Customer service sure isn't what it used to be.
Showing posts with label Laundry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laundry. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
The New Washing Machine is Finally Here!
After months of waiting, the replacement for the third washing machine, which has been out of commission since June, arrived this last Monday. The company that usually sells and services the washers, Mac-Gray, was slow in responding to our calls. When we finally did get through, the make and model we usually purchase was on back-order due to problems at the Maytag manufacturing facility. We ended up purchasing a Speed Queen Commercial Washer instead.
Customer service sure isn't what it used to be.
Customer service sure isn't what it used to be.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Some Updates and Clarifications
There have been a lot of e-mails lately asking questions about three items: The roof, the windows and the laundry. There has also been a fair amount of rumor, speculation and disinformation. Here is some clarification on what is going on.
The Window Replacement Project:
The proposed window replacements are still in the works. there have been some delays. New Angle Glass, which had originally been the preferred vendor, dropped out of the project because some essential members of their installation team left the company, but they have hired replacements, and are now back in the mix. They have already given estimates to several owners and were trying to work out scheduling for giving several more. Another hold up is getting an energy audit for the building to see if we can qualify for low-interest loans.
We must point out that New Angle Glass was contacted as a courtesy by one of the trustees. (The thinking behind the window project was that the more people we have on board for this the less expensive it will for everyone as lift equipment rental fees and police detail expenses would be divided among many participants. However, window replacement is completely optional and up to the individual unit owners. If you can find a vendor/installer you like better, or can get a better price, or even want to contact new Angle Glass directly, feel free to move ahead on your own.
The Roof:
Many owners have expressed anxiety over the roof repairs not being completed. This is understandable as we head into fall/winter. We were hoping to use the settlement money from National Grid to pay for the roof, but they are being dicks about actually paying us and it looks like we may have to hire a litigator to force them to pay us. However, this won’t prevent us from completing the roof repairs as there is enough money in savings to pay for the roof repair outright. Markwood is trying to get that scheduled for later this month or early October.
Special Assessments:
There are no special assessments planned for the roof or anything else at this time.
The Laundry:
One of the washing machines in the laundry room stopped working about 2 months ago. Markwood looked into repairing it, which was not feasible, so they tried ordering a new machine. There is only one company in our area that handles the sales and service of commercial, coin-operated machines http://www.macgray.com/. They are a large, busy company and we are a smaller client so their service has lacked a certain urgency. After a month of phone calls, we were finally able to place an order for a new machine only to be told that issues with the manufacturer would further delay it's delivery. So basically, Markwood is on the case, but we are at the mercy of the vendor. We appreciate your patience.
The Window Replacement Project:
The proposed window replacements are still in the works. there have been some delays. New Angle Glass, which had originally been the preferred vendor, dropped out of the project because some essential members of their installation team left the company, but they have hired replacements, and are now back in the mix. They have already given estimates to several owners and were trying to work out scheduling for giving several more. Another hold up is getting an energy audit for the building to see if we can qualify for low-interest loans.
We must point out that New Angle Glass was contacted as a courtesy by one of the trustees. (The thinking behind the window project was that the more people we have on board for this the less expensive it will for everyone as lift equipment rental fees and police detail expenses would be divided among many participants. However, window replacement is completely optional and up to the individual unit owners. If you can find a vendor/installer you like better, or can get a better price, or even want to contact new Angle Glass directly, feel free to move ahead on your own.
The Roof:
Many owners have expressed anxiety over the roof repairs not being completed. This is understandable as we head into fall/winter. We were hoping to use the settlement money from National Grid to pay for the roof, but they are being dicks about actually paying us and it looks like we may have to hire a litigator to force them to pay us. However, this won’t prevent us from completing the roof repairs as there is enough money in savings to pay for the roof repair outright. Markwood is trying to get that scheduled for later this month or early October.
Special Assessments:
There are no special assessments planned for the roof or anything else at this time.
The Laundry:
One of the washing machines in the laundry room stopped working about 2 months ago. Markwood looked into repairing it, which was not feasible, so they tried ordering a new machine. There is only one company in our area that handles the sales and service of commercial, coin-operated machines http://www.macgray.com/. They are a large, busy company and we are a smaller client so their service has lacked a certain urgency. After a month of phone calls, we were finally able to place an order for a new machine only to be told that issues with the manufacturer would further delay it's delivery. So basically, Markwood is on the case, but we are at the mercy of the vendor. We appreciate your patience.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Check Your Pockets!
Last week we found a Uni-ball Vision Elite pen scraping around in one of the dryers. Unfortunately it was found in a load of clothing had been drying. The clothes and the inside of the dryer were covered with ink from this pen. This is not the first time this has happened.
