What a GREAT day for customer service!

Okay, Nan. You're gonna like this. I not only have one, but TWO good customer service stories that happened today. Can you handle it? Here goes. First, I went to get my car washed at Xtreme Clean today. I love the fact that they are open on Sunday's and you do not have to get out of your car. Anyway, at the end of the line, as two guys were drying, one of them looked at the front of my car and shook his head and motioned me to go back through. I, of course, did not understand. Had I done something wrong? As I pulled out of the bay, he said that the front had not been cleaned very well, that there were still a great deal of bugs, and I should go back through for a FREE wash. WOW! I thanked him, but said it was okay, as I was driving to Dallas tomorrow to shop for a dress for my daughter's formal and would only get a multitude more. Do you think he really cared about all of that? Probably not, but he listened anyway.

If you think that was a good story, you are going to love this one! Early in November, my seven year old daughter broke her arm. We had planned a ski trip for the week right before Christmas, and when her cast was removed on the 25th of November, her orthopedic said that she was not allowed to ski. WHAT! She and her older sisters were devastated! So, I called the resort in Telluride to cancel our reservation and was told that since I was not in the 30 DAY CANCELLATION PERIOD AND THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR 2 NIGHTS PER ROOM. We had 2 rooms. UGH! I was literally calling to cancel on day 7 outside of the cancellation period, which means there were 23 days left before our trip. I asked if a doctor's excuse would help (you know, like when we were all in ELEMENTARY SCHOOL). She said probably not. UGH! I proceeded to tell the reservation agent what I thought of their policy (sweetly, of course!), when she suggested that I move the reservation to a different time. I thought that would work and then I could cancel then. She said NOPE, you can only modify it again, no cancellation period. So I tried to move it to next Christmas. She said that they could not book that far out. I then just picked some random days and then had to remember to keep calling to cancel. What a pain. You know, I can't remember anything! So...today I called to move my reservation, again. When I told the nice agent named Kim that I needed to modify my reservation, she asked if I was just calling to confirm. Nope, I need to move to the next time that I won't be coming to your lovely resort. I then explained the whole thing to her. She suggested cancelling and putting a note on the file explaining the broken arm and that I would need to fax in something from the doctor and we would get our deposit back. HMMMMM. REALLY? Didn't I suggest that earlier? Anyway, not Kim's fault. I told her that if that would work she was the bomb and that I would blog about her today. So, here's to Kim at the Peaks Resort in Telluride, CO. YOU ROCK!

I guess good customer service does exist. Yeah! It's a Christmas miracle!

Keep gabbin'!
Erin

Footballing comes to Abilene!

I know, I know. Erin interested in football? Stranger things have happened. Like yesterday, when my oldest was nice and my other two were naughty. It was like the twilight zone. Today is a new day, we will see what happens.


Yes, I am excited about the Ruff Riders football team coming to Abilene. Nan, Dave and I are their number one cheerleaders (maybe on the field, too!). We had Coach Dockery on our radio show on Thursday. He is a great guy. He will be on Dave's show today at 12:00 (1340 am). Who knows, there might be a couple of surprise guests! Stay tuned for more on the Ruff Riders. I don't know much about Indoor Football(ing), but I am willing to learn. Abilene needs this and I am all about supporting things that are good for Abilene.



Okay, Nan. You wanted an example of good customer service...here goes! On Monday, I was on my way home from Lost Wages, with a little bit of concern about the weather. You know, Vegas had three inches of snow this week! AMAZING! My flight from Vegas to DFW was two hours late leaving. Oh...did I mention that American changed my flight number and time and did not notify me? That's for another day. As I was waiting for the ticket agent to show up at the counter, to see if there was another flight out of Dallas that I could get on, since I will be missing my connection, a lady came up to me and said, "Is there no one at the counter?" Here's Your Sign! Then she started in about how she is going to miss her connection because her flight is 40 minutes late...BLAH BLAH BLAH. To which I replied, "We are all in the same boat." Oh so sweetly, of course. After getting rid of her, I got my ticket changed. I wonder if she ever got home? Oh, well. Now for the good customer service part...After arriving at DFW, I boarded my flight home at 8:45 p.m. Wheels up was at 11:30 p.m. Arrival into Abilene was at 12:10 a.m. Do you see the problem. We SAT on the runway for 2 hours and 45 minutes. The problem? We were number 15 in line for deicing. The pilot was AMAZING. The flight attendant was AMAZING (he brought the drink cart around a couple of times!). The people on the plane did not get upset. And do you know why? The drinks? Yes..No. Actually, the pilot kept us informed the whole time what was going on. He was just as miffed about the wait as the passengers where. He then had what he called a strange request...He asked us all to go to page 91 in the American Way magazine and write a letter to the powers that be about the fact that we had to sit that long because there is only one deicing machine. Now, he did not say whether it was per terminal or the whole airport. I would suspect the whole terminal. So, lesson learned. The pilots and attendants are only doing what they are told. They can not control the weather or the airport. All they can control is the plane and let's hope they do a GREAT job of that!



