Monthly Archives: October 2016
Never give up, never surrender
It began as a simple, everyday thing. It began when we shipped a birthday gift to our daughter in July.
We used a shipping company that uses initials as a name. We’ll say no more than that.
The gift was a pair of sterling silver earrings valued at $60, plus a $4.95 Hallmark birthday card. It was gift wrapped and placed into a $1.80 bubble envelope. The shipping cost was a little more than $9.
We sent it off and went merrily on our way. It was supposed to arrive in three days. But it did not.
When I went online to track the package, the information posted stated the package had not been delivered. It was never delivered. Finally, the online website informed me that the package was lost.
I was disappointed, but didn’t worry because the package was insured with the company. For some obscure reason, I thought foolishly that the company policy saying they were responsible for the loss would be followed by the company itself. Alas, alack and woe is me. I drove eight miles to the local store and spoke to the manager. He verified that the package was indeed lost and told me I’ve have to send in a claim form, which would be sent to the local store and then given to me.
I stood next to him in the store and listened to him call the main office and request a claim form be sent. A week passed, and nothing happened. I went back after trying and failing to get a claim form from corporate. They told me the form had been sent to the local store. Agent One told me the local store would have to reimburse me for the loss, as corporate wasn’t responsible. I drove to the store and asked the manager if this was true. He said it was not. He also said no claim form had been sent. He gave me a toll-free number to call for more information.
I went home and called the number and spoke to Agent Two, who said the company wasn’t responsible and there was nothing he could do. I asked to speak to his supervisor, Agent Three, who said nothing could be done until they received the claim form. I said the claim form had not been sent. They said it had.
I went online and read a long statement on the company website that said the matter would take seven to 10 days to resolve. Really? I called again and told Agent Four no claim form had been sent. I said I didn’t believe what he was telling me and said I wanted a check for $64.95 mailed to me. He said they weren’t responsible. I said they lost the package and they were responsible. I asked if being trained to lie to customers was part of the general customer service training program. He said he was sorry for any inconvenience. I said it wasn’t an inconvenience, it was an outrage, and asked to speak to his supervisor. His supervisor, Agent Five, came on the line and said there was nothing she could do to help me because she had no authority to do so. I asked who did have authority and asked who her supervisor was. She said her supervisor was on another line and would I like to hold. I said I’d hold for 45 seconds, after which I’d hang up and they could call me back. I waited 45 seconds and hung up.
Sometime later there was a message on my voicemail (I’d been up at Table Rock out of service range) giving me another number to call and telling me to give the tracking number which, of course I’d already given to Agents One, Two, Three, Four and Five.
I waited a few days to cool down before calling and then called the number. I spoke to Agent Six and was told they could do nothing until they received an authorization number from the local store. I said the local store had yet to receive anything from them, and Agent Six said a form had been sent in July. I said it had not, as I’d been to the store and heard the conversation the manager had with corporate.
I asked why they had to receive notification from the local store that the package had been lost when they were the ones who had notified me and the local store that the package had been lost. Agent Six said that was their policy. I said I didn’t believe it.
I said I didn’t lose the package, write the policy terms or do anything wrong. They lost the package, and it was their responsibility to pay for the loss.
I said if they refused to comply with their own policy, I would turn them in to the Better Business Bureau in Atlanta, where their corporate office is located, and also to the Consumer Protection Agency. It would be my pleasure to do so, as it had been 66 days since the package was lost.
Agent Six said she’d resend the form. I asked if she’d copy me the email with the form so I would know she’d really sent it. She said company policy wouldn’t allow her to do that. I said that I had no reason to believe anything she said and without a copy I had only her word that it had been sent and I considered her word worthless. She said she was sending it as we spoke and to call the local store tomorrow.
The next morning I called the local store and was told by the manager that he’d actually received the requested form. I couldn’t believe it. Of course, I haven’t received a check yet, but do feel some progress was made. After all, three visits, five phone calls, four online research sessions and 71 days later, they may actually do what they promised. Time will tell.
Cannon Family Practice welcomes Dr. Christine Lawrence to Pickens
PICKENS — This month, the Cannon Family Practice will welcome Dr. Christine Jeanette Lawrence to the Cannon family.
Lawrence will be accepting new patients at the Pickens office beginning this month.
“We welcome Christine to our Cannon family — with her background in social work, she will be a welcome addition to our Pickens practice,” Dr. Daniel Dahlhausen said.
Lawrence recently completed her family medicine residency with the Greenville Health System. She began her medical education at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2013. Her undergraduate work was at Lander University, where she received a B.D. in psychology with a counseling emphasis. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the South Carolina Medical Association. She has been active in a variety of volunteer work and advocacy programs centered on health care in South Carolina. In her spare time, Lawrence enjoys mountain biking, hiking, fishing and time in the outdoors.
“I am excited to be joining the Cannon family,” Lawrence said. “I am honored to serve as a physician within my own community. I love that family medicine allows me to build a relationship with and work to keep the whole family healthy. I look forward to serving pediatrics, adolescents, adults and geriatrics in Pickens County.”
To schedule an appointment with Lawrence or with Cannon Family Practices, call (864) 898-1152.
Mac Arnold and Plate Full O’ Blues concert to benefit Pickens County Meal on Wheels
LIBERTY — On Friday, Oct. 28, legendary blues artist and native South Carolinian Mac Arnold will bring the Chicago blues to the Liberty Civic Auditorium.
Joined by Austin Brashier, Scotty Hawkins and Max Hightower, Mac Arnold and Plate Full O’ Blues will electrify the stage in what’s sure to be a riveting blues performance.
