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Musician Gets Revenge Against United For Breaking His Guitar
Canadian musician Dave Carroll has spent the past year trying to convince United to compensate him for the $1,200 in repairs his guitar needed after being tossed around by baggage handlers. His trip from Halifax and Nebraska included a transfer in Chicago, where the damage occurred. Carroll has ruled out accidental cause because another passenger witnessed the guitar abuse and spoke out in alarm while it was happening — he even notified the United employees on-board, who were anything but helpful.
The Customer Service Halls of Shame and Fame
Nobody wants a customer service experience that leaves you swearing under your breath, but these situations aren't exactly avoidable. MSN Money knows how important customer service is to consumers and conducts an annual survey that measures customer satisfaction.
It's named 10 companies that need a lot of improvement in the customer service department and 10 that would be good examples to the companies in the Hall of Shame.
Restaurant Owner Eliminates Tipping to Ease Tension
Tipping was brought to the US from Europe after the Civil War and was met with opposition — six states even passed anti-tipping laws that prevented diners from having to tip. The laws were later repealed, but the angst toward the tradition of tipping lives on in the minds of many American customers. San Diego, CA, restaurant owner Jay Porter observed that tipping was not only a point of contention for his customers, but was also causing tension between his staff members and adding to the stressful environment.
Money Tip: It Pays to Complain
My best friend has been back from her honeymoon for only a few weeks, and she already has another trip on her brain. The difference between her honeymoon and the next vacation? She and her new husband will be treated to a complimentary hotel stay on their next trip!
Have You Requested a Hotel Room Change?
Travel professionals surmise that women travelers are more likely to request a different hotel room than men, whether it's a couples or family trip or a woman on a solo business trip. Some room-change requests are made to ensure the traveler is getting the most for her money, but there are some who manipulate the system for a sense of accomplishment.
Have you been known to request a room change or do you usually settle for the rooms offered to you?
I'm Asking: Does Customer Service Influence Your Chances of Revisiting a Business?
Depending on the type of business, customer service can be a big part of your shopping experience. Whether or not you're actually offered service, if the staff has a way of lurking around you, or if they're overly attentive can weigh on your impression of a store.
I'm likely to skip out on returning to a restaurant if the service was rude, but customer service at stores hasn't kept me away or driven me to revisit.
I'm Asking: Do You Have a Preferred Airline?
Comparison shopping is the name of the game when it comes to buying plane tickets, but I must say I'm delighted when JetBlue or Virgin America turn up on top of my search results. And if the flight is on the long side or a red-eye, I may be willing to pay a little extra for tickets on my favorite carriers. Do you prefer any particular airline to the others?
Other Search Results
On Board and Ready To Buy
In a new move to up their retail, airlines may soon be offering more in-flight opportunities to purchase anything from limousine services to Broadway theater tickets. Though The New York Times reports that only American Airlines has begun limited testing of the retail concept, nearly all airline carriers have confirmed that they are planning to unveil similar expanded retail offerings on flights.
So why expand retail, especially in the midst of a recession?
8 Successful Companies That Are Still Hiring
Personal experience and news reports might tell us that nobody is hiring right now, but Fortune says to think again. The magazine recently released its 40 Under 40 — a list of the hottest rising stars in business — and many of them are looking to expand their teams. To see who these entrepreneurs are and what they’re looking for, read more.
YouTube Debtor's Revolt: Too Far or Totally Justified?
In the wake of the recession, it's become increasingly common for credit card companies to jack up interest rates — in some cases, without due cause. Typically, outraged customers seek an explanation via customer service representative – but one disgruntled card holder took her case to YouTube
In the now viral video, aptly titled Debtor's Revolt Begins Now, B of A customer, Ann Minch launches a heated attack on the bank, claiming that her interest rate was raised from 12.99 percent to a whopping 30 percent, despite diligent and timely payments. Her attempts to negotiate with the branch, where she has been a customer for 14 years, were dismissed — until her now infamous rant gained some serious media attention, and was finally seen by one of the Bank's executives, who re-adjusted her interest to its original rate.
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