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With all the recent storms that have hit us here in Wichita, I know several of you have had hail damage. I personally am up to my ears with hail damage not only to my vehicle, but to my daughters’ as well. On top of the vehicles, there was major hail damage to our home. In comparison to what so many have had to endure in the Oklahoma area, my damage seems pretty minute. I feel like I have absolutely no room whatsoever to complain, but can only be thankful for our outcome and pray for those who we were much less fortunate. Although the damage was not as severe as other parts of the state and neighboring states were, I still had broken windows, a leaking roof, and lots of hail damage. I have never had to file a homeowners insurance claim before so I was not sure what to expect. I felt like I was walking into a dark forest with not a clue of how I was going to get out. After my first initial call to insurance, I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the speed and proficiency of my insurance company. They assured me they were going to take care of me and started taking immediate action to do so. Within the first week they sent out the adjuster to the house to do the full inspect and within 5 days of that, I had a check in hand to start making necessary repairs.

Finding a good, reliable, trustworthy contractor I felt was going to be my biggest challenge- because I have never had to deal with home repairs of this magnitude before, and I was a bit on edge feeling completely vulnerable entering into unchartered territory. I started doing some research online and reading local reviews like I always do and was not impressed, along with talking to multiple contractors that were swarming the area like a pack of wolves using scare tactics about roofs potentially caving in to get home owners to sign up with them. I had a very unsettling feeling about each one of the companies I had talked to and knew I had not found the right one yet. I then started asking my family and friends if they had any recommendations and was overwhelmed with the incredible responses. Coincidentally (or maybe not, since we all know the power of referrals) several of them had used the same company for their own home repairs, and were thrilled with the professional quality work they received. I called the company to schedule an appointment and after an hour of grilling them with questions, I knew they were the right fit for me. The best part was that he came highly recommended by people that I love, respect and trust. I thought, “If they are all so happy with the work, I know I will be too.” It was a huge relief to be assured by the company that everything would go smoothly and they would handle everything. I am happy to report that they have held true to their word and to date I have a new roof, paint, trim, windows and deck paint ordered, and have not had to worry about a thing. What a great feeling to have that burden lifted and to actually have a company do what was promised!

When it comes to car dents, I will give you one guess as to where I had my vehicles repaired! Ok, you got me, yes at our Davis-Moore Body Shop! They offer paintless dent repair with competitive prices and are reliable and trustworthy… here are just a few reasons to consider this option:

• Affordable- No repainting is necessary, so the cost of a paintless dent repair is much less than a conventional body shop repair.
• Fast – Most paintless dent repairs are completed in half the time of regular body shop repairs.
• Impressive Results – Customers are often amazed at the results that can be achieved with paintless dent repair

Most of you already do business with us at Davis-Moore and if you keep coming back to us, that must mean we are living up to our end of the bargain by delivering good, quality and loyal customer service. So, why search around looking for a dent repair company when you already have one you know and trust? We have a new, state-of-the-art body shop located at 10455 E Kellogg. You can call to set up an appointment at 316-652-6599 or email Kurt Danielson at kdanielson@davis-moore.com. I have attached the body shop link as well so you can print a map if needed, have general questions or need our hours. Please note that our new location is now open on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m to noon.

Until next time……

Renee

A Benefit for Make-A-Wish Kansas

Buy yourself a guy AND support a great organization at the annual Bid for Bachelors benefit auction on Friday, June 28 at Hotel at Old Town in downtown Wichita! Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish® Kansas.

This sassy event starts with free champagne poured generously by the charming bachelors with wonderful, generous hearts. Get a jump on the evening with a VIP ticket and attend a pre-party with the bachelors and the wish kid ambassador Preston at 6pm!

Cocktail hour begins at 7pm, and guests can sip champagne, nibble on hors d’oeuvres, mingle with the single men and SHOP the silent auction tables. At 8pm, the real fun begins! A live auction of men – all ages, backgrounds, and styles – will take place. They take stage and strut their stuff to benefit Make-A-Wish Kansas.

Each bachelor has his own date package which includes an exciting adventure and fabulous meal. These gentlemen are the cream of the crop, helping to raise money to grant the wishes of Kansas children with life-threatening medical conditions.

