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Member since 10/5/08
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Posted on: 12/24/13 9:59 AM ET
With a huge family to shop, cook, decorate and plan for every year, Christmas is not the easiest time of year for me. When I find businesses that make this a little easier or more pleasant for me, I like to recognize them. So here are a few of my most pleasant encounters/experiences in this hectic shopping season:

Amazon.com: I ordered lots from them this year and every single thing arrived promptly. When one item was not quite what I wanted, I found their return process to be very easy and painless - MUCH easier than waiting in long lines in a retail store.

Macys at Town Center Mall, Kennesaw: Two different clerks looked me right in the eye and said "Merry Christmas" and I appreciated that. (As I mentioned in another thread, if you're shopping in a mall in the USA in late December, it is a pretty safe assumption that it is related to Christmas!)

Pandora Store at Town Center Mall: When I made a frantic dash for a last minute gift, I found this store packed with customers. But the staff was so well organized that I breezed right through. An associate greeted each person at the door, took down their name, and then passed them along to a salesperson, then a gift wrapper, then the checkout. It was quick and efficient. I was impressed.

Publix at Highland Plaza: It was a total madhouse yesterday. I have never seen anything like it and I've been grocery shopping for 34 years! It was like the day before Thanksgiving plus a major snow day all rolled into one and then some. But the staff was great. Every single register running full speed by their top cashiers who all had a smile on their face. They also had employees walking the aisles offering assistance (I was asked several times if I needed help finding something.)

But I think the nicest thing I've seen all season was this scene: a young Publix employee patiently reading off the names of all the varieties of Lean Cuisines to an elderly man on a scooter who couldn't reach the items. She not only read the names, but even the descriptions for him. She was as sweet and nice to this old man as if she was his own granddaughter. Really made my day in the midst of all the chaos!

Everyone complains about customer service, but I for one have found it actually improving in the retail industry for the most part. Does anyone else have nice stories to share?

(And please...let's keep it positive! If you had problems with Amazon or whatever, I understand, but please don't slam any retailers here. These are kudos only! )

-- Edited on 12/24/13 2:28 PM --
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RunningStitches-mkb.blogspot.com
  
Member since 4/15/06
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Posted on: 12/24/13 10:37 AM ET
Sew Deja Vu- a small, independent quilt shop. Phenomenal staff! Knowledgable. Courteous. Patient. Super helpful when I dashed in for backing yardage for the quilt my son designed for his Special Girl's gift.

Books A Million- big box book retailer, but awesome customer service! Lines were quick and staff exemplary! Good selection. And the peppermint mocha was tasty!

OfficeMaxx- Montrose/Fairlawn, OH. Twice in as many months, they have come through! They had ( and held it for me!) the last uber fancy graphing engineering calculator in northern Ohio as an emergency replacement for one stolen from College Boy's chem lab the night before a major calculus exam. Yesterday, amidst the Holiday Hoopla, they were courteous and extremely helpful….even loading the ginormous box into my car. Love these folks! Worth the drive.




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Member since 6/23/06
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Posted on: 12/24/13 10:44 AM ET
In reply to lisalu
I shopped almost exclusively at Amazon this year. I am an incurable last-minute-er...and although I ordered some things at the end of last week (I'm talking FRIDAY), they have already arrived at the recipients' homes! KUDOS Amazon Dot Com!

Yesterday I actually ventured out to the local brick & mortar Bed Bath and Beyond and after negotiating what is a horrible parking lot (horrible only describes it during the best of times), I found a lot of things at really good prices and minimal wait times at the cash register. PLUS - there was a young lady in a red top and green leggings helping people out to their cars with the shopping cart - in the rain - and she had a smile on her face the whole time! KUDOS BB&B!
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Sewing is my therapy!
  
Member since 10/19/06
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Posted on: 12/24/13 1:10 PM ET
I'll add Wawak. This was my first order from them. I ordered it last night and it's already come this morning. My husband said "That's not just overnight. That's I-can't-get-it-from-down-the-street-that-fast overnight!"
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Kelly
  
Member since 4/23/07
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Posted on: 12/24/13 1:36 PM ET
Retail home town . I applaud those people
Having to deal with grumpy , yelling, you name
It customers. I know I had a few of them.
Hugs to you!!!!!!!!!
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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to god. And
The peace of god, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
  
Member since 12/28/07
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Posted on: 12/24/13 2:20 PM ET
In reply to lisalu
It was heartwarming to read your post, Especially this time of year. I thought of skae when I saw this topic started..
Thank you for postings your stories..
  
Member since 12/13/08
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Posted on: 12/24/13 5:47 PM ET
Great thread!

This year, I have never enjoyed shopping so much as I had working with a variety of etsy merchants. I'm sure there are some duds in the bunch, but EVERY SINGLE ONE I've dealt with has been amazing--communicating promptly, shipping items fast (and sometimes free!), most things packed beautifully. I ordered my mom a faux fur infinity scarf last Thursday night and it was here, spontaneously giftwrapped, by Saturday. The merchant even included a Christmas card for my mom and a coupon for my next order!

Etsy *really* has renewed my faith in small businesses (that had been trampled to ruin by too many brick & mortar small businesses over the years). These days, if I'm looking for something and need it yesterday, I hit etsy first. :)
-- Edited on 12/24/13 5:47 PM --
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~Elizabeth in the prairie
More Plans than Sense
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Member since 12/7/05
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Posted on: 12/24/13 6:49 PM ET
Thanks for this great idea:

Amazon, like many others I appreciate the good prices, quick shipping, etc.

Hepper: a company most wouldn't know, but that makes cool, modern design cat furniture. I changed an order last week after I had submitted it, which they happily helped me with, and then I forgot a promo code, which they credited me with anyway.

LL bean: just love the quality of their clothes, easy shipping (and free), and lots of US made stuff

The US Post Office, which got my packages to their destinations even though I mailed late.


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Posted on: 12/25/13 10:28 PM ET
Huge, HUGE rave for Swiss Knife Shop. DH and I realized our Forschner chef's knife was always dirty, and we never used the other ones, and we should get some more. I searched around for the best price and was just about to check out when it occurred to me that my mom had asked for a specific Christmas list. So I sent her the link to what I wanted.

So she ordered knives for us, my brother, and herself under Dad's name. She was out shopping, and got a call on her cell phone. She answered, the guy asked for Dad, who was in the car. He told her who he was and where he was from, but that he didn't want to give any more details in case he was spoiling a surprise, which was the second thing that impressed her. The first is that she put her home number on the order, but gives her cell number on the answering machine, so that was at least his second call. He was letting her know that one color of the paring knives was not in stock, so they changed it. He offered to upgrade the shipping, as it would arrive on the 26th without it for an extra $12. She said not to bother, because we'll still be here tomorrow. They still got here yesterday.
  
Member since 6/11/10
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Posted on: 12/25/13 11:54 PM ET
I have had such a good shopping experience this year, everywhere - in person, or online. I was really pleased with all the following places....

in person
Barnes & Noble
Sears
Yankee Candle
TJMaxx
Joann's
BestBuy
RadioShack


online
Amazon
LLBean
FabricMartFabrics
Christianbook
  
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