I'd like to share some positive customer service experiences I've had lately, as a reminder that blanket statements about bad service are never true! There really are employees out there who like to help people and enjoy the opportunity to do so through their jobs.
Example #1: We received an invoice from Santa Barbara Radiology, a year after our
house fire, for Bub's chest X-rays.
We had given all of our insurance information at the time in the emergency room, and since then have changed insurance companies.
I've been on the phone to both SB Radiology and Cigna, our former insurer, and both have been extremely helpful in trying to figure out the problem and resolve it, all the while assuring me that we have no responsibility for this bill. I just got a message the other day that the medical group (who should have paid in the first place) is being re-billed, and everything should clear up soon.
Everyone I've spoken to has been responsive, helpful, friendly and lighthearted. Just what a person needs who really doesn't want to keep reliving a traumatic night in the ER.
Example #2: Last year I changed my phone because after two Razrs that were both defective, I decided it was time to move on to a different model. Unfortunately, my contract wasn't over, so I had to pay for the phone and add another two years to my contract. That's life, right?
Now I'm ready to move on to a smart phone... yes, I'm a little behind. I called Sprint to find out how I might go about getting a new phone even though my contract isn't up for another year. After explaining that the only reason I ended my contract early was due to defective phones, the service rep for Sprint made every effort to figure out a loophole for me to get the new phone with minimal expense.
After getting some good tips on Twitter about being a premier customer with Sprint (apparently I am one), I called back and learned that I would be able to get my new phone a year early. Thanks to two very helpful customer service reps at Sprint who got creative about helping me the best they could with the tools they have!
Example #3: Last week I attempted to refill a prescription online through CVS' new interface. I received a message that it was too soon to refill my prescription. Well, of course this wasn't true and I had the nearly empty container to show for it.
I got on the phone with CVS and it turns out that, even though this prescription had been filled properly for several years, it must have been entered incorrectly with the last refill request from my doctor. The person on the phone immediately resolved the issue by contacting my doctor's office to get the error fixed, and my prescription was filled on time.
This young man not only understood where the error had come from, but didn't waste any time questioning me or arguing with me about my own prescription. He jumped right in and fixed it. Completely painless on my part.
On a side note: Remember that customer service representatives are people, too! My mom is one of the nicest, most generous people you'll meet, and she would never in a million years be rude or nasty on the phone. Last week, she spoke to someone who really upset her, and she's been doing this a long time, so I know the person must have been really bad. In my mom's words:
"Just spoke with a very unkind lady.....please remember when you are speaking with somebody in customer service remember that they are people too, and, that they are not magicians who can just do anything you want them to do. 99% of the customer service reps you deal with are trying hard to serve you and it really ruins a perfectly fine day and makes it difficult to stay calm when the next call comes in."
And this:
"Another day, starting off hopeful and enthusiastic. I pray that I can keep my cool and be compassionate to all my callers, off the wall or not."
Please share your GOOD customer service stories in the comments!Bonus: One more! Having my 75,000 mile service on my car a few months ago, I received an estimate and had them go ahead and do what needed to be done. During the work, my battery died. Instead of revising the estimate and having me pay more, they kept the estimate the same and added the battery for free!
We picked up these tiny plant packs at Target in the dollar section a few months ago, and promptly forgot to plant them.
There are always several shimmery dragonflies to keep me company on my walks around the track. It's almost like they greet me when I arrive on their side of the field.
I drove past two people this week who seemed to be having more fun than the typical bike rider. 
As I was sitting at a stoplight, I noticed a mom and her two young children waiting for a bus. The kids were engrossed in playing together, and their toys? A piece of paper and a quarter! 
I'd like to share some positive customer service experiences I've had lately, as a reminder that blanket statements about bad service are never true! There really are employees out there who like to help people and enjoy the opportunity to do so through their jobs.
While out at the track practicing discus on a Sunday afternoon, I noticed a woman and her pre-teen son at the other end of the track. As Bub and I got closer, we discovered that she was teaching the boy how to kick a football. 
Walking along the meadow at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, I noticed this little blue guy sprouting up amidst a sea of yellow. Pretty!
As I drove home one afternoon, I passed a man walking down my street with a beautiful falcon on his arm. I can't imagine where he was coming from or where he was going in our neighborhood. Fascinating!
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