Thursday, May 10, 2007

My Zellers/HBC rant

I am almost fully unpacked, and my brand-new apartment in the brand-new building is awesome. Even the natural gas fireplace is operational as of Tuesday morning, which was the hottest day so far this year at that point.

Now, the rant:
I bought a stackable washer and dryer from Zellers, at an amazing price. It was delivered to my place last Tuesday as planned, but had two broken legs, so I refused delivery. I have spent the last week in Customer Service Hell -- hell, I tells ya.

I called the toll-free Customer Service (BIG misnomer)number, and got HBC Customer Disservice in Montreal. After at least five calls, I was finally told last Friday that the model I bought was no longer available (I knew it was a discontinued model, thus the great price), and there were no more at any HBC outlet anywhere in Canada. So I would have to go back to the store, pick another model, and pay the difference.

So Saturday after work, I did go to Zellers, and lo and behold, there were two of the damned things on the sales floor! I eventually spoke to the appliance department manager who said he had one, if not two still in cartons in the stock room. I told him if he could have one delivered to my place, it would be case closed. Unfortunately, he followed protocol and called Customer Service (I cringe when I use that term), who called me on Monday and said they could deliver it Wednesday afternoon. However, they couldn't give me a precise time, and I had to be at work for 2:30, so they're delivering it tomorrow between 8am and 1pm. I got a call today to confirm that again, and make sure they had the address right. I almost said "You already have it, remember?"

Sheesh. What a hassle. What an unnecessary hassle and example of gross ignorance, incompetence and disregard to the customer. What happened to the customer being number one?

I don't expect special treatment, just good, basic service. Zellers/HBC failed me big time. Now if they don't deliver tomorrow...

10 comments:

Maria said...

Hold your breathe and PRAY that they will be delivered. Otherwise, you may be washing your tightey whitey's by hand.

Look on the bright side at least you got yourself some HBC points!! lol

Anonymous said...

You can watch gotchies by hand?!?! You mean, I don't have to keep looking for the cleanest of the dirty? Then again, I could go commando.

Sorry for the mental image.

And yeah, major HBC points, but like all or most points programs, you need a kazillion to buy a kazoo.

Anonymous said...

Um, that should be "WASH gotchies..." of course.

Maria said...

hehe.

Oh gosh... Commando please no visuals!!

Anonymous said...

Okay, it's delivered. Now I gotta buy a dryer kit to vent it -- see, I'm not done venting yet.
Don't worry, Milky, I'll buy the metal one (aluminum?) and not the plastic one. Even I know that plastic can catch fire, and insurance won't cover it. But thanks for caring.
I'm off to work now, with a stop at Home Hardware just down the street from the Market Media Mall, to get said dryer kit.

Later, Gators.

Maria said...

Thank God you won't have to wash those tightie whities by hand. I am sure they will be happy!!

TATA TEQUILLLLLAAAA!!!!!!!!

JB said...

You should just be happy that the 'customer service' rep could speak one of our country's two official languages (The lack of the ability to speak either of the two by quite a number of Bell 'customer service' reps is a big part of why I no longer have ANYTHING 'Bell' in my house.

John Mielke Photography said...

I'm ashamed to say that my dryer vent is the plastic one.

I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW... it was there when I bought the place. I have the metal duct... been sitting beside the dryer for 2 years now.

Aw crap... now that's gonna drive me nuts all weekend.

M

N@ Lauzon said...

I smell a strongly worded letter to Zellers home office. DO IT! I hate that kind of crap.

Anonymous said...

Milky, Milky, Milky! YOU, of all people. Never mind letting it drive you nuts all weekend, get off your arse and get the alumininininum one hooked up -- if not for your sake, for the sake of Mrs. Milkman and Famous Seamus.

And to anyone else with the plastic doohickey: Change it today! The kit I bought at Home Hardware is about 17 bucks, although I got it on sale for 12. Isn't your family's safety worth at least that much?

Okay, getting off the soapbox now. Heights give me vertigo and nosebleeds.