Customer service - a tale of two wireless phone companies

Back in December 2002 we broke down and decided to sign up for a wireless phone plan, basically for emergency use. The "more bars" company was running a special. We picked out small simple phones at the local company store. Once home we discovered we only got a weak signal in our neighborhood. But as the intent was to have the phones for when we were on the road, that was OK. We humorously noted that we got a stronger signal at the little rural town we liked to go to for breakfast than in our city.

A year or two later we got a notice from the city about a public hearing for a request for a permit to place a cell tower in our neighborhood. Our city has quite a number of very vocal paranoids that are convinced we'll all die from electromagnetic transmissions. I knew that they'd be trying to stack the ballots as it were with calls and letters to the city. I decided to become civicly involved and wrote a letter to the city in support of the tower, stating security concerns. The local police department was recommending that residents always have their cell phones with them as they walk through their neighborhoods. My neighborhood was a dead zone.

Somehow the company got their permit and put up the tower. We finally had a strong signal at our house. That all ended around January 2, 2009. We were back to even worse signal strength than the beginning. A call to the local store confirmed that others in our neighborhood also had called in to complain. We called the national number. Call one to them ended up with them just taking a report. Call two a couple days later got them to ask a few more questions and promise to follow up. That call did provide the information that the cell tower near us was a partner tower. They promised to look more into it and give me a courtesy call in two days. A week after that call (with no courtesy call received) we got a four bar signal one night but then the very next day we got absolutely nothing, in fact when checking out the service we received an unauthorized message. Call three got them to listen a bit more and finally passed me on to a technician. That technician admitted that the partnership had been canceled. I asked if they were in negotiation to become partners again. They weren't. What was her suggestion to me? To upgrade my service. How would paying for a more expensive plan help getting a signal. I informed her that instead I would be changing carriers.

At work there was a flyer about state employee discounts through the "Can you hear me now" company. I sent an email to the state employee representative mentioned on the flyer. Seven minutes later I received a return email with plan details. She also left a voice message for me.

We changed plans and purchased new phones at a local authorized reseller. Both employees we dealt with there were knowledgeable about the "Can you hear me now" company's product and services. Based on our phone usage at the other carrier they knew we'd only be interested in the bare bones plan and phone. We got no up-sell at all.

Our first bill came and it showed activation fees when we were told the fees would be credited back immediately. I called the "Can you hear me now" company and within 5 minutes I was speaking to a live person. That person was empowered to resolve the issue after checking with a supervisor. I also received an email confirmation with the new balance noted.

Epilogue - two days after we switched I got the courtesy call from "more bars" It was a satisfaction survey.

25 Things

There is a meme going around Facebook, 25 random things about yourself. You are to then tag 25 other people to do the same thing. I'll not put anyone on the spot by tagging them. If you wish to participate, go ahead and add a note to your Facebook profile or a post to your blog. To my two blog readers, here's more about me.

1 I'm a morning person
2 I can't stand the flavor of licorice, root beer, anise, etc.
3 Was an avid international folk dancer
4 I've collected elephant stuff since age 5
5 First job was as a summer camp counselor
6 I spent my senior year of college on the education abroad program in Israel
7 Became a librarian because I liked my roommate's homework
8 Wanted to be an archaeologist to dig up ancient tombs in Egypt
9 My cell phone is almost always off
10 Created a neighborhood lending library when I was in elementary school. Jennifer still has a book overdue
11 Have four pleasure books being read at a time, one per location: home, bus, work, walk
12 Still have my tonsils and wisdom teeth
13 Wear sensible shoes
14 My first computer was a Kaypro II
15 I've never had a pet
16 I'm extremely shy
17 I've only owned 3 cars in over 30 years
18 Never smoked, ever
19 Don't understand the appeal of gambling
20 I used to answer all the questions sent to the California Home Page, some were doozies
21 I hate eggplant
22 My idea of a great vacation is a cruise, not much planning needed
23 I miss being a cataloger
24 Walk several miles every day
25 Prefer hot weather to cold

As I was trying to come up with 25 things about me I was conscious to not reveal too much personal information about myself. I'm concerned about personal data being published on the Internet. With online banking now using more personal challenge response questions instead of the standard "mother's maiden name" is it a good idea to post your dog's name or your favorite color?

I'm finally a big girl, at least when it comes to having blood drawn

When I was small I used to scream and thrash whenever I got a shot or had to have blood drawn. My mother had to practically sit on me to hold me steady for the doctor. Having a low threshold for pain and having all those traumatic experiences in my youth I've never been brave or good with having blood drawn. I passed the mid-century mark a few years back but haven't been able to get past that.

Several years ago I was found to carry the family genes for high cholesterol. That required continual monitoring of levels, which meant frequent blood tests. They were always painful and very stressful on me. Somewhere I picked up the advice to bite a finger on the other arm as they are about to put in the needle. The theory being you are causing yourself pain which will move your focus away from the needle. With some phlebotomists (person who draws the blood) that technique doesn't really do much.

Not long ago my medical office changed labs. The phlebotomist at the new lab is very kind and gentle. He's quite good at always finding the vein and causing very little pain. The last time I was in, as he wrapped the constrictor tubing on my arm, I did my usual finger bite. He commented "Oh right, you are the one who has to bite her finger" That shamed me into trying it today without any crutches. As he was getting ready I commented that I was going to be brave and not bite my finger. He said "it's not going to work, see, you are already thinking about it." But I did it, I just sat there and it didn't bother me when he stuck in the needle.

All bets are off however, if I end up with a different phlebotomist. And, I'm still a big baby when it comes to shots and dental work.

99 Things Meme

Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain. (if Lassen peak counts)
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning. (I'd like to see someone italicize this one)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. (I think I did as a kid)
18. Grown your own vegetables. (nothing beats the flavor of home grown tomatoes)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. (long long long ago in a prior job)
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run. (hah, couldn't even hit the ball, let alone out of the park)
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (but I'm frugal so I'm pretty satisfied)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance. (another one that probably isn't on many people's must-do list)
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. (ithe back seat in our PJ's)
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies. (Camp Fire Girl mints were my thing)
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. (it sure seemed like he was speeding to me)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. (but current car was bought used)
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

Nearest book Meme

"Here it was, blocked by the chance falling of a tree!" Earth Abides, George R. Stewart

Rules:
* Grab the book closest to you.
* Go to page 56.
* Find the 5th sentence.
* Write that sentence as your status in Facebook.
* Copy these instructions as a comment to your status.
* Don't go looking for your favourite book, or the coolest one you have - just grab the closest one.

Fuzzy Math or Creative Advertising

Perhaps someone can explain this math problem to me.

I just received a flyer from a nearby department store. It is promoting their MVC (Most Valued Customer) program. Here is the exact wording on the flyer:

MVCs (Most Valued Customers) can pick a day to save even more on one day's
purchases in store and online - six times a year. That's a total of 18
extra savings opportunities!

Here's my calculations of the total savings opportunities: Six days in store plus six days online equals 12 extra savings opportunities, not 18. What am I not seeing?

Take paradise and ...

Replacement tree
Originally uploaded by siegel_jackie.

Back in January the large stately street tree right outside my cubicle window fell down in the wind. City workers promised me that they would replace my tree.

About six months later they did, with a parking station.

Oh Joni, you had it so right.