National companies offering good service

A couple of posts ago Tim told about getting great service from Shop-Vac. Let's hear from those who have received exceptional service---either wonderful or horrible---from national companies the rest of us can make it a point to patronize or avoid.

I went to an online appliance repair parts company called ApplianceParts.com to get a gasket for my dishwasher. A very capable person worked with me via an online chat arrangement to get me the right part. It was more difficult than it sounds and I was impressed to get the part I needed on the first try. Now here's the part I consider exceptional: Within a few weeks of installing the new part, the part that held it failed. I called the company again and suggested to the person I talked to that instead of going through the whole complicated process of tracking down the part I needed he find the record of my previous transaction, get the number of the part I had bought, and use it to find the associated part I needed. He understood what I was suggesting, backtracked it that way, and had the right part for me in a few minutes. It's nice (and appallingly rare) to deal with someone who can think outside their narrow, familiar procedures.

All the best, Stan

Last year I bought an older W.W. Paul cattle scale at auction. As usual, no books came with it, so I called the people at Paul Scale and gave them the model/serial and requested a manual and parts breakdown. A nice lady took my order and informed me that my scale was built in 1968. When I offered my Visa number, she said it wasn't necessary, as there was no charge for the manuals.

A package arrived a couple days later complete with the proper manuals, parts list, and current price lists. We opted to rebuild and recalibrate the scale and had several questions during the process, all of which were answered by their knowlegeable Service Manager.

All of the parts we needed were still available and were reasonably priced as well.

Impressive service for a product that was built 38 years ago!

Or the time(before I worked there) a kid pushed a bike up to the door and asked a guy "Can you blow up my tire, mister?" The guy said "Sure can"....hooked an air hose to the bike tire and walked away.....yep....it blew up! (Kid got a new tire for free)

Joblot Automotive, of Queens, NY, excellent service and knowledgeable friendly folks, if you need parts for a '48-sixty-something Ford big truck, they're definitely the only place to consider.

McLendon's Hardware, in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Best hardware store I've found anywhere. Of course, they aren't much good if you don't live around here, but if you do, you already know about them.

Les Schwab Tires. Large tire chain in the Northwest. Yes, they really do run out to meet you. And they'll fix your flat tires for free, even if you didn't buy them there.

The world is full of great retailers. I can't imagine why anyone would go to a lousy retailer more than once.

I guess about everywhere I've shopped I have had good experiences and bad ones too. Sometimes it may of even been my fault ? If you go somewhere and constantly have problems AND can't get them resolved then that's a different matter. Like the time I took a 2 cyl. block to get sleeved where I usually get them done. Never had a problem before,but for some reason on this one since it had a chunk out of the bottom ? they thought they would put the sleeve in from the front. Well this leaves a ridge at the bottom and on this model and most all 2 cyl. this doesn't work out because the last piston ring goes clear to the bottom and can catch. Rather than "blow up" I calmly called then back and explained this to them. They said bring it back and we'll redo it. Haveing been stung before by other engine shops I asked now how much more is this going to cost ? He said not a penny more ! They made the mistake and they fixed it at there own expense. Since I didn't get stuck footing the bill and they took care of me I'll keep going back.

Where do you live? My sister works for the McLendon's in Renton. She loves it. Apparently they're as good to work for as to shop at. I grew up just outside the south city limits of Seattle in Rat City. If you're local you know where that is and if you're not you don't need to know. I don't know if anyone calls it Rat City anymore.

All the best, Stan

1)SK tools... very easy warranty service even though there is no dealer in my area. Had warranty work done through the mail. Excellent quality.

2)NAPA auto parts. *Consistently* decent parts and service

3)Fred Beans Pontiac Buick GMC in PA. I live in MI and they have a service similar to GM Parts Direct - except WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE. Jeremy in their parts department has saved me my money and my hide a few times!!!!>Link

4)>Link MAC Tools. Se my comments on SK tools. The MAC people have treated me very well on thefew occasions that I really needed them to come through. And no, I don't have a dealer.

On my S*** list:

1) Sears. What the hell kinda of business are they running? Stores and people are pretty disorganized in my area. Only the older guys in the tool department have any clue what's going on. I made the mistake of buying a digital camera from the folks at Sears. That turned into a big science project.

2) Walmart. For obvious reasons.

3) Autozone. Useless unless you want neon valve stem caps.

Great place
Flying J fuels: I can pull in and fill myself up

I needed a timing belt tension pulley for my 2.3 Ford Ranger. The Gates listing in the computer was incorrect and was some other part, not related at all to a timing belt. Not to give up the guy (and not all that old either) pulled out a couple of catalogs and went thru them, walked to the back and returned with a Cloyes box (the timing chain people) In it was the correct, genuine Ford branded belt tension pulley and bracket. I was impressed, saved me a 20 mile drive to the Ford dealer.

Needed a battery for a 2000 Nissan Sentra, belonging to a niece of the girlfriend. Turns out Nissan batteries are sized strange and the book just plain didn't list them. I brought in the battery and the plastic tray liner (to O'Reilly's), and we spent 15 or 20 minutes pulling batteries off the rack till we found one same height and width and a little longer but fit the tray, same terminals. Again, I was impressed with their dilligence in looking for the right part.

South Atlanta Nissan Parts Dept. I needed lower suspension arms for that Nissan. Was shocked at the price but the parts guy was shocked even before he told me, without my saying a word, he went straight to the manager to get approval to give me a discount. (seems their computer isn't set up to discount non-account sales without secret codes) Manager Ok'ed it and saved me nearly $100.

Charles

If you find one of the good ones, treat them like gold 'cause they're worth their weight in gold.

In my area, I'm lucky 'cause everyone at the Pronto autoparts store AND Jerry at NAPA in Valentine NE are some of the best parts people in the business....if they dont have what I want(which is seldom but I have some pretty oddball requests sometimes), by golly it'll be there tomorrow. Same can be said of the guys behind the counter at our local IH dealer, Mathis Implement.