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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

So shines a good deed in a weary world...

by Zona


Randy and I went shopping yesterday..not for anything fun..unfortunately..but to get new tires for the car. Everyone dreads this kind of purchase..it's expensive..and it's boring. I understand that you have to have good tires..especially in this kind of heat..but it's still a pain to have to lay out that kind of money for something that doesn't even make you smile...kwim? We've always gotten our tires at Costco..and since they were having a sale..that's where we headed. Andy..the Tire Center guy..told us that a set of four tires would run us around $600. I think I stopped breathing for a minute..I looked over at Randy..he looked sick. "Seriously?" I asked. Andy explained that they were Michelins..had a 90,000 mile warranty..and blah blah blah..I don't even know what else he said. Randy finally sighed..and said 'Ok'..reasoning they would probably last the life of the car..that they were excellent tires..and more blah blah blah. I could only seem to hear 'cha-ching..cha-ching'. He paid for the tires and installation..while I checked the computer screen for the 5th time..hoping to find that Andy had transposed numbers somewhere. Nope. Dang. We were told it would take about an hour to change the tires..we left a cell number just in case there was a problem..and then walked over to In-N-Out to get something to eat. Thank goodness we had a gift card..or I would have insisted on getting Costco's $1.50 hot dog and soda special! We ordered and then sat down to wait for the food..there wasn't much talking going on. We were bummed. About 5 minutes later Randy's phone rang..it was Costco. He answered..listened for a couple minutes and said "Ok..I'll be right over.." and hung up. He had a confused look on his face. "Oh geez..what now?" I asked..sure that they had found something wrong and that it was gonna cost even more. He didn't say anything for a minute..then said.. "Andy said we have at least 20,000 miles left on our tires..we don't need a new set...he wants me to come back so they can refund our money." We were both shocked. Really? When was the last time someone sold you something..and then told you to come back so they could refund your money because you really didn't need what you had just purchased? Unbelievable. I have to admit..I was surprised by that kind of honesty from a business..I really was.
 
To Randy and I...what Costco did truly was a good deed in a world where there seems to be too few of them anymore. Thanks Andy.  :)

14 comments:

Unknown said...

BAM!!

Unknown said...

How do they know that your tires have 20,000 miles left on them?

I have always thought the tires that came on a car stayed on a car and then when you get another car of course it has new tires...

unless of course you run over something or somebody and damage a tire....

Is this an Arizona thing because of the heat?

sacBarb said...

Zona, what a great story. You never expect something like that to happen or if it does, it happens to someone else. However, I had an experience with Mervyn's a long time ago that restored my faith in humanity (for a short time). I did a LOT of shopping at Mervyn's and I bought the obligatory clothes and pajamas for the kids for Christmas. I shopped around for what else I could buy, including fabric. I did find some other things and finally got out of the store and put my purchases in the trunk of my car.

A few days later, when the kids weren't home, I was going to wrap the gifts for them. When I got all the stuff out of the car, none of the clothes were there. I panicked! I called the store to ask if they had a lost and found, thinking I probably set the bags down in the fabric department and left them there. I told the woman that I charged everything and she could check my account to verify what I bought in case the stuff was there. She paused and said 'just a moment' and soon the manager came on the line and said, 'We don't have your packages, but we checked your account and you can come into the store and replace everything you lost at no cost.' I couldn't believe my ears. I rushed right down to the store in case they came to their senses and changed their mind.

Even before this happened, Mervyn's was MY store. I shopped there at least 2-3 times a month. Chad took weekly drum lessons across the street from the store and I would go there to 'just look around' while waiting for him and almost never came out empty handed. I guess they thought my business was worth keeping. ;-)

sacBarb said...

Sorry about the novel above. I didn't realize it was so long.

Michael, congrats on flying in first. BTW, that looks like its gonna leave a mark!

A-51
Shirley, loved your blog about the South African airline, especially the old lady who asked if they landed or were shot down.

Just_Lin said...

