Which consumer happenings cheered you recently and which ones made you want to scream or weep? Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:
My best: Utilities commission does a good job in keeping my electricity rates down
State regulators approved a significantly smaller rate increase for Puget Sound Energy's electric gas customers than the energy utility requested.
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is allowing the company to raise electric rates by about 2.8 percent rather than the 7.4 percent PSE requested. That’s a reduction of about $95 million dollars in revenue for the utility.
See the article “Utilities Commission Slashes Proposed PSE Rate Increases – Approves Lesser Amount Instead” for details.
My worst: Forgetting my coupon on a shopping trip to Jo-Ann’s
When I arrived at the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store, I couldn’t find the coupon file I keep in my car. I had a 20-percent-off-anything coupon from the store.
I needed materials for the photo greeting cards I’m selling. I went ahead and bought the card stock.
I hoped the cashier would give me some discount like another cashier had done on a previous visit. It didn’t happen. The cashier was disinterested in my request and me. I asked her when the card stock would be on sale again. She didn’t know. She also didn’t know if there were other coupons I could use. She said, “They don’t tell us anything.”
Not very good customer service. A nice smile and a “Thank you for shopping at Jo-Ann’s” would have been appreciated.
