I went to the bank the other day to make a deposit and order a new set of checks. Yes, I know, how very old-fashioned of me. There are places I still have to write checks to (hair salon, tree removal service, music lessons) so I do need my checks. I have previously tried to order them online, but since I don't want to pay extra for my bill collectors to see a pretty picture on my check, it was easier to just turn the reorder form into the bank. Hand it to the teller and you're done.
Not anymore. The teller informed me that she no longer was able to 'order checks at the window' and I'd have to have a bank manager order my checks for me. And since he was on the phone in his windowed office, I'd need to have a seat. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I was so flabbergasted that I just said, "No, that's ok!" and left. Since I don't believe it takes a college degree and an inflated salary to send in an order form for checks, I'm left to believe that it's a new way for the bank to sit me down and talk to me about my money management with one of their 'personal bankers.' GAHHHHH!
I will now surprise you with a pleasing story about some of the best customer service I have ever received . . .
My son's laptop has had issues in the past few months with vertical lines running through the screen and getting increasingly worse. I told him to look into a place where we could get it fixed. The only place he could come up with was Best Buy's Geek Squad. I had reservations about taking it there because I've had mixed feelings about some of the people who have 'helped' me there in the past with purchases. Nevertheless, we took it in and I was rather shocked by how professional the people were at the Geek Squad desk. The guy spent about 20 minutes looking at the computer, talking to my son, and describing the process of sending it to their repair facility in Kentucky and the estimated costs, etc. There was a $35 charge for shipping, but we could decide whether we wanted it fixed once we got the actual price from the repair technician.
I gave the guy my e-mail address since my son was leaving town for a week. As soon as I got home, I already had an email that the laptop was on its way to Kentucky! For the next few days, I had constant updates on what was going on with the laptop. It was as though they were treating it like it was my child! I kind of got a kick out the whole thing. "Your laptop is now being carefully examed by our certified technician, Nick. He will be giving you a call soon about the diagnosis."
Sure enough, I received a personal phone call from Nick with a price. I gave him the go-ahead and was soon receiving updates that parts were in stock and the laptop would soon be on its way home. From start to finish, it took exactly 6 days. I picked it up, the price was exactly what was quoted, and the laptop was as good as new. I would highly recommend the Geek Squad.
As always, your mileage may vary!
Thanks for the story about the Geek Squad; I am so computer illiterate I worry if I should be the one left behind between hubby and me; nice to know I can contact them should I need computer service and won't be taken "advantage" of. That was interesting about the check form; you would think it was easy for them just to put it some place to be processed later. I think you hit it on the nail that they wanted to try to sell you another service. I finally was glad to hear that we could order checks without our address on it, LOL. We move so much, I never used the minimum amount of checks I had to order before we moved again.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to hear that good customer service does still exist at a company!
betty
I noticed when I went yo pick up the laptop, one if the Geek Squad guys was helping a little old lady recover her gmail account. It is nice to know of a place to go now!
DeleteI always just used my old checks and put one of those return address stickers over the old address.
Wow, tat was better customer service than you usually hear about. Big plus that it was fixed and stayed on quote too. Ugg to the bank, dealing with those idiots now at my sea.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, banks are the worst! I've written numerous posts about my bad luck at banks.
DeleteI've had good luck with the Geek Squad. They deal with my ineptness really well.
ReplyDeleteDo they still do home visits? I haven't seen their orange and black cars in a while.
DeleteCustomer service. Don't even get me started. Most of the time customer service is so bad these days that I am shocked when I get really good customer service somewhere.
ReplyDeleteGlad the Geek Squad was able to help and that it was such a great experience!
Yes, I was certainly surprised!
DeleteI'm not so sold on the geek squad, I think most of the store guys just have average knowledge of computers...of course that is way more than I knowl
ReplyDeleteYes, I could have done what the guy did at the store as well as solve the average issue (I'm the person in the family that everyone turns to when they have a computer issue). I think that's why they send most things away to get repaired.
DeleteYou never have to apologize for harping on this topic because, like you, it's one that I feel VERY passionate about.
ReplyDeleteYes, I had the EXACTLY experience with my bank earlier this year when I went to order more checks. Except, I decided to order mine over the phone because the line waiting to see a bank manager that day was way too long.
"I'm left to believe that it's a new way for the bank to sit me down and talk to me about my money management with one of their 'personal bankers.' GAHHHHH!"
HA! Yup...and they did the same thing to me over the phone! And then asked me to take a survey on the customer service I received (which I didn't take).
