Nothing Like a Good Butt Kicking Letter

Okay so I am going to give you a little secret or tip that has helped me out a lot! This tip has helped me get a free computer, upgraded engagement ring, free airline tickets, and now free furniture. So what is this tip you ask............It is the simplest little thing...all you have to do is ......write a letter. I illustrate my point with a recent event. Now it is a long story I must tell you but the details will help you out for future letter writing.

So let me start from the beginning.....Two years ago, Milton and I were living in a tiny little apartment in Louisiana. We knew we going to move and wanted a new couch. Our first couch was a twin bed pushed up against the wall with big pillows and then after that my dad gave me his couch that he had for numerous years. It was nice but our whole house was hand me downs or freebies. Nothing wrong with that. Milton and I were just excited about picking out our first piece of furniture and purchasing it. So Christmas came around and my parents gave us a $400 gift card to a furniture store. I do not want to give the name of the furniture store so that way I do not sway anyone's opinion. So Milton and I started going there. At first we thought about getting a cloth couch or bedside tables. But then we came across this:

with a matching oversize chair and ottoman. It was a leather set that was going for $800. We could not believe it!!!!! We had half the money and we were confident that we could pay off the rest. So we hollared for the salesman and badgered him for the details. Our salesman went on and on about how we were getting a great deal on a leather set and how we had to take it before someone else snatched it up. He told us how you could tell it was leather because the way the couch was stitched So we excitedly told him to bag it up and went to the check out or cashier or whatever you call it at a furniture store.

At the check out, we were offered the protection plan. At first I thought it sounded like something that came with big meaty guys with Italian accents that protected our couch while saying "forgedda about it" or "you talkin to me!" However, we were quickly informed that if anything happened to our couch.... anything from stabbing the couch to writing Amanda Loves Milton on it with a sharpie that they would either repair the couch or if it is not repairable they would replace it. So we were like "Absolutely" I know this is turning into a long story but I promise it has a point and it will help you out.

So fast forward to June 2009. I am sitting on my couch and I look over and see this.....

What you can not see it. Let me go a little closer

Are those cracks and rips in my couch?!!! Yes they ARE!!!! How does that happened when only two people live in my house and both are mature adults that would not damage furniture. I immediately am upset, but then I pinch myself and remember that we have the protection plan that covers ANYTHING! So I call the protection plan and I am told that the plan only covers accidents and that this is considered normal wear and tear. Well I do not take no for an answer. So I ask what I can do? I was informed to call the store where I bought the couch because it was a manufacture defect. So I call the store and tell them the long story to only be told to call the service center. So I call the service center to be told that the manufacture only covers the product for a year. The rep with the service center advised me to call the store manager where I bought the couch and ask him to cover the repair of the couch since it was since employee that lied about the protection plan.

So I call the store manager to go through this long story. I tell him that when we bought leather couches that we wanted them to last longer than two years and how my parents have had their leather couches for like 10 years that are still in good condition. This is when the store manager interrupts me with his greasy southern accent and says "Ma'am did you say that you bought leather?" I replay "Yes" to which he replied "Ma'am your couches are not leather, they are VINYL." As I stand there in shocked disbelief, he tells me with a little smirk in his voice that you can not buy leather couches for the price that we did and he should know better. From here I go on and on how his sales person told us lie after lie. His only reply is ..."I am sorry you were lied to." At this point, he makes empty promises that he will see what he can do and will call me back.

Again I promise you there is a point!!!! So a week later, he calls me back and says the couch is discontinued and they can not repair the couch. Now before getting off the phone he offers me a word of advice in his sly little greasy southern salesman accent. He says "Now Ma'am your protection plan covers "Accidents," and if there was an "Accident" to happen to the couch that they would see that the couch is discontinued and you would get a store credit for the leather set." This really upsets me. I am an honest person and I have integrity and I expect others to also. Well as I stated, I do not take no for an answer. Plus I called my mom whining and crying and she reminded me of my letter writing skills and all the stuff it got me in the past. What would we do without good rationale moms that remind you of your best qualities? Well I would have probably "accidentally" tripped with a knife in my hand while running towards my couch!! Just kidding!! Oh come on...sometimes people drive you to do things that you would not normally do. I digress!

So I write a letter and call another store from the same chain of furniture store to ask who to send a complaint letter. After hearing my story, they give me a name. So I send my complaint letter with all my evidence certified to the name given.

A week later I get a phone call from this person telling me that he was REALLY impressed with my letter and they are giving me a store credit for my couch and to go pick out what I want. Little did I know I was talking to the owner of the company. He was the nicest guy and really made up for everything I went through. So I got two bedside tables and a twin bed for the guest bedroom.

I did not want to make the same mistake twice of buying a couch at this furniture store. However we went to another furniture store and bought these...

So my point to this whole story is.....The way that I have gotten the above mentioned free stuff is by writing a letter. My family thinks that I have gotten so good that I should start a business. I do not write a complaint letter unless it is really valid. I also suggest to always be polite and never to yell or anything that shows less class. Companies are more willing to work with you if you are nice and polite. However, I do want to say that not all letters have to be complaints. You can also write about how much you love someone's product. Right now I am writing a letter to appeal a denied medical insurance claim. I will let you know how it turns out.