The Customer Service department is not only the outward face of SparkFun (if one can be a “face” in reference to phones and emails). We also work behind the scenes as the customer interface between Shipping, Purchasing, Production, Tech Support, and almost all the other departments. We thought it might be a good idea to take a moment to put faces to the customer service department and show you a few of the more interesting things we have received.
You got a problem? We got an answer.
From the normal emails, calls, and returns, to the real whiz-bang hum-dingers, we hardly have a dull moment around here. There's always the joy of walking a real rocket scientist or somebody's very sweet grandmother through the ordering process. It's great to hear from our invention-minded customers about their projects as they call in to ask questions. We've held on through email conversations that are 50 responses long about a single order. We especially love handing the too-technical questions off to Tech Support. We're here to help you out if you've got questions from the general to the specific, if something is wonky with your order, or if you need to get in touch with anyone else at SparkFun.
Just another day processing returns.
RTFM?
A great perk of this gig is that we get awesome feedback (and some cool stuff) from our customers. For example, even after we completely messed up a customer's order (yes, it can happen), he shipped everything back to us from Sweden with Swedish candy as the packing material.
Better than packing peanuts (which really don't even taste like peanuts).
Did someone say “Swedish candy?”
And then there are customers who are so gung-ho for our products that, even after years of using, say, a Port-O-Rotary phone, they're so enchanted by the novelty of the thing that when they return the phone for repairs, they send along a present.
Swampy says, “Yes, we do in fact carry a GPS module compatible with your fanboat.”
"If you have a problem with your GPS fanboat, please contact Tech Support.”
But let's set Swedish candy and real taxidermied alligator heads aside for the moment. We love our jobs, not only because we get to be ourselves while doing a job we enjoy. We're musicians, writers, coaches, teachers, yogis, and geeks in our own right — but for you, we're the SparkFunions to approach with your questions, concerns, problems, and kudos. Y'all are a pretty interesting bunch, and we're happy to be here for you. You're the real reason we enjoy coming to work everyday.
*Facepalm*
Mmmmmm....Bilar!!!!
It has been said that Bilar has more value than gold and is more addicting than heroin!! I got hooked while living in Oslo years ago. I now pull off the road like a maniac whenever I see an Ikea so I can load up on Bilar, Daim, and Marabou.
"SparkFunion" - rhymes with Bunion :)
I do wish you guys would learn to be serious.
You guys have absolutely fantastic customer service. One of my first orders, a 6dof board, had a problem with one of the gyros (or was it the accelerometer?), anyway...you guys provided very quick and easy email support, and after you sent along a replacement all was good again. I've bought a lot more from you guys since then..my house if full of little (and some big) red boxes..it's all been good.
I've had some dealings with customer service before (lost orders, missing parts, too many parts) and I have to say sparkfun has the best customer service I've ever dealt with! Keep up the good work!
I love Lindsay...!
:-)
Hey Paul,
Thanks for the tour on September 10 -- fun stuff! Too bad nearly everyone was at lunch, and that the pick-and-place machine wasn't running. But aside from that, it was nice to have friendly folks accommodating a stray Burner.
Absolutely, and anytime. Stray burners are some of the best people I've met. We can do another tour same time next year, and schedule a few more people around :)
Don't remember who helped me last week with a mismatched item on my order but thank you. I just soldered my first headers onto an Arduino Pro Mini today: http://twitpic.com/2qpzc3
man I wish I could work there.
I'm sure glad to see y'all got the gator proudly displayed! Not something you'd normally see anywhere in Boulder. Sparqphun rox my sox! Git er dunnnnn! -Dr. CB
Is that goldfish floating upside down?
Nope...that's a platy named Gil. He's not too acrobatic.
This is why I love sparkfun so much! Thanks for the post! :)
They're "airboats" not "fanboats".
Better tell that to Wikipedia ;-)
Somebody already did.
I really like seeing the small planters when I post comments on this subject.
Nice digs, Paul! =)
Gosh, thanks! At least some things remain constant :)
From Left to right: Kris, Lindsay, Paul, Gordon, Fran.
As for serious... Look at those faces! Thems serious faces.
Time to be serious. It's "Lindsey" with an "e"...the only right way to spell it.
any names to the faces in the first photo?