Kevin "Cookenstein" W.'s Profile

My experiences over the years with Comcast have been mixed, but generally good. Our Cable internet
is pretty fast, and Cable tv is usually pretty consistent. My problem which took place these last 24 hours are nothing new, based upon the multiples of Comcast nightmares I have heard of over the years. Frankly mine is not the worst. Far from it, but put yourself in my shoes, and you tell me. After 12 years of paying for the premium packages, on time, and asking for service probably less than 5 times over that period of time,, here goes this little tale of woe..
I got in last night kind of late. I still had work to do, and needed to access email. As it turned out my modem was blinking unusual. The lights are usually 4 green 1 blinks intermittent, and a Yellow one that blinks most of the time, or sometimes is on solid.

Anyhow, this was not the case, one to two lights were blinking off and on, I had no internet connection. I could not get my work done. Arrgh! I unplugged the modem, plugged it in. Went through a couple of other little troubleshoot processes, then thought, well there are high winds tonight, maybe there is a cause and effect there (history has seen this happen before). So I waited for about an hour or so, and made a call in to support about 11pm. I spoke with a very nice lady who took me through the paces, she was vary patient with me, and I her. It was a good call. She determined that my modem being about 9-10 years old, and constantly on for that period of time, is possibly/probably dying. She was able to get it going on her end for a few minutes, but determined that to be on the safe side, we better replace it. Cause it will likely happen again. I agreed, we scheduled an appointment for a tech to come out between 2-5 pm. You know the drill.

We parted ways, and I planned to be available during this period of time today (Saturday the 4th of April 09). Ironically my modem began working sometime this morning. At first off and on for a few hours, then and since has been ok. However I still was awaiting a new modem, cause it's only a matter of time right?
So long story short, I am sittin here on Geeks all day. Oh yeah, the modem seems to be working for now. 5pm comes, no show is the Comcast Tech guy. 5:30pm, no call no nothing.
I call Comcast, get directed to (here comes the stereotype), some guy from India, whom I can literally barely understand. After struggling to understand (and having to continually having to ask him to repeat slower so I can understand him) his comments and claiming that after checking my connection they'd determined on their end that my connection was working so the call "appointment" in effect in their eyes had been answered. Case closed.
So, the person the day before whom troubleshot with me for more than an hour and determined that my modem was going to likely go anytime, and SCHEDULED and appointment to replace, clearly was either a lie to me, or my internet works now, so we don't care to replace your modem, and you will just have to deal with it again if and when it happens. None of my conversation, troubleshooting, or confirmation from their comcast rep last night, is in my Indian guys notes on his computer today. So, after saying, what about the facts I'd just explained? He goes back and forth with me getting shorter andclearly more frustated with me. Bottom line, that he did not have this info on his end, and regardless, no tech guy was coming today, no modem was going to be exchanged period. My time wasted, end of story. He then says's "well would you like for me to reschedule" to have a tech guy come out to replace your modem?

Why would I do this, when my last "scheduled appt. never happened. How do I know they will show or heavens even call me back?
Now, of course I will not be around tomorrow nor all week, and even if I SCHEDULE this, who's to say I do not get the same run around again. This was nothing more than piss poor lousy service, and could have at least been less painful with a super simple courtesy call on their end to say, this is what we have determined on our end, and will not be coming out. After all the very nice lady (whom by the way spoke perfect english and was very easy to understand) the night before asked for my number so they could confirm with me today. So a little follow up, while not necessarily doing what they said they would, would have at least made it so my day was not wasted right?
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Total and complete ignorance of their customers need, oh yeah, my time is of 0$ value to them. Now, I know that switching to Verizon ( and I know this is not the perfect solution but I can get FIOS here) may not cure the customer service ills. but given this last phone call that lasted about 45 minutes and ended in absolute frustration, what would you do?

I am on a tear this week, and I think the theme lies around and age old problem, that is as difficult to manage today as it was a 100 years ago, although I think 100 years ago people appreciated the value of making a dollar way more than we do today. People,, whenever people are entered into the customer service equation, there is almost always problems, especially in today's "me first" society.