VIP tickets with reserved seating are $50, and general admission seats are first-come, first-served at $25. The VIP meet and greet at Pickens County Meals on Wheels is limited to 150 people. The menu includes drinks (beer, wine and soda), deviled eggs with chicken, mac and cheese bites, bourbon chicken shrimp with bacon, sack of greens and pound cake bites. The concert will follow immediately.
At 7:30 p.m. Mac Arnold and Plate Full O’ Blues will take the stage of the Liberty Civic Auditorium. All ticket holders will enjoy a world-class entertainment venue that provides an intimate setting for concerts, and every seat is considered the “best seat in the house.”
Enjoy a Plate Full O’ Blues with Mac Arnold on Oct. 28 in Liberty.
Arnold has performed with world-renowned artists throughout his career, including James Brown, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, The Temptations and John Lee Hooker. Mac was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Music from the University of South Carolina in 2014 and was nominated for Best Traditional Blues Male Artist in 2012, Best DVD in 2011 and Best Historical Album in 2010 by the Blues Music Awards.
All proceeds from the event will benefit Pickens County Meals on Wheels (PCMOW), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization funded through grants, fundraising events and donations.
Cannon Auxiliary Football Frenzy fundraiser extended through Oct.14
PICKENS — Cannon Memorial Auxiliary has extended its Fall Football Frenzy fundraiser through Friday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m., with a drawing being held later in the day.
“Clemson, USC, Wofford, Presbyterian College and Furman have all given the auxiliary an autographed ball for the event,” 2016-2017 auxiliary president Frances Wannamaker said. “The auxiliary also has a signed ball from Pickens High School to add to the fun.”
If you would like the opportunity to win one of the footballs from your favorite school, purchase tickets at Cannon Hospital in the Auxiliary Gift and Coffee Shoppe or at the outpatient area Monday through Friday. Select the team ball you would like to win on the ticket. Participants do not need to be present to win. Money raised will help purchase new equipment for Cannon Memorial Hospital.
Courier Community Calendar 10-5-16
• Carmel to celebrate 229 years of history
Carmel Presbyterian Church of Liberty will celebrate 229 years of history at its annual Homecoming Oct. 9. Morning worship at 11 a.m. will be followed by a brief business meeting of the Carmel Memorial Society, which provides for the upkeep of the cemetery. A covered dish lunch will follow this meeting. The Rev. Dr. John LeHeup will be speaker for the service. The church is located four miles south of Easley off S.C. Highway 135. For more information, call 843-3199.
• Barbery to preach at Liberty revival
The Carolina Community Church will be host a revival starting Sunday, Oct. 9. The event will feature the preaching of the Rev. Curtis Barbery. This will be Barbery’s 1,007th revival service. The revival will have two services in the morning on Oct. 9, with one starting at 10 a.m. and another beginning at 11 a.m. That evening Barbery will preach again at 6 p.m. On Monday, Oct. 10, the service is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Pastor John Revis at (864) 760-7207 or (864) 933-1867.
• Widowed persons group plans meetings
The Pickens County WOP is a social group for widowed persons that meets on the second Friday of each month at 6 p.m. at Lakeview Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. For additional information on group activities, call Pat LeRoy at (864) 850-1987 or Ruth Thomas at (864) 859-6093.
• Bluegrass coming to Hagood Mill Oct. 7
Hagood Mill will host a special Friday night old-time and bluegrass jam on Oct. 7 from 7-10 p.m. The event, co-sponsored by the Oolenoy Community Jammers, is open to all musicians (young and old), all ranks (teachers and screechers), pickers, grinners, singers, cloggers, watchers, learners and anyone else who enjoys old-time and bluegrass music.
The free event is one that should not be missed, and everyone is encouraged to experience the unique “Evening Shade” gathering at the historic Hagood Mill.
For more information, contact Hagood Mill at (864) 898-2936 or visit visitpickenscounty.com/calendar.
• PPCCDC to host free fall festival
Pickens Presbyterian Church and Child Development Center will host a free fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the church, located at 311 W. Main St. in Pickens.
Inflatables and games will be in place for the kids. There will be child performances by Powerhouse Dance Co., Mountain View Quartet, the Sweet Potato Pie Kids, the 3K, 4K and 5K CDC kids, as well as a magician and balloon art, face painting and a silent auction featuring many great items.
Barbecue plates and hot dog plates will also be available for purchase. Cost is $5 for barbecue, $3 for a hot dog plate and $4 for a two hot dog plate. All entertainment will be free, as well as games and balloon art for the children.
• Pickens Lions plan meetings each month
The Pickens Lions Club is in need of new members. The club meets the first and third Thursday of every month at Pizza Inn in Pickens.
Dinner begins at 6:40 p.m., and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to anyone interested in joining the club or simply finding out more about the club and how it serves Pickens.
Courier Obituaries 10-5-16
The Pickens County Courier runs In-County Obituaries free of charge. Please ask your funeral home about this service.
Courier Legals 10-5-16
The publisher shall only be liable for an amount less than or equal to the charge for the space of the item in error in the case of errors in or omissions from any advertisement, and only for the first incorrect insertion.
Courier Notice to Creditors 10-5-16
The publisher shall only be liable for an amount less than or equal to the charge for the space of the item in error in the case of errors in or omissions from any advertisement, and only for the first incorrect insertion.
Courier Trespass Notices 10-5-16
In the state of South Carolina, trespass after notice is a misdemeanor criminal offense prohibited by section 16-11-620 for the South Carolina Code. Those who enter upon the lands of others without the permission of the owner or manager shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor trespassing. All persons are hereby notified and warned not to hunt, fish, cut timber or trespass in any manner whatsoever upon the lands of the undersigned:
Courier Classifieds 10-5-16
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