Since I know all of you follow Rachel, you should be aware that she interviewed with the Trib’s Problem Solver about the numerous instances of people not receiving their coupon inserts from both stores and home-delivery; there are also cases reported of people getting damaged inserts.  CW has a running post with emails from the Trib customer service people, basically clueless about customer service, showing no inclination to resolve this problem.  In fact, the final emails basically pat themselves on the back for their wonderful service!  My take?  Dollars to doughnuts the entire Chicago Trib customer service center is based in a low-budget country and Erik and Mary are not their real names.

Problem Solver’s solution?  Ask a Trib flunky.  who obviously takes her cues from Erik and Mary…

The following is the comment I posted on the site.  Please go to the Trib and leave your comments/experiences.  This is a serious issue to coupon users, since, let’s face it, who actually reads the Trib print copy?

I’ve followed this “saga” on the message boards and have read the string of emails sent by the Trib customer service people to Steve, every one of them using different reasons why he didn’t get his inserts.  In fact, the final emails seem to exist merely to pat themselves on the back!  Specific locations and zip codes miss the inserts in stores, while another location’s home-delivered papers have missing or damaged ones.  The Trib had been previously provided with all this information, yet they continue to just pass the buck along by saying it’s only a small number of papers involved and they all have different reasons for not having the inserts. And your acceptance of the Trib flunky’s explanation…pah.

So Jon, I’ve always enjoyed reading your column and how you’ve helped others, but in this case?  Your paycheck = your lack of follow-through…