Since I am trying to branch out as a freelance writer, I decided to purchase some print-your-own business cards. I went to Wal-Mart and chose a pack of 100 cards (laid out on sheets of 10 each) made by Ampad. I had never heard of them before, but the package had a template number listed for use in Windows, so I decided to give them a try.
I am not sure what went wrong! I designed my cards just the way I wanted them and attempted to print based on the template I had used. When I first printed them, they started at the top of the page instead of printing from the bottom of the top margin. So I decided since that one was already ruined, I would turn it over and try again – the same thing happened. I searched on Ampad’s website for technical support. There were instructions on margins and the template. Great! I tried the suggestions…and wasted another sheet of cards. “Okay,” I said to myself, “It’s time to call customer service for Ampad.”
I looked up the customer service phone number on their website. When I got through to the correct person, Sue, I explained the problem. I was very polite and never implied that anything was wrong with the product itself. She had some suggestions for me. Over the next half-hour, she stayed on the phone with me as we tried one thing after another. We tried recalibrating the printer and that didn’t work. The, she suggested that I changed the paper type setting on the printer because sometimes the thickness of the paper will have an effect on how the printer pulls it in. So we tried the “transparency” setting and the “photo paper” setting. Still nothing…and we wasted another sheet. We kept trying different things, but to no avail. Sue thought that there was a possibility that I might have made one of the squares in the template a little big. By this time, I only had two sheets left. Sue then told me that because of the inconvenience I had experienced, they would send me a free pack of business cards. Wow! I didn’t even have to ask for it. Now that’s a way to run a business! I thanked her immensely and we ended the call.
Well, after a couple of weeks I have received the cards (there was an address mix-up). I opened the package to find…SIX packs of 100 count business cards! I knew that they were going to send me at least one, but I never thought they would send me as many as six. Job well done, Sue!
The bottom line here is that there is a certain way to approach a situation when you are an unsatisfied consumer. Here are some handy tips to follow.
1. Stay calm. If you blow things out of proportion, you will never get your thoughts clear enough to make sense in your own mind, let alone anyone else’s.
2. Be polite. When you speak to the person in charge regarding the situation at hand, you will most likely get more cooperation if you are not screaming into the phone (or in the person’s face). Pardon the cliche, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for a refund or a replacement product if it is not offered to you. If you have followed Steps 1 and 2, whoever is in charge of the situation will most likely be willing to honor your request.
4. If you are still not satisfied with the outcome, contact a corporate manager or the Better Business Bureau. That will most likely get the attention of the company.
Just remember these steps the next time you have a problem in the consumer world and the situation will hopefully turn out to your satisfaction. Hey, it worked for me!
For more information about Ampad and the products they offer, please visit their website.