Shotgun 1 #51 March 24, 2004 Dude, you are a naughty little troublemaker. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carbonezone 0 #52 March 24, 2004 Just an my opinion but.... more and more often I hear skydivers having sour feelings for the NO-Return Policy...hmmmm . Believe me when I say that this statement is NOT directed exclusively to Laurel's event. Remember Kids...A dropzone might be OUR playground BUT it is ALSO an individuals BUSINESS!! Business policy is business policy. GO EASY!! <> Tami Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greene 0 #53 March 24, 2004 And what is your is your point. Not funny in any sence of the word. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 6 #54 March 24, 2004 QuoteLaurel, This is the first I have heard about this situation and I wish you would've dealt with us directly. My staff knows that we have a strict no-refund policy (as most DZs do) and they were just doing their job, but Todd and I would've worked with you and your boyfriend knowing that it was a mistake. We're not in the business of screwing people out of money. Regards, Douglas Smith Chicagoland Skydiving Center http://skydive.com Yep, that's what I thought. It just didn't fit with the business practices that I know of from these guys. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,117 #55 March 24, 2004 QuoteQuoteLaurel, This is the first I have heard about this situation and I wish you would've dealt with us directly. My staff knows that we have a strict no-refund policy (as most DZs do) and they were just doing their job, but Todd and I would've worked with you and your boyfriend knowing that it was a mistake. We're not in the business of screwing people out of money. Regards, Douglas Smith Chicagoland Skydiving Center http://skydive.com Yep, that's what I thought. It just didn't fit with the business practices that I know of from these guys. Smart business owners don't piss off their customers. Just one disgruntled customer can turn away an awful lot of business.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slug 1 #56 March 24, 2004 QuoteSmart business owners don't piss off their customers. Just one disgruntled customer can turn away an awful lot of business. Me thinks this is the third post of this type that I've seen in the last Month? Looks like DZ.com is turning into a consumer complaint/collection agency. Via informal peer group pressure. This is the internet, someone cries foul, is it true? who's at fault? do the regulers get treated the same as the tourists?. Hell I don't know. Maybe "upper" mangement will take care of the "alledged problem" that they were "unaware of". If not, looks like someone else will. Next R.I.P. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,117 #57 March 24, 2004 QuoteQuoteSmart business owners don't piss off their customers. Just one disgruntled customer can turn away an awful lot of business. Me thinks this is the third post of this type that I've seen in the last Month? Looks like DZ.com is turning into a consumer complaint/collection agency. Via informal peer group pressure. This is the internet, someone cries foul, is it true? who's at fault? do the regulers get treated the same as the tourists?. Hell I don't know. Maybe "upper" mangement will take care of the "alledged problem" that they were "unaware of". If not, looks like someone else will. Next R.I.P. My comment was meant as a general observation, not a criticism of CSC specifically (I've jumped there and it's a fine DZ). However, in a service industry relying on discretionary spending, taking good care of customers should be a high priority. I wonder what benefit a "no refunds" policy provides to a DZ to compensate for its irritant value. When I ran a small software business some years ago I had a "no questions asked" replacement policy. I replaced disks with teeth marks in them and coffee stains on them, but I had a lot of happy customers who came back for updates.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #58 March 24, 2004 QuoteI wonder what benefit a "no refunds" policy provides to a DZ to compensate for its irritant value. I'm all about keeping my customers happy, even if it costs my business money - happy customers come back and they tell their friends where to shop too. But I can understand why a dz would have a no refund policy and an expiration date on a gift certificate. I've never owned a DZ... but it seems to me that the "no refund" policies are there to keep costs down, primarily because whuffos decide to buy a tandem and then change their minds later on. Telling them upfront "no refunds" makes them more likely to either make the jump or not buy the certificate in the first place. As a small business owner I can say that dealing with refunds is a bit of a pain and can end up costing the business money. There are "hidden" costs involved in giving someone a refund. Time and paperwork involved in processing both the original sale and the refund cost the business money. Credit card processing costs the business money. Cash refunds aren't as easy as you might think as most small businesses keep a minimum amount of cash on hand. Writing someone a check also has hidden costs to it. This thread makes ya want to run right out and buy a DZ, doesn't it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laurel 0 #59 March 24, 2004 "CS refused to refund his account even though they had not even processed the internet transaction, yet." This was a vital quote from my very first post. There shouldn't have been any "hidden costs" or any true refund or breaking of no-refund rules because when Phil told them about the mistake, they had not processed his order, yet. They processed it after learning of the error. I know the DZOs didn't do this, but their entrusted, paid representatives of the company did this and offered no restitution. PEOPLE!!! READ!!!!!!!!!!!! I am still awaiting Doug's response and I will let you know how it goes...................................................................... PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074 My Pink M Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #60 March 24, 2004 I say chalk it up to a bf not paying attention. You live an learn.. "No Refund" = your not getting your money back.. I don't care, if I was the DZO you'd either be jumping at my DZ on your gift cert or you'd be selling it on eBay. Your boyfriend made the mistake. People do it all the time. Most people live with them and don't go on a public forum bashing a business owner because they're out a $100 because they didn't pay attention to what they were doing and spent it at the wrong location. Laurel your posts are sounding a bit condisending towards the DZ. They have their policies and procedures. Don't bash the place because of your boyfriends mistake. It's not the DZs fault.. Should have contacted the CC Company and disputed the charges as soon as you realised the mistake. Not 8 months after the fact. Eat the $100 and get the f*ck over it.. sheeeeeeesh "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laurel 