When you are doing your laundry, please make sure that you check the pockets of your clothing, jeans and shirts for pens, pencils, lipstick, candies, change and any foreign objects that could melt, explode in, jam or abrade the inside of the washing machine, or dryer drum.
Besides ruining your clothes, and the clothes of anyone who uses the machines after you, these foreign objects could damage the machines and lead to costly repairs.
A little extra care goes a long way. Thank you.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Dryer Jam
The jammed coin mechanism on the middle dryer in the laundry room was fixed today. The culprit, a damaged quarter.
We have had issues with jams caused by Canadian (or other non-U.S. coins), but this one was the result of someone not only using a damaged quarter, but jamming it into the mechanism in an effort to get it to work.
It is unlikely that you will be visually checking all of your quarters every time you do laundry, but if in handling them you happen to notice that a quarter is warped, or knicked on the edge, do not put it into the slot, and more importantly, if the coin slider mechanism is proving difficult to push it, don't force it, check your quarters and try another quarter.
This particular jam was caused by someone really forcing it. Luckily this didn't damage the mechanism permanently, but it did render the dryer inoperable for almost two weeks. With only 3 washers and 3 dryers for 39 units, that makes for a lot of inconvenience. Please be more mindful in the future. Thank you.
We have had issues with jams caused by Canadian (or other non-U.S. coins), but this one was the result of someone not only using a damaged quarter, but jamming it into the mechanism in an effort to get it to work.
It is unlikely that you will be visually checking all of your quarters every time you do laundry, but if in handling them you happen to notice that a quarter is warped, or knicked on the edge, do not put it into the slot, and more importantly, if the coin slider mechanism is proving difficult to push it, don't force it, check your quarters and try another quarter.
This particular jam was caused by someone really forcing it. Luckily this didn't damage the mechanism permanently, but it did render the dryer inoperable for almost two weeks. With only 3 washers and 3 dryers for 39 units, that makes for a lot of inconvenience. Please be more mindful in the future. Thank you.
Monday, May 5, 2014
New Washer and Dryer
A new Maytag washer and dryer were installed last week. This should help alleviate some of the laundry congestion.
Friday, March 28, 2014
LAUNDRY ISSUES: Dryer ist kaputt
The Maytag dryer that is closest to the back of the laundry has broken and is beyond repair. A new dryer has been ordered but it is going to take about 3 weeks to get delivery and installation done. This means that we are down to only (2) working dryers for 39 units. It doesn't take a genius to see that this might lead to some potential problems.
I bring this up because yesterday I was doing laundry when a young couple came in and expressed dismay that their load of laundry had been removed from one of the dryers and placed on the sorting table. Apparently it had also been mixed in with someone else's load of laundry. Although I could relate (I don't like it when people remove my clothes from either a washing machine or dryer in my absence) there is little point in getting upset if other tenants remove your clothes, especially if you do a load and then leave it sitting for several hours.
Since I had been down there earlier in the day to empty the machines of quarters, I knew that this particular couple had left their laundry sitting in the dryer for several hours. However, I would also be upset if I found my laundry mixed in with someone else's.
As much as possible you need to be "present" when you do your laundry. Do not leave the building to run errands, or take a trip. You need to be around. If for some unavoidable reason you have to leave and are delayed in getting back to the laundry, do not be surprised if your clothes have been moved. No one likes it when this happens to them, but with so many people in the building and only 3 washers and 2 working dryers, you're going to need to have some patience and consideration for other people. Everyone has to use these machines, and the longer you tie one up, the less chance there is for someone else to use it.
That being said, here is some basic laundry etiquette.
Here is a scale of acceptable to less-acceptable practices.
ACCEPTABLE
If a dryer has completed it's cycle and the clothes are completely dry, and have been sitting for more than half an hour, go ahead and remove them. Please place them as neatly as you can on the sorting table at the back of the laundry. Make sure not to drop them behind the dryers or on the floor. Do not fold them, (that is just creepy). If there are multiple dryers being used, do not assume that the clothes all belong to the same person, and do not mix or pile two loads on top of each other. Make sure you clean the lint filter before you put your clothes in.
LESS ACCEPTABLE
If the dryer has finished it's cycle and the laundry is still damp, allow some extra time for the person to
come and restart the cycle. If you wait an hour or more and they still haven't come, then remove them and place on the sorting table.
REALLY DISCOURAGED
Removing wet clothes from the washing machines is really not OK unless they have been sitting in a machine for more than 2-3 hours. It just makes a mess. If you are feeling particularly generous and are in a hurry to do a load of wash, you could place them in a dryer (if empty) and start the cycle for them.
