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Registry Roundup: Services

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:00:12 -0700

When it comes time to register for your wedding, instead of signing up for a $1600 gravy boat that you'll use only once a year, why not register for some services for your home that you can enjoy year-round? Collecting essential home furnishings here and there isn't so painful, but when it comes to writing a check to your landscaper, housekeeper, movers, etc., you'll wish you'd asked for it as a nuptial gift. So, I've rounded up some great services that'll make your married life a whole lot easier (and affordable). To learn where to register for them, check out this post. Had you thought about hiring an energy auditor for your home to reduce your environmental footprint, not to mention your monthly utility bills? Could your closets use some organization now that they'll be home for two wardrobes? Will you and your future better-half be moving to a new home? Do you envision a weekly housekeeper in your new life? Take a look at the widget below for some fab, registry-worthy services. We also have a downloadable wedding registry you can use, and for a look at all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

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Dear Poll: Who Would you Want to Serve you in the Friendly Skies?

DearSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:00:00 -0700

There was an unconfirmed rumor going around the Sugar offices yesterday that Miss Oprah Winfrey was playing the part of a flight attendant on a San Francisco bound flight. Pretty crazy huh!! While I would have been a star struck passenger, to say the least, it got me thinking ... who would you want as your celebrity steward or stewardess? If you could have any Hollywood star wait on you, hand and foot for hours on end while flying the friendly skies, who would you want to bring you peanuts and soft drinks, a blanket, or even headphones while you sat back and enjoyed the flight?

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The How-To Lounge: Sending Back your Food

DearSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Have you ever been to a restaurant and bitten your tongue after the waitress served you undercooked chicken or brought you off tasting fish? Although it is never comfortable to send back a meal or a bottle of wine, sometimes it is necessary so here are some easy steps to follow the next time you are faced with a similar dilemma.

Click here to read more

When you dine at a restaurant, remember you are the customer and you are always right
If your food is served over cooked, under cooked, incorrectly, off tasting, or simply not up to your standards, you are entitled to send it back. The only time it is not appropriate is when you have order envy
Simply let your server know your food hasn't meet your requirements and ask that they either cook your food a bit longer or bring you a new dish altogether
Keep in mind that poor food isn't the server's fault. If you are complaining about poor service, speak to the manager immediately and request a different waiter
Oftentimes when your wine is bad, customers will ask the waiter to taste it for themselves, so feel free to get their opinion if you are not certain it is an off bottle
Your waiter should be accommodating to your needs, but if you need to, ask to speak to the manager of the restaurant. Again, as the customer, you are always right
The nicer you are to your waiter, the more willing he/she will be to help you, so remember to complain with a smile on your face -- mistakes do happen and no one likes to deal with rude customers

When dining out, you should get what you pay for so if your food or service isn't up to your requirements or standards don't be shy in asking for what you deserve. If you walk away with a sour taste in your mouth, remember that writing a complaint letter is always an option. Good luck!

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Website of the Day: Customer Service Scoreboard

GeekSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:24:14 -0700

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but oh-so helpful: Customer Service Scoreboard gives you the overall score of some of the most used customer service lines around to see how they stack up. For example, if I would have checked this site before I called AT&T to complain about service interruptions last week, I would have been prepared for their less-than-stellar customer service - they have 29 negative comments and only 7 positive, leaving them with a total score of 48.31 out of 200. Come on AT&T - you can do better!

Since this is a crowd-powered site, you gotta put in your positive and negative comments just like you would if you were Yelping a restaurant. So don't just sit back and read the site, let's get to work!

Should CPS Investigate the Heene Parents For Child Abuse?

babysugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:30:34 -0700

In the case of Richard Heene, the acronym UFO may mean something else: Unruly Father Overacts. While the giant Jiffy Pop saucer may have attracted the whole country's attention, it was the parents' history of taking their three children on storm chases that made me raise my eyebrows. While I may have little in common with people who race after hurricanes, I would like to think that moms and dads always have one goal in mind - the safety of their children. Putting babes (unbuckled and all) in the back of the family car to videotape record-breaking gusts of wind and funnels of debris seems flat-out mad. But it was the silver balloon that had Child Protective Services (CPS) questioning the Heene household.