I know this in lengthy, but I have not blogged in a while and Nan has been on me to blog, so I am making up for lost time. Be sure to post your funny Christmas stories, or better yet, call into the show after Christmas. We'd love to hear from you! Have a Merry Christmas (yes, I said it!), and we will GAB at ya' later!


Peace!

Erin

NAUGHTY OR NICE??? MMMMM...........

Which is better? Naughty is probably a whole lot more fun, but nice can be good for the soul. I guess it depends on the situation. However, I would LOVE to hear which you like best and why??? Please share stories and details. Keep it clean!!!!!!

By the way.....I'm still searching high and low for a great story regarding GREAT customer service!!! I do have a small one. My husband's car had to go into the shop for even a BIGGER car repair bill than mine! Geez, he's so competitive on so many levels, but he didn't need to be on this one. Not his fault though! However, the wonderful car repair man did gave us a bit of a discount. That's definitely a NICE one!

PLEASE let me hear one from you! NAUGHTY OR NICE!

Gotta Go and Get this House in GEAR!
Gabbin' Gal Nan

Back to Customer Service....or the lack thereof...

Just got a HUGE car repair bill!!! Kind of blows the budget especially at this time of the year, but what's a girl to do? And besides, my daughter's bicycle has a flat so that's not an option. Therefore, gotta get it fixed and FAST! Why you ask? Well... if you are a woman who has kids, works, drives a carpool, runs errand after errand after errand, etc. ~ you get the picture. We women need our cars! I just about live in mine, so gotta have it!

Anyhow, here's the deal...if you are going to have my car for only 1.5 hours and charge me 1/2 of what my house payment is for PARTS and LABOR (highway robbery), don't you think the the very least you could do is add a little something unexpected. Here's some ideas...throw in a wash and a vacuum, maybe a free tire rotation, heck - a bottled water sitting in my cup holder and an air freshner hanging from the mirror would suffice and be a nice, sweet surprise. Won't cost much, but it will cost you a lot more (i.e. repeat business) if you don't do it! Just a little tip from a gal who truly appreciates a business going the extra mile instead of one that made her feel financially violated and not appreciated!

Gotta go, but I promise to be back with a Good Customer Service/Appreciation Story. I KNOW there is at least one out there for me to enjoy and to share with you!

Gab at ya later!
Nan

Need a Mid-Week Chuckle?

I sure did! So here ya go.....

Make sure volume is on and watch till the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzrfk1giibw

Gab On...............................
Nan

Customer Service Anyone???

Does anyone believe in giving good customer service anymore? I haven't seen much of it lately, and now with the holiday shopping in full throttle, I truly feel as if it has left us. I won't share my tale of woe, but instead would love to hear of a good customer service tale...if there is such a thing.

Let's Get some GOOD Gabbin' Goin'!

Nan

OCTOBER IS BOOB MONTH

Yes! You heard me correctly. BOOB MONTH.....BOOBS, BOOBS, BOOBS!
Now that I've got your attention...
Ladies and/or men ... listen up....Make sure you and/or your loved ones take care of "The Girls"!!! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please wear pink all this month and support all events and fundraisers that you can to help fight breast cancer. We gabbin' girls are doing our part! In our community, we are attending the Fashions for the Cure event, we are walking (not running) in the Race for the Cure this coming Saturday, and then we are attending Bunco for Breast Cancer on the 28th!!! Loads of fun! Do your part and participate when and where you can! Not only this month, but all year long. Most importantly get your own "girls" checked out and often!

I promise to blog in a more timely manner! I know... promises, promises ... but a girl can try!
Also, Happy Anniversary Erin! 1 year on the radio....and they said it wouldn't last! HA!
This Gabbin' Gal has got to go and get some shut eye,
Nan

I think I'm gonna like 40!

WOW! A great night was had by all. Eight of my dear, crazy, and spontaneous friends had a little birthday gathering for me last night. I was even chauffeured to the party. However, I had to call my husband to come and pick me up (but not for the reason you think), because me ride left early. You know me, I will stay until the bitter end. The food was awesome (yes, Candice even yours...oh, I'm sorry, it was Joel's), the drinks refreshing and best of all, ADULT CONVERSATION!!! Thanks to all who came to wish me a happy birthday. It is not my official birthday, yet. So don't forget to wish me one on my REAL birthday! LOL. Nan took a ton of pics and is going to post them on our website. I hope she does not post the "bad" ones. :)

Gab at ya' later!
Erin

1 Week Down...Have you moms sang this song yet?

One week into school, and I bet some of you have sang snippets of the following youtube video. Most of you have seen this, but it's great to see, hear, and sing along with it again! Cheers to all the MOMS!
Keep gabbin',
Nan
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

WOW! Does my brain HURT!

