Wilber Winkle Has A Complaint!

by John Homans

Overview

Is Wilber Winkle a consumer advocate extraordinaire or just a nut with too much time on his hands? Whatever the verdict, this hilarious collection of complaint letters to American corporations and their responses are a laugh-aloud page-turner. Readers everywhere will recognize the beefs that Wilber strives to get to the bottom of: Denny's waitresses disturbing the delicate balance of cream and sugar in their coffee, the disappearance of the almond from the 5th Avenue candy bar, and insulting automotive technicians at Jiffy Lube. After studying Wilber's letter-writing campaigns, readers will learn how to complain the Wilber Winkle Way and translate customer service-ese. An unflinchingly funny look into the world of customer service and one consumer who will not stand for life's little inconveniences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781890862992
Publisher:	Bancroft Press
Publication date:	06/25/1997
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	205
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

A resident of Maryland for most of his life, Wilber Winkle recently decided a change was in order after reviewing a petition signed by 172 of 179 residents of his apartment community. Their desire to see Wilber head out onto the road and expand his horizons was so strong that they actually packed and loaded all of his belongings for him. Wilber himself put it this way ina recent letter: “Many of the residents were so caught up in the emotion of my exodus that they were unable to gain the composure needed to bid me a proper farewell, and my persistent knocks on their doors went unanswered.”

Driving for an entire day and much of the night, Wilber desperately searched for a sign that would tell him where to make his new home. He traveled more than 1,000 miles before finally spotting his beacon in the night. Pulling over to the shoulder of a deserted interstate outside of Tampa, Florida, he stepped down from his truck, turned his nose to the air, and smelled the unmistakable aroma of Pepperidge Farm cookies. Four and a half miles later, a Pepperidge Farm Cookie Factory came into view.

“If you’ve ever tasted a Pepperidge Farm product,” says Wilber, “I’m sure you can figure out why I settled here. A Pepperidge Farm cookie is as close to perfection as any product ever made. The factory’s aroma will be a daily and constant reminder of how products can and should be manufactured and marketed.”

Wilber’s days in the Tampa area are filled with fairly everyday activities. He eats junk food, goes to the mall, plays golf, rents videos, washes his clothes, and goes to the bank, all while keeping a very sharp eye out for products and services that do not meet his and our expectations. “My mission remains unfinished,” says Wilber. “You can count on hearing much more from me in the months and years ahead.”

Editorial Reviews

“This book is hilarious! Wilber Winkle is an American treasure.” (LARRY KING IS THE HOST OF CNN'S LARRY KING LIVE)

Larry King

“Wilber is a nebbishy Ralph Nader who confronts the issues that drive us all crazy. The letters are laugh-out-loud funny.”

American Bookseller Magazine

“This is perfect. Who knew? It turns out that reality is the wackiest cartoon of all. Witness this bizarre and wonderful collection of correspondence. This book could put me out of work. If Wilber’s pastime catches on, people won’t need TV. They can entertain themselves through the U.S. mail.” (PHIL HARTMAN IS THE FORMER STAR OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE AND NEWS RADIO)

Phil Hartman

“A corporate