How I turn ordinary complaints into thousands of dollars: The diary of a tough customer

The family washing machine springs a leak. All it needs is a ten cent piece of tubing, but the company sends the air conditioner repairman by mistake. Charell complains. The family gets a brand new washing machine. Charell orders a $289 Steuben glass koala bear sent to the West Coast as a gift; he pays eight dollars extra for it to be sent by air express and insured. The gift arrives late. Charrell complains. He is reimbursed $280 and allowed to keep the gift. Ralph Charell doesn't look for trouble. But when he comes up against indifferent bureaucrats or incompetent underlings, he refuses to be victimized. Whether it's a department store, his landlord, the phone company, or a public institiution, Charell manages to get his own sweet way - and then some - just by keeping his wits about him.

This is a book I bought many years ago and will never throw away. A fun read. Relevant, smart, creative and reassuringly human. The author's wit and savy will make you want to read passages aloud to friends. Sadly, it's out-of-print. I can only pray that the author will one day come out with a sequel.