Saratoga News

Letter

Kudos to a local businessman

As with so many forums, most people voice their concerns or complaints, which is what our country is all about, and that's great. However, far too often the good deeds, upbeat news and information go unheard-- that is why I am writing about the good will I received at one of Saratoga's Big Basin Way businesses. People should know of merchants who aren't always in it for "profit" and are just exceptional business people and what attributes define them as such.

Last year for our 13th wedding anniversary, my husband purchased a ruby and diamond ring for me, ruby being my birthstone and two side diamonds symbolizing our two children. We celebrate our 14th anniversary the end of this month so I haven't even had this ring for a full year yet.

Recently, I dropped my anniversary ring down the sink, and it fell into the garbage disposal. In my haste to retrieve it, I mistakenly turned on the disposal switch instead of the light switch. My son, who heard me scream, ran in the kitchen to find me with my head buried in my hands and a very crushed, dented and mangled ring on the counter--I couldn't believe what I had just done. I was heartbroken.

We immediately got in the car and took the ring to Stephen Michael Howard's jewelry store on Big Basin Way, where the ring was purchased. It was an original design by Mr. Howard, and I was afraid to show him what I had done to his beautiful creation. He was very supportive and told me that I was fortunate that the three stones seemed to be fine and told me he would try to repair the damage.

That day, Mr. Howard called me and said he had worked all afternoon, in between customers, repairing my ring as best he could. I went to his store to look at it assuming that I was going to have to have a new ring made. To my immense surprise, it was as if nothing had happened to it. It was brilliant, shiny and circular once again, and the gold was as smooth as the first day my husband gave it to me. I was amazed and so incredibly relieved. It certainly wasn't the same ring I had given Mr. Howard earlier in the day.

When I asked Mr. Howard how much I owed him, he replied, "Nothing, I wouldn't take advantage of your misfortune." I was surprised because he had worked most of his afternoon fixing my mistake. Mr. Howard also said he appreciated my having one of his original designs and that he believes in providing good customer service. All I could think to do at that moment was give him a big hug.

This type of business and individual is harder to find these days than yesteryear, and I think it's important that such exceptional business practices be acknowledged and made public just as much as all the bad news that we normally hear and read about in the news media.

My hat goes off to Mr. Howard for his exceptional customer support. We are fortunate to have him as part of Saratoga's community. This type of business person is what makes Saratoga such a great place to live and such a neat town to support.

Wendy Grega
Buckhave Lane

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