New Zealand Nature Company: In Praise of Excellent Customer Service
We all like to spread the word when a company does us wrong, as well we should so we can warn others, but today, I’m sharing some good news about New Zealand Nature Company because they done good–real good–and they deserve huge props, especially one customer service representative named Bettina.
Back at the end of October, I decided to treat myself to a warm, snuggly pair of boots for the winter since I generally have to wear two to three pair of socks *while inside the house* from November to March or so. These old houses in southern Italy get *cooooold*!
The previous winter, when I was lamenting that I had freezing feetsies, a friend from New Zealand recommended the New Zealand Nature Company, and since I was still in love with these Supertread Sheepskin Boots a year later, I went for it.
I normally don’t spend even half this much on shoes, but I knew these would last for years, they were something I sorely needed, and they would also serve as my birthday and Christmas presents to myself.
The order went smoothly, other than my indecision regarding what color to get (I settled on chocolate), and I loved that I could even pay via PayPal as I don’t use credit cards.
But their delivery estimate of 10-14 days to Italy came and went. I was patient since I’ve been around the Poste Italiane block, but when the end of November came and went with no boots, I got in touch with the company.
Bettina was also convinced that the boots weren’t coming, so she immediately claimed insurance on the first pair and send off a new pair as soon as the ones I had chosen were back in stock.
How awesome is that?
A few weeks later, I got my new boots in the mail, and I swear to you, I’ve only taken them off to sleep ever since. They are *so* warm and comfy, and I don’t know how I survived a Calabrian winter without them.
New Zealand Nature Company, established in 1996, sells boots, clothes, beauty and personal care items, bedware, jewelry, stationery, and more, so if you want great products at great prices with *excellent* customer service, do give New Zealand Nature Company a try.
I’m not getting anything in return for this glowing recommendation–just the satisfaction of passing along the word about a fabulous company.
AND they are running a sale now until January 31–
20% off Supertread Sheepskin Boots
and
40% off Selected Silk and Other Clearance Items!
Prices include airmail insured shipping (choose your currency), and if you’re getting boots, do pay special attention to their charts as they use NZ sizes.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, I am kind of considering getting another pair of boots now that they’re on sale, but I will be sure to warn Bettina first.
Please share your positive online shopping experiences
in the comments or on your own blog!
13 Beans of Wisdom to “New Zealand Nature Company: In Praise of Excellent Customer Service”
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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If you received customer service as good as this from a place in Italy you might suffer a heart attack or a stroke! Glad to hear you feet are warm. I remember my daughter complaining about how cold the stone floors get.
And the walls! The humidity is what kills me…gets in your bones and forget it! And yes, you’re very right about the customer service, although I’ve been mostly lucky so I’m not going to jinx it 😉
You are so right about the cold – I’m use to -35c back in Ottawa but here it just eats into your bones. And with marble floors and cement walls holding in that damp, and boy has it been damp this year, its been worse.
Customer service – how do you say that in Italian?
I may see about a pair of those boots for when I go back to -35!!!!
Willym’s last blog post..A Little More Joy
Highly recommended Willym! Hope you’re keeping warm now 🙂
After living in L.A. the land of hipsters wearing Uggs with a mini skirt in 80 degree heat, I’m glad to see someone enjoying them who actually has to deal with cold weather. 🙂
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I seriously don’t get how people can wear these if it’s even a little warm outside…but then I’m not what you’d call a fashionista 😉
Thanks for the tip I love find new places to shop that deliver here! I have had excellent results with a site called Cakes Cookies and Craft Shop http://www.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk
It’s in the UK and the service is great.
Joanne at frutto della passione’s last blog post..Barilla Website of the Month January 2009
Ooh excellent Joanne, thanks! I like the sound of that place 🙂
I am with you on the Ugg boots. Well we call them Ugg boots in Australia which is the same product that you have. I live in mine – in summer too as I always have cold feet. I bought a pair 2 years ago when I was in Australia and still have them, but for Christmas my mum sent me over a new pair. I wear them out all the time and although it was about 0 degrees outside last month in Malito, I did not even have to wear socks…my feet were so nice and toasty. My parents also bought a pair over for the bel ragazzo (he loves them too!)
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P thinks they’ll be *too* warm for his feet, and he’s probably right…I swear he has some disorder that his feet are so warm…or he’s just sucking the heat from my feet!
So with you on the penetrating cold. These stone buildings just hold it in and make you feel chilled all the time. Glad you finally got your boots, despite the Poste Italiane. And to think I recently received a nasty email from a lady saying I’ve been unfairly harsh on my blog about the postal system here! HA!
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Well I don’t think we can ever be too harsh on Poste Italiane…remember one pair of boots *was* “lost” in the shuffle!
I think it’s so important to give props to companies that are doing a good job these days. While I wish every good company were local to each customer, in this economy, I’m just happy to spend money where things go well.
I’ll have to think about my positive online experiences. I can say that anything ordered from the Zingerman’s catalog will receive EXCELLENT customer service and EXCELLENT products. The prices are high, but they actually reflect the cost of the food, which is a bit unusual here in the States. They are a fabulous company, and they rock in every way, including starting a huge food pantry that has now gone independent – Food Gatherers.
http://www.zingermans.com http://www.foodgatherers.org
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Awesome Jen! Thanks for the links 🙂
I love how you’ve taken the time to express the good — it’s not always done! Someone from that company (I hope Bettina) will read this and smile.
And, boy, do those boots those warm!
nova’s last blog post..Oh, January
The boots are amazingly warm…I so, so love them 🙂
Since I don’t have a blog, I will rave about Hilo Hattie http://www.hilohattie.com. I ordered invites for my girlfriend’s Hawaiian themed bridal shower with more than enough time for them to get to my house. Some how the order never processed, I called customer service after a week of waiting, and not only were they very friendly but she shipped my order overnight with a Saturday morning delivery and she threw in a free box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts! If you ever need anything to remind you of Hawaii, Hilo Hattie is the place to order from.
Thanks for letting me share!
That’s awesome, Trina! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂 Sounds like a lovely shower too.
So dare I ask how these compare to Ugg Boots?
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I’ve never had a pair of Ugg boots so I wouldn’t know, but I do know that “Ugg” is the brand name while Kiwis and Aussies have been wearing sheepskin “ugg” boots for about a hundred years; I would say so long as you find a reputable company from NZ or Australia, their ugg-style boots will be rather similar in quality, although again, I don’t know as I have nothing to compare these too. These were a lot less expensive for me to get than Uggs, though, and I like supporting smaller companies 🙂
How could you? Michele! Where are your leopard printed ponyskin stilettos?
You know you wuz robbed. It’s why cyberbusiness can’t get off the ground here. Some postal workers think the mail is their mall. They’ve even been filmed doing it, but it doesn’t stop it.
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*shaking my head* I know I know 🙁
Its so funny that you mention this item!! Being a former seattlelite I have never owned boots to deal with cold or the rain back then but since moving to northern greece from the south when snow appeared here it was the first thing I thought of. I even asked N (the boy) if he thinks I should get them and he was oh yes we could have snow again up until march….yikes!!! Rest assured I will be ordering some this week.
On a side note…two packages are awol for me from the us , I guess the post in italy is come Grecia. …. oh and they were sent back in November….Got to love the homeland.
eleftheria
I can’t tell you how much I’m loving these…really. Order now! 😉
P.S. Sorry about your parcels; I know the feeling, although mine usually show up somewhere (often back in the States where they were sent from) 🙁
Michelle try Emu slippers-same concept they are just slippers-they are great -toasty and cozy even though I live in California.
Oh I know I would love them…now to find them….