Suncoast Steno - St. Pete, Florida

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I try not to say anything when I am angry - because I usually regret it.  When you call the number(s) for Suncoast Steno a woman's voice comes on with a message, "Hi.  This is Nancy.  Karen and I have stepped away from our desks and will return shortly." ---

 

The guy (Dave) was supposed to replace the batteries on my Stenoram II and III.  He said he had to order them and will call me in a few days.  No call.  I called him.  Yes, I have the batteries (Tuesday).  What's a good day to come?  Let me check my schedule.  Friday is good.  Afternoon after 2:00 is best because I am usually doing tech calls in the morning.

 

So I got to the address Friday about 3:00.  A house.  No one there.  Called.  Waited a half hour.  He has not even returned my phone calls.  I understand people working on a part time basis.  But, damn, that was a long drive out there.  No one was even home.  He doesn't even use a cell phone for business purposes.  My guess is the woman's voice is his wife and she recorded a message to give a professional appearance to the supposed-business. 

 

I started on this excursion over three weeks ago, spoke with him about what I wanted.  I sat this up when I had two weeks of free time.  Now it could be another month before I have new batteries and am ready.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Yeah, that's super, super frustrating.  There are tons of incompetent, unprofessional people out there.  Sometimes I wonder how they even manage to get themselves out of bed and ready for the day.  I guess they didn't anticipate that you would post about them, though. 

Wonderful thing about the Internet is the incompetence/laziness in businesses doesn't stay a secret for long.  You should go to Yelp and post a comment there, too.   Hope you get your problem solved soon.  I'd ask for a discount for wasting your time.

[Cathryn Bauer]

Does he have your equipment?  If not, I recommend that you use The Steno Doctor, http://www.stenodoctor.com/faq.htm, instead. You would have to ship it, but the turnaround time would be a whole lot less than a month.  Most likely, it would be under a week.

This is nothing you need to regret posting about.  In fact, you are providing a public service by recounting your experience.  This is inexcusable.  I had a similar experience with a steno repair shop in Oakland when I was a student, and I never went back.   A longer drive to Personal Touch Steno (a one-man shop run by Victor Nolasco) was well worth the drive.  Businesses who treat people like this don't deserve your business or anyone's.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

What a terrible experience.  They have some nerve.   I've had nothing but good luck and good results with Top Cat Steno.

http://www.topcatsteno.com/

GOOD LUCK.

[Janiece Young]

I agree with Marge.  I have used Top Cat Steno.  I find them very professional and fair with pricing.  

[Lynnette G. Gertz]

Just wanted to take this opportunity to say that the people at Steno Doctor in Orange, CA are wonderful and always extremely helpful. 

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Well, he called about 12:30 today.  Said he had an extreme family emergency.  Funny, the roof guy who didn't show up a few weeks ago said he was in the hospital.  I told him that was an hour drive and he could have at least called.  He said he didn't even think abou it.

[Rhonda Hall Breuwet, RDR CRR CLR]

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt this time.  I've used him in the past, and he was extremely fast on turnaround and did a great job.  I've never heard anything negative about him, and I've been in FL for many years now, having had several people I know of use him.  But if you prefer to use someone else, I'd highly recommend Top Cat in New Orleans.  Awesome.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Well, the end result is -- I messed up the writer.  I had a relative (very qualified) replaced the battery.  Something didn't go right.  I bought another battery and did it again.  It still wouldn't get the idea.  These writers are TOUCHY!!!  Any metal touching metal - and something will go wrong.  And it did.

 

Basically, there is a small motor that makes the thing work; JM Steno said the little motor was burn't to a crisp.

Total cost is $250 (including the new battery).

 

The battery I originally took out, I put that into the Stenoram III I got off e-bay (took less than ten minutes), and that is fine.