I'm so glad to hear about your great experience with the Geek Squad at Best Buy. I've only purchased one thing from BB (my camera) and I have to say that it was truly one of the BEST customer service experience I have ever had.
Have a super weekend, my friend!
X
Wow, Ron! I can't believe we had the exact same bank experience! Maybe we use the same bank! I was so irritated. I did end up just going online and was able to order my cheapo checks, but I had a time getting the free shipping. I actually had to sign off saying that I was aware that the free (bulk) shipping wasn't secure and that I was opening myself up to theft of my checks!!! How crazy was that!
DeleteI wonder if Best Buy has done some serious customer service training in the past year? Glad to hear you had a good experience too!
That's a wonderful story about the geek squad, exactly what customer service should me no doubt. Greetings!
ReplyDeleteThey made me very happy!
DeleteI order my checks online through Walmart.com. You just put your info. in and they arrive in a box about a week later. You can pick out whatever design you want. These days I write about one check a month, though, so it can take a while to go through a box! I'll probably move before I go through this whole box.
ReplyDeleteBut are they free? That's all I care about!
DeleteOrdering checks/cheques has been obsolete in the UK for decades. Our banks automatically send us a new cheque book when we've used a certain number in our current cheque book. The customer doesn't need to do anything.
ReplyDeleteI had a dreadful experience with a computer repair place that offered to upgrade my old Windows Explorer computer and proceeded to make such a mess of it, it was unusable and I had to buy a new computer. These computer repair businesses are very hit and miss, I find. Glad you've found one that's so efficient.
I'm glad to hear of a system where checks come automatically!
DeleteOrdering checks from banks are generally a lot more expensive than from other services... even though we write few checks today.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you had good customer service on your son's laptop. I had a probably with a netbook once when traveling, in Saigon, and was blown away at the customer service at the Acer service center there... They fixed it for me and even though it was a few months out of warranty, didn't charge me!
Wow! You really received some great customer service!
DeleteYou need a bank manager to order checks?!? Who mops the floor at night--the bank president? I'm sure you're right here, Bijoux, they were just looking to push something on you. But at least the Geek Squad did right by you!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the craziest damn thing you've ever heard? And the exact same thing happened to Ron!
DeleteI'd love to watch a bank CEO mop the floor. I'd buy a ticket to watch that!
I'm impressed!!! I think, such sort of customer services are exceptional & they should have a site like trip advisor to praise them. :)
ReplyDeleteI love TripAdvisor!
DeleteYeah, GS far surpasses the sales folks at BB. Have not used 'em much but every experience has been a great one.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a good experience too!
DeleteI can call customer service and order checks over the phone.
ReplyDeleteOh and on the subject of customer service...last month I switched and bundled all of my phone, internet and cable to one provider for a reasonable $162 a month. Then this month I got my bill...a whopping $370 and I flipped my lid. So I called customer service and was on the phone for 2 hours and talked with 4 different people before my bill was corrected and given an even lower price for the next 12 months. 2 hours and 4 people in order to get it fixed...good grief.
ReplyDeleteI had a horrible incident once with Boost mobile. They 'accidentally' canceled all 4 of our cell phones instead of just my son's. It literally took 3 months to get everything corrected. Thank god I had a landline. I feel your pain on the cable company crap!
DeleteThanks for a very helpful post. We too write checks most of the time. Now I will not waste any time in the window. Will go straight to the building and see a manager and make my self look important. LOL
ReplyDeleteI don't have to repair my computer as yet, but if I do, I will go across the bridge to Best Buy and talk to good looking guys (or gals with my hubby LOL)) at the Geek Squad.
I wouldn't go as far as to say they were good looking, but they were young!
DeleteAn enjoyable and interesting post.
ReplyDeleteThe nearest we get (from some firms) on the information front is when delivery is about to be made. Then I know exactly where they are at all times. I even get an email to say they've left the parcel on the porch. I wish all companies adopted a caring attitude.
Thanks, Valerie. I like getting that info from FedEx as well. I don't always use my front door, so it's helpful to get info on deliveries.
DeleteGlad to hear at least at some places customer service is still what it should be. I've never used Geek Squad, but if I ever needed to, I'll remember your positive experience.
ReplyDeleteI do believe banks and cable companies (and possibly used car dealers) suffer the worst reputation from lack of customer service.
I sure do agree on the worst reputations!
DeleteI buy my checks on-line. Cool designs and much cheaper than the bank's offerings. And no wait!
ReplyDeleteI only want my free bank checks!
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