The repairmen (L.T. and Kevin) were nice and definitely gave the repairs a good try and everyone is very friendly at Consumer Refrigeration of Jacksonville, but this type of scheduling makes the cable company look great.

Based on our recent experiences with Setzer’s Appliance of Jacksonville, we have to rate them as having poor customer service and can consequently only recommend that you avoid Setzer’s Appliance.  On April 29, 2008 we purchased (and our card was charged) a KitchenAid vent hood (aka downdraft, model number KIRD861HSS).  The total cost was $894.64 for a new unit plus installation, well above the KitchenAid MSRP of $819 (see KitchenAid).  One would presume that Setzer’s Appliance of Jacksonville would provide superior customer service to go with their superior prices, but if our experience is typical, that is not the case.

As of today, June 10, 2008, the KitchenAid purchased from Setzer’s Appliance is still not working.  Setzer’s Appliance has stated they would repair it under warranty, and yet that has not occurred.  Now, my question is, why should a NEW unit need immediate repair under warranty?  It should be NEW.  New generally means that it should be working properly.  However, Setzer’s Appliance got the benefit of the doubt and has had the opportunity to repair the downdraft and yet we are 45 days into the new-yet-not-working KitchenAid downdraft

If Setzer’s Appliance wanted to get a good grade for customer service and customer care, after 45 days, one would think they would take back the non-working unit and replace it with a new unit.  

We’ll update this as the experience progresses, but as of today we can not recommend buying an appliance from Setzer’s Appliance of Jacksonville.

On a related note, we’ve recently see pleas to support local merchants.  Buying from HomeDepot or Lowes wouldn’t have had a problem with this.  Unless Setzer’s Appliance gets their act together, Setzer’s Appliance won’t be getting our business in the future.

The concept is simple:  One should get what one pays for when one pays for it.  If you can’t deliver it, take the non-working item out and replace it with a new one.

If you are thinking of buying an appliance in Jacksonville, do you want the kind of service Setzer’s has provided or do you want someone who stands behind the items they sell?

July 1, 2008, 9am update.  The KitchenAid “new” appliance still is not working correctly although they are supposed to attempt a repair again.

July 3, 2008, noon:  It seems to be fixed now, wow!  Finally, thanks!

However, let’s look at it from a financial view: $4 million for “about” 70 officers a day for 4 months. Simple math shows that is $57142.85 per officer for 4 months. In the private sector, $57142 could hire 70 officers for an entire year with money left over.

One has to question the spending discipline of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County. And one wonders why taxes are so high - the waste in the government is amazing.

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/091907/met_200782089.shtml

More to follow.

The show opened with Angry Young Man, My Life, Everybody Loves You Now, and New York State of Mind.

Some changes did occur between Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville - he left out “Laura” from “The Nylon Curtain,” “Big Man on Mulberry Street” and “Where’s the Orchestra?” At least “Laura” and “Where’s the Orchestra” would have been appreciated here as would Vienna. Likewise the sets were re-ordered, perhaps to aid the flow of the show.

During the show he commented on the changes in Jacksonville - from the disappearance of the paper mill (much better smell now getting off a plane) to the Jaguars to the Arena to the Baseball Stadium. The sincerity (or flattery) was a great opener.

Having seen Billy Joel in Miami the evening the news broke about his marriage to Christie Brinkley and the shows afterward, this show was more entertaining. It certainly compares favorably to his shows with Elton John, which were good shows, and tough to follow.

After New York State of Mind he went into Stiletto, Zanzibar (with the line about Rose being a credit to the game being changed to “Rose knows he’ll never make the hall of fame”), and then Allentown. This compares with Ft. Lauderdale where he reportedly opened with Piano Man, Allentown, and New York State of Mind.

Then followed The Great Wall of China (about his previous agent who “screwed him”), Sometimes a Fantasy (excellent live) and Sleeping With The Television On (both from Glass Houses).

Goodnight Saigon and Moving Out followed (”This next song was even a show”). Innocent Man, Lullaby (”Good Night, My Angel”), Keeping The Faith, I Go To Extremes, We Didn’t Start the Fire, Big Shot , It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me, and You May Be Right finished the main show.

The encore included: River of Dreams, Only the Good Die Young, Scenes from An Italian Restaurant and finally, of course, Piano Man.

All in all, an impressive group of songs and a very lively, engaging performance where he entertained everyone in all locations of the arena.

Out of the songs played, only Great Wall and Sleeping were less commonly known, and even they were known to many fans although he termed them”obscure” perhaps reacting to the review of the Ft. Lauderdale show.

All in all, Billy Joel put on a great show in Jacksonville and the fans loved it. Hopefully the next stop won’t be as long in coming. You have a great fan base here and the show tonight was fantastic, so ignore the critics, you know your audience.

January 10, 2006, 11:22pm.