Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Dear Menards
Sent: April 17, 2008Dear Menard's,
I love your store. Whenever I break something around my house my first thought is, "Bet Lowe's has a kit for that," and usually they do. But when they don't I usually visit your store!
It's not that you are my second choice, they just happen to be closer.
I love walking up and down your aisles imaging I know what half the stuff is used for! I also like looking at tools and imagining all the cool things I could build if I were the sort to build things. Kind of like when you go to a movie you imagine yourself being the actor on the screen. Well, when I am in your store I like to pretend I'm the sort of guy who could actually use a nail gun.
Thanks,
Christopher L. Jorgensen
Reply Sent: April 24, 2008
Menard, INC.
Customer Service Dept.
4777 Menard Dr.
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Menard, INC.
Guest Services Department
Arlene Krueger - Manager
April 24, 2008
Dear Christopher:
Thank you for taking the time to write and for the business you have given us.
Thank you for your comments regarding our stores. It is always nice to hear that all people can enjoy our stores, whether it is for large projects, small projects, or even just browsing.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Arlene Krueger, Manager
Guest Services
Menard, Inc.
AK/ss
My reaction:
Ah look, Arlene and I are friends now. I think I’m stopping by her place to borrow a cup of sugar. Wow, wake me up when this letter is over! Yawn.
Now, if I had written a reply to myself, I would have for sure handled my letter differently. While in the process of documenting being a whackjob (who writes a letter to himself?), I would have said something along the lines of:
Dear Mr. Jorgensen,
Thanks for your letter. We’re glad you like to spend time in our stores. We wish you were closer to one of our stores so we could always be your first choice for projects!
I wanted to let you know we offer introductory classes on many home improvement tasks and many of our employees are able to offer expert advice. If we can’t help you get it done we offer a wide variety of books that can.
If you do decide to get a nail gun, we’ll make sure you know how to use it before you take it home.
Sincerely,
Christopher L. Jorgensen
I do have to give her points for hand signing it, but she loses these just as fast because her ass didn’t type the letter.
Last quibble, “just browsing” is what a customer tells an employee. It’s not-so-subtle code for “leave me alone.” Her last sentence reads so much better without the “even just.”
Give me some sugar, baby!
Posted by cjorgensen on 05/21 at 06:00 AM
Company • Retail •
