Parisblog

Avis following through

I posted a while back about my bad experience with Avis. Last night, I received the following email (my email to them was around 3 weeks ago.) It was good that they replied and apologised and assisted.

Except that the password reset she did for me didn't work: at least, when I went to log back in to update my password from the generic one she had given me, it failed and the service locked me out. Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.

Thank you for contacting Avis Mr. Wayn.

I apologize for the delay in my response to your email and the issues 
you have endured with your wizard number.

Reports such as yours are most appreciated, since they help us target 
and correct areas of service which might be improved.

Any difficulties or problems encountered  are a concern to us, and we 
apologize most sincerely for the inconvenience you were caused.  Please 
be assured the responsible manager has been contacted to prevent any 
recurrence.

When making a profile online there is an additional step required to 
attach the preferred service to the wizard number it is not added 
automatically.

When logging into your profile it is note right on the first page about 
the status with the offer to add preferred service.

I have added it for you so you are now preferred service.  To do this I 
was required to change your password to a XXXXXX you will need to go in 
and reset it.

The first time Preferred Service is used all renters are required to 
stop by the counter to have their information verified by a counter 
agent, there after you would be able to go directly to your vehicle.

Although we realize that we cannot make up for the disappointing 
experience, we do appreciate your contacting us.  

If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.

Thank you for choosing Avis and we hope to see you at one of our rental 
counters very soon.

Warm regards,

XXXXXXX
Avis Customer Service Representative
custserv@avis.com

I always knew Auckland was better than Sydney

I spent some time in Auckland in 2006. Never lived there. Now, the Mercer survey proves what I always suspected. Auckland is right up there with the best that Switzerland and Canada have to offer.

Of course, this is the same survey reported in the SMH yesterday which, according to the Herald, concluded that "Sydney's public transport network is "comprehensive and well-integrated" and the availability of housing is perfect."

What drugs do these people take? At least they were right about the food in Sydney. It's not perfect (no city is) but it's damn good.

I wonder if broadband connectivity is measured in the survey and what weighting it is accorded?

10 Best Cities:

1. Vienna (Austria)
2. Zurich (Switzerland)
3. Geneva (Switzerland)
4. Auckland (New Zealand) and Vancouver (Canada)
6. Dusseldorf (Germany)
7. Munich (Germany
8. Frankfurt (Germany)
9. Bern (Switzerland)
10. Sydney (Australia)

Viral marketing of viral epidemics

As the Swine flu outbreak hits Mexico and the United States, so too does it hit Twitter.

The CDC Emergency feed bought to my attention by Pierre Omidyar, who also noted the ability to follow a specialist reporter whose Twitter handle is Diseasegeek. Oh, and there's Effect Measure. Which I also found through Twitter.