just wanted to loudly congratulate CafePress for going above and beyond.

Oh, and if, for some bizarre reason, you want your own stuff with my logo, visit my CafePress shop. :) You too can have your very own Dh iPhone case. Or iPad shell. Or shirt. Or...

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Quiznos: Troubles With Redeeming Quiznos Free Sandwich Coupons

Quiznos: Troubles With Redeeming Quiznos Free Sandwich Coupons. I printed my Quiznos coupon and headed into my local store to redeem it the other day. I was told the same thing as most of the people commenting on the Consumerist site... "We don't take that coupon." I was hungry, though, so I went ahead and got lunch anyway. As I was paying, the owner asked me how often I ate at Quiznos, and if I lived in the area. He apologized for not being able to take the coupon, and gave me a different one good for chips and a drink with any sandwich purchase... It's only good at that store, and he claims it will never expire. Compared to some peoples' experiences with this coupon, and Quiznos in general, I'd say this particular owner handled the situation pretty well. If nothing else, he retained me as an occasional customer. The issue, I believe, is that Quiznos corporate is writing checks its franchises can't cash. I'm not sure how the individual franchises are compensated (if at all,) for the freebies, but when businesses all over are struggling to stay afloat, it seems to me they should be focusing more on improved service rather than free sandwiches. Just my .02

Comcast Tech Support

I called at noon to have digital cable and DVR restored, (I had shut it down over the summer to save $$,) and was told it would be just a bit till everything came back online.

At 1:00pm, I saw the basic "This channel will be available shortly" message on the TV screen, so I waited. I checked the cable box configuration screen in the menu, and noticed the part that said "Disconnect: Yes"

Called back at 1:30pm to see how long I should expect it to take.

Shawn (the female kind) answered, and said that she saw plenty of activity going to my cable box.

I told her that in the cable box configuration page, the "Disconnect" label was followed by a "Yes"

She replied, stating that it had to do with my TV, and suggested I try a different input from the box to the TV. I explained to her that I was getting a video signal from the box to the TV, because I could see the guide, menu, etc. She stated that even my neighbor could see that screen from his TV--it had nothing to do with the box or the cable. WTF??!! So, my neighbor, with no physical connection to my cable box, can somehow browse the menu on my cable box from the comfort of his own home? I'm not an expert, but I think I need to call bullshit on that one.

She then suggested that I plug the TV into the cable box via coax instead. I figured I'd humor her by trying, but when I looked at the back of the box, I noticed that there was no coax out... I explained this to her, but she insisted that there was. I wasn't sure where to go from there. I'm looking at the cable box, and there is a coax input, but no coax out... She kept insisting that I was mistaken.

She finally offered to send a technician out. I declined. Figured I'd call back in a few and try to get someone competent.

I'm not a cable expert, but I'm not an idiot. If my TV is getting a signal from the cable box, changing the input source isn't going to magically work.

Ironically, in the 5 minutes it took for me to walk into my office and type this up, the cable started working.

Things that make you go, hmmmmmm...