An Unexpected Twist

Recently I purchased this product from a website called BarkingDeals.com.

It was Two Recordable Talking Bones and the ad stated:
Hidden in the depths of this durable plush chew toy is a device that allows you to record a personal message to your pet that’s up to 10 seconds in length. All it takes to activate your voice is a nudge or gnaw from Fido. 

You can re-record your message as often as you like, and better yet, there’s a lifetime “rip it up” warranty. For a minimal shipping and handling fee you can request a new canvas exterior for your Talking Bone. And since there’s no limit on the number of replacements you can receive, once the new bone has been chewed beyond repair, you can request a new one ad infinitum. Just record, chew and repeat!

I thought, wow, how could I lose?  Minnie chews up the cover, I replace it and bang! New toy!
I removed the "egg" from its cloth bag inside, recorded my messages to Trixie and Minnie, stuffed them back inside, zipped it up, snapped it up and handed them to the dogs.

I underestimated Minnie's persistence and tiny pea-brained ideas of foodstuffs.

I woke up this morning to this…
She had managed to unsnap, unzip and remove the recording device from both toys.  I found three of the four batteries and a small piece of one recording "egg".  The other egg was intact.  Maybe she was full.

“I’m full, mom.”

I was livid!  Yes, she's a chewer, but to be able to deftly get inside, remove the egg from its cloth pouch and eat it?  In one night?  Impossible!  But she did.

I fired off an email to the company stating I wanted my money back, it lasted one night...Minnie may have a battery inside her festering bad recordings...blah, blah, blah.  I was mad. (Update: all batteries and lost egg accounted for.)

I received an email back from some guy named Steve.  "Please send me a phone number where I can reach you".

This is when the tide turned and blew me away.

Steve called - turns out Steve is Steve Watters, the Founder and CEO of Barking Deals.  The founder!  The founder is making customer service calls!  I was impressed.  No excuses, no "buts", just "we're really, really sorry, here's your money back and let me send you some stuff."  Oh, "and pick out any deal you want and we'll make it so".

We chatted for about 10 minutes (I was at work, after all) and he told me that he was going to speak to the manufacturer as well.  Then he started firing off his ideas at me.  He's got a really great plan in place for shelter fundraisers and is about to launch it.  I think all of you who fund-raise for shelters are going to want to get in on this (Mogley, I'm looking at YOU.)

He told me about his own "destructo dog" and the menagerie of pets he has.  We talked about his last company - and his future company. 

Best of all, when I told him I was going to blog about the product and how well he treated his customers, he offered up FIVE coupon codes to purchase a product for $.99 to give to you, my wonderful readers and pals.

ATTENTION ALL RETAILERS!! 
THIS IS HOW YOU DO CUSTOMER SERVICE!!

Leave a comment and I'll pick five lucky dog people to receive codes to purchase products from BarkingDeals.com.

One other thing:  Steve - are you hiring?  Because you're the kind of guy I'd love to work for.  You get it.

Barking Deals is a social buying website that invites pet lovers and their friends to save up to 50 to 90 percent each day on their favorite pet products. The company aims to introduce manufacturers to a niche group of receptive consumers who share the products with others in their social networks.
To sign up for tremendous pet deals, or to find out more information about Barking Deals, visit www.barkingdeals.com. "Like" Barking Deals on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/BarkingDeals) or follow on Twitter (www.twitter.com/barkingdeals) to fetch updates about upcoming deals.  

Or just click on the picture to your right.

PS: I wasn’t paid for this review.  I did it because they backed up their products with great service.

PSS: Twix is sick. Please go cheer her up and wish her and her grandma well.

PSSS: Looks like Charlie's sissy is sick too.  Please say nice things to them as well!