Monday, December 24, 2007

Best Buy

Location: , Woodbridge
Industry: Technology
Company: Best Buy

i bought a garmin Nuvi 250 from bestbuy just few days ago when it was $250
Today i saw Dell canada selling it for $149.99
I called bestbuy and request for a price protection. At first the lady talked to me and tell me the product can't be price match because of number 1 beside of the price
(1 All prices exclude taxes and environmental advanced disposal surcharges where applicable. Prices subject to error. Promotional pricing is not combinable with any other offers or volume based or other discounts to which you may be entitled unless otherwise specifically advertised. Availability may be limited. Pre-loaded software does not include documentation and may differ from retail version. )


i explained to her that all the products on Dell website have that on the side of the price. and It's not a limited quantity.
She then tell me to hold the line and after 30 minutes coming back and asking who i am.
after talking to her again. She kinda remember about me asking for a price match.
She then said she is not the person who can make the decision and she did send a request form for me. I asked her so why she put me on hold for 30 mins if you are not the person who can make a decision and tell me it couldn't be match at the first place.
Then she lied to me that she never talked to me before and never saying something like that or make me wait on the line.
She then put me on hold for few more minutes and come back tell me they can't do the price protection because Dell will not ship the next day. (What the heck is going on with shipping the next day )

i then asked to speak with a manager and then she transfer me to someone and this girl just tell me that they will not price match because of the shipping time and tell me they explained it to me already and just hang up the phone.


I'm really pissed at how they treat their customer.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Telephone Repair

Location: Alberta, Edmonton
Industry: Telecom

Company: Telus

We had a Mr. Sam Sanduga come in today, Dec, 18th, to check our telephone service. He said it must be a broken wire and he would return in the afternoon to repair it. WHen he did not return we called him and he said it was not his job to fix it and told us to call 611! When we asked him why he did not call to tell us he was not returning he would not explain why he did not. When we called Telus they can not fit us in until Thursday. We are presently without any telephone service. What poor service!

Telus cellular phones committing fraud

Location: Quebec, Montreal
Industry: Telecom

Company: Telus

Recordings of Telus commititng fraud on youtube, enjoy !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-1V9z6R-E8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY1wh2cjm-Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGprHiikR7s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSgeiJ7p3tM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBjlL3lQ-ZQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlTLC2o1TTI

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Air Canada Paperless Boarding Pass .. On Paper ...

Location: Ontario, Toronto
Industry: Transportation
Company:
Air Canada

I travelled recently with Air Canada from Toronto to London and I decided to try out their new "Paperless Boarding Pass". I think they introduced this "Paperless Boarding Pass" few months ago and allowed travellers to checkin with their PDA or cellphone. Here is how it works:

1) You checkin in advance through the Air Canada website
2) They send the boarding pass to your PDA/cellphone as a text message
3) You can also print a paper copy as a reference (I didn't do that cuz I think the whole point is to save paper !)

So I went to the Web Checkin Bag Drop Off counting, and there seems to be a problem with the luggage belt, so the queue moved slooower than the regular checkin line and people are already start complaining. After 20 minutes of wait, it's finally my turn. And here's the conversation with the Air Canada Staff:

Staff: "Where are you travelling to?"

Me: "London"

Staff: "This is for Montreal, please go to counter K"

Me: "Oh I have a connection flight at Montreal"

Staff: "So you are going to Montreal"

Me: "Yes, and my final destination is London"

Staff: "I don't need to know your final destination, where are you going ? Are you going to Montreal ??"

Me (Showing her my booking reference): "Toronto to MONTREAL, then MONTREAL to London. So will my luggage be travelled all the way to London or do I need to re-checkin at Montreal ??"

Staff: "Depends on how your booking is ... Okay it will go all the way to London"

Me: "Thanks."

Staff (Typing and checking): "Did you check in online at home ?"

Me: "Yes"

Staff: "Ok, next time if you checkin at home, please let us know, so that I don't need to look for your boarding pass"

Me thinking: "wow, what's the point of this web checkin bag dropping counter. and what a great integrated web online checkin solution"

So finally I finish with the counter lady and I started worrying about my "paperless boarding pass", will they security accept that ? will the boarding staff accept that ? mmm .. I doubted it.

Anyways, it actually went fine until my connection at Montreal. I show the security the boarding pass and he gave me the look of "What the heck is that ? Are you trying to fool me?". So he brought me to the boarding counter and the counter lady told me I cannot use that, I have to go through security again to get the printed one. After I discussed with her what's the point of having a paperless boarding pass for few minutes, I don't have to go back out to security. She just PRINTED a PAPER boarding pass for me on the spot told me that they are not up to the technology yet.

