Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Customer communication done right

I was pleased as pie to receive the following email from Better World Books:


from: Better World Books help@betterworldbooks.com
to: 4ambooks@gmail.com
date: Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 4:30 PM
subject: Your order has been shipped!



Hello Patricia,
(Your book(s) asked to write you a personal note - it seemed unusual, but who are we to say no?)


Holy canasta! It's me... it's me! I can't believe it is actually me! You could have picked any of over 2 million books but you picked me! I've got to get packed! How is the weather where you live? Will I need a dust jacket? I can't believe I'm leaving Mishawaka, Indiana already - the friendly people, the Hummer plant, the Linebacker Lounge - so many memories. I don't have much time to say goodbye to everyone, but it's time to see the world!


I can't wait to meet you! You sound like such a well read person. Although, I have to say, it sure has taken you a while! I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but how would you like to spend five months sandwiched between Jane Eyre (drama queen) and Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (pyromaniac)? At least Jane was an upgrade from that stupid book on brewing beer. How many times did the ol' brewmaster have one too many and topple off our shelf at 2am?


I know the trip to meet you will be long and fraught with peril, but after the close calls I've had, I'm ready for anything (besides, some of my best friends are suspense novels). Just five months ago, I thought I was a goner. My owner was moving and couldn't take me with her. I was sure I was landfill bait until I ended up in a Better World Books book drive bin. Thanks to your socially conscious book shopping, I've found a new home. Even better, your book buying dollars are helping kids read from Brazil to Botswana.


But hey, enough about me, I've been asked to brief you on a few things:
We sent your order to the following address:


Patricia Murphy
(The street I live on)
Lexington, KY 40502
USA

We provide quick shipping service to all our customers. You chose Standard shipping. It should arrive in 6 to 9 business days. Tracking is not available on these shipments. If you have any questions or concerns, please email my friends in Customer Care at 
help@betterworldbooks.com. If you could please include your order number, that would be very helpful.

Eagerly awaiting our meeting,

Swahili: A complete working course
Swahili for Beginners: A Young Adult Novel
Oxford Picture Dictionary Instructor Desk Copy, Second Edition (Monolingual English)
English, Yes: Beginning
The American Heritage English As a Second Language Dictionary


Looking forward to meeting you too, books. 

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Time to start running

I was a runner once. People who know this always expect me to be good at running. It isn't the same as learning to whistle or tie your shoes, you can't just go back to 6:45 mile splits after years of laziness. I hadn't even bought new running shoes in the three years prior to last month.

Blah, blah, blah. I want this shirt ($25), but only after I've started running again. I've already promised to start running, because that's how I justified buying the shoes.

This time I will also do my best not to injure myself in the first month. Once I get back into the routine of running, I usually try to add on miles too quickly and end up with shin splints or Morton's Neuroma. Then I stop running for six months or so.

Not this time. I am going to Brave the Run, and hopefully be wearing this shirt at a 5K by September.