Customer Service

I have a lot of stories when it comes to me and customer service, and most of them are not in my favor . Just recently we found out we needed to get our cedar fence that is around our back yard sprayed for termites. Knowing we only have termites on the fence and not in the house we wanted help saving our fence and would worry about prevention on the house after we both found a job. When I made my first call to get an appointment for an estimate I specifically let them know that we were looking for someone to help us with our FENCE. I even went into how both of us had been unemployed for over six months and that we needed to invest our money into saving our fence and that we would work with the company on a later to date for our house. I set up an appointment with All American Pest Control and Orkin Termite Control who was coming over that week.

When Orkin arrived he was on time and very friendly. We went over and looked at the wood that had been eaten on the fence and then he advised me that he needed about 30 minutes to check the house and then we would discuss what he found. 75 minutes later I knocked on his truck window and asked if he was ready? I again mentioned how we were just interested in saving the fence right now (are you catching a theme yet?) and would worry about the house later when we became employed. He started with the good news that we did not have termites in the house. Then he went on to share how they were going to drill all around the house into the cement and what they were going to use to treat them. He finished and asked if I had any questions? I said, "yes, what about the fence?" "Oh, we don't do fences" was his reply.

(This is what was going on inside my head, #$*#**@# AHHHHHHHHHH!!!) On the outside, I explained my frustration and as calmly as I could asked him to leave my house. This is when he asked if he could share "just one more thing?" Then he went into telling me the cost for servicing the house. (again, in my head,#@*#%, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!) and I escorted him to the door.

So, just to be sure I called All American Pest Control back and explained that we had set up an appointment to look at my fence. I also explained the Orkin situation and asked her if they are able to help me with my fence or not. When she finished talking to the service person she explained that he would gladly do the fence when we did the house. Even after giving my sob story of how we were unemployed and were just trying to save our fence she said they would not do the fence without the house.

Okay, now what was I going to do. I tried one more company, Precision Termite & Pest Control that didn't even have an entire web site, but did have their phone number listed. I called and explained my situation and the owner himself came out that day to look at the fence. They agreed to help and even did above and beyond what they said they would originally cover in the price and came out the very next day. Our fence has been saved!

In a time when people are pinching pennies more than ever before, I really believe that quality customer service is how a company is going to survive. I will be contacting Precision Termite when I can afford my house being treated because they reached out to help someone when times are tough. Does customer service matter to you? Share how.