A customer whom puts down a deposit, pays a premium, or any amount of money, wether up front or monthly without fail need not expect any better of service than the guy who walks out on the check or who rarely pays on time. So what's my incentive to ever be better than that guy?

All I know, is 2 weeks ago, I came to Golds gym, excited for something new, better service, better facility, just better than what I had and still kindof have, in Bowie Sport fit.   I have been a paying member since 1998.
I was ready to leave sportfit, AND TOOK THE GAMBLE.  GOLDS Gym has more than 500 locations nationwide, I can go work out almost anywhere where I travel, Sportfit does not have this option. Sportfit has major parking problems, they have over weight employees working their front desk, employees whom eat fast food in front of paying customers trying to get away from such habits, not to mention the general lack of knowledge of their own facility when questions are asked. But this is not about Sportfit. It is about my new place. Golds gym.
I have put down a 100 deposit, and my first appointment with a trainer, was my time spent waiting, and he never showed. This was week one. I let the employee at the desk know this, as he watched me wait and then acted amazed when the trainer never showed, obviously never passed on the message. I then tried calling over the next few days, the phone was never answered on 3 occasions during business hours, nor does it go to voice mail?? How does a business this big do this??
I used their online email response system, 5 days ago. I got a response from the general manager in about 24hrs or so, saying someone ( a trainer ) would be in touch to reschedule. This was 3 days ago. It has now been 8 days since my first scheduled appointment.  WTF??

Is this throwing good money after bad, even though the fees are lower than sportfit?? I  say, so far money down the toilet and so far no better than what I had.  Another point for "you get what you pay for". WOW, I hope to rewrite a better and improved review before the end of August, and while the fitness center itself is very nice, and has most everything I need, this one little thing I am asking of them is looking to be very difficult. And it is one of their big things they promise to you as a customer, a trainer to set you up and help you with your goals. So I guess I have to wait until they are ready? Or I have to keep begging and bugging them until someone moves??

No, I am the paying customer, and I say, lousy service will be let known, to as many people that care to know. Right now, Golds Gym, not a great deal at all.

In this area outside of Bowie, and Croft, I am still a little surprised but happy to see a place as upscale as this, however still very reasonable in price.

This has been the second or third time coming to this restaurant in as many years. On this evening, I celebrated what was my 20th year of sobriety among other things. I was initially a little of put after having an 8 oclock reservation, and arriving at 8. Standing at the hostess stand for a minute or so as two servers, carried on a conversation no more than 8-10 feet as if we were not even there.

A waiter finally came from behind them and sat us. Keep in mind, the dining area was at best 1/3 full. It was a Thursday night.
Service was not bad, we were seated in a busy bathroom spot near the back, and were seated behind what was to be a 10 top group, and given all of the other "clearly" better seats it would appear that we could easily be overlooked, as right behind our booth was some stored props, which leaned against the walls to the bathrooms. Picky? Maybe, but it just seemed we could have been put in a more favorable area and would have inconvenienced no one.

That said, our wait server was reasonably good. Hospitable, sh did not know too much about the menu as far as cuts of meat as described on the menu. I did most of the describing to my wife, and she more or less said "they were all good" . My non alcoholic beer order was forgotten, however upon a reminder to her after she had served our beverages, she went back and got it pretty quick. St. Pauli n.a. It's a nice change to have a choice of N.A. beer as opposed to just
Odouls' only or "we could care less that you don't drink beer or wine so this is all you get". Oh yeah, or water.
The salads, while good at best were served on chipped plates, and very noticeable.

I had the Maine Lobster, and Truffle risotto entree, which was as you would guess was very rich, and the Lobster very tender, almost fork tender. The risotto was a little grainy, but the flavor, seasoning was there. There was little to no truffle, and my guess is it may have been a canned product. I certainly did not smell what I know to be the heaven that is fresh truffles at all.

