Had another recent company experience -- this time a good one -- that I wanted to share with you.
A month or so ago, I ordered an iPod nano from Amazon. It was the best price I could find on the web for a company I trusted (I could have saved $5 from Company XYZ, but it simply wasn't worth it), so I pulled the trigger. Like the rest of the free world, I fell in love with my iPod and can't remember how I ever lived without.
But, I had one small problem -- my battery didn't last very long. I went to the Apple site, looked up the information, and ran their diagnostic test. Sure enough, I was only getting 9 hours of battery life versus the recommended 14. (BTW, this is under IDEAL settings -- no backlight, letting the piece play straight through -- one song after another, etc. You won't get close to this by using it the way most people do.)
So I wrote Amazon telling them of the problem. I went to them instead of going to Apple because I figured I'd get better customer service from Amazon. I've dealt with them before and they've always been great. I like Apple too, but Apple's a manufacturer and manufacturers tend to tell you why the product's not really bad and why you should keep it. I didn't want to deal with that mess.
While I was at the Amazon site I noticed that the price for the nano was now lower than what I paid, so I mentioned this in my note. I got a response in a few hours with directions on how to send my nano back (simply print off the postage paid form, pack it up, and send it back). It also said they'd be sending me a new one (which I received a couple days later) and that they'd be crediting my credit card for the price difference of the nano (the reduction in price since I'd bought mine). I was (and still am) a very happy camper. Kudos to Amazon for some great customer service.
And before I close this post, I wanted to share a few of the podcasts that I've been enjoying (in case you're looking for some good ones). All of these are available through iTunes for free. I've listed the podcast and their "official" description from iTunes:
- BusinessWeek Cover Stories -- Get the story about the cover story. On Thursday evenings, we'll complement the new issue's cover story with an extensive interview with its writers and editors. Listen in as they delve deeper, offering impressions, insights, and analysis that add extra dimensions to the print story.
- The Glenn and Helen Show -- Tune in for interviews, book talks, and conversations about current topics, led by Glenn Reynolds, law school professor, technology trend follower, author, and blogger, and Dr. Helen Smith, forensic psychologist, author, and blogger.
- MoneyBloggerPodcast -- The podcast is a series of interviews of my favorite bloggers in the fields of personal finance, frugality and simple living.
- Sports Business Radio -- Sports Business Radio focuses on the issues and people directly impacting the world of sports business. Guests on the show offer an insider's perspective on the business side of sports and include pro sports league executives, agents, college athletics administrators, sports apparel company reps, ad agency executives, media executives and athletes.
- NPR: Motley Fool Profiles -- CEOs, prominent authors and cultural icons delve inside companies and industries. From host David Gardner's Foolishly smart show about personal finance and investing.
It is a widely known fact that you can get credited back the difference in price if the item's price gets lower during the first 30 days from the date of purchase. You only have to ask for it, as amazon won't refund that automatically...
Posted by: ACE | March 15, 2006 at 03:35 PM
I know it's widely known -- don't you think that's a great feature?
Posted by: FMF | March 15, 2006 at 03:42 PM