Children’s Jewelry Recalled Because of High Lead Content By JCK Staff Posted on September 23, 2010 D&D Distributing-Wholesale, Tacoma, Wash., is recalling children’s “mood ring” jewelry because of high lead content, according to a report in The Seattle Times. The jewelry was made in China, the report said.
Please, please stop poisoning our children!
Stop buying this crap!
Listen, everyone. China got the bright idea to substitute cadmium for lead. However, it’s just as toxic! Granted, it was because the US raised their regs and came down on China last year about this problem. However, you need to still be vigilant.
Stop buying ‘cheap jewelry” for your children. China is only concerned with China. It makes no difference to them if your kids get sick, because they already have YOUR DOLLARS!
Yes, I KNOW your daughters and their friends like it, it’s cute, and “everybody has one”. But I’m begging you, before you buy that trinket for your children, ask the store clerk or the manager about the country of origin for the product. If it’s packaged, read the damn package! If they cannot tell you, or will not tell you, DO NOT BUY IT.
Buy jewelry that’s stamped as sterling silver. Often you’ll see the symbol .925. ( Or buy gold.Yeah, I know it’s more expensive. ) And again, quiz the sales help. If everyone keeps up the pressure, the corporate honchos will learn to stop trying to make a fast buck at the expense of the safety and health of the American public.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Why Customer Service Means Respect
I recently made an online purchase. No big deal, done it before. However, what got my goat, was their attitude towards customer service. I placed the order and received the confirmation email. I didn't expect to receive the tracking number immediately, because I ordered over the weekend. Monday morning, I sent an email, requesting the UPS tracking number. Later in day received replay that request had been forwarded to shipping department. After two days, and no response, I called to request my tracking number. The person who answered the phone was polite enough. She indicated that the person who did the shipping was on the phone. Did I want to hold?
I assented. After ten minutes of listening to dreadful “on hold” music, I hung up. Upon calling back, and making the same request, I was tersely informed that the shipper was very busy. I indicated that I had been waiting for over two days for a reply to my question. She then got quite snippy with me, telling me that they were just “too busy”. I asked to speak with a manager. She then said she would take my name and number, and assured me the shipper would call as soon as possible. She also indicated that it had been shipped; so what was my problem? I reiterated that I wanted the tracking number. Period.
About three hours later, the shipper called and was obviously irritated that he had to deal with me. I had left with the person that took my phone number, along with my name, order number and phone number. Upon providing the same information, he indicated that he would have to take time to look it up, a major inconvenience for him as he was “so busy”.
At that point, I admit I became quite annoyed. He said it "just too much trouble, and took too much time, to notify customers of their tracking numbers". I gently pointed out that since he was using UPS online shipping, all he had to do was check the box to inform customer of their shipping details, which would automatically generate to email and send it to the customer. Some have to plan to receive deliveries. Further, as a business-owner who serviced online clients, I always sent my customers their detail information.
At that point, he informed me that he had been shipping for“almost a year”, and that “he knew what he was doing”. I told him that I would take that into consideration, the next time I needed that sort of product, his company offered and make another decision as to where I would shop in the future, because I was not happy with their customer service. No aplogy was forthcoming.He informed me that they had “the best customer service, and that I did not know what I was talking about”.It was more important to justify himself than appreciate his customer's needs!
Yes, red fire jumped out of my eyes. I have served my customers online for over ten years. I lose sleep thinking about how I can improve their online experience with me. Because I'm here and they're way over there, somewhere. I want them to feel like I am accessible, and considerate of their needs and wants. One of my main concerns as as online retail merchant is to provide as much assistance to my customers as I can. After all, they don't know me. They're making a selection on faith, trusting that I will not only provide them with a product exactly as described and seen (if not better), but also provide them with a pleasant experience, reinforcing their decision to trade with me, and by extension, their good judgment. To that end, I will confirm the order by email immediately, and thank them for their custom. When I ship their selection, I email the tracking number so that they know I take them seriously and have care for them.
I respect my customers. I know my customers are very busy. That's one of the reasons they shop online. They do not have time to call, sit on hold, or email repeatedly. Nor should they have to! I value their consideration. They are not simply marks, or suckers ripe for picking.
Customer service is all about respecting your clients. And, whether or not someone makes a purchase or not, I still consider them to be very important. Showing respect will also garner more business. The person you satisfy and positively reinforce, will trade with you again. They may not tell anyone else about their satisfaction. They may not even inform you that they're unhappy. You simply will never hear from them ever again. But I guarantee that if a customer is displeased, then all their friends will know about it. And you will have devalued your own product!
www.beadbear.com
I assented. After ten minutes of listening to dreadful “on hold” music, I hung up. Upon calling back, and making the same request, I was tersely informed that the shipper was very busy. I indicated that I had been waiting for over two days for a reply to my question. She then got quite snippy with me, telling me that they were just “too busy”. I asked to speak with a manager. She then said she would take my name and number, and assured me the shipper would call as soon as possible. She also indicated that it had been shipped; so what was my problem? I reiterated that I wanted the tracking number. Period.
About three hours later, the shipper called and was obviously irritated that he had to deal with me. I had left with the person that took my phone number, along with my name, order number and phone number. Upon providing the same information, he indicated that he would have to take time to look it up, a major inconvenience for him as he was “so busy”.
At that point, I admit I became quite annoyed. He said it "just too much trouble, and took too much time, to notify customers of their tracking numbers". I gently pointed out that since he was using UPS online shipping, all he had to do was check the box to inform customer of their shipping details, which would automatically generate to email and send it to the customer. Some have to plan to receive deliveries. Further, as a business-owner who serviced online clients, I always sent my customers their detail information.
At that point, he informed me that he had been shipping for“almost a year”, and that “he knew what he was doing”. I told him that I would take that into consideration, the next time I needed that sort of product, his company offered and make another decision as to where I would shop in the future, because I was not happy with their customer service. No aplogy was forthcoming.He informed me that they had “the best customer service, and that I did not know what I was talking about”.It was more important to justify himself than appreciate his customer's needs!
Yes, red fire jumped out of my eyes. I have served my customers online for over ten years. I lose sleep thinking about how I can improve their online experience with me. Because I'm here and they're way over there, somewhere. I want them to feel like I am accessible, and considerate of their needs and wants. One of my main concerns as as online retail merchant is to provide as much assistance to my customers as I can. After all, they don't know me. They're making a selection on faith, trusting that I will not only provide them with a product exactly as described and seen (if not better), but also provide them with a pleasant experience, reinforcing their decision to trade with me, and by extension, their good judgment. To that end, I will confirm the order by email immediately, and thank them for their custom. When I ship their selection, I email the tracking number so that they know I take them seriously and have care for them.
I respect my customers. I know my customers are very busy. That's one of the reasons they shop online. They do not have time to call, sit on hold, or email repeatedly. Nor should they have to! I value their consideration. They are not simply marks, or suckers ripe for picking.
Customer service is all about respecting your clients. And, whether or not someone makes a purchase or not, I still consider them to be very important. Showing respect will also garner more business. The person you satisfy and positively reinforce, will trade with you again. They may not tell anyone else about their satisfaction. They may not even inform you that they're unhappy. You simply will never hear from them ever again. But I guarantee that if a customer is displeased, then all their friends will know about it. And you will have devalued your own product!
www.beadbear.com
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