An admission ticket is required to attend any portion of the event.  Proceeds from ticket sales go to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Kansas and to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. You can see the bachelors here!

The following ticket options are available:

$50.00  

– Advance purchase
- Admittance at 7 pm
- Champagne reception, silent auction, live auction & after party

$60.00

- At the door
- Admittance at 7 pm
- Champagne reception, silent auction, live auction & after party

$80.00*

- Advance purchase only
- Early admittance at 6 pm
- Bachelor meet-&-greet at VIP pre-party with complimentary cocktail and chocolates
- Champagne reception, silent auction, live auction & after party
* Note: Limited to 24 VIP seats

To purchase a table for 10, call 316-838-9474.

A processing surcharge will be applied to ticket prices at checkout. Tickets may be alternatively purchased by calling the Make-A-Wish chapter office at (316) 838-9474 (838-WISH).

Be sure to visit and like the Facebook page, where you can find more information, updates and photos from previous years’ auctions!

Until next time….

Renee

As a mother, I do not think it is humanly possible for me worry any less about my children on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis. Before they were ever out of the womb, I began worrying about them and that will never change. I have five children ranging in age from 11-21, and they are truly the loves of life. I have my constant “worry wheels” on that never stop spinning… I am sure my children wish I would give it a rest!

I can honestly say I have inherited a few extra gray hairs over the past 6 years teaching four of them how to drive. When it comes to the driving the one thing that terrifies me even more than the weather, a tire going flat, or kids driving late at night, is the fear of them texting and driving. I preach and lecture often and continuously show them videos and examples of what can happen in a split second from texting and driving. I tell them NO text message is worth losing their life over or putting some other person in harms way because of a text message. I do not feel as parents we can tell our children enough that texting and driving kills. Just like we tell them over and over about drinking and driving, the statistics for texting and driving continue to climb and we need to raise more awareness. We as adults also need to listen and be good examples to our children. It is easy for people to point the finger at young, inexperienced drivers as the cause of the majority of the texting and driving accidents however, this is not the case. The statics continue to show us that unfortunately, the “grown ups” are equally responsible for the staggering amount of accidents and deaths. Here is just one example of one young man who’s life, and the life of his parents has changed forever because of a single text message!

Julie has shared the story of Austin Breitenstein, who was in a car accident on December 4, 2009 because of reading a text message. He suffered a brain injury that changed his life. After three years of therapy, he can walk again, but he still can’t speak. Julie wants to be Austin’s voice that no text is worth the risk. The slightest distraction and a few seconds with your eyes off the road can change your life forever. We need to ask ourselves and our teens, what is worth losing your life over? Texting can wait. Take the time to sign the pledge, and encourage your kids and friends to do the same.

Until next time,
Renee

Today, a guest post I wrote for the Wichita Business Journal was published. In it, I highlight an action plan for responding to social media complaints. I hope that if you’ve ever had a bad experience with Davis-Moore, that you let me know about it. At Davis-Moore, service is our number one concern and I would love the opportunity to make a bad experience right for you.

Here’s the full text of the post:

The old saying of, “You can run, but you cannot hide” has never been more true than when looking at today’s world of social media. In the good old days, if a customer had a complaint toward a company, they would write a letter, fill out customer comment cards or verbally complain — either in person or on the telephone. The complaint stayed relatively tucked away and private; it was between the company and that individual. If you still have that mentality and way of thinking in TODAY’S social media crazed world, I fear you and your company will be left in the dust.

I spend many hours every week on the Internet for work, However I also use the Internet as my No. 1 source for seeking out information — mostly consumer reviews on products that I am looking to purchase — and I am truly dumbfounded at how many companies are doing nothing about negative reviews about or complaints toward their companies. I look at all of the advertising dollars being spent to promote these companies and their products, and then look at the review sites and see hundreds of complaints and not a single response from the company! Not a “Thank you for letting us know” or even a “We’re sorry to hear of your bad experience, please call us” … nothing! Think of it this way: Not responding online is no different than a customer coming in to complain in person and getting zero verbal response — just a deer-in-the-headlight stare. How would that go down? Think about it as the business owner, then flip it and be the consumer. The picture is not pretty.

