My wife tried to return a defective bottle of Shea Cashmere Body Lotion to Bath and Body Works yesterday.
The bottle is transparent, with a push button dispenser cap. Somehow, the stem on the dispenser within the bottle snapped in half.
The response on the part of the Bath and Body Works store manager in the Moorestown Mall (Moorestown NJ) was to 'turn it upside down'.
Hardly a suitable response, don't you think? How about an offer to replace the item, or at least a store credit?
As to her suggested solution?
Guess what? That doesn't work. The lotion is so thick that it doesn't go anywhere when you turn it upside down. That's probably why there's a push button dispenser.
As the kids say, duh.
Also, as the kids say, Bath and Body Works sucks.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Retrofitness Moorestown
If you are planning on working out at Retrofitness in Moorestown today, watch out--it's about 100° degrees in there, and the air is 'not on'.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Ritz 16 in Vorhees---Incident on Saturday, April 25th
Well, despite our previous poor experience at the Ritz Vorhees 16 on April 18th, my wife and I ventured out there once again on April 25th---this time with the assurance from Mark Elson, City Manager for New Jersey and Pennsylvania, that there would be increased 'usher patrols' in place based on my email to him last week.
We went to a 9:35 showing of the Soloist. We got there early, stood in line, and were admitted to the theater (Theater #9 I believe) at approximately 9:00. We sat in the very last row of the theater, chatted a bit, and I ate my popcorn anxiously as the theater filled, anxiously awaiting the noisy, rude and inconsiderate patron who would undoubtedly sit right across from me.
At approximately 9;15, a man of about 25 and his girlfriend made their way a few rows to the right and down from us--he proceeded to serenade his girlfriend with some kind of romantic tune (I couldn't make it out), About 5 minutes later, 4 teenage boys made their way up to the last row, and somehow, I knew this would be the prize winning group.
I was right, as they chatted and texted before the lights went out, during the previews, and during the movies.
One of the young men, apparently not wishing to disturb the crooner and his girlfriend in front of him, decided to direct his cell phone to his left--thereby shining it into the eyes of a middle aged man on the aisle, who after a few minutes of this crap, suddenly snapped his fingers at the kid, and told him he was disturbing him and told him to shut it off. Amazingly, the kid did so--at least for the next hour.
Of course, no usher was ever seen in the theater, and I half expected one to come up and escort the man out, not the kids.
Once again, I implore the Ritz 16 to do something about this---an announcement prior to the movie that cell phone usage will not be tolerated would help. Having an usher come in once in a while (as promised by Mr. Elson) would also help.
As for me, I'm getting closer and closer to calling it quits.
My wife and I easily spend $1,500 at the Ritz each year ($18 per week x 52 weeks, plus $12 in snacks). A big screen TV with some theater chairs in our basement may be the next best thing for us.
We went to a 9:35 showing of the Soloist. We got there early, stood in line, and were admitted to the theater (Theater #9 I believe) at approximately 9:00. We sat in the very last row of the theater, chatted a bit, and I ate my popcorn anxiously as the theater filled, anxiously awaiting the noisy, rude and inconsiderate patron who would undoubtedly sit right across from me.
At approximately 9;15, a man of about 25 and his girlfriend made their way a few rows to the right and down from us--he proceeded to serenade his girlfriend with some kind of romantic tune (I couldn't make it out), About 5 minutes later, 4 teenage boys made their way up to the last row, and somehow, I knew this would be the prize winning group.
I was right, as they chatted and texted before the lights went out, during the previews, and during the movies.
One of the young men, apparently not wishing to disturb the crooner and his girlfriend in front of him, decided to direct his cell phone to his left--thereby shining it into the eyes of a middle aged man on the aisle, who after a few minutes of this crap, suddenly snapped his fingers at the kid, and told him he was disturbing him and told him to shut it off. Amazingly, the kid did so--at least for the next hour.
Of course, no usher was ever seen in the theater, and I half expected one to come up and escort the man out, not the kids.
Once again, I implore the Ritz 16 to do something about this---an announcement prior to the movie that cell phone usage will not be tolerated would help. Having an usher come in once in a while (as promised by Mr. Elson) would also help.
As for me, I'm getting closer and closer to calling it quits.
My wife and I easily spend $1,500 at the Ritz each year ($18 per week x 52 weeks, plus $12 in snacks). A big screen TV with some theater chairs in our basement may be the next best thing for us.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Ritz 16 in Vorhees responds
I posted an email last week that I sent to the Ritz 16 management concerning rude talking and texting patrons in their theater. I received a very fast response, and I wanted to post it here.
Mr. Smiley,
I am in receipt of your e-mail and was disappointed to hear about your recent experience. I apologize of any inconvenience you may have experienced.
We do make usher patrols every show and every auditorium. Unfortunately many times, disruptive patrons discontinue their behavior while we are present and resume when we leave. If we are notified by a patron of a disturbance we are always happy to assist. I do understand your frustration and I will address with the staff to increase usher patrols.
Your reference to the “canned statement” was an announcement prior to the movie which was displayed by prior ownership and has not been on screen since May 2007.
In reference to your question about head phones, I am not sure if you are referring to our Assistive Listening Devices for the hearing impaired? These work on a special frequency and usually only work with our headsets.
It is our goal to provide the very best in the movie going experience. We always welcome comments from our patrons such as yourself which helps enable us to reach this goal.
Sincerely,
Mark L. Elson
City Manager
NJ-PA Region
Mr. Smiley,
I am in receipt of your e-mail and was disappointed to hear about your recent experience. I apologize of any inconvenience you may have experienced.
We do make usher patrols every show and every auditorium. Unfortunately many times, disruptive patrons discontinue their behavior while we are present and resume when we leave. If we are notified by a patron of a disturbance we are always happy to assist. I do understand your frustration and I will address with the staff to increase usher patrols.
Your reference to the “canned statement” was an announcement prior to the movie which was displayed by prior ownership and has not been on screen since May 2007.
In reference to your question about head phones, I am not sure if you are referring to our Assistive Listening Devices for the hearing impaired? These work on a special frequency and usually only work with our headsets.
It is our goal to provide the very best in the movie going experience. We always welcome comments from our patrons such as yourself which helps enable us to reach this goal.
Sincerely,
Mark L. Elson
City Manager
NJ-PA Region
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A letter to the Ritz 16 in Voorhees New Jersey
I just emailed this to the Customer Service email address of National Amusements, owners of the Ritz 16 in Voorhees, New Jersey.
My wife and I go to your Voorhees New Jersey location every Saturday evening to see a movie, and at least half the time we are bothered by loud, inconsiderate patrons who either talk during the movie, narrate the entire movie, or talk or text on cell phones.
Prior to the previews, you display a canned statement indicating that we should make the manager aware of anything detracting from our movie going experience, but why should I interrupt my viewing of the movie to report someone who will most likely pick a fight with me for tattling on him.
In the old days, ushers patrolled movies to ensure that patrons were behaving properly.
I'm not sure you can do that easily with 16 theaters, but something needs to be done.
Perhaps you can have quiet shows, where it's understood that absolutely no talking will be tolerated.
Or quiet sections, 5 or 10 rows in the back reserved for people who can behave.
Or perhaps post a phone number where bothered patrons, like me, can text a message to management and tattle on an offending patron anonymously.
By the way, I would be glad to pick up one of those sets of earphones, but I would prefer to use a sanitary set of my own.
If I purchase a set of Bose speakers, would they work in the Ritz 16 in Voorhees?
John Smiley
My wife and I go to your Voorhees New Jersey location every Saturday evening to see a movie, and at least half the time we are bothered by loud, inconsiderate patrons who either talk during the movie, narrate the entire movie, or talk or text on cell phones.
Prior to the previews, you display a canned statement indicating that we should make the manager aware of anything detracting from our movie going experience, but why should I interrupt my viewing of the movie to report someone who will most likely pick a fight with me for tattling on him.
In the old days, ushers patrolled movies to ensure that patrons were behaving properly.
I'm not sure you can do that easily with 16 theaters, but something needs to be done.
Perhaps you can have quiet shows, where it's understood that absolutely no talking will be tolerated.
Or quiet sections, 5 or 10 rows in the back reserved for people who can behave.
Or perhaps post a phone number where bothered patrons, like me, can text a message to management and tattle on an offending patron anonymously.
By the way, I would be glad to pick up one of those sets of earphones, but I would prefer to use a sanitary set of my own.
If I purchase a set of Bose speakers, would they work in the Ritz 16 in Voorhees?
John Smiley
People talking in movies---Part 3
Getting back to my point about people talking in movies.
Ritz 16 Voorhees, Saturday, April 18th.
Reasonably looking intelligent young couple, she wearing a Princeton athletic shirt of some kind, and what appears to be a Princeton baseball cap. Her boyfriend next to her.
Next to them what I would guess are her parents, with complementary '46' jackets (not sure of the significance of the number '46').
I guess they decided to sit in the back row of the Ritz in the belief that it's the 'talking' section--which is what the girl and her mother did for the entire movie (State of Play).
Several times during the movie, her father received either phone calls or text messages on his cell phone. Rather than disturb his wife with the accompanying bright light, he held the phone in the aisle so that it could shine in my wife's eyes.
Genius.
People really need to consider those around them.
Of course, the Ritz makes this big deal prior to showing previews that patrons should feel free to report anything that makes their movie experience less than ideal.
How about providing me a phone number that I can text during the movie to report the morons talking?
Ritz 16 Voorhees, Saturday, April 18th.
Reasonably looking intelligent young couple, she wearing a Princeton athletic shirt of some kind, and what appears to be a Princeton baseball cap. Her boyfriend next to her.
Next to them what I would guess are her parents, with complementary '46' jackets (not sure of the significance of the number '46').
I guess they decided to sit in the back row of the Ritz in the belief that it's the 'talking' section--which is what the girl and her mother did for the entire movie (State of Play).
Several times during the movie, her father received either phone calls or text messages on his cell phone. Rather than disturb his wife with the accompanying bright light, he held the phone in the aisle so that it could shine in my wife's eyes.
Genius.
People really need to consider those around them.
Of course, the Ritz makes this big deal prior to showing previews that patrons should feel free to report anything that makes their movie experience less than ideal.
How about providing me a phone number that I can text during the movie to report the morons talking?
People talking in movies---Part 2
I wanted to rant and rave about my movie experience at the Ritz on Saturday, April 18th--but before I do that, let me post this letter from David R. Ruffling that was printed in Saturday's Philadelphia Daily News---it expresses very well what I think of people who talk in movies...here's the letter
I really enjoy Solomon Jones's Saturday columns.
I especially related to them, as was the case with "Loudmouth Noise that Annoys."
But he forgot to mention one subset of loudmouths, perhaps the most notorious of them all---the ignoramuses who have conversations in movie theaters with their dates/husbands/wives while a movie is in progress, or the people who feel compelled to do their own running narration of the movie out loud. (Subject for a future column?)
Keep those fine articles coming.
David R. Ruffing, Phoenixville
I really enjoy Solomon Jones's Saturday columns.
I especially related to them, as was the case with "Loudmouth Noise that Annoys."
But he forgot to mention one subset of loudmouths, perhaps the most notorious of them all---the ignoramuses who have conversations in movie theaters with their dates/husbands/wives while a movie is in progress, or the people who feel compelled to do their own running narration of the movie out loud. (Subject for a future column?)
Keep those fine articles coming.
David R. Ruffing, Phoenixville
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