So for anyone who would like to try the paperless boarding pass, be sure you also print a paper copy with you to save the hassle. I still think it's a good initiative, but the solution and execution has yet to be approved.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

DVD Donkey takes your money & You get nothing

Location: Quebec, Broussard
Industry: Media
Company: DVDdonkey.com

On Nov 16, 2007 I ordered a dvd movie from them & it was supposed to be delivered within 12-14 days. I'm still waiting for the movie to leave Canada. It's been sitting in a Post Office since 12-3 & hasn't moved since then. I was also overcharged for the item. They keep saying I'll get the movie in a few days but it never comes.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

BestBuy

Location: British Columbia, Langley
Industry: Technology
Company: Best Buy
Annoyed by: Girl working at the front-cashier

Went to BestBuy Langley to Pricematch (or PM) Z5500 that was selling at Dell today for $199. After it got approved by a manager in the computer dept., I went to the front checkout with the approval slip.

Big mistake! The b'tch working the cashier (good-looking actually), tried to deny my approved PM. Saying "We only PM from .CA websites, not .COM." I explained to her that it already got approved, and that if you order it from the Dell.ca website - it gets processed (forwards you) through the Dell.com site. Appearently another manager (who she is consulting with) near the front counter is rejecting the PM. Anyways, she ended up calling the original person that approved the PM - and that guy ended up telling her just to PM it which she finally did - "Sorry for the hassle."

Now looking back at what happened, WTF!? Why try to deny something that's already been approved? What a friggen b'tch.

Bell Canada - Terrible Service

Location: Ontario, Toronto
Industry: Telecom
Company: Bell Canada

I order a new phone connection last week, a technician came last Friday and said that the main box was on a neighbour house, and they were not there, which is nonsense, he did not do the wiring inside the basement and did not do anything, just left saying that another technician was going to come on Sunday.


Another one came Sunday, named Steven phone number 416-426-2753 not business card or last name, he said that nothing was done, but he made the connection from the main box to the house outside, and he wants to charge 100 dollars for each hole, that he needs to make on the wall to get the line inside, which makes not sense at all, so, my landlord said that he will make the holes, one for the phone and one for the internet, the technician said that he could not wait, that he will come later that same day and pass the wires inside the house and finish the installation, and point a place inside the bathroom ceiling, were he said there was a box, but in order for him to do the installation and save my landlord an extra hole in the wall he should cut the ceiling ans expose the box, so he can work when he come back, we cut the bathroom ceiling were he pointed, and there was not box, I call Monday first thing in the morning and a lady call Shalini from customer service assure me that measures were going to be taken, and she apologize many times telling me that a technician will be that day Monday, between 5:00pm and 9:00pm, to fix the problem, I call again this time to customer service billing section, to complain about all the time the made me waste and the damage on the house, and he said that the installation fees will be cancel.

Monday, I wait for the technician and he did not show up neither he call, after 9:00 pm I call service and repair and they give me all kind of nonsense, telling me that not connection was done that there was a problem, that he could not give any information about when the problem will be solve, and to call customer service again, knowing that it was close, just avoiding any kind of responsibility, a complete unqualified incompetent person like most of Bell Canada personnel, at this point I was completely upset, so I call them again, the repair and service line, and another one answered the phone, after a big argument he call some other people, and put me on hold, telling me later to go outside the house and look for a jack inside the bell box and connect a phone to see if the line was working, which I did, under the rain and cold, thinking later how stupid that was who is going to put a jack outside the house, so anybody can plug a phone outside the house and do long distance call? At that moment I realized what kind of gain this people were playing, so I gave up, what could I do at this point? Around 10:00pm another Lady called to my Landlord house named Jigi, that's what she said, but who know what was her real name was, she claimed that she was from repair and service department, and that the problem will be solve on Tuesday between 5:00pm and 9:00pm and I do not think that it would happens, she just call to covers her department and hold doing another complain this morning, I try to complain in the Bell web site but they just allow you 2000 characters, how convenience.

Companies like Bell should not be allow to monopolized a service, coz, that's what happens later, they do whatever they want, their inside, bureaucracy start hiring, unqualified people, that are related to the ones already inside, paying chip salaries, and not giving there people the proper training, this is really bad, and should not be happening.

Ghost Credit Card Charges

Location: Ontario, Toronto
Industry: Tourism
Company: Expedia.ca

I was looking for flights on expedia in Oct/07 and couldn't book due to a "technical error" when confirming the flight at ~$200. I phoned expedia and they tried to book over the phone without success and told me to try later.. Later the price increased to $630 and I did NOT attempt to book.

A week later I get a call from Continental to tell me I need to check into NWA at the airport. I again did not book anything, phoned expedia and they said nothing is booked and my credit card won't be charged.. 2 days before the flight my credit card gets charged $630. I phone continental and they say it was booked through expedia, I phone expedia and they say it shows up as "Not booked". I phone my credit card company and they say there is nothing they can do.


After several late phone calls and waiting hours on hold I get a CSR in expedia that I convince to call continental to see my credit card is charged... They do and offer me credit for future flying, but then look into it more and offer me a refund of $620 in 7-10 business days to my credit card...

It has been 15 business days and no credit back... soon I will be charged interest...

Don't use Expedia website! It may charge your card for no reason whatsoever on itineraries you saved and did not book!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Pizza Hut annoys me

Location: Ontario, Kingston
Industry: Restaurant
Company: Pizza Hut

I'm nursing a bad hangover and decided pizza was the best cure. I called up Pizza Hut and tried to place an order. They informed me that I was out of their delivery area and that I need to call the other Pizza Hut. That was odd to me because the one I called is about 3 minutes down the road.

