Written on: February 29, 2016
It’s always nicer to hear someone tell us, “We want to be a Walton customer again” instead of: “We’re trying out a new provider.” Yes, on occasion, we lose a completely satisfied customer over a few cents per gallon. Of course, we’re always sorry to see an otherwise happy customer go, but we always wish these customers a positive experience with their new provider and let them know that they are always welcome back at any time, with no questions asked.
We get it. Customers want to make sure they’re getting the best value. Walton has always stuck firmly by our belief that we will not offer “come on” prices for new customers for one reason — it’s unfair to our existing, loyal, customer base. That’s why we offer year-round competitive fuel prices. We’re rarely the cheapest price around, but we’re never the most expensive, either.
What sets Walton’s apart is what we like to call The Walton Difference. We’re always here when you need us. We’re a local, family owned company that still operates from the corner of Broad and Hancock Streets — the same corner where Clyde Snyder Walton started his business in 1921.
We offer nine oil delivery trucks, price protection, monthly payment plans, 19 service and installation vans, comprehensive service agreements, 24/7 emergency service and an unparalleled customer service experience. When you call Walton, the phone will always be answered by a person, not by a machine, and you will always be treated with respect.
Some new or start-up companies may be offering prices that seem too good to be true. In many cases, they are! We ask our customers to do their homework to make sure that they’re comparing “apples to apples”. Walton customers have come to expect a certain level of quality and professionalism in their fuel and service provider — as they should.
So customers who are thinking about switching to a new provider should ask themselves: Will this new company operate to the same standards as Walton? For example, does this company ensure accurate deliveries by calibrating the meters on its trucks? Walton is one of only three companies in the Montgomery/Bucks County area that does this.
They should also wonder: Does this company treat their fuel to burn cleaner? Do they offer a full service department with comprehensive maintenance agreements and 24/7 emergency service? Can they service and install all types of heating systems and air conditioners? Do they offer automatic delivery, price protection options and EZ Pay plans? Do they accept credit cards? Are they fully licensed and insured? Do they hire only the best people in the business and provide them with the training necessary to expertly perform their jobs?
We do all of this! Over the years, we have seen a number of former Walton customers returning to us because they felt they had been tricked with a “bait and switch” from their new provider. Prices skyrocketed after their new customer pricing ended, deliveries weren’t reliable, and service was poor or nonexistent. Some even told us that they never spoke to a local person after waiting for hours for a call back!
At Walton’s, we’re more than happy to pick up the slack and get these customers back on track again so they can rediscover the Walton Difference. A big part of The Walton Difference is our assurance that if you ever have a problem, we’ll take care of it!