Officially declared a hoax, it seems the larger concern now is making sure the children are being cared for in the best possible environment. One source claims Richard Heene used his sons as pawns to gather media attention. While it may be questionable to parade one's offspring around on television, it is another to ask children to lie and support felony-inducing behaviors. Not only are the boys learning how to break the law, they are being dragged through a media circus and are sure to face judgment thanks to their parents. Do you think CPS should investigate the parents to see if they are guilty of child abuse?

Would You Rent a Pet?

PetSugar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:00:00 -0700

I've got a bunch of friends who have the room in their hearts for a pet . . . but no room in their studio apartments/ lease restrictions/ busy schedules/ travel plans to care for a pet. Refraining from getting a pet who relies on you to survive when you know you can't give it the care and attention he deserves is a smart move, so what are those animal lovers to do? Although North practically has a waiting list of friends who want to borrow him for the day, I recently read a story about dog rental services in Japan, which reminded me of our very own Flexpetz.
It's already expanding quickly, so clearly someone's buying in. With this pricey service, you can "rent" a dog, which makes me wonder if I'm missing out on a key business plan. I know that pets are good for therapy so I can see the desire, but I'm not sure I wholly agree. What's your take on renting a pet?

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What's Worse: Poor Cell Service or a Bad Internet Connection?

GeekSugar — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:16:57 -0700

There are two unavoidable spots in my commute where I lose cell phone service. . .everyday. Yes, at this point I know to expect my call will be dropped when I hit those streets, but I have to get from point A to point B and I like talking to my sister on my way. I've explained the phenomenon to experts and they say it's a problem with the cell tower not being able to send a signal to those spots and I just have to learn to live with it until it is someday fixed.

Similarly, there are a few spots at work and home where I can't seem to get a solid Internet connection no matter what trickery I try. I recognize these are universal ordeals associated with living in a connected world and I should be patient, but it doesn't stop me from complaining. Which connection failure do you think is worse?

Sites and Tips For Better Customer Service

GeekSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:05:12 -0700

There is nothing fun about sitting on the phone waiting for customer service. Nothing. Unfortunately, it's a fact of consumer life. Whether you are waiting to find out if you can adjust your cable bill, send your laptop in to be repaired, or talk to a human being about that car warranty, the suspense can trigger stress in a matter of seconds. If you like to pay your bills online, you'll love these sites and suggestions for getting customer service faster online. Life is too precious to sit on hold anyway.

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The Customer Service Halls of Shame and Fame

SavvySugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:30:26 -0700

Nobody wants a customer service experience that leaves you swearing under your breath, but these situations aren't exactly avoidable. MSN Money knows how important customer service is to consumers and conducts an annual survey that measures customer satisfaction.

It's named 10 companies that need a lot of improvement in the customer service department and 10 that would be good examples to the companies in the Hall of Shame. It's apparent from the rankings that banks in general could step it up.

Customer Service Hall of Shame

Citigroup
Bank of America
Abercrombie and Fitch
Qwest
HSBC
Time Warner Cable
Capital One
Sprint
Comcast
AOL

To see the companies that offer a happier customer experience, read more.
Customer Service Hall of Fame

Southwest Airlines
Costco
Apple
Whole Foods
Publix
Nordstrom
Amazon
Netflix
Trader Joe's
USAA

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Stars Gather To Celebrate Michael Jackson's Life

PopSugarUK — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:19:34 -0700

Michael Jackson was remembered in a huge memorial service at the LA Staples Center yesterday, featuring performances and words from friends, family and fans of the late King of Pop. Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, John Mayer and Usher were among those performing songs, while Brooke Shields, Motown founder Barry Gordy, the Rev. Al Sharpton and basketball stars Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant were among those that spoke of the man behind the legend. Young Britain's Got Talent star Shaheen Jafargholi sang confidently in front of the huge audience, both at the center and watching across the world on TV and online, while Jermaine Jackson sang Michael's favourite song "Smile".

The event was a huge star-studded production, but the reality of the family's loss was brought to our attention through the broken words of his eleven year old daughter Paris, who described Michael as "the best father you could imagine" before she broke down onstage. There were celebratory moments for his life, and some very moving moments - if you watched last night, what did you think?

To see more photos of Michael's LA Memorial Service, including his family, the performers, guests including Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, as well as video of Shaheen's outstanding tribute to Michael, just read more

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