Companies and/or Products You Avoid (MERGED)

[fourteenandoh]

 

[WyoBuck]

My vagina has a few miles on it...

I am sure that you meant MANgina.

 

[Wingate1217]

Delta/Comair as of yesterday. here is a copy of the letter I am going to send to their customer service department. any edits would be appreciated.

Delta Customer Service,

This letter is concerning an awful experience I had while flying with Delta/Comair Airlines. On Wednesday December 27, 2006 I was scheduled to depart Dayton, Ohio at 6:20 AM en route to Cincinnati, Ohio and connecting to my flight to Newark, NJ which was to arrive at 9:47AM. When I arrived at the Dayton airport I was confused to see that my flight was cancelled because it was a beautiful sunny day. When I spoke with the check in attendant she informed me that I was on a flight that was cancelled due to a labor dispute between the airline and the pilot's union. Basically, the pilots were upset that Delta was trying to renegotiate their contract because of the ongoing bankruptcy negotiations. From what I was told, the pilots decided to randomly call in sick for my flight because they were in disagreement over their contracts. So that left me on a flight leaving Dayton to Cincinnati that wouldn't get me into Newark until 5:05pm, over 7 hours later than originally scheduled. That was unacceptable to me because I was obligated to work at 4PM. When I told this to the check in attendant, she was willing to help me but did not go out of her way. She looked at one or two alternative routes and told me that I was stuck with arriving at 5:05. I work in downtown NYC and because of the commute time, that would mean I wouldn't get to work until after 7PM. I suggested she try other airports in the NYC area and the best she could come up with was JFK arriving at 3:30. That was a better alternative for me, but it meant I would have to spend $50 dollars on a cabride in order to get to work on time. Unfortunately, I was unable to spend $50 to take a cab so I was stuck taking the 1hr subway ride into the city (even so, it got me there before 6PM, still 2 hours late). I arrived at work at 5:40PM. One hour and 40 minutes later than scheduled. My boss was extremely upset with me and threatened to fire me if this ever happened again, not to mention the fact that I was unable to go home and sleep for 4 hours as my original itinerary would have allowed. I am beyond upset with the service I have received from your airline. I fly at least five or six times per year and usually choose the airline that I feel the most confident with. I've never had a problem with Delta or Comair, but your standing in my mind is in serious jeopardy. Unless some serious consolations are made, I do not see myself ever using Delta or Comair again. If Delta merges with Continental as planned I will put the new airline in the same category. I feel that a fair compensation for my inconvenience would be to refund the second half of my trip (the part from Dayton to Newark on December 27 approximately $175) and offer me a voucher for a future round trip flight of my choice within the continental United States. I have confidence that you feel the same way I do. I'm sure you are very upset at the actions of your pilots union and are willing to do anyting within your power to to make up for their actions and keep your airline in good stainding with your customers. Please be advised that I am forwarding a copy of this e-mail to Clark Howard, who is a nationally known consumer advocate on AM radio. I can be reached at ...

Best Regards,

fourteenandoh

First of Delta really screwed with you. You should mention in your letter that there were several options available to the ticket agent. I did a little research and it appears that there were/are:

1) Three flights through Chicago with United that would have put up in LGA (La Guardia) at 12:09, 12:59 and 3:04 pm respectively;

2) One flight on Us Air through Philly into LGA at 3:40pm

3) Two flights on Northwest through Detroit into LGA at 11:52am and 1:37pm.

4) Two flights on Continential through Cleveland into LGA at 12:29 and 2:03 pm

5) One flight on American through Chicago arriving LGA at 2:25pm

I imagine the same number of flights would have been available to (EWR) Newark and JFK. The airline is obligated to find you a way to NYC because the delay was not weather related. At the very least they should have given you a discount coupon for another flight in the future, a breakfast voucher in addition to the flight arrangement on another carrier. They probably knew that your flight to NYC was cancelled well before you left Dayton and could have made arrangeements to re-book you on their airline or another carrier before boarding the flight. You probably were not stern enough with the gate/ticket agent and all she did was look up other Delta flights to the NYC area. Next time be persistent that all the options by explored.

I don't know if Continential and Delta plan to merge but I do know that US Air is planning a takeover with Delta. Perhaps you have you facts mixed up???

In some cases you are at the mercy of the particular airline (if it is weather related, an international flight, or your destination is a small airport where service is limited) but in this case there appeared to be several options available to your airline and they did not come through. I fly somewhere between 75-150,000 miles every year and have taken one Delta flight in the past nine years. That right there should tell you something about there service. Good luck in getting anything out of them and let us know what their response happens to be.....:)

 

[fourteenandoh]

If I could rep you twice I would. Thank you. That info will be in my letter. The thing that stood out in my mind was when the gate agent told me that delta doesn't have a customer service phone number, there is only an address. That is unreal. I understand that they have cut back over the years but still. She did check other airlines, North West, Continental etc but they were all booked. I thought to suggest other routes through Chicago etc but only after I was on my way to Cinci. I wanted to pitch a fit but it was 5:30 in the morning and I was out drinking until 2 the night before. All I could think about was getting a free flight. They better not let me down. Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[craigblitz]

I wish your story was only related to Delta. I fly weekly and have flown all the airlines and I wish I could say there were differences in customer service, but there really isn't. Good luck with your letter.