Try to balance your need to get laundry done with imagining how you would feel if they were your clothes. Hopefully things can go back to normal once the new dryer is in place. Thanks!
I bring this up because yesterday I was doing laundry when a young couple came in and expressed dismay that their load of laundry had been removed from one of the dryers and placed on the sorting table. Apparently it had also been mixed in with someone else's load of laundry. Although I could relate (I don't like it when people remove my clothes from either a washing machine or dryer in my absence) there is little point in getting upset if other tenants remove your clothes, especially if you do a load and then leave it sitting for several hours.
Since I had been down there earlier in the day to empty the machines of quarters, I knew that this particular couple had left their laundry sitting in the dryer for several hours. However, I would also be upset if I found my laundry mixed in with someone else's.
As much as possible you need to be "present" when you do your laundry. Do not leave the building to run errands, or take a trip. You need to be around. If for some unavoidable reason you have to leave and are delayed in getting back to the laundry, do not be surprised if your clothes have been moved. No one likes it when this happens to them, but with so many people in the building and only 3 washers and 2 working dryers, you're going to need to have some patience and consideration for other people. Everyone has to use these machines, and the longer you tie one up, the less chance there is for someone else to use it.
That being said, here is some basic laundry etiquette.
Here is a scale of acceptable to less-acceptable practices.
ACCEPTABLE
If a dryer has completed it's cycle and the clothes are completely dry, and have been sitting for more than half an hour, go ahead and remove them. Please place them as neatly as you can on the sorting table at the back of the laundry. Make sure not to drop them behind the dryers or on the floor. Do not fold them, (that is just creepy). If there are multiple dryers being used, do not assume that the clothes all belong to the same person, and do not mix or pile two loads on top of each other. Make sure you clean the lint filter before you put your clothes in.
LESS ACCEPTABLE
If the dryer has finished it's cycle and the laundry is still damp, allow some extra time for the person to
come and restart the cycle. If you wait an hour or more and they still haven't come, then remove them and place on the sorting table.
REALLY DISCOURAGED
Removing wet clothes from the washing machines is really not OK unless they have been sitting in a machine for more than 2-3 hours. It just makes a mess. If you are feeling particularly generous and are in a hurry to do a load of wash, you could place them in a dryer (if empty) and start the cycle for them.
Try to balance your need to get laundry done with imagining how you would feel if they were your clothes. Hopefully things can go back to normal once the new dryer is in place. Thanks!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Laundry Etiquette
 |
| The joys of unfinished laundry piled on tables, washing machines and dryers. |
If you are doing laundry, no one expects you to hang out in the laundry room eagerly waiting to take your wet clothes out of the washer, or your dry clothes out of the dryer, however...be considerate of others and don't take an extended trip away from the building, or get engrossed in angry birds and forget that you are doing laundry.
Leaving a load in a machine for several hours is not going to make you any friends.
You also run the risk of having someone remove your laundry from the machine and leave it in a pile.
Also, please clean the lint filter in the dryer before and after you do a load. A clean filter will help your load dry faster than one that is clogged with lint. Remember a little care and consideration can go a long way. Thanks!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Fresh Laundry
The laundry room got a fresh coat of yellow paint this last week on the walls, and dark-gray industrial epoxy-enamel on the floor. The floor is so shiny it actually looks wet. Considering all the dust, lint, cracks and scratches that were on the floor, this is a big improvement!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Maytag Dryer Gunk
The Maytag dryer that is closest to the back wall of the laundry has some kind of waxy residue in it. Best guess is that somebody ran a load of their kid's clothes through the high heat cycle with a couple of crayons in the pocket. There is brown and green residue smeared in parts of the drum. Until maintenance has a chance to look at it, you probably want to avoid drying white or light-colored things in there. This might also be a good time to remind you, that if you are doing a load of laundry, check the pockets for things that are leakable (pens), meltable (candy or crayons), or flammable (lighters). Might save someone a load of ruined clothing.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Maytag
The money box on the Maytag dryer nearest the back door of the laundry room.(See picture above). has become bent and is stuck. It is so full of quarters that it has become extremely difficult to remove. Although the dryer itself is working fine, please be advised that until the money box is repaired or replaced, your quarters may jam in the tray and not work. The repairman is coming tomorrow to look at it. Until then, please use the other dryers as much as possible.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
New Washing Machine!
A new washing machine was delivered and installed this last week. This replaces the troublesome middle washer that would sometimes stop working mid-cycle.
It is a high-capacity Whirlpool commercial washer. Happy laundering!
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