Posted on 08/11/2006 11:39:55 AM PDT by savedbygrace
I just had a great experience wuth New Balance, the sport shoe manufacturer, and I have to tell you all about it. I'll be brief.
Earlier this afternoon, I was filling my Hot Rod Lincoln with overpriced fuel. The pump failed to automatically shut off when the tank was full, and gasoline spilled out all over the ground and all over my New Balance walking shoes.
The station manager told me that if I needed to pay to have anything cleaned, he'd pay for it. I told him I'd check things out after I got home.
At home, I called the New Balance Customer Relations department and asked if they had any advice as to what I could do to rescue these shoes, and if the gasoline has already damaged them beyond help.
After putting me on hold for a few short moments to get some technical info, she returned to the line and told me it would be pointless to ask me to return the shoes, so she'll just send me a new pair.
I was shocked and dumfounded, but I quickly found my voice to give her my address and phone number.
So, New Balance is giving me a brand new pair of MW811WT walking shoes at no charge to me, for an event that is not their fault. As far as I know, these shoes are still manufactured in the USA. At least the four pair of MW810WT walking shoes I have at the moment are 100% USA products.
Anyway, bottom line: New Balance rocks. Buy lots of shoes from them. ;-)
I've been wearing them FOREVER.
Thanks.
Buy? I don't need to. I can just call and say mine are gasoline soaked! :-)
I sort of dug how New Balance lampooned overblown pro athletes in their ads.
Cool. Thanks for posting this. It might be a good idea for other posters who have good experiences with American companies to post their stories. We tend to focus on the negative a lot, but there's a plus side too.
They manufacture SOME shoes in the U.S. which is more than anybody else. I loved my Clyded Frazier Pumas, but when they wore out, I went with New Balance because they are a well made shoe with enough width available. Also, they make some shoes that don't look like they belong under the big top.
Hmm. Forever? Then, may I suggest..
That's great to know!
When I used to run (in my youth) I always ran in NB's - like running on air.
Customer service is rare these days. It's surprising, though, that a manager would offer to replace a product damaged by an act of chance rather than a material defect. If true it's a story that needs some spreading.
Exactly. That's why I phrased it the way I did.
Fascinating story. On a similar note, last week I ordered coleslaw from McDonald's and accidently received a container of french fries instead.
I have been wearing them since 1991, great and comfortable running shoes.
Forgot about that. Well, it's not their fault (I hope.)
Shhhhhhhhh.
NB's are nice and it is a good company. They are more like "assembled" in the US, but that's not so bad.
It's a burgandy '87 Town Car with 200k miles.
Perfect timing, I was just thinking that I need to buy new running shoes today. Thanks for posting!
Best sneakers I EVER bought. Better than the pair of Nike's that would eat my heels and isn't made with third world slave labor.
That's my reaction as well.
We wide-footed, high-instep people appreciate New Balance. Adidas is also good.
It's the only brand my husband will wear since he has narrow feet.
When I bought these MW810WTs, all the materials were USA also. I doubt that's still the case.
NB is all I wear now. They seem to last the longest. A very sturdy shoe.
My fillup procedure is to set the handle for auto shutoff, then after it shuts off I press and hold the handle open 'till it shuts off the second time. Then it's full.
This one shut off the first time, but not the second time.
Great stuff.
Although pricey for me well worth it.
I had a similar experience with Lands End. Called to order a shirt. Chatting with the lady I told her I was replacing a 5-year old shirt that I had torn. She says -- "Oh then you don't have to buy it, we'll replace it." I liked that.
I have been wearing nothing but NB athletic shoes for almost 10 years. I won't even consider any other brand. I feel the same way about Rockport for casual/dress shoes.
That's what I call: Getting your money's worth!
I love my San Antonio Shoes. American-made, fit like gloves, last almost forever. They're not sport shoes, so I thought I'd pass the tip along
LOL!!!
