 Akruto
Sync- If you are looking to synchronize Outlook contacts, calendars,
notes, tasks, etc. between your Windows or Mac device and all your other
devices, including iPhones and iPads, and
Android devices, without storing your data in the cloud, this is for you.
Great customer support.
Charity
Navigator - If you want to donate to a worthy cause, but also want to
know that your donated dollars are being used effectively, I highly
recommend Charity Navigator. They rate charities based on (in great
part) how many of your dollars actually make it to the intended
beneficiaries.
The Chuckbox
- Want a mouthwatering, mesquite-grilled hamburger fixed just the way you
like it in a rustic atmosphere? IMHO, best burgers on the planet
(and I've been eating Chuckbox burgers since 1977, which means I've been
eating their burgers longer than most of their employees have been alive)!
Discount
Tire - I don't know what else to say. If you don't know what
tire you need, they'll help you select without constantly "up-selling
you." If you DO know what you need, bring in the best price you can find and
they'll usually meet the price and order the tires in. They are
fast, honest, and have that "the customer is always right"
attitude (even when as customers, we are being big fat jerks!).
Free
Conference Call
- What's better than getting services for free? Getting GREAT SERVICES for
free. These folks offer a great way to set up a three-or-more-way call,
with or without video or screen sharing. Please
donate
(you'll need to be logged in to your free account to do this) a few bucks
to them if you use and appreciate this service.
KJZZ -
This local NPR-affiliated radio station, run by the Maricopa Community College District, is
commercial-free, offers GREAT news (not 15 second headlines) on
international, national, and local fronts, has "intelligent
talk" programs midday, and very funny shows suitable for the family on
the week-ends. Give it a try, and
then pledge.
Morgan
Mechanical - Trevor Morgan of Morgan mechanical is everything you
could possibly want for a plumbing job (although they do HVAC as well). I
have used him many times for plumbing. In all cases; he responded quickly
to my requests for quote; gave competitive quotes; arrived when promised;
did quality work for the quoted price; and left the workplace clean. I
have NO hesitation in giving a hearty endorsement. You will be delighted!
Orion
Mortgage - Brian Yampolsky and his staff give customized, personalized
service to those looking for loans for a purchase or refinance. Brian
makes you feel comfortable and confident in a process that can be
otherwise quite intimidating. We ended up with a VERY competitive and
low-cost loan for our most recent home purchase, and then a few years
later, refinanced to a historically low rate. Orion takes customers by
referral only, so be sure to tell Brian you found out about him here.
Showcase
Mobile Detailing - Great car detailing service at a fair price. The
crew called ahead, showed up when promised, and were clean and courteous
as they worked to bring that showroom luster back to my car. And these
folks passed the acid test; something went wrong, and when I contacted
them to let them know, they jumped through hoops to correct the issue and make sure I was
delighted. I can highly recommend them to make your vehicle look like new
again!
ZealCards
-
These folks sell gift cards at a discount. Unlike most gift card
resellers, they are responsive, honest, and just a delight to work with.
In the few cases an issue arises, they always work with the customer to
resolve problems fairly. I highly recommend!
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 Arizona Republic/AZCentral -
This
company sets new standards for poor customer service. They have very limited
hours for talking to a person. When you DO talk to a person, that person
doesn't seem to care. They refer you to their website, where you
will yu will find it impossible to accomplish anything. Despite nine requests, they continue to
send unsolicited emails.
Amenity
Pool Service (formerly Poolman) - They sent me service reports for
service that was never performed, left the pool turned off for a
week leading to a green pool, left the pool running during peak power
times, and damaged my service equipment. It's
nearly impossible to get past their call center to speak with a person at
your city's local facility. They lie about if, and when, service has been
performed. Find someone else to perform your
routine pool service. (BBB rating C+)
Coldwater
Creek
- This company went out of business in 2020, partly because of poor
customer service, ridiculous shipping charges, poor return and exchange
policies. They are back but still suffer from the same problems. A
recurring BBB complaint against them is that they sneak in a recurring
monthly fee. They charge
for shipping and for return shipping (and will NEVER refund it, even when
they send the wrong
item). They take nearly a week to process orders; they take two weeks to
respond to email inquiries. (BBB rating: F)
Comerica
Bank - Their tag line is "Raise
your expectations." You can raise your expectations, but
that won't improve their performance. Yes, they actually tried to transfer money from
my other bank to a Comerica checking account we had closed. Poor systems, limited customer
service hours, and representatives who won't t take responsibility for the
bank's poor service. I suggest you find another bank.
EyeBuyDirect - This on-line eyeglass
company makes a simple ordering transaction painful, requesting multiple
validations. They actually requested a copy of my bank
statement before they would ship my $72 on-line order. Two transactions,
six years apart, prove they have no intention of changing. And they do not
honor unsubscribe requests.
Mazda
Financial Services - OMG. It's
simply astounding how painful my interactions with MFS have been. To speak to a person, it took me two calls and nearly 15 minutes to find
my way through their maze of telephone prompts, during which I had
to input info only to have to repeat that information to the
representative who eventually answered. There is NO WAY to see on the website or e-statements
how much of each payment is principal and how much is interest. The
amortization schedules they sent were simply wrong. I can't believe it's even LEGAL to have a
consumer loan where statements don't show how much interest was paid
each month. Stay away. (BBB rating: D)
myotcstore.com
- Years ago I had AmericaRX.com listed here; when they disappeared from the Web, I removed them from this page. It
turns out that like many bad businesses, they just reappear with under a
different name; now they do business as myotcstore.com, but are still unresponsive to calls and emails,
and don't confirm
orders. Worst of all, they don't ship your paid-for product or they send
the wrong product. STAY AWAY! (BBB rating: F)
OptumRx
- This is the prescription benefit side of Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Arizona (and many other prescription drug plans). These folks have a web site that just plain doesn't work.
The automated telephone response technology doesn't work either. Their live representatives, when you can reach them, don't seem to know
what's going on. Other than that, I guess these folks are okay.
US
Bank - After applying for a credit card,
a local branch rep made an unsolicited call to me and
asked how she could help. My first request (to expedite the
credit card application) received the reply "That's not my department." I never got anyone to
answer phone calls made to the local branch. I make an
appointment to put a checking account into the name of our trust, but they
would not accecpt the same documentation other banks accepted to
accomplish this. Instead of
empowering its employees to serve their clients, they provide only excuses why
services cannot be provided.
Woman
Within - Items
listed in their catalog are often not available. Some which are available
don't ship for four months. When you place the items in your digital
basket, one portion of the page says expected date is three weeks
and the other portion says four months. Even for
large orders, they charge outrageous shipping charges. Their return policy
is poor, and their return process is even more painful. You must pay for
the both original and return shipping, even when it's their fault. Stay away. (BBB rating: F)
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