Confessions of a Concierge.....

These are some of my "best of" examples of the kinds of requests I get. Obviously I've removed really personal information.

One night, a Member called to get car rental information and he mentioned that he needed to rent a car to visit his brother who was in the hospital with a heart attack. When the Member called a week later, the Concierge immediately asked how the brother was doing. The Member noted that he was amazed that the Concierge has remembered his concerns about his brother and touched that the Concierge had asked about it. The Member hesitated and then asked for a special request. Could Concierge find a very special mortuary, which would handle all his brother's funeral arrangements with the utmost in care? Concierge sadly took on this special request. Concierge was able to find not just a mortuary, but a dignity provider. The dignity provider would create a specialized bereavement plan for the Member and his family that would include discounts on airfare and travel for one year to allow for estate planning, a wake and funeral in a private home setting to allow for greater comfort, a 24 hour compassion hotline for family members, and books and resources on site to help with the grieving process. Concierge even arranged for all the information to be faxed to the Member's hotel to make sure that he did not need to spend any time checking voice mails or email. Because Concierge managed this special request so well, the Member was able to spend the last hours of his brother's life by his side. The Member called and wrote to say that Concierge went beyond all his expectations and he would be a Member for life. Wonderful job!
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It is less than a week away from the member's wedding day and everything is set to go, until the member learns that his best man has cancelled the vendor's contracts and taken off with the deposit money. Now the member is without a limousine, a photographer, and a DJ, and he has only five days until he walks down the aisle. In sheer desperation, he contacts concierge with a plea to help save his wedding day. In four hours concierge found an experienced photographer with availability for the whole day, a Hummer limousine that will be decorated for the wedding, and a DJ that will play Polka music, the member's favorite. The stunned member was ecstatic that concierge was able to make the arrangements with such short notice. Thanks to concierge, he was able to Polka the night away with his new bride on their perfect wedding day!
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The conversation started with "I just know you're not going to be able to do this."
What do you do when it's 4:00 PM in California and you've forgotten your newest client's birthday is today? Call Concierge. You don't want flowers, your client is a guy. You want chocolates, or fruit, or wine. And you only want to spend $50.00. Including delivery. There's a b-day party at 7:00 PM at his house. After calling Godiva and See's, who couldn't do deliveries at this late hour on Labor Day weekend, Concierge found a gift basket company in the same town that would deliver a split of chilled Veuve Clicquot Champagne as well as 10 French chocolate truffles to his house just in time for the party tonight ! 1/2 hour total for Concierge to get the job done! (When I called the member back, she started yelling "I love you!")
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What does Concierge do when faced with the question - "Can you find me a restaurant I read about in Orlando that serves meat on swords?"
Answer - She finds this.
"Crazy Grill Orlando, FL
Take heed, the name of this eating establishment in no way reflects the psychological demeanor of the knife-wielding cooks in the kitchen. You see, this is a "churrascaria," or Brazilian barbecue joint, and its specialty is serving up an assortment of grilled meats -- everything from top sirloin and chicken hearts to turkey wrapped in bacon and pork loin -- on sword-like skewers right at your table. When your desire for flesh has been indicated, the waiter will place a cylindrical peg on your table, half of it colored red, the other half green. If the peg is left green-side up, they'll keep the meat comin'; if you turn it over, they'll stop. Think of it as meat by demand.
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Actual email
What type of service and/or information are you looking for?
I would like to type a letter in English, & have it converted to Chinese, so that I may communicate with my non-English speaking, Chinese mother-in-law.
What is the location of this project?
N/A
Are there any deadlines we should be aware of?
ASAP
Any other details we should know? Please be as specific as possible.
"EXTREME" Marital problems with psychological new Chinese bride! I need a QUICK response. She is crazy, is breaking things, (possibly ready to commit suicide, or hurt me). I work weekends driving - therefore I won't be home til' Monday at 2 am. I am deftly afraid of her wacko - "episodes", and am using every venue to assist me in this situation (The police, psychological - I made phone calls). Please assist me if you can. PS - You can call my mother when I am on the road, or unavailable). Thank-you for your understanding.
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The recent tsunami in Asia left a trail of death and destruction felt all over the world. The utter chaos left by the aftermath made it impossible for worried families to contact their loved ones to see if they were safe. A member contacted concierge with a very special request. His son had been vacationing in Asia during the time of the tsunami and the member had not been able to locate him. Concierge understood how distraught the member was, and promised to do everything possible to try and find some information about the whereabouts of his son. Concierge began by taking as many personal details about the boy as possible, such as a physical description, citizenship address, place of work, etc., that might be useful for the search. First, they created a "Personality Profile" of the missing young man, which would help deduce where he may have gone to escape the chaotic climate of Asia. The search continued with many phone calls and emails to places all over the world such as Washington DC, Holland, London, and the Pacific Rim. After an exhaustive search, concierge located the member's son and his companion, who were safe and sound and staying at a remote island resort off the coast of the Philippines. Filled with relief, the member could not thank concierge enough for their dedication and compassion that reunited the worried parents with their son.
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This member called from Texas with an unusual request. He needed assistance settling a bet with his friend but warned that it might not be easy. He wanted to find a way to deliver 2 hot Starbuck's Grande Vanilla Lattes to his friend in Columbia, SC that day by 2:00 pm. His friend insisted that it couldn't be done but the member had a secret weapon: Concierge! The concierge wasted no time and furiously called delivery and courier services, most of which laughed at her. Within 2 hours she was able to convince a courier service to go to Starbuck's pick up the lattes and deliver them to the member's friend in Columbia. The member was so delighted that we were able to help prove his friend wrong, he didn't even mind the total cost of $73.00!
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What type of service and/or information are you looking for?
Finding a Steer to be slaughtered for beef and a butcher for processing
What is the location of this project?
Around where we live Corinth, TX 76208
Are there any deadlines we should be aware of? no
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The member wanted to make his holiday party special and had thought of the perfect idea to make it truly memorable. He wanted to have a Nativity scene complete with live actors and animals - and he needed this all arranged for the next evening. Praying for a holiday miracle, he called concierge to see what we could do. Concierge jumped right in and starting working. By the next evening, concierge had arranged for three actors in Shepard's costume, along with three sheep, one goat, one rabbit, one hen, two bails of hay, a manger, a doll, and an animal pen to be set up in time for the party. Not only was this an amazing feat in itself, but concierge also had to convince the actor's troupe to pack up their menagerie and travel to a different state with only hours notice. The member was absolutely ecstatic! Not only was the party memorable, but the event attracted 150 people from around the area and was featured on local news stations.
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Actual email: I am home sick today. Can you please deliver: 3 1 liter bottles of Gatorade (lemon lime) 1 pkg Lenders or Thomas bagels (plain) 1 sm pkg Philly light cream cheese (reg not whipped), 1 lg bottle Ocean Spray cranapple juice, 1 carton Tropicana home style OJ, 1 pkg of Oreo cookies, and 1 bottle of Advil extra strength caplets. New York NY
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