Friday, May 9, 2008

Sometimes It Takes a Bitch

After I wrote my post yesterday morning, I started thinking about the dishwasher saga, and the fact that I paid a lot of money and wasn't getting what I had paid for, and no one seemed at all interested now that they had my money, and even threats of legal action weren't helping, and people...I got mad.

So I did it.

I packed up a load of dirty dishes in a cardboard carton and drove to the showroom. I made a brief effort at containing my righteous anger, but when the store manager attempted to tell me that his service department wasn't responsible for my problem in the first place (even though I've been dealing with them for six weeks), because my dishwasher was no longer covered under the original warranty, and I needed to call the extended warranty people...well. I unloaded a whole heap of crazy pissed off bitch all over the place. Several people ducked under desks and I'm pretty sure at least one of them pushed the panic button. When my head swiveled 360 degrees and flames shot out my nostrils, the manager got on the phone. I overheard his end of the conversation. I took careful note to make sure it didn't involve words like "hostage" and "insane" and "police". It did involve statements like "in my store right now" and "not at all happy" and "I really don't think that's going to go over well at all".

The end result is I'm getting a brand new dishwasher, installed, at no cost. With a brand new warranty and a brand new extended warranty, also at no cost.

And I got out of there before the police showed up.

Score one for my inner bitch.

35 comments:

juicyknits said...

Wow! You rock! Thumbs up! You're my personal hero.

Patty said...

YOU ARE WONDERFUL, Suzanne! Congratulations! I wish I could do that. I rage about it at home then get all sweet and smiley in person. Sigh. A heroic moment for sure! And I'm so glad you are getting a new dishwasher. We bought one with our house which pales in comparison to the nice one we'd installed about 12 months before we sold our last house. We really value a good dishwasher around here!

marit said...

Great!!! That's the way to deal with it! I wouldn't dare, and that makes me angry at myself...

sophanne said...

YYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

sheep#100 said...

Good for you.

It really is a shame that you have to get insanely angry for anything to get done sometimes but the squeaky wheel and all of that...

Jen said...

OMFreakingGAWSH! You are AWESOME! :)

Anonymous said...

That's pretty badass! Not only did you get what you should have had in the first place, but I'm sure all those people went home with a great story to tell.

Jane said...

Way to go!

Melissa Morgan-Oakes said...

I am so proud...I may have to drive to you when I am out. I am SO impressed!!

Tammy said...

You go girl! I'm very proud!

Sharon said...

I'm so proud of you. You showed what direct confrontation can accomplish when being sweet, patient and genteel (like women are expected to be) doesn't work. I wish I could express anger in such an effective way, unfortunately I lose it and burst into tears.

Huzzah! I'm not worthy!!

patrice said...

Wow - that's amazing! I really wish I had been a fly on the wall for that "discussion". Don't these people get that the most important part of their jobs is Customer Service??? Have they not heard of word-of-mouth advertising and its power to be both positive and NEGATIVE? You'll never shop there again, probably never buy Bosch again, and all your friends, both real and internet-y, will take note of your experience and file it away until it's time for them to buy an appliance.
So glad it all worked out for the best - now to wait and see how the new one works, right?
PS - Please don't tell me you bought it at Pacific Sales, where I will be going shortly to look at washers and dryers!

old lady said...

Helen Reddy would have used you for her song!! Good for you!

Anonymous said...

Awesome. You are Everywoman's Heroine. You could rent yourself out to the rest of us wimps to do our complaining for us. We would pay handsomely.

Senja said...

Way to go! And its, "Stong woman who knows what she wants and won't get ploughed over." Not Bitch:)

Lydee said...

What exactly did you say to them to get fast results? And did you unload the box of dirty dishes on the showroom floor? Wish I could have been there!

Angelika said...

Wow, I would have loved to have seen that. No wonder you are a lawyer. Sometimes it takes and extraordinary effort to get what you deserve. You did it. I'm proud of you. Ummm, who ended up doing the dishes?

Mother of Chaos said...

OH! You are my hero!! It is such a shame that it had to get to that point but GO YOU!!!

Unknown said...

Good for you! I tend to do the same to get the service we deserve though I am possibly more lady like about it! Like with my sticking up to the police the recent weekend i wrote about. Sometimes we have to demand correct treatment.

Viktoria said...

Good job! Sometimes you just need to release that inner bitch to get the job done right!

knottykitty said...

Whooo-hoooo! I'm so proud of you, I'm verklempt! And a brand new dishwasher---the best part! Don't you wish you would have gone all bitch on their asses about a month ago?!

Anonymous said...

WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!! Way to go!! I'm in awe...I am also one who gets all worked up and then bursts into tears of rage. Unfortunately, that tends to be counter-productive. Hope this one works like magic!

Diane said...

Good girl!

We have a Siemens dishwasher, which is the same thing, and it totally works. You have a lot to look forward to, my friend!

I just got a new refrigerator after 8 years of dealing with the second delivered (wrong)fridge, and I just didn't have the fight in me at the time to keep up the effort. NOT fighting still wears you out, but over a long period of time.

Way to go! That's really the only equitable resolution - you are my hero!

Lara said...

Hail to your inner bitch! That is great. I think you did the right thing. You deserve a new dishwasher and should never have gotten so out of hand. Great job!

Paula said...

Sometimes it takes a little passion to get those business types to do the right thing ! You go girl !!!!

Anonymous said...

I get sooooo frustrated at bad customer service. This is so amazing! You are definitely my hero. Congrats!

Fibra Artysta said...

Atta girl! I have a note card that has a quote from Courtney Love on it (not my favorite person but I love the quote) and it says: "I found my inner bitch..and ran with her."

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Glad they finally stepped up and corrected the situation!

Deb said...

I've just found your blog after reading a comment of yours on the Blue Blog (http://alison.knitsmiths.us/002711.html#comments).
Lets hope the replacement dishwasher doesn't cause the onset of your wrath once again.

Anonymous said...

Woo Hoo. Way to Go!!!!

Kim said...

Good for you! Sometimes it takes letting loose the beast to get things done. I am so impressed!

Sarah said...

*Standing ovation!*

Tisha said...

Wow, that post has just inspired me, i'm haveing issues with a stove I bought... It's been months, and I've gotten nowhere...I guess i've been to nice, I need to turn bitch! Thanx!

Sunflowerfairy said...

You're my hero.

Well, you and Anne Hanson (Knitspot).

Maureen said...

WOW!! I think you should start the public speaking circuit...."How To Get Consumer Satisfaction." Way to go.

Gingersnaps with Tea... said...

An inspiration! I am lucky I guess. My high-end appliances all work. However, if they didn't I don't think I could do that but surely I admire you for doing it!!