Here’s the deal. Out here in Cali, the grasses turn a lovely gold color in the late spring, and they remain gold until the rains start in the late fall. Usually by January, the hills look like the Emerald Isles. Really really green.
So the problem with the golden grasses is foxtails…sticky grass seeds that cling to your dog’s hair and undercoat. If not removed they burrow their way beneath your dog’s skin, between his toes, end up in his nose, ears, eyes, trachea, and you’re screwed. We’re talking major abscesses and Super-Size-Me vet bills. I’ve actually suggested that the vets around here offer a Foxtail Insurance Policy. So far, no takers.
Every day Jake and I hike for 1-2 hours. When we return home, I spend an hour and a half exploring every single inch of his body, removing foxtails. It’s been that way since he went for his first hike last summer. Is this a pleasant experience for either of us? Hell no. He doesn’t exactly hold still and I end up pulling out chunks of hair. I have two different brushes, but the truth is, my fingers work better - I can get all the way to the skin. He handles this about as well as can be expected. By the time I finish, he’s so exhausted he sleeps for a couple hours. No matter how diligent I am, I always end up missing a few. That means several days later I’m digging foxtails out of his skin with a pair of tweezers or my fingernails. Not. Fun.
He has this great orange harness that he wears when we hike for two reasons: so that people will realize he’s a young dog, assume he’s relatively friendly, and not freak out when a big German shepherd bounds up to them. And because the chest piece keeps the foxtails off his chest. The material is perfect for repelling foxtails. Love. It.
So I googled the company (in New York) that makes this particular harness, and I called them. I wanted to learn if they had any plans to produce full body suits for dogs in California, or if they’d consider producing full body suits for dogs in California. Man, I’d pay a bundle to save myself hours of time and avoid vet bills. A. Bundle.
The Conversation: (I would have emailed but only retail clients are allowed to email.)
“This is blah-blah-blah. Blah-blah-blah speaking.”
“Hi. This is Julia Barrett. I’m one of your customers out in California. I use your harness for my dog.”
Silence.
“May I speak with one of your Customer Service representatives?”
“Why?”
“Well, I’d like to commend you for the design of the harness and find out if your company produces, or might consider producing a larger sort of harness to…”
“Why?”
Okay…”Well, because I live in California and we have a problem with foxtails sticking into our dog…”
“Why are you calling?”
Pause. “Excuse me, I did reach Customer Service, right?”
“Yes, this is Customer Service.”
“Well I’m wondering if I could speak with someone about the possibility of a larger harness or suit made with the same material you use for the regular harness to…”
“We don’t take any suggestions from consumers.” Click.
WTF?!?
I would seriously pay someone a few hundred dollars for a doggie foxtail suit.
Mr. Blah-Blah-Blah needs to go back to Customer Service School. Man, did he miss the boat. I won’t mention the company because I wouldn’t want to be sued for slander, but if you’re out there and you know how to make a proto-type suit for different sized dogs using the sort of material that’s used for basketball uniforms…leave me a comment!
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I wish I had the answer for you. I feel your customer service pain. I hope you find the suit.
Thanks, Beverly. I need an enterprising seamstress to sew me a prototype. I don’t own a sewing machine.
That’s horrible. I wonder if those calls are recorded. And worse it’s not like you could email the company to complain. Julia, it sounds like you need to come up with your own design or improve on that one. Hope you can find a seamstress.
By the way, customer service is awful here in Germany, the majority of cashiers in the department and grocery stores act like robots on an assembly line. The don’t even try to hide it that they hate their job.
Wow! That is crazy how he treated you. Good luck finding something for Jake. I’m sure it would make life much easier for both of you.
hugs!
Too bad you didn’t get his name. I would call back and ask for the manager, not customer service. And then I would let them know about that entire conversation.
Good luck with Jake! :^)
How rude…and creepy!
What an asshat.
Don’t you think a suit would make Jake hot?
I wonder if a furminator would help or if there is something you could put on his fur that was approved by vets to make it harder to stick in.
I think growing up we called them prickers.
Here we have black things called hitchhikers that get into clothe by little lancets. I vote for silicone hair stuff.
Steph
Steph, ICAM! I’ve thought of all that, but I think silicone spray would make him sick. The material on the harness has little pinholes everywhere for breathe-ability. I think it would work. The furminator doesn’t do the trick. If someone could come up with some sort of repellant, it would be priceless!
Very weird, Stacey. Not like any customer service I’ve ever encountered!
Thanks, Steph. You know, he mumbled his name so quickly I didn’t catch it and then he hung up on me. I think I will call back and ask for a manager.
Amber, easier would be nice. It’s very time-consuming. Crazy!
Hi Delilah. I heard customer service in Germany is like this! Bad PR! I’m not sure it was recorded because there was no message that came on to say - this call is being recorded. I can design it myself, but I can’t sew it. I’ve decided it’s one of my two goals in life. The first is to teach nutrition/shopping classes to people who can’t afford to buy decent food and the second is to get a foxtail suit made!
You probably called in the middle of a robbery at the dog harness factory and spoke to the get away driver…lol
Seriously their customer service is a crime that will rob them of any future business.
XXOO Kat
Kat! LOL! That’s the only logical explanation! They were being held up and had probably been herded into the dog harness secret vault!
OMG that is just horrible to talk to a customer this way….Damn….
Savannah - no kidding! Now if I can only make this thing myself and sell millions of them! Payback!
Okay, that’s pretty bad service-or whatever you want to call it. I’ve noticed that customer service has declined in quality over the years but this one’s special. It reminds me of that Discover Card commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8L2cI8brzQ&feature=player_embedded
Hope you find that full-body harness!
Evie, thanks for the laugh! I’m going to have to invent/sew the body suit!
Suggestion: Look up the company on the web. Find the name of the CEO of the company. Write him a very nice letter giving him your suggestion. Then tell him about your experience.
Linda, excellent suggestions! I’m on it!