We discovered that when it comes to appliances, repairs, and even the DMV, small-town service still matters...
My wife and I moved to Macon about four and a half years ago from Tampa, Florida. Like many people who move to a small town, we have spent some time learning where to go when we need something. Sometimes, that means finding a good restaurant. Sometimes, it means finding someone who can fix something. And sometimes, it means finding a place where a ballpoint pen is allowed to skip.
The DMV, a Boat, and a Skipping Pen...
About four years ago, I purchased a used boat, trailer, and motor through Marketplace. I went to the DMV in Macon to handle the paperwork.
Unfortunately, the ballpoint pen I was using decided to skip while I was writing the date on the trailer title. That was apparently enough to bring the transaction to a halt. The DMV owner told me I needed to drive back to Jefferson City & obtain a certified affidavit from the seller of the trailer proving the date of the sale. After making sure the gentleman behind the counter understood that I thought he was being a jerk, I headed to Shelbina DMV.
When we pulled up to the DMV in Shelbina, we discovered that it was also Tim's Home Center.
The ladies working behind the counter were the owner, Susan Neely, and her daughter. They were both pleasant, helpful, and apparently understood that a pen skipping while writing a date is a normal occurrence & not some sort of crime. They processed all three titles, issued a new plate for the trailer, and handled everything without unnecessary drama. While we were there, we purchased a freezer that has operated as it should for years.
Then We Bought a Washer and Dryer Somewhere Else...
When we needed a new washer and dryer, for some stupid reason we bought them at Home Depot.
One week after the warranty expired, the washer failed. Home Depot has no service personnel, and General Electric confirmed that there are no local service personnel available to perform the repair.
To GE's credit, they agreed to reimburse us for hiring a service technician of our choice. They also agreed to supply any parts needed under warranty, even though the machine was a few weeks out of warranty. The problem was that there was nobody in Macon with the test equipment and skills to troubleshoot circuit-board-level repairs. In desperation, I called Tim's Home Center.
I was a little embarrassed calling them for service on machines that were only a year old, since we had not purchased the washer and dryer from them. However, it turned out great. It took two trips. One to troubleshoot the problems, and another to install two new circuit boards supplied by GE. The $120 service charge paid to Tim's was refunded by GE.
Our 21-year-old refrigerator failed last Thursday...
We headed straight to Tim's Home Center on Friday morning.
We purchased a new refrigerator that they actually offered to deliver that afternoon for a $50 fee.
We happily paid the $50 delivery, setup, and haul-away fee and scheduled the delivery for Tuesday morning. This morning, the phone rang. It was the delivery personnel making sure we were ready for delivery. The delivery crew consisted of Arnie, the owner of Tim's, and his nephew.
They had to remove the doors from the old refrigerator to even get it out of the house. The $50 fee is a great value for sure. I made the comment that it seemed unusual that the owner would be handling deliveries. Arnie explained that it was because it's hard to find employees who will do the job the way he wants it done. His nephew is learning exactly what is expected of him, and it must be noted that he is a kind and personable young man that represents the company with grace & pride.
A Lesson in Buying Local...
We learned a major lesson.
Buying an appliance from a big-box store is fine until you need service.
That is when the difference between a large retailer and a local business becomes apparent.
At Tim's Home Center, we found people who were willing to help us, even when we had not purchased the appliance from them. We found people who knew what they were doing and cared enough to make sure the job was done right. I can't say enough good things about Tim's Home Center in Shelbina. And don't forget: when it's time to go to the DMV, it is just a short drive to Shelbina, where you will be treated like family.
It Must Be Noted:
This is a personal account of our experience with Tim's Home Center, in Shelbina. I have no financial interest in the business, and nobody asked me to write this.I simply believe that when a local business does something right, people ought to know about it. And when a ballpoint pen skips, it shouldn't be a federal case.
P.S.- I wish others would join me this evening at the city council meeting. There are just two meetings prior to the November 3rd election. We citizens should be packing the city council meetings in an effort to understand the $80 million bond issue for the 2 new water treatment plants. How will you vote?
Regards Maconites,
R. Dominique - Editor
We will be awaiting your report on the council meeting