So I called the other Pizza Hut and they told me the same thing, that I was outside their delivery area and it was the other one that delivers to me (the original one I called). I told them that I was sent to them and that all I wanted was a pizza. They insisted I call back to the original one and place my order there. I vented a bit to the guy on the phone, then hung up.


I called back to the first one, told them what happened and they insisted once again that it was the other one that delviers to me. I became downright angry and told them that I didn't care who delivered to me, I wanted to place an order and they would either take it, or I would order my pizza from someplace else. The person on the phone told me to order from somewhere else then, because their computer wouldn't allow them to take my order (ever heard of a pen and paper??).

I asked for the manager and told her my story. She said she would take my order anyway, I told her to forget it. She offered my 10% off my bill plus a free second pizza. So I took it but told her that there's a good chance I'll never do business with Pizza Hut again, so they need to figure out their problems.

Anyway, just venting about stupid automated phone and computer systems that pizza places have these days.



PeeCeeCeedump

Location: Other, Hong Kong
Industry: Telecom
Company: PCCW Mobile

Back in May, 07 my sis tried to do a simple cellphone termination. Instead, she got a 2 year contract. Of course, they said they have no record of termination but only found the new contract and there is nothing they can do to cancel the new one. When my sis called again in English rather than Chinese then they got rid of the new contract and terminated the phone. Odd but true. A month later she was billed and she called into "customer service" (they should really define this word properly!!!!) to clarify. Another month past and she was billed again. She called with a letter of complain on top. While thinking it is finally over and she got no more bills, she received a lawsuit from PCCW saying she owes them $150.40HKD. THE amazing telecommunication company, it took them exactly 7 months to fully terminate one little cellphone line.

Government Offices!!

Location: Ontario, North York
Industry: Government
Company: Canadian Passport Office
Annoyed By: Government staff!!

I do believe this is a global issue, people who are employed by the government, such as passport offices or HR departments have the WORSE attitudes ever. It's always the first line sector/service sector that have these problems since they have to deal with us, the people who FEED them. I can't understand why the employees working at government offices are always so bitter, especially the ones in Canada! It's really frustrating when you want help and all they do is to hand you a paper and tell you to follow the instructions or that there's nothing they could do. If they made things less complicated, they'd probably reduce their workload as well as what they call, "stupid questions".

It is also hard for me to grasp why it is so DIFFICULT to apply for a canadian passport, we are seeking for convenience and efficiency in today's society...why is canada still sooo behind!
Canada really needs to focus on how to train people in the service sector! If you don't like your job, don't do it, don't be bitter just because you have to wake up to go to work. We all had to wake up just to put up with your attitude, which totally ruined the rest of the day.
This lady today was not mean or super rude, but one could just sense that she was bitter and unfriendly. She had no emotions or expression whatsoever. I just think it's really sad that canada's image get spoiled by these front line staff, they are the ones the public come in contact with first, and it just leaves people with a bad impression of the canadian government. *sigh*
Seriously, i refuse apply for a passport again! But the thing is, they know we are forced to go back, and that's why their service will never improve, since they truly believe we are the ones BEGGING them (yeah right!)...i wish someone could just slap them and let them know that at the end of the day, the public are the ones feeding these lazy bums!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

www.ArenaFlowers.com: The unreachable company and invisible delivery

Location: Other, London
Industry: Retail mv
Company: Arenaflowers

I was buying flowers for my girlfriend for our anniversary last year. I have to buy this online since she lives in another country. So I gave www.arenaflowers.com a try, a professional looking site with nice product pictures.

So the order was placed in advance and everything's all set. On the delivery date, I received an email confirming that the flower was delivered at 11:50am. While I thought she would be happy with this little surprise, I got a surprise instead. Cuz she hadn't receive anything from arenaflowers.com yet. I was so pissed and tried to send them an email. I tried ALL the emails listed under their company website customer@arenaflowers.com, florists@arenaflowers.com, feedback@arenaflowers.com, technical@arenaflowers.com and I got an "failure to deliver" error. I then tried contact the company no: +44 20 8993 5400 and it wasn't working at all !!!

So at the end, the order never arrived and we weren't able to reach the company. Fortunately, we didn't let it ruin our day.

I did some more research and found out that other people from Canada also experienced same problem: http://www.reviewcentre.com/review216887.html. So I filed a dispute case to Paypal. And thanks to paypal, the case was being resolved in a week and I got my money back.

No response, no apology, no compensation from www.arenaflowers.com.

Hopefully potential customers of www.arenaflowers.com will see this before they make any purchase.

Approaching our 100th bad service story ! We need your support !!

Recently we have received lots of good feedback on iHateBadService.ca, in particular, people are surprised how quickly their stories show up in first page of Google =). Thanks for everyone's support, we are approaching our 100th bad service story and We would need your support !!

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Enough said, it's time for a little update:





Thanks again everyone, we are counting down, only 9 more stories to go !

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