Call me old-fashioned, but my parents taught me a long time ago to “do unto others as you want done unto you.” You would certainly expect as a consumer that ,if you were unhappy with a company or product, you would be able to get them to respond or engage with you, no matter what outlet you used to let them know of your dissatisfaction. Smartphones, Twitter, Facebook and an abundance of other review and social media sites have simply made it easier for consumers to express their complaints. It allows them to blow off steam, vent and let others know how unhappy they are as well. These viral complaints can be very costly, whether the complaint is warranted or not. They are complaining because they feel that you, the business, has failed them in some way.

Businesses need to put a plan of action in place to address these complaints. Here is a very basic list of tips to get started and be consistent in your plan:

Be aware. Sign up for Google alerts! Anytime your company name is mentioned anywhere online, you will get an alert. You can have these alerts sent to your cell phone so no matter what time it is or where you are, you get the notification.
Make is easy for a customer to complain. Again, you cannot hide from customer complaints (no matter how hard you try). Put a contact name, phone number and email address on your website so that it’s easy for customers to get a hold of you or someone else who can courteously respond to their issue.

Train your customer service representatives. Hard truth: These people will truly make or break your business. Invest the time, money and energy into training them.

Respond immediately, every time. Your best form of damage control is in responding immediately. Don’t avoid it; don’t run away from it. It is not going to go away. Face it head on and dive in.

Listen, listen and listen some more. When you get in touch with the customer, simply listen. Often, all they want is to be heard. Miscommunication plays a major role in why that customer is so upset to begin with. Do not be defensive or combative; just listen. Patience is the key.

Keep emotion out of it. Whether you agree or disagree with what the customer complaint is, as a professional you have to keep your emotions in check. Your job is to solve the problem, to triage the situation and to figure out quickly and effectively how to rectify it.

Apologize. The words “I’m sorry” go a very long way. You are not necessarily admitting fault here. You are conveying to the customer that you are sorry to hear that they are unhappy with your company and assuring them that YOU are there to listen and to help.

Follow through. If you assure a customer that you are going to help them, you have to mean it. It does you absolutely no good to tell a customer something if you have no intention to follow through. Worse, the damage done will amplify if you overpromise and underdeliver, so be sure whatever resolution you come up with, you have the plan to back it up.

Unfortunately, there is no sure way to prevent unhappy customers. They have been and will always be a part of business. The Internet has given free speech a whole new meaning, and now more than ever we have to be ready to engage with our customer. Negative reviews give you a growth opportunity to become better and have some insight and understanding in to what your customers expect of you. Always remember: The customer’s perception is your reality!

Post was originally published by The Wichita Business Journal.

There are so many things to consider when purchasing a new vehicle. Not only do you have personal taste, but Moms (and Dads) have the added pressure of choosing a vehicle that works for the entire family. Luckily, our friends at Kelley Blue Book make that research a little easier this year! We are proud that the all-new 2013 Nissan Pathfinder was given the top spot on Kelley Blue Book’s list of 10 Best Family Cars of 2013, while the 2013 Nissan Altima also made the cut.

We all know the feeling of needing a vehicle that can work miracles, such as taking the kids (and oftentimes, their friends) to an event or sports game WHILE running other errands. Kelley Blue Book, the leading provider of new and used car information, develops the list of the 10 Best Family Cars every year based on characteristics that cater to unique family specifications and situations.

The Pathfinder and Altima were redesigned to represent both comfort and utility. The Pathfinder has a more refined unibody construction to maintain best-in-class standard towing capacity (5,000 lbs.). It also boasts best-in-class highway fuel economy of 26 mpg. KBB.com also praised features such as Around View® Monitor with “bird’s eye” view. Seating up to seven passengers comfortably, the Pathfinder has best-in-class interior volume, front headroom and legroom and class-exclusive reclining third row seats. Even when carrying seven passengers, the 2013 Pathfinder can still accommodate up to 16 cubic feet of cargo!

The Nissan Altima was included on the Best Family Cars list due to its leading-class fuel economy (38 mpg) and its comfortable seating for five and host of safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assist.

Let’s face it, buying a new vehicle is a family decision. And what better time to get into a family vehicle than now, while Nissan is cutting prices on its popular models?! As always, let me know if you have any questions about the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder or Altima, and feel free to browse our inventory! 

Until next time,

Renee