Re: What's With XXX-XX Anyway

["alarman" <alarman2000@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Bob La Londe" <nospam@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:45d2802a$0$16294$88260bb3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> Xxx-Xx used to be an ok distributor a decade ago.  I dealt with a branch
> in Ca for a while but they quit taking care of me and following through.
> Then they opened the branch in Phx and it was a little better until the
> branch manager then started screwing up my orders personally.  Don't know
> how many credit aps I faxed him and he lost before I came on here and
> named him.  He ain't there no more.  His replacement was better for a
> while, but my last several orders have been all screwed up and promised
> follow through never happens from a polite call.  I have to call and get
> rude and threatening.  I just don't need that.  They don't sell any major
> product lines that I routienyl sell and can't get elsewhere.
>
> So do they have any good branches or good sales reps?  I don't have a
> problem calling some other branch if I need somethign they have, but I see
> no need to increase the sales numbers of a branch that has so consistantly
> screwed up my orders.

Here is the letter I sent to my local branch manager a few months back: To
date I haven't heard a word from Tri-Ed, just a phone call from the branch.

Debbie Richardson
Tri-Ed

7876 Convoy Court

San Diego, California 92111

Dear Debbie:

I didn't believe that anything could drive me back to ADI, but I was wrong.
After yet another frustrating experience at the Tri-Ed counter this morning,
I had to go over there. And I was surprised to find that they had swallowed
a customer service pill or something, because they seemed to have made some
changes in the way they treat customers.

 I stopped in to Tri-Ed to buy some Yuassa (Genesis) NP7-12 batteries and a
DSC LCD5500Z keypad. The young man at the counter (not Tim) rung up the
keypad, and the batteries. I noticed that the batteries were now $XX.00 ea.,
and the keypad over $XX.00. I did not question the keypad price, I know your
prices are higher, that is why I buy most of my materials from Alarmax now.
I asked about the batteries since I remember paying under $X.00 a while
back. The last time I bought a box, in October I think, the price had gone
over $XX.00, but I was in a hurry and didn't say anything. Now they are
$XX.00. The sales guy said that was as low as he could go, and that I would
"hafta talk to Debbie" if I didn't like the price. At first though, he said
that is what I paid last time (without even looking at the computer, as if
he had the information in his miniature cranial database). I said no, I paid
about $XX last month, and less than $X.00 before that. Again, without
looking it up, he declared "Well, you musta bought DSC batteries then." I
told him that I stopped buying DSC batteries long ago because I discovered
that they are inferior batteries. That is when he finally looked back on the
computer and saw the $X something pricing.

Oh.

1.  I do not like being told that I am wrong by an employee of a place where
I do business, particularly when I am right, and the employee hasn't the
slightest idea what he is talking about.

2.  He was incorrect when he said I'd "hafta talk to Debbie" about my
pricing. I don't "hafta" do anything. There are at least three other supply
houses in San Diego, and I already have accounts established at two of
those. There is another one in Riverside, where I currently do business
because they seem to be capable of keeping my pricing straight, and the
prices are lower to boot.

This has been an ongoing problem at Tri-Ed, and aside from high prices, the
inconsistent pricing of items I buy there is the other reason I have gone
elsewhere.  We have talked about this before; you have told me that you were
having computer problems when your system changed over, but that now my
pricing was "in the computer", and that my prices would come up no matter
which counter bonehead happened to be at the helm. And speaking of that,
that brings us to reason number three: Why is it that I have no confidence
in anyone employed at your counter? Could it be that they don't follow
through when I order something? Is it that they are too busy jack-jawing
with each other or eating their lunches while they are taking calls or
"working" the counter to pay attention to their work?

Talk is cheap. I do not need any more lip service. You have watched my
monthly sales at Tri-Ed decline, and I have tried to tell you about the
problems I have with your operation face to face. Now, it's time to put it
in writing. I don't even know why I bother, since I hardly ever come in
there anymore anyway. Just thought you might like to know.

Sincerely,

Jack Stevens



cc:  Tri-Ed home office via e-mail and USPS