Just like on tv

Many of you won't know this, but a few years ago (almost 5, i think) i did a tv ad for one of those funeral policies. It was one of those long informecials and it actually ran on tv for 4 whole years right up until mid-2011. I hated the ad!

I hated it because; 1. It just seemed so cheesy. 2. It was morbid and nobody really wants to hear you talking about death. 3. My tie was visibly crooked on most of the scenes (How did NOBODY pick that up?) 4. I kept seeing the girl I hooked up with on set (speaking of picking up). 5. (Most Importantly) I didn't really believe in the product and in the brand. I just felt like it is one of those things that they use to make people spend hard earned money on something they MAY need one day. Meanwhile they get fatter every day.

Fast forward to March 2012. A man who was like a father to me, my future father in law passed on. Like the wise man that he was, he had one of these policies with Two Mountains Funeral Services. Now, bear in mind...this is in Phalaborwa. I have been quite vocal in the past about small towns and the poor service that exists in such places.

To say that I was bowled over by the amazing service would be an understatement. Needless to say, a death is a very difficult time and my girlfriend showed amazing strength. She jumped right in and got to work, making arrangements, arranging for the proper release documentation from the hospital, death certificates and all the other red tape that you would imagine goes with a person's passing away. And whether dealing with the Two Mountains Branch in Tzaneen (where Papa passed away) or in Phalaborwa, the guys were nothing less than extremely helpful, courteous and professional. They ran around with us, got all the paper work done, took us to the Home Affairs office and everything was done within 2 hours, just as we were promised.

Let's face it, if there is one thing we have all become used to it is poor service. Especially from our own people. Even more so if the company itself is black owned. I can't tell you how many times i have complained over bad service in the past, asked for the manager, then his manager, then HIS manager, simply because every one of them was as bad as the previous one.

So to find a black owned company, in a small town, giving WORLD class service is an absolute breath of fresh air. Dignity and respect is the order of the day, from receptionist to consultants. Even the Chief Operating Officer of the company came out to ask if we were being looked after. I don't think this company has branches in the rest of the country. But, i assure you, as much as i never want to think about death...this is the dignified manner i would like to be buried in, the day my name is called.