Well, I finally set up my part of the Gabbin' Gals blog. For those of you who know me, it is a stretch of the imagination; but with Nan's help, I am getting better and need less aspirin and less therapy. I am so excited that I can now blog. Never thought I would be called a blogger. I think that my 15 year old would be impressed (or embarrassed!). Gotta' run and do the radio show with Nan. Be sure and listen and I will try to post more often than not.

I Am A Big Ole Slice of Deli Meat

Yes, you read the title correctly! It's official...I'm the insides of a sandwich -- be it bologna, turkey, ham, peanut butter, whatever one desires. As a matter of fact I've been "the insides" for a little while. Let me explain.

You know when you are a kid, teenager, even a young adult in your 20's, the world is your oyster. Then you hit the 30's you are a juggler (the world is still your oyster, just a few more responsibilities) like starting a family while trying to keep that career thing going. THEN out of nowhere those 40's hit you and you are sandwiched! The part of your life where not only have the aforementioned responsibilities escalate, but you are now Mom to both slices of the bread of your sandwich...your own kids and your own parents.

But I tend to look at the positive side of most things, and this is how I choose to view it. The insides of any sandwich IS ALWAYS the best part, so through the good, the bad, and the ugly, I am going to strive to always BE THE BEST at taking care of the ones I love dearest. They are truly priceless so "soak 'em in" everyday you get!

Gab on,
Nan

Now Facebooking!!!

WOW! In a little over a month, I have learned how to and started a website, a blog, and today I have entered the world of Facebook! And how cool it is. I mainly think it's more for us adults than for us to attempt myspace, but that's just my opinion. Anyway, I decided to join before I left for church this morning and to my surprise when I got back ... an old friend from high school that I haven't heard from in YEARS has already contacted me. How thrilling and exciting that was for the both of us. So I strongly suggest everyone check FaceBook out! Super easy to join and you will find some fun, old friends that you've been missing. They've probably been missing you too!
Gab Later,
Nan

Journey's Inn - Escape the Ordinary

Gabbin' Gal/Abilene Woman business partner, Erin, and myself had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners of the most charming B&B that Abilene, Texas has to offer...Journey's Inn. Susan was the most gracious host! She showed us around her place and even made yummy muffins for us! What a treat! We even took some to our radio show after our visit. Producer Dave and Executive Assistant Jennifer devoured them. You too can enjoy them if you give her a call and book a night at Journey's Inn. I'm recommending their place to every out of town guest heading this way. Even if you live here, steal some time away with your loved one. You will feel like you have escaped to a darling and quaint destination. Truly charming. Check her place out at http://www.journeysinn-escape.com/

Oh I Forgot ... I took on Blogging!

I know.....I was going to get right on with this bloggin' thing! I've dropped the ball a bit, but I promise to be better. However, the last week has been extremely busy with running 2 businesses...Abilene Woman Publication and trying (BIG emphasis on trying) to run a website www.gabbinwiththegirls.com/. And, oh yeah, hosting a radio show everyday from 5-6pm on KWKC 1340am. AND, getting 2 kids off to summer camp! So trying to take on something new such as bloggin' in the midst of all this crazyiness may have been a bit much, but I'm now going to give it a go. May not be everyday. In fact, I know it won't be! But at least a few times a week seems reasonable, especially when we get on a good gabbin' subject.
Be sure and check back in soon, because I'm meeting with some fabulous gals that own their own B&B tomorrow, and I'll fill you in on what it's like to run such a thing. I'm quite sure they are fabulous at it. Check out their website www.journeysinn-escape.com/ and their blog www.escapetheordinaryjourney.blogspot.com/

Gab at ya sooner than later,
Nan

1st Blog

Wow! I'm actually blogging. I know that this may not be a big deal to most people, but to me this is HUGE! I'm definitely a blog newbie! But thrilled to learn all about it. I'll keep this first entry short and sweet, but I will be bloggin' my brains out often on just about anything us gals like to gab about...which is just about everything! I don't even mind if you guys out there secretly join in. (I think they are curious about what we are gabbin' about.)

Just a bit of info for now...I'm a 40ish mom, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, publisher and talk radio host whose main goals to accomplish everyday are to laugh, make someone else laugh and by all means have FUN! In the meantime, feel free to check out www.gabbinwiththegirls.com.
Gab at ya later!