I have been a client of Aaron's Rent Inc. For Over a decade now. I have always told everyone that i know to go to Aaron's and make a "dea;". They have always worked one out for me. I have leased some of their products and returned them when I no longer needed them, thus the use of a "Rental" or "Lease" option as apposed to a locked in purchase with interest. I have also leased some of their products and decided to pay them off as well with great satisfaction to do so.
Today, August 18, I experienced one of the most humiliating, a most poignant type of anxiety, the most un-Professional mannerism I could have imagined that could come from a Store Manager in my life! I was completely distraught by the abrupt and almost violent way that this Store Manager presented himself. The name of this Store Manager is Craig Lexzold. That is the name they gave me at least. And that was about all they would give me.
What happened?
I entered the Walzem Location of Aaron's Rent Inc. With the complete intention to secure a purchase of a washer and dryer set. There was not a doubt in my mind that I would get it at Aaron's Rent Inc. Or not, I had already made up my mind due to past experiences. I was kindly approached by Johnnie Crouch in a totally professional manner and was treated to a wonderful and knowledgeable transaction of information that indeed assisted in the decision to purchase a particular brand of dryer and washing machine set. So far... So good. I then followed Johnnie Crouch, a fine Professional, to the Customer Service desk to start an application for the purchase of the above mentioned items. All is going well. For now!
After I started filling out all of the proper paperwork requirements to secure this lease-purchase, the Professional, Johnnie Crouch, decided to see if he could assist me in getting a discounted price on my first payment because I had pruchased from them before and paid off the products. WOW! What a great guy, looking out for the interests of his valued client.
It is really going well and could possible even get delivered today if i was lucky, but could not be guarenteed. I was not expecting it to happen, but was excited at the possibility of it and the great service I was being dealt. After Johnnie could not find anything on the database for me as a past purchase, he then called the Austin location that I had made my very first purchase over 10 years ago. I told him which one to call, as there are several in Austin. He was then told that I had indeed been a customer at that time and that he would fax over the information to them. That was easy. All is well, right?
Johnnie then received the fax and noticed that it did not have any information on it except some old numbers of the lease-purchases. He then called the Austin Store back up to find out why it was not a complete history. He was then told that the reason the information was not attainable on the database is because the information they had that long ago was not all in the database because they did not rely on it back then as much as paper. The information he had, was ALL they had, not even the paperwork any longer. Oh Well!
Well, wait a minute, what about the other purchases I had? I had one that I paid off for someone else for a living room set. Well that did not count because it was not in my name. Ok, I can understand with that. How about the Washer and Dryer set I co-purchased with my ex-girlfriend about four years ago? That definetely had my name on it. Well... My ex-girlfriend's name was first before mine, and they could not give me the credit for that because her name being printed on the agreement first mader the primary and that is all they can go by, even though we lease-purchased it together and both of our names were on it. Oh yea, I made all of the payments myself, with MY credit card and MY checks and with MY cash! They got those records right? Yea, but they can't use them because my name was not printed first. Not printed first? Ok.!?!??
I am sure that my big smile on my face, the one over this whole ordeal over a discount, is almost a testament to the laughing I was doing inside my head. This was a joke, but hey, anything for a discount right? Well, I was kind of getting the hint they were not going to give me the discount. I am at this time thinking: "you know what, I will just secure the lease-purchase and then maybe go and get the proof myself the next time I am in Austin and then see if MAYBE they will give me the discount on any future payment. Sounds good to me. Just let it rest and get things moving... Hey look at that Big Screen TV. Wow, that is nice. Maytbe after I finish the lease-purchase on the Washer/Dryer, I will look at getting one of those, have always wanted one. Hmmmm.
Just then, a Craig Lexzold comes out and introduces himself. He then tells me that the purchase information that I had over ten years ago, doesn't look that great to him and you know... Computers don't lie. What? Where the heck did this come from / Why does this man I have never met nor have I ever talked to before come out and act like I am trying to pull some fast stuff on him or something. Because that it what he made it feel like right from the beginning. Whew, you can smell the arrogance pouring off of him. Wow, what a change in attitude in customer service. I am now being interrogated by this man, and why like this? All of this over a possible discount? I am now totally confused over this line of approach.
I answer Craig Lexzold's question after question. I endure Craig Lexzold's constant sneers. I explain the situation and even describe the store in Austin's own explanation of the uncomfirmed documents he was holding in his hand. He says "I don't care". He tells me that I was VERY VERY late on all of my payments at this store in Austin and that the paper tells him that I was a bad risk. WHAT!?! (I was NOT late on those payments and the only reason I returned them was because I had purchased these same items from a friend at a super price and no longer needed the ones I LEASED_PURCHAED from Aaron's Rent Inc. I then PAID OFF the computer at the same time I returned the other items)
I saw those papers, they did'nt say anything like that.in fact, I now know that the papers did say I was behind on the last payment by 1 (ONE) month, and that is the same time I returned them. One! Not many as suggested by Craig Lexzold. He is now Boldly Lying to me! Why? I tell him that I did return the items in Austin except for one, in which I paid off, a computer system. He says I am lying! LYING??? Where the heck did this come from? I have not lied about one damn thing! Not one! On top of that, I still have THE computer I purchased back then, in our sign shop in Austin. I still have it! He says that I am lying again and that I probably stole it or something. Stole it? What? Now I am a thief? WHAT!?! I tell him I can prove it and even bring it to him tom reference. He says that he does not want to see it and "DON'T CARE"! He says that he can not sell me anything at all in his store and he is through with me now. Really!
