Firestone just MESSED up!

Well, interacting with customers in the workplace discussing politics is never good business, no matter what side of the aisle you're on.
Did you start the conversation? Did he see a Bush/Cheney 2004 bumper sticker on your truck?
Or maybe he's just an asshat who loves to get somethin' started with random customers?

After what I have seen people get away with now adays and the fact that companies don't tend to listen to their customers often, it would be great to see some results from your email and cutting the card. BTW that was cool cutting the card in his face and giving it to him. Hope the knife was not bigger then the law allows. You know people look for any excuse to sue someone now a days.

ah, the brilliant thing about this country is that people are entitled to have opinions that differ from you own--and they are actually allowed to utter these opinions out loud.

I just went in to have tires put on my truck and what do I get? I get some fat slob of a manager ranting about how bad Bush is and how he's running the country into the ground. Then he goes on as to how good "Slick Willie" was and how "hanoijohnkerry" would have been a lot better than Bush.

Something sounds suspicious here. People don’t generally go off on a rant like that without a reason, especially a manager who is evaluated by the number of sales his store makes. Odds are, there was some provocation on the part of drmiler.

Something sounds suspicious here. People don’t generally go off on a rant like that without a reason, especially a manager who is evaluated by the number of sales his store makes. Odds are, there was some provocation on the part of drmiler.

Well, Ben-types see conspiracy & incomplete disclosure everywhere, don't they?

ah, the brilliant thing about this country is that people are entitled to have opinions that differ from you own--and they are actually allowed to utter these opinions out loud.

Ah, that is true. But this is a place of business, where the customers money is always right. The last thing you wanna do as a manager is to use you freedom of speech to lower your daily and future sales. It's not against the law to talk about it in a store, even if it's a manager, it's just plain business stupidity. Remember, freedom of speech does not come with free of consequences.

Well, Ben-types see conspiracy & incomplete disclosure everywhere, don't they?

It's their bread and butter, just look at Col's new book title. If anything he should be thanful that Bush ia who he is otherwise he would only be gettong SS and not those extra bucks from his books.

" ah, the brilliant thing about this country is that people are entitled to have opinions that differ from you own--and they are actually allowed to utter these opinions out loud."

And even more brilliantly, you can tell them right back what you think of their opinions, cut your card and leave. Then they have to ponder if it is a smart business move to insult other people's politics.

This guy represents Firestone when he is at work, not himself. If he were to have started taking about black people in a derogatory way, and the customer's wife was black, I doubt you'd be so trite about it. He wouldn't get sued, Firestone would get sued.

While not as heinous, this guy actively alienated a customer by insulting their political affiliation. Sure, he has that right, just as we have the right to walk out and Firestone has the right to fire his sorry ass.

Wanna know something funny?

Firestone is on like, every single Army base.

It's one of a handful of stores that you can almost always find on Army bases...nothing says hooah like Burger King and Firestone. My husband and I, along with a huge number of other Schofield Barracks Soldiers and families, use Firestone for oil changes, new tires, and various repairs primarily because of the convenience of it.

Personally, I think you probably handled the situation in a bit of an over-the-top manner (heh, vinegar and honey and all that), but hey, it's your money, your vehicle, and your prerogative.

Hope the knife was not bigger then the law allows.

Nope it's one of those folding razor knives that you get at Home Depot. The kind with the replacable blades.

Did you start the conversation? Did he see a Bush/Cheney 2004 bumper sticker on your truck? Or maybe he's just an asshat who loves to get somethin' started with random customers?

He's just an asshat. Now if I had my wifes car, then yes to the Bush sticker. On my truck no. Although I do have one that says "piss on terrorists". I don't think I started it. But then again I was so mad when I left it's a wonder I remember anything about the incident.

On another note... The "head" manager from that store personally called me to apologize. I have spent a lot of money there and he obviously did not want to lose it. Since I have MS and can no longer do routine maintenance on my vehicle I have gone in just to have them replace the blown out dash board lights and that alone cost me $90. He informed me that when I come in (he's gonna have the guy moved to another store) that in the interim he'd make sure that someone else waited on me. From what he said, Corp called him about the e-mail I sent. So I guess Firestone does care.

Wanna know something funny? Firestone is on like, every single Army base. It's one of a handful of stores that you can almost always find on Army bases...nothing says hooah like Burger King and Firestone. My husband and I, along with a huge number of other Schofield Barracks Soldiers and families, use Firestone for oil changes, new tires, and various repairs primarily because of the convenience of it. Personally, I think you probably handled the situation in a bit of an over-the-top manner (heh, vinegar and honey and all that), but hey, it's your money, your vehicle, and your prerogative.

Actually Tex, I have "really" mellowed in my old age. 20 years ago my answer would have been to bust the guy in the mouth. Now that, would have been "over the top"!

Good that you got some satisfaction in a response. The guy isn't fired, but having to change stores is clearly NOT a "good career move". Nice to know some corporations will actually respond to their customers!

I guess I'll call Corp to thank them and ask if they would replace my card.

I told him because of his inability to control his mouth and his attitude that he had just lost a good paying customer and that I would not be back. I then came home and e-mailed Firestone corp about this.

A reasonable response IMHO to an unreasonable situation.

Remember, freedom of speech does not come with free of consequences.

Unfortunately, this truism is often forgotten.

So I guess Firestone does care.

Good to know.

Unfortunately, this truism is often forgotten.

Is that a good thing? Cool.

Personally, I think you probably handled the situation in a bit of an over-the-top manner (heh, vinegar and honey and all that), but hey, it's your money, your vehicle, and your prerogative

You may be right but in this world that we live in sometimes one must take drastic measures to get respect. Most managers will not care about someone getting upset cause they may not feel that it will affect thier life in any way. But when something this strong is done the shockwave usually does give results. Sometime some people have to learn things the hard way and sometimes someone has to teach it to them. I don't think I would have cut the card myself, but I would probably have stopped going there. And maybe even send an email. Now that I think about it I will consider the idea to send emails more often. How does one expect things to get better if we don't take steps to make it better.

Ha ha ha ha ha! Thanks for the good laugh, doctor.

As I've mentioned plenty of times, I'm pretty liberal, and that's cool. All my friends and acquaintances are pretty darn conservative, and that's okay too. But to discuss this at work is pretty dumb of that guy.

Just remind me not to leave anything of mine lying around if we ever get in a political argument . . .