First I received this:
Only, instead of a Mary and Joseph, I got 2 Josephs, and no Mary. A different Nativity story I guess?
Then I bought this:
You can "compose" your own classical music with various instruments at various volumes. After one battery change, it just up and quit working. My children are pretty gentle with toys, so I was disappointed.
Then I got this on sale for a Christmas gift:
My 1 yr old loves Elmo. He was frightened at first, but now he LOVES it. However, instead of functioning properly, all this Elmo does is let you "honk" his nose. All the other cool things he's supposed to do, he's not doing.
I love all these toys, my children love them. I hate spending money (or getting as a gift) and having them break/missing parts.
Back to the Nativity: My wise s-i-l Melissa suggested I call Fisher Price about the Nativity. Since then, I have taken the time to call customer service for big label toys like these when they aren't working.
Fisher Price Nativity: they simply sent me an entirely new character set, with Joseph and Mary! No sweat off my back.
Disney Little Einstein Composer: it is out of production, so they sent me a paper voucher ($) for the price of the toy, to be used at a regular store like Target or Toys 'R Us.
Fisher Price Elmo: they emailed me a free shipping label, I will mail them the broken Elmo, and they'll probably fix it or send me another one.
I love getting great toys at garage sales for cheap, when they break you don't mind so much. Out with the old! In with the new (gently used garage sale finds)! And I hate it when I get a new toy (bought or gifted) and it breaks, but I also love knowing that if I throw down $20 bucks on a new toy, there is great customer service to back it up. Of course, you have to take into consideration normal wear-n-tear on a toy. Still, it doesn't hurt to call and ask.
Thank you, Mattel!
7 comments:
Hi Emily... yes, I ALWAYS take advantage of online customer service and leaving any complaints I deem as valid. We and/or our husbands work hard to bring home a paycheck to provide for our families and if the plastic breaks or the recording is a dud then INDEED, let the big corporations know... it's not like they aren't making money hand over fist. Most of the time they will either replace the item or reward you in some way.
Kudos to Mattel!
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
How great that they fixed it! you must have felt very good. Worth the effort. Now, if they would only do this for big kid toys, ipods, wii, gameboys, lap tops and so on.
How did you find the contact number?
phone number: I keep boxes, so the number was on the box. But, you can google it easily enough. Or, you could look on another box next time you're at the store.
Melllmooo!
I hope they fix Melmo.
I love good customer service. Bad customer service makes me insane an unreasonably angry.
And I love buying used toys for the exact reason you said.
Good customer service is so wonderful.
Stinky customer service is so stinky.
You could sell all your extra nativity little people on eBay for big bucks. (but keep your baby Jesus, you can always use a spare Savior.) (That sounds terribly blasphemous.)
I am so with you. I have to say, I was a very lazy consumer before! But, in recent years I've discovered CUSTOMER SERVICE! I've taken the company up on all of the limited lifetime warranties. From sunglass, to pots and pans, even to a new base for my rocker/glider when it started squeeking. I had no idea that companies would be so willing to fix their problem products!!! What an ingenious idea! (hee! hee!) So glad there are others out there who are standing up for their consumer rights! Be bossy!!!
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