April 17
...serving up your daily dish.
You really have to admire a transportation company that uses the word "life expectancy" on its home page. With a straight face, no less. An alert reader sends us the link to Decamp's current message to readers, with with note, "You gotta love the customer friendly tone."
THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF CONFUSION REGARDING THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF TICKETS, WHETHER THEY BE ONE-WAY, TEN TRIP, OR FORTY TRIP! THEREFORE, TO CLARIFY, THE FOLLOWING: ONE-WAY TICKETS HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF PURCHASE (12 MONTHS); TEN TRIP TICKETS HAVE A THIRTY (30) DAY LIFE EXPECTANCY FROM DATE OF PURCHASE; AND THE FORTY (40) TRIP TICKET HAS A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. THIS POLICY CHANGE WAS PUT INTO EFFECT IN MAY, 2004, AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT GENERALLY OFFER REFUNDS ON EXPIRED TICKETS. DECAMP'S TICKETING POLICY IS WELL WITHIN THE RANGES OF ALL THE OTHER CARRIERS IN THE NEW JERSEY AREA. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND CONTINUED COOPERATION.
"Customer friendly" and DeCamp do not belong in the same sentence.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Apr 17, 2006 2:46:49 PM
I'm hoping DeCamp's life expectancy is 60 days.
More DeCamp complaints in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...
Posted by: ccc | Apr 17, 2006 3:01:41 PM
My theory is that DeCamp is trying to run itself out of business so that it can force NJT to buy the company.
I think if they can show growth before the rail link they can negotiate as a successful business killed by the government.
Posted by: Kevin Lee Allen | Apr 17, 2006 3:36:39 PM
Count me as being at least 85% satisfied with DeCamp service for over 25 years. Now, understanding their public relations stance with this and other notices, it's hard to grok. I recall one notice about a schedule misprint that ended with "we are an embarassing company." That's being a bit hard on oneself, innit?
Posted by: Krys O. | Apr 17, 2006 4:28:50 PM
Of course, "life expectancy" is quite a different thing from the precisely assured mortality that comes with an expiration date.
What do they think they're accomplishing by using this terminology?
Posted by: crank | Apr 17, 2006 4:32:21 PM
I think the same people who wrote the lines for "Reefer Madness" and "Plan 9 from Outer Space" are writing these memos.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Apr 17, 2006 4:36:15 PM
"Detective: But one thing's sure. Inspector Clay is dead, murdered, and somebody's responsible."
Posted by: Miss Martta | Apr 17, 2006 4:41:52 PM
Clearly the wording of the memo is indicative of DeCamp's management style, circa 1865.
Posted by: Franklin | Apr 17, 2006 7:07:54 PM
That's being a bit hard on oneself, innit?
Pretty darn accurate if you ask me.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 17, 2006 9:28:29 PM
Haven't they heard yet that IT'S NOT POLITE TO YELL.
Posted by: I'm not deaf | Apr 17, 2006 10:04:01 PM
I have a question.... WHY does it take
DeCamp drivers about 1/4 block to make a turn, around a corner.
Buses in NY & elsewhere drive in more congested areas and seem to be able to make a tighter turn.
Is it laziness? or Perhaps the wheel
doesn't / can't move as much?
Posted by: JT | Apr 18, 2006 9:20:13 AM
The Web site is just like the company: the first thing you see is this ridiculous condescending note (to its customers!). I tried to find the schedule -- only the most likely reason to use the site -- and finally found it hidden under something like "commuter services."
Also, nowhere on the site, at least that I could find, does it tell you the fare (though knowing what they charge, I can see why).
Posted by: trollhater | Apr 18, 2006 10:02:11 AM
It would be great if the management at DeCamp read the comments posted on Barista and responded in a positive way.
Lack of customer service and high fares may very well limit the life expectancy of DeCamp itself.
Posted by: Franklin | Apr 18, 2006 10:49:45 AM
I honestly don't think they care, Franklin. Phone calls appear to fall on deaf ears and letters get sent to the circular file.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Apr 18, 2006 11:01:19 AM
WHY does it take
DeCamp drivers about 1/4 block to make a turn, around a corner
Answer: Its the design of the buses, not the skill of the drivers.
Posted by: Byron | Apr 18, 2006 11:09:30 AM
trollhater,
Be aware that some of the schedules are not 100% correct on the Decamp web site.
Posted by: badd_patti | Apr 18, 2006 11:19:36 AM
Butch - As they stated, full price DeCamp tickets also have a life of one year. It's only the reduced tickets that die sooner. The economics of it work out about the same: if you buy a 40-pack of DeCamps, you pay the same per ride as you pay for a montly pass on NJT. The mystery to me is why DeCamp doesn't just sell montly passes, instead of confusing things with differently priced tickets.
Posted by: TwinDad | Apr 18, 2006 3:49:20 PM
Sure makes me glad I ride NJ Transit. At least with them, there's no pretense of making the hapless commuter happy.
Posted by: Tonoose | Apr 18, 2006 4:07:25 PM
I wound up not using my tickets in december and they passed there expiration date. Drivers started calling me out on it in January when I started taking the bus again, until ultimately one driver flat out refused it.
Sooooo
I called up DeCamp explained why I couldn't use my tickets before by Dec 21st, the expiration date (family matters).
The woman said send them in anyway to accounts payable and reference her name.
They didnt replace the tickets, they sent me a check for the cost of tickets (less 10%). I guess the 10% is homage to Ticketmaster. So even though they were past point of refund technically, DeCamp came through.
New slogan, "Decamp - We're there for you 90% of the way". Which puts you stuck in the tunnel.
Posted by: Shitalker | Apr 18, 2006 5:58:36 PM