0 #61 March 24, 2004 The following email was sent to me by Doug. Laurel, I want to apologize for this. I wish you would've contacted me sooner. I don't like when people think negatively about Chicagoland Skydiving Center. We pride ourselves on running a good, fair business. We would be willing to issue a refund minus a 10% processing fee. That will cover our time and the credit card fees. Are you OK with that? If so, please send me your info and I will get a check in the mail... Regards, Douglas Smith http://skydive.com I AM HAPPY. HAPPY. HAPPY. HAPPY. HAPPY. THANK YOU, DOUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ..................................................................... PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074 My Pink M Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slug 1 #62 March 24, 2004 QuoteI say chalk it up to a bf not paying attention. You live an learn.. "No Refund" = your not getting your money back.. I don't care, if I was the DZO you'd either be jumping at my DZ on your gift cert or you'd be selling it on eBay. Your boyfriend made the mistake. People do it all the time. Hi slappie Your correct people do make mistakes, we're all human and perfection is a goal. I hope we can agree that mistakes can be made on both side of the equation. The only people who don't make mistakes are the people who don't do anything. Thats the buyer and seller. The "no refund policy" warrenties etc are business tools but there are always exceptions unless your dealing with a "bad outfit". I agree this wasn't the best way to handle this "failure to communicate" by both parties. "Live and learn" from who? someone who says i'll look into it and get back with you, read the sign Next! or from lifes experiences? Our experiences must be different.BTW wasn't that easy no cussing, no personal attacks, no hard feelings or bad vibes R.I.P. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sdctlc 0 #63 March 24, 2004 QuoteWe would be willing to issue a refund minus a 10% processing fee. That will cover our time and the credit card fees. Are you OK with that? If so, please send me your info and I will get a check in the mail... I AM HAPPY. HAPPY. HAPPY. HAPPY. HAPPY. THANK YOU, DOUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been watching the thread kinda shaking my head the whole time. I can see both sides to the story but would you have been better off just selling the cert??? There were people that offered and you would not have to take the 10% hit. Instead, It seems that the lack of the response that you thought you should have received and really wanted from the DZ staff made you dig in. You wanted to get something back from them even though you could have probably come out completely flush by selling it... It seems this did not need to get this big, thread wise, and probably could have been done slightly differently but hey, I am glad your happy with the outcome and it is resolved.. Scott C."He who Hesitates Shall Inherit the Earth!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #64 March 24, 2004 Scott,,ya hit it right on the head.....sometimes common sense disappears around here,,i see lots of frustrated coroner's...lotsa carving..................smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricaH 0 #65 March 24, 2004 Oops, guess I should read the forum first. There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear. PMS #227 (just like the TV show) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laurel 0 #66 March 24, 2004 Because of Doug's response to this forum, I felt I owed Doug a chance to right the situation at the very least. The 10% loss was not as important as showing all the DZ.commers who read this post that Doug and Chicagoland did right by Phil and myself in the end...................................................................... PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074 My Pink M Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflybella 0 #67 March 24, 2004 Unfortunately, a negative word goes alot further to influence public perception of a business than a positive word does. Quoteshowing all the DZ.commers who read this post that Doug and Chicagoland did right by Phil and myself in the end. Publicly disparaging a dz for your boyfriend's mistake is irresponsible. It absolutely was your boyfriend's mistake. They did not wrong you. They may have been unwavering in policy, but they did nothing wrong. Calling them mean and giving the general impression that they do not care about their customers is wrong - especially if this is your one and only experience with the dz and it's staff. QuoteI felt I owed Doug a chance to right the situation What you 'owe' Doug is an apology. This thread title lives on no matter what the outcome. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoadRash 0 #68 March 24, 2004 For the first time on these forums, I am gonna say this...its done, let it go...and I really wish that this situation could have been resolved without posting on the forums...the concept of this whole thread has pissed me off... I for once would really like this thread to get locked... $0.02 and then some... ~R+R~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sdctlc 0 #69 March 24, 2004 QuoteBecause of Doug's response to this forum, I felt I owed Doug a chance to right the situation at the very least. The 10% loss was not as important as showing all the DZ.commers who read this post that Doug and Chicagoland did right by Phil and myself in the end. I think you owe Doug and ChicagoLand at minimum an apology. The mistake was not theirs at all. By choosing to make this public in the forums you have done a disservice to their business. That is what you owe them an apology for. They made this situation right in your eyes with the refund, which they did not have to do. The truth of the matter though is that they were not neglegent in their actions nor did they do something that endangered people, either of which arguably may be grounds for going public. Over this issue though, it seems to be just petty and spitefull by you. You easily could have sold the certificate and gotten all the money back. Instead you chose to go after them to make a point.... I do not agree with your choice at going public on this issue and dont think that you now saying that they are good guys and did the right thing makes up for the name calling and bad mouthing of the DZ you handed out. Scott C."He who Hesitates Shall Inherit the Earth!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflybella 0 #70 March 24, 2004 While I completely agree that this is a dead horse, specifically... I'd like others to think twice if they ever find themselves in the position to consider posting in this manner. There is something to be learned no matter which side of the argument you stand. I would prefer that this thread be deleted. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #71 March 24, 2004 I agree that the horse is dead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