As long as we are talking positive experiences - I bought a piece of luggage at Brookstone. It's a roller carry-on with a slot for a laptop computer. Owned it for a year, then it developed a flat spot on one roller producing an annoying tic-tic-tic as I dragged it through airports. I brought it to a DIFFERENT Brookstone store, and asked if I could buy replacement parts. They gave me a new bag. They actually asked me if it was OK that they gave me their display model.
I like my NBs. I have a pair of 606s that have held up far better than any pair of Nikes I've ever had.
}:-)4
They make glass cutters, Point driver, Mat cutters etc.
This company is so customer oriented it's to a fault.
A friend of mine works there and says if they ever decide to sell cars he'll buy one, they're always fixing things for free when it's 10 years out of warranty.
They used to, back when Penney said that. He died in 1971. These days I'd have to agree with you...
If I buy a LandsEnd swimsuit this year & it doesn't fit next year will they replace it?
My pappy said, 'Son, you're gonna drive me t' drinkin' ...
If you don't quit drivin' that - Hot ... Rod ... Lincoln!'
Well, you've heard the story of the hot rod race,
When the Ford and the Mercury were settin' the pace.
That story's true I'm here to say,
Cause I was a'drivin' that Model A.
It's got a Lincoln motor and it's really souped up;
That Model A body makes it look like a pup.
It's got 12 cylinders and uses them all;
And an overdrive that just won't stall.
It's got a 4-barrel carb and dual exhausts,
4:11 gears that really get lost -
Safety tubes and I'm not scared,
The brakes are good and the tires are fair.
We left San Pedro late one night;
The moon and the stars were shinin' bright.
We were drivin' up Grapevine Hill,
Passin' cars like they were standin' still.
Then, all of a sudden, in the wink of an eye,
a Cadillac sedan passed us by.
The remark was made, "That's the car for me."
But, by then, the taillights wuz all you could see.
Well, the fellers ribbed me for bein' behind,
So I started to make that Lincoln unwind.
Took my foot off the gas and, man alive,
I shoved it down into overdrive.
Well, I wound it up to 110;
Twisted the speedometer cable right off the end.
Had my foot glued right to the floor;
I said, "That's all there is - there ain't no more."
Now the fellas thought I'd lost all sense;
The telephone poles looked like a picket fence.
They said, "Slow down, I see spots."
The lines on the road just looked like dots.
Went around a corner and passed a truck;
I crossed my fingers just for luck -
The fenders clickin' the guard rail post;
The guy beside me was white as a ghost.
Smoke was rollin' outta the back
When I started to gain on that Cadillac
I knew I could catch him and hoped I could pass
But when I did I'd be short on gas.
There were flames comin' from out of the side;
You could feel the tension; man, what a ride.
I said, "Look out, boys, I've got a license to fly"
And the Cadillac pulled over and let me by.
All of a sudden a rod started knockin';
Down in the depths she started a rockin'.
I looked in the mirror and a red light was blinkin';
The cops was after my Hot Rod Lincoln.
Well they arrested me and put me in jail.
I called my pop to make my bail.
He said, "Son, you're gonna drive me t' drinkin',
If you don't quit drivin' that - Hot ... Rod ... Lincoln!"
You do that & you still have dates?
Fat-footed ping. ;)
Actually, I think they would. Here is their return policy -
"Guaranteed. Period.®
The world is full of guarantees, no two alike. As a rule, the more words they contain, the more their protection is limited. The Lands' End guarantee has always been an unconditional one. It reads: "If you’re not satisfied with any item, simply return it to us at any time for an exchange or refund of its purchase price."
We mean every word of it. Whatever. Whenever. Always. But to make sure this is perfectly clear, we've decided to simplify it further. GUARANTEED. PERIOD.® "
And that's why I call it my Hot Rod Lincoln.
OMG! I better get a really cute one then!
He didn't say these are second dates. ;-)
That was no accident. Next time don't wear the beret into the place.
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