We'll get by with a little help from our friends

The Ryan family and the Collins family go back a few years. More than a few, in fact.

Since the early 1970s, we have purchased almost every household appliance from Collins Appliances, through three generations of both families.

Frank "Squeak" Collins has seen our occasionally messy kitchen. So has Danny. So has Jeff. So has Kevin. So has Steve Nartker. (Ramona, God bless her, has been spared the ordeal of delivering appliances to the backwoods!)

This past Friday night, Pam and I came home to a non-working refrigerator. Since Friday happened to be her shopping day, we had considerable food and what I like to call DAPs (Dead Animal Parts) in the fridge.

It was almost 7 p.m. when I called Ramona Collins, looking for Jeff.

"He might stop by in a little while," Ramona told me.

Thankfully, he did.

Jeff called back and asked about out situation.

"We need a new refrigerator," I told him.

"When?" Jeff asked.

"Well, that's up to you, but we'd like it as soon as possible."

Jeff paused and said something like this: "How about in an hour or so?"

I was almost embarrassed to say that'd be fine.

Sure enough, just before sunset, Jeff and Kevin pulled down the driveway (as their dad had done a few times before) and set up our new refrigerator.

Talk about customer service!

I may never get a newspaper advertisement from those "big box" stores, and frankly, I don't care. But I do know what customer service is all about.

In fact, The Highland County Press prides itself on customer service. We do things that the "big box" newspapers cannot do. (At least not without pre-approval of corporate ownership.) We don't answer to such masters. We answer to you. Period.

Collins Appliances – and other locally owned and operated businesses – are quite similar in that their customers really do come first.

Our family has been extending our thanks to the Collins Appliances family for their quality, service and price for the past 40 years.

If I'm not mistaken, Danny Collins and Steve Nartker installed our home appliances some 25 years ago – before we had a driveway or a sidewalk.

And when our refrigerator went out on this past Friday evening, we didn't have to think twice about who to call.

Thank you, Jeff. Thank you, Kevin. Thank you.

Squeak and Danny would appreciate your efforts.

So do I.

As always, you guys are the best. We're happy to be your neighbor on South High Street, too.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.