The asparagus we had as a side was a little disappointing, simply because they were not properly peeled. I mean, if I am going to pay 7 dollars for a "side dish" of about 10 or so asparagus spears  a little effort could have gone into preparing them other than cutting off the bottoms and tossing them into a steamer for 2-3 minutes huh? That just seemed to be a total after thought, oh yeah, and Hollandaise served in a 1970's style stainless steel souffle cup? Come on man!  

As for my wife's Peppercorn Beef fillet dish which the sauce was more or less what they use on their Steak Diane, the fillet were 3 very thin almost escalopes of Beef, and you could not even tell they were seared. A hot pan was not used to make this dish, but the beef was smothered in the sauce. The beef had no chance.  Her vegetables were cooked just right, and the red potatoes had a nice crunch on the outside while being moist inside, and seasoned very well.

Dessert was the final blow, to what was otherwise a nice evening with the person I love. Tiramisu  as I have known it for most of my cooking career to be a layered dessert with some form of lady fingers in or around in some fashion. This dessert had most of that stuffed into a wine glass, and tasted like it had sat in this glass possibly for more than a day in the refrigerator. The cake or cookie portion of it was so frumpy in texture, that it made you think you were eating something kind of inferrior. The mascarpone was good however, and the dessert, I'd give an over all 1 out of 5. Again, between the dessert and asparagus both of which were sub performers, I was at 14 wasted dollars.

The server finished the evening pretty quick, the big party sitting practically on top of us, did not seem to slow her down too much and we got out at a reasonable time.
I try not to get caught up in the cost of things when I go out to a place that appears in every aspect to be a fine dining establishment. I usually tip well, and can over look a few slip ups. It happens. All restaurants are fallible.  This one however has had a few years to work out the kinks, and this was a dinner that from start to finish was just kinda so so at best.

I think the Four Seasons has potential and would like to go back. I expect more, and have much higher standards from an establishment that wishes to be viewed as a fine dining experience.  I think that given the number of staff clearly on duty that this evenings attention to details, and food served were not poor but could have been easily alot better. In my opinion I hope that this is the worst I see at this restaurant. I like it's ambiance, and the dress of the staff. I want to try it again.

Another of the Bowie Toilets that have garnered too much of our money and TIME spent.

Rips has been a staple in my family for many, many years. There have been times over the years where I'd be nice by saying the food has not been up to par, and sometimes service has suffered too. The ambiance, if the word can be used here, is clearly outdated, and at least needs to be updated a bit.

That familiar look is a bit tired. They recently appeared to have made the necessary adjustments in the areas of service and food. Now the food is never going to be Upscale, finesse cooking. It's broiled steamed, grilled, steaks, chicken and seafood with a kids menu. It's there for the whole family and was built with or around the motel many years before there was anything else to speak of in Bowie as far as dining goes.

They have the luxury of location that cannot be missed. This will always be the "key" to their success.  They usually make a very good MD crab soup, and recently they have clearly hired some cooks and servers that that understand, hot fresh, and cooked right, makes an ordinary family American fare Steak, Chicken, and Seafood menu seem alot more inviting. Our most recent visit this past week, had me ordering their Rockfish special. It was hot, tender, and flaky. Cooked just right.

What was really good was the Baked sweet potato, with all of the right condiments. It was truly like a pudding of a dessert more than a side item. It was so creamy, and tasty. And "good for you"!  My wife had her traditional Steamed spiced shrimp which she really loves here, and it too did not dissapoint.
The house salads, are usually good. The Bleu Cheese dressing we do believe is homemade and is another plus.

Ultimately, Rips is a place we will always visit, on a monthly basis. Every now and then things slip. A restaurant like this, in such a competitive area is bound to everynow and then. Somehow they manage to adjust and we are happy to say that recently things are looking up.
Hey, it is a Bowie Staple, Family restaurant, well known for it's Brunch. But a nice cozy and "familiar" place too. Good for the whole family or a couple who just want a nice quiet booth. The managers are friendly and and seem to tend to every one just enough.

Check your lantern in your Booth, you can adjust the lighting!

An aside, I have to say in fairness that I am a little biased to this place for the history this place has with my family, and the fact that it is not another god forsaken "FRANCHISE CHAIN" that Bowie is simply littered with.