As far as companies I avoid...
Dell - Customer Service is terrible
Dodge - Have had 2 and they were both pieces of sh**

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I wish your story was only related to Delta. I fly weekly and have flown all the airlines and I wish I could say there were differences in customer service, but there really isn't. Good luck with your letter.

As far as companies I avoid...
Dell - Customer Service is terrible
Dodge - Have had 2 and they were both pieces of sh**

All domestic airlines are pretty much the same. I love American Airlines, but I've been at the 50K or 100K elite level for the last several years, so they take care of me.

Other great comapanies/products

British Airways
All Clad (cookware)
Wusthof (knives)...spent too much money on my kitchen this past year
Bed Bath & Beyond--they ignore the manufacturers' demands and will apply their 20% coupons to anything in the store, don't care about the expiration dates and have a completely open return policy
Sak's 5th Aveneue (can only speak for Chicago)--great products and service without the fake "attitude" of Barney's.

 

[Saw31]

I try to avoid Coco-Cola...Just something about the shape of their bottles.

 

[iambrutus]

Bed Bath & Beyond--they ignore the manufacturers' demands and will apply their 20% coupons to anything in the store, don't care about the expiration dates and have a completely open return policy

and if you spend enough in there at one time they will apply two of those coupons

 

[Best Buckeye]

Acid Rain brand of lotions and shampoo

 

[horseshoe1]

Northwest Airlines once cancelled our return flight while we at our destination. Upon arriving at the gate for our return trip home we were told that they left a message the day before on our home answering machine.
When they left the message we had already been at out destination hotel for 3 days.
After waiting in the airport for 8 hours for another flight all I got when I wrote a letter to Northwest was basically a return letter saying how sorry they were but shit happens.
Never Northwest again and my wife and I do a lot of flying. (Their Loss)

 

[23Skidoo]

Kind of off-topic, but on the subject of good/bad airlines...
I haven't had the opportunity to fly on any of the European carriers, but
I highly suggest Cathay Pacific. Customer service is phenomenal, and the inside of the airplanes are kept in great condition. By far the best I've ever used. Unfortunately, they're only in Asia (Hong Kong based).
ANA and JAL (Japanese airlines) are also pretty good -- they're easily a grade above United, American, Continental, Frontier, etc.

 

[Mike80]

Kind of off-topic, but on the subject of good/bad airlines...
I haven't had the opportunity to fly on any of the European carriers, but
I highly suggest Cathay Pacific. Customer service is phenomenal, and the inside of the airplanes are kept in great condition. By far the best I've ever used. Unfortunately, they're only in Asia (Hong Kong based).
ANA and JAL (Japanese airlines) are also pretty good -- they're easily a grade above United, American, Continental, Frontier, etc.

British Airways are the best ones out there IMO.

Although the American Airlines flights I've been on haven't been too bad either.

 

[jadudley03]

My don't buy list...

1) Wal-Mart (the most corrupt company in the world, IMHO)
2) Microsoft (they can't even copy good products correctly, see the Zune)
3) Sony (I just don't like them)
4) Ford (they are throwing money at political agenda issues when they aren't even making money selling cars)

 

[jadudley03]

My DO buy list...

1) Costco (These guys just have it right, and they treat their employees well)
2) Subaru (I beat the hell out of my WRX and it takes it like a champ)
3) AMSOIL & Redline (Both excellent American Synthetic Oil/Lubricant companies)
4) Apple Computer (I have some gripes, but at least they are innovative, not to mention I am typing this on a 5-1/2 yr old iBook that I haven't re-booted in over a year)
5) Cannondale Bicycles (American Made, enough said)
6) In-N-Out (Good fast food, only in California though:()

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

no offense to anyone here, but if i had a nickel for each person who stated that he or she hated starbucks or wal-mart but couldn't come up with adequate reasons except for "they're a big corporation" and "they're everywhere,"... well, i'd have enough to buy only a grande, non-fat, iced, no foam, decaf mocha latte. of course, that's still about, what, 100 nickels.

i'm not at all stating that those here don't have good reasons and don't have already well-formulated arguments. i'm just stating that virtually each time i've asked someone (away from google) why he or she can't stand wal-mart or starbucks, the person resorts to the worn and simple reasons: size, ubiquity, and a shallow statement about corporate practices.

again, i must clarify that i'm not pinpointing anyone here but instead those i've run across off the net.