For over 100 years Swann’s furniture has been turning people’s houses into their dream home. Swann’s Furniture first opened in downtown Tyler and was family owned and run. At Swann’s it is very important for the customer to be matched with the perfect furniture and designs for their home. Saleswomen and men are all prepared to help you find what you are looking for.
While I was shopping at the store I really felt the pressure that the saleswomen were trying to meet their quota. I told the same lady about four times that I was fine and did not need any help but I almost felt like I was being stalked. I really just wanted to leave the store. That is not a great feeling when you just want to look at furniture for your house.
But besides the obnoxious sales team, I enjoyed my time at Swann’s Furniture. They really do have what you need to make you house beautiful. Something that stood out to me was that Swann’s not only had the large furniture items, such as beds, couches, and tables, but also had the small details that really make your house stand out such as their large selection of clocks and upholstery. It was quite humorous to hear the saleswoman talk about the upholstery and try to sell me the products by naming the brand names of the products. I had no idea who any of those people were, but they had such a big selection that you really can find the right colors to match your house.
My personal shopping experience may not of been the best, but it really is undeniable that Swann’s has some of the most beautiful furniture. Swann’s furniture has everything you need to transform your bedrooms, dining room, living rooms (including entertainment centers) and home offices.
While you are shopping at a strip mall many times you will run into a Super Cuts. I do not really like the idea of getting my hair cut from a franchise with stores in over 2,100 locations in the United States, United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico. I think that hair is really important and I like to know who is going to be doing my hair. If you are going to get your hair done at Super Cuts you could have a different person doing your hair every time you go.
Although all of the stylist are licensed to cut and style hair, when you go to get your hair done there, the thing that is missing is the personal relationship. I like being reassured when I go into the store that I will be able to leave with the hair cut that I want, and it is not very reassuring when you do not know who is going to be working that day.
Super Cuts in Tyler Texas does cut hair for kids, women, and men. The stylist know the newest hair style and the most fashionable looks. One of the hardest things is probably cutting little kids hair and trying to keep them sitting still. Of what I have seen the stylist at Super Cuts has done a good job at cutting little children’s hair quickly and even.
When you are getting your hair cut at a place that walk-ins are welcomed and reservations are not needed the stylist try to do your hair quickly and move on to the next costumer. I know that most of the stylist can really cut great hair, but the biggest problem with me is that I do not think that the stylist take the proper amount of time and care for your hair, but that is probably the reason that the price of the hair cut is half as much as if you when to a private stylist.
Fast food is good for one thing, fast cheap food for the person on the go. You think that it would be very important to be accurate filling a costumer’s full order. Rarely has Wendy’s in Tyler Texas gotten my order right with out me having to go into the store to correct their mistakes. Even if you clearly state your simple order, they still seem to not understand.
One day I went out to eat with my dad to Wendy’s as I walked up to the counter I asked a simple question, “what dressing do you have for your salads?” The question was simple enough but it was even more simple since the young man had the list of dressings right in front of him. He stumbled through every word. Not to critisize the young man but I have never heard of a dressing called “veng…van…whatever that is”. If an employee cannot read the menu leave them to flip the patties.
One of the best things about Wendy’s is the famous frosty. Being such a popular menu item you would think that it would be available, at the Lindale Wendy’s (right off the interstate) seems like it’s ice cream machine is always out of order. But this little issue is just one of the many things wrong with this fast food store. The employees are extremely rude. More accounts than one have I been gripped at because they did not get my order right. I have worked at places that I did not want to work, and dreaded going to work as much as the next guy, but you smile and be polite, and don’t take your issues out on costumers.
I have found that every once in awhile you can get something that tastes somewhat like food at Wendy’s. I despise the service and attitude at this fast food chain its ridiculous! I know each store should be different with a different attitude, but some how it’s the over-all attitude of the food chain.
If you are trying to get your food and go on your way, I would skip Wendy’s. If you want what you ordered without headache and without having to go into the store to correct their mistakes about three different times, Wendy’s is not your restaurant.
