PunditLisa - Great advice! I’ll try it out next time. And it’s not really buyer’s remorse, I don’t think - I really wanted that watch, and I already budgeted the money for it - so much as the customer service thing (or at least, the whole “you got screwed” feeling I got out of it as a customer). Although I’m sure there were a lot of factors that went into what I was feeling when I first posted that.
I’d have let this thread sink to the next page, but I wanted to share with you all a customer service experience that happened just tonight, that I’m actually extremely happy with.
I subscribe to the New York Times under its student rate. It’s a paper I’m expected to read for classes in BU’s Journalism program, and the student rate gives me the five weekday papers for the price of two - a great deal.
But when a paper goes missing (either a missed delivery, or what-have-you), I can just call up and either have a new paper delivered (before a certain time), or have my account credited. Part of what’s great about this is they don’t question why it went missing - if someone just stole it, they really have no obligation to replace it, but they do anyway.
The only complaint I could possibly have about this system is: I still have to read that paper for my classes (and bring a hard copy in many cases), so I have to buy it anyway. They only credit my account at the discounted rate, but I have to buy it at the full price - a difference of 60 cents.
This is nothing; it’s a mild annoyance but it’s not enough money to really bother over (even for a “cheap bastard” like me, as Gozu put it). But when I found myself talking to a customer service rep tonight about my missed paper, I mentioned it anyway, and she said, “We can credit you the full dollar. That’s certainly reasonable!” :eek:
Now that is above and beyond even my expectations of customer service! Even crediting me for a stolen paper is more than I expect, but refunding me more than the amount I agreed to pay is something I’m honestly impressed by.
This is the kind of service Disneystore.com didn’t even come near. I might keep my subscription to the Times long after it’s required of me, and it has nothing to do with their reporting.
also, this is a Pit thread so I expect some harsh words, and I thank those of you who defended me, but as the OP can I say “no hard feelings”? Even to the “cheap bastard” comment - if living on a budget has turned me into a cheap bastard, then fine, think of it that way. I had my rant, I posted my feelings, and I’ll get a bit more excercise for a month in exchange for being able to know what time it is 
(oh, and the “no hard feelings” comment only goes to Dopers. I’m still kind of upset with the mouse)