Michael Congrats on first but you would please put some pants on before you get another spanking? Oh, wait....you might like that. Well, don't sit on our furniture like that......'k?

Just_Lin said...

Zona That was a neat story and you don't hear those kinds of things too often. It's nice to know you can trust the auto department there. My question is...why did you and Randy think you needed new tires?

Just_Lin said...

SacBarb I used to go to Mervyn's a lot, too. Loved that store. I'm sorry you didn't get your stuff back but how great that the store cancelled the purchases on your credit card.

A couple of weeks ago, friends and I went to the Starbuck's at the local shopping center after we returned from having dinner out. We noticed a woman's wallet and iphone left in the top section of a grocery cart sitting alone in the parking lot. She had "home" listed in her contacts so we were able to call her. She didn't even realize her stuff was missing yet.

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

Splat!

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

I like hearing stories like this! We so often just hear the bad stories people have about customer service.

I remember when I worked in a grocery store an elderly English woman came in and asked about a particular kind of jam she and her late husband use to buy. She hadn't had any since her husband had passed away and wanted to start buying it again. I told her I would check our computer and let her know before she left the store. I went to the office, found the type of jam she wanted and ordered a case to come in with our next shipment in 2 days. I went and found the lady and she was so pleased she gave me a hug. She said she had asked at the other store but no one seemed to be able to help her. She said she spoke to 3 different people and then just gave up. I'm glad I was able to help, and it only took about 15 minutes!

Just_Lin said...

Shirley That's a nice story. That lady always remembered your kindness, I'm sure.

Maureen said...

ZONA...I love this story. It does kinda restore one's faith in humanity!

JUST LIN...i found a wallet in the parking lot at the grocery store. No phone but I took it in so I would have a witness as I looked for ID. I found a business card and I was able to call and found the owner. She had no idea she left it behind.

BARB...That was great of Mervyns to do that.

ZONA 2...my stellar record remains intact again tonight!

Dianne/Denver said...

Zona---great story. It's so nice to hear things like that really happen. Thanks for sharing ur story with us.

Hi Michael in first place today. Why don't u have ur pants on today? You r going to get cold!!!

Sac barb: that was really nice about your clothes. Especially when it wasn't even the same day. If stores only knew how much it kept people comin back.

JL and Mo-- boy I wish someone would have turned in my purse when I left it a couple of years ago. No such luck. That lady was very lucky.

Shirley--you r a sweetheart. I bet you made that ladies day.

I went to eye dr and primary for these damn shingles. Tomorrow Louis goes for his two week checkup. It's a lot of fun at our house.

sacBarb said...

Dianne, I'm so sorry you and Louis are having so many health problems. You and Louis are both in my prayers.

J/L, They did let me replace all the clothes I 'lost' that day. Since I charged them, they had a record of everything I bought that day, but I only asked for the things that were missing. I guess I could have taken advantage of the situation, but I was so grateful that I was able to replace what was lost, I didn't want to challenge my karma.

Zona said...

Hi Guys!

Thanks so much for the comments on my blog today..I still have a hard time believing what happened..seriously made me rethink my cynical attitude!

MICHAEL: OUCH! Looks like someone got clobbered..but was it in a good way..or a bad way? ;)

I asked Randy how they know how many miles are left on tires..he says they measure the tread..how?..well..I'm guessing with a tread measurer!! ;D

BARB: That's a great story! It's things like that that make you really loyal to a store!

J/LIN: Two weeks before we went to Costco Rand had the oil changed at the dealer. They told him he needed new tires and wanted to sell them to him right then and there. He said no thanks..but got to thinking about how long it had been since we had gotten new tires..and decided to go ahead and get them at Costco while they were having a sale. Things like fan belts, hoses and tires wear out a lot quicker here because of the heat.

SHIRLEY: That was so sweet of you..15 minutes and you made that woman's day..week..year! :)

MO: You are definitely queen of the tiles!! :D Thanks again!

DI: Is that the purse that had your Raiders fan club membership card in it? I'll make sure you get another one.. ;) SWAK!!