As the Halloween holiday approaches the Tyler area begins to turn the large abandoned buildings into Halloween costume shopping centers. Not many people shop around for the best prices or the best selection. Two new competing Halloween stores have opened in town right across the road from each other. I shopped at each comparing the two in both selection and prices.
At Spirit Halloween I was greeted by a scene of spooky lawn decorations setting the mood for the Halloween holiday. As I pass by aisle after aisle of costume for every person in your family I am greeted by an employee dressed up in a costume. I made the whole shopping experience more exciting, although I got pretty frustrated when an employee dressed as a serial killer would not leave my frightened kid alone. I looked through the many different choices of costumes for small children, I loved the many different fun outfits and all the different accessories to make top of the perfect costume. I walked across the store to the woman’s Halloween costumes. Every single item was either going to show everything up top or show so much leg its dangerously close to showing much more. I don’t understand why Halloween is the day of the year that woman are expected to dress as inappropriate as possible. Costumes actually had the word “slutty” on the bag; slutty nurse, slutty lunch lady, slutty cat. I don’t really understand how a cat is slutty, but seriously? Why can’t you ever find an appropriate, fun outfit for woman in Tyler Texas? I guess I will stick to getting material from Hobby Lobby and making my own!
Across Broadway is the Halloween Bootique. When I walked into the store I was not greeted by any scary yard ornaments or employees dressed for the season. Come to think of it I was not very greeted by normal dressed employees. No one asked if they could help me, I don’t think I said a single thing to an employee and I was the only costumer in the whole store. Everything was very spread out. The Halloween Bootique did not have as large of a selection as the Halloween Spirit.
The two stores’ costumes prices were about the same, and pretty much the same costumes, but Spirit Halloween was a much more fun experience. So make this Halloween holiday be the best, and make your house the spookiest in the neighborhood.
I usually try to focus my writing efforts on businesses I can endorse (at least in some measure). This time however, I find it necessary to shine the rays of critism on one of the worst companies with whom I have ever had the misfortune of doing business.
For those citizens of Tyler who to get their water services from the city, be thankful that you need not do business with Southern Utilities. The fact that they have a monopoly on area water services outside the city proper allows them to charge whatever they will for the absolute minimum in return. The aforementioned monopoly has also served to insulate the public relations department (such as it is), from the companies reputation in the community. I have yet to encounter an institution (aside from the IRS perhaps), which cares less for the customers it is supposed to serve.
Upon returning home to Tyler, I purchased and moved into my new home. When the time came to activate the usual services I was able to open new accounts easily and usually over the phone except in one instance. The single most frustrating service to open was not in fact the gas, nor was it the electricity. The most difficult company to deal with, the one with the most red tape and unhelpful staff was in fact our local water company, Southern Utilities. I had potentially hazardous soruces of power and energy activated in my home by simple phone call, and yet, taking a shower required the former owner of my house (fortunately a friend of mine), to visit during his busy work week in order to remove his name from the account and validate the sale of the house.
But this initial hassel was only a sign of things to come. The customer service department does nothing to make the company more approachable. They have no on line services to allow the costumer an easier way to pay, nor will they take payments over the phone. For those financially challenging months which require a personal visit to ensure on time payment, its best to arrive before four o’clock since the lobby closes at that time. To be fair, the drive through window is now open until five, but you had better be prepared to pay in cash or with a check. Southern Utitlities does not accept either credit cards or check cards. And should you find yourself making a late payment, you can forget about an extention. Rarely are those granted, and when they are, you can bet a lot of stamina was required to win the argument.
But these complaints are not new. Virtually everyone I know who has dealt with S.U. tells me the same stories. So how can the company work its way back into the customer’s good graces? For starters get a website, one that provides easier access to individual accounts. This would necessitate allowing people to pay by card, also an improvement. Generally, at least appear to make an effort! Try to convince me that my satisfaction is actually important.
On a scale of one to five I have to give Southern Utilities a one. So if you’re new to Tyler and you have a choice of water companies, take the one that’s not Southern Utilities you’ll be glad you did. Southern Utilities is located on Broadway just north of the down town square.