Things are not going well with Craig Lexzold, have you figured that part out yet?
Then Craig Lexzold, Store Manager of Aaron's Rents Inc., tells me that he will not deal with me at all and he would get fired by even talking to me, being such a bad customer in the past. I was not a bad customer, I WAS a satisfied customer before this. He told me that even if someone was a day late before in the past, he could not take them as customers again or he would be fired! I have paid off several items and had the PROOF to show him. He said it did not matter. He waves his hand at me as if to dismiss me. WHAT! Did he just give me the - King waves off his subjects - wave off! What arrogance, what a sure fire sign of total discrimination.
I have NEVER been treated this way. This is the things that you may not have noticed in these details above:
* Not at anytime did he ever check himself, the reliability of the papers he had in his hand before he came to talk to me. I know, his office window was right in front of me and I saw when Johnnie handed it to him.
* Not at anytime did he call any other stores to verify what I had told him of the other purchases in the past. I offered, he said he "Don't Care".
* Not at anytime did he ask to look at anything else i could give him, even though they were offered. He refused me that as well.
* Not at anytime did he ask for my credentials to even see if I was who I said I was.
* Not once did he review any application for any Lease-Purchase to deny me the right to purchase there. I still had the application in my hand while he laid out his trashing, humiliating, disgracing, lower than dirt, not worthy of his spit attitude and sneers towards me. Everyone at that store was looking at that. His own employees were even looking at him in awe of his performance.
Craig Lexzold discrimianted against me by deying me the opportunity to apply for a Lease-Purchase at the Walzem Location of Aaron's Rent Inc.in San Antonio, TX. He would not even take my application. I do not know if it is because of my looks, my sex, my age, my???
I was dressed normal and am a very clean shaved man and in excellent hygiene condition. I have an EXCELLENT pay in my profession and have developed myself into a very respectful position in my industry Statewide and even Nationwide. I have lobbied on behalf of my industry in the State of Texas Capitol, even just this past session. I am a respected executive for the corporation I am employed by. I am a founding Board Member of the Towing Education Council. I am a Vice President and Founding Board Member of the Southwest Towing Operators Association (State Association). I am Vice President of the Austin Towing Association (Local Association). I am an instructor for the TEC and ACC Programs (Only two in the State of Texas in our industry).
I am a single Father of two children I raise on my own. I am proud of that. I am proud of all of my accomplishments and look forward to my future accomplishments. I work VERY hard to be who I am and VERY hard to assist others to do the same.
I demand an Apology from Craig Lexzold.
I demand an Apology from Aaron's Rent Inc.
I demand an Apology to all of those persons who had to witness this horrific event.
I demand a policy change by Aaron's Rent Inc. To not allow any denial of any apllication without at least reviewing an actual application.
I demand that Aaron's Rent Inc. Discipline Craig Lexzold for this unreserved, ill mannered aproach of embarrasment, discriminantion, false accustations. I see this as an act of defamation by slander.
I request all to contact the Corporate numbers and emails available and demand justice for this inhumane treatment.
The Regional Manager (Craig Lexzold's Boss) is Frank Evans (866) 796-2706. Frank. [email protected]
They are listed on the stock market under the symbol (RNT) on the S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX & S&P COMPOSITE 1500 INDEX. If they do not do the right thing. SELL! Sell! SELL!
The contact information is below:
Corporate Headquarters:
Aaron Rents, Inc.
309 E Paces Ferry Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305-2377
Phone: 404-231-0011
Fax: 404-240-6583
IRS Employer #: 58-0687630
Securities and Exchange Commission File #: 1-13941
Executives:
Mr. R. Charles Loudermilk
Chairman and Chief Exec. Officer
He once said: "Loudermilk: I think the number one thing is people skills." We'll see how he sticks to his words!
Charles. [email protected]
[email protected]
Mr. Robert C. Loudermilk Jr.
Pres, Chief Operating Officer
robert. [email protected]
[email protected]
Mr. Gilbert L. Danielson
Chief Financial Officer, Exec. VP
678-402-3314
gilbert. [email protected]
[email protected]
Mr. William K. Butler Jr.
Director and Pres of Sales and Lease Ownership Division
william. [email protected]
Don Lange
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
(678) 402-3324
Fax: (678) 402-3585
Don. [email protected]
Mr. K. Todd Evans
VP of Franchising
todd. [email protected]
Christopher M. Champion
Vice President/General Counsel
christopher. [email protected]
Aleksandra Nearing
aleksandra. [email protected]
Mike Nancarrow
Fax: (404) 240-6584
mike. [email protected]
Jess
San Antonio, Texas
U.S.A.
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