Friday – May 17, 2012
I want to preface this by saying something that is obvious to long-time readers, but may not be to others. We are long time hard-core Sam’s Club™ shoppers. Food, electronics, surround sounds, televisions, PC’s, tires, SNOW BLOWERS…you name it – we buy it at Sam’s Club™ . Rick has always thought they were the best game in town and has actually raved about their customer service.
It was around May 7-8 when the iPad3 that I purchased at Sam’s Club™ (the very first day they came out) died on me. I googled all around and tried everything I could to find out how to bring it back from the dead. Nothing, absolutely nothing that I tried worked on it. And I even resorted to waiting a couple more days because I read on a forum that some guy’s magically restarted after his being dead for a couple of days. Talk about hoping for the best! I was sick to my stomach because these things are not cheap. Another reason I was sick to my stomach is because I babied that iPad3! You don’t even want to know how many different covers I have for it and how particular I am about it. It’s actually sickening. The thing has never even been bumped, let alone dropped or got wet. You want to know something even more sickening? It was over the 1-year warranty by 2 months. TWO MONTHS, people. The iPad3 also had very limited use. If it was used 1-2 times a week for more than an hour that is estimating too high.
It was late on Friday the 10th when we found out that our 32″ television was dead. The one that we bought from Sam’s Club™ in September of 2012. Yeah. The television that has hung on our wall for less than 8 months – DEAD. This was getting ridiculous!!! Again, limited use as it’s a bedroom television.
On Saturday, Rick, after allowing me to try to re-start my iPad3 for the 30th time (that morning!) called our local Sam’s Club™ to inquire about our problem(s). Well. They told him that there wasn’t anything that they were going to do. They said that they’re not “allowed” by Apple to do anything about the iPad3 and that we were out of luck with the television, too. WHAT? We didn’t even have the television for 8 months!
To say I got angry is an understatement. Because here’s the deal. We’re good customers. Hell, we’re GREAT customers! We spend a ridiculous amount of money at Sam’s Club™ because, as I said before, Rick thought the world of them and their customer service. WELL. I was so angry that I vented on my twitter and I’m going to show you exactly how great their customer service really is…
Today is May 17th and we have still not heard from Sam’s Club. How much time and internal investigating does it take for a phone call to be made to our local store giving the manager permission to exchange the 32″ television for one that works? The iPad3 situation has been taken care of by our local Apple store, although it did cost me $99. That’s a story for another day.
So yeah, there’s your great customer service, people! We’re still without our television and Sam’s Club™ doesn’t care. I would say that the only thing they were doing is trying to get me to shut up with my complaints on twitter.
The end game? Well, let me put it to you this way…I have to go out this weekend to do my usual bulk shopping. I think I may just look at my husband and see if he wants to give Costco™ a try.