Columbia Customer Service = SCORE

We have this diaper bag, by Columbia. After changing Brady in the family room at Von Maur last week, I lifted up the changing pad to find the underside soaking wet. Apparently, whomever used the changing station before me didn't clean up after their little one had a spraying issue. I called Columbia and asked if I could order a replacement pad. I really liked the pad that came with our bag. It is a nice big size that when folded stays nice and flat. It also has two waterproof zipper type pockets. As much as I liked it, I knew it wouldn't withstand going through the washing machine.

I called Columbia and asked if I could purchase a replacement changing pad. They connected me to a company called California Innovations and I was sent a replacement pad at no cost to me!
Today I received the Baby Innovations Ultra Comfort Change Station. Complete with "quilted, contoured head rest", a baby wipes container and microban protection. Retail Value of 14.99.


It also features: carry strap with a buckle, a waterproof pocket with zipper, a mesh pocket with velcro running the entire width of the pocket and an additional pocket on the outside with velcro closure.
Because of the way this one folds, it is bulkier than the original. And also seems a bit shorter due to the contoured head rest.
All-in-all, I wish that some other childs' body fluids hadn't gotten on the original pad. But this one is a very nice replacement. And, these days, you just can't beat the superior customer service I was granted by Columbia and Baby Innovations!!

Dyson Vacuum

So we love our Dyson vacuum which we bought last year. I'm pretty sure it is the only reason we have a prayer of keeping up with the massive amounts of fur that our four animals shed.

When a shoelace attempted to be sucked up last week, the vacuum all of a sudden started making a huge racket when the brushes were being used. I took a look at it as much as I could, but couldn't really see anything. The belt appeared intact and nothing appeared to be wrong with the brushes.

Dreading what I would find out, I called the Dyson customer service to find somewhere to get the vacuum serviced. After hearing a message saying they were experiencing higher than normal call volume, I was thinking here we go. But after only 30 seconds I had a rep on the line. I explained my problem, he got our vacuum registered (always keep receipts for big purchases) and then told me to take the bottom cover off again and to actually take the brush and belt completely out. I hadn't completely taken the belt out previously, but as soon as I did, it was immediately obvious that the ridges on the belt had been melted off creating a cm gap on the belt.

The rep said that he would send a new belt and would actually send a new roller brush also because they had modified the design since we bought it and had a wider belt now. Unfortunately it will take 7-10 days to get here and as I asked if he could get it any quicker (7-10 days of no vacuuming in our house is not pretty) he said he couldn't, but that he would have them send an extra belt so that we wouldn't have this problem again. Oh, and no charge for all of this.

Kind of a nice customer service experience and kind of cemented our happiness with the Dyson.
And because I know you are all wondering....It was me who sucked up the shoelace. But Dan sucked up part of a tee-shirt 2 weeks ago!!

UPDATE: New parts came on Saturday. 4 days after Dan called!!!