Wow, Here's A Class Act
A few weeks ago, I complained (scroll down to bottom of link) about getting sales calls from Bottom Line, a newsletter I subscribe to with some good information on investing, privacy rights, consumer issues, etc. Because I'd just gotten back from France, and needed my sleep, I was especially outraged that they'd hired telemarketers to call and ask me to renew my subscription. I tried to find an email address to contact somebody at Bottom Line to make a complaint, but it was one of those companies that obscures the email addresses so they all flow to "editorial," etc., not to some specific person's name.
Anyway, when somebody wrote me back, I estimated my cost (in lost work time from being awakened, and stamps to mail the email to two addresses for the founder of the company, Martin Edelston, whom I'd looked up on Zabasearch.com), and told them the company owed me $254.74. I'd actually wanted to call Edelston at home, to see how he felt about having his privacy invaded, and suggest that having telemarketers harass his subscribers was bad business, but his number wasn't listed.
Most amazingly, after he got my email, he took action. He sent me a couple of books and a t-shirt, and a note of apology, including his thought that he was reconsidering the hiring of the telemarketing company. Then, even more amazingly, he sent me another book yesterday...and a check for $254.74! Now, there's a mensch! And a smart man, because I liked his newsletter and want to keep subscribing. I wrote him a nice thank you note, telling him his apology was accepted, and sent him a packet of my columns.
Speaking of privacy issues, shouldn't you photoshop your address out of the image?
Stein at September 1, 2005 11:42 AM
Stein, that address is printed in over 100 papers across the US and Canada. It leads to a tiny steel box. My assistant picks up the mail. But, thanks for thinking of me, although, if I were that big of an idiot, you probably shouldn't be reading me. PS I did crop out the company's bank account number.
Amy Alkon at September 1, 2005 11:54 AM
Hooray to you Amy! And incidentally, this is great advertising for Bottom Line.
Diana at September 1, 2005 11:56 AM
Mensch is such a great, mostly unknown term. Something to strive to being....
eric at September 1, 2005 8:54 PM
I love this story-- good for you for being explicit and civilized. The fellow got more than the $250 worth of valuable cusomer service ideas for him and goodwill for you.
I want to subscribe to the newsletter myself now.
Deirdre at September 2, 2005 8:13 AM
It's very good. Bottom Line Personal is the one I get. I wouldn't get Bottom Line Health, considering they published Gary Null.
Amy Alkon at September 2, 2005 8:47 AM
Mickey Edelston of Bottom Line, in addition to his compensating you for your lost time, fully funda an annual luncheon in Boca Raton, Fl. for his fellow graduates of Weequahic High School, Newark, New Jersey. Close to 400 people attended this past one on Jan.20th 2008. A real mensch.
Herman Ziegler
at January 27, 2008 1:29 PM
He was sending me jokes for a while, too, in the mail. Tell him I said hi. There should be more like him.
Amy Alkon
at January 27, 2008 1:39 PM
..........just received some unwanted books from
Bottom Line Books in Des Moines/Clarion Iowa. I
DID NOT ORDER anything....AND I will not be paying for neither the books NOR the postage. I
do investigation work for a living:
The company is located at 3600 Army Post Road,
Des Moines, IOWA 50321....but where is Martin Edelston....?
Richard at January 5, 2009 9:16 AM
Just search Bottom Line Books on Google, and you'll see that the page is loaded with ripoff complaints about them sending unordered books and then using collection agencies to harass customers who refuse to pay for them. Each case seems to follow a consistent pattern. Mine fit that pattern exactly, and a call to their customer service rep. was to no avail. Now I'll have to send a letter via certified mail and threaten to complain to gov. fraud authorities. If he has any sense of ethical decency, he will fire their director and offer an apology to their victims. I doubt you'll see him sending me or any other victims a check!
James Sattazahn at December 25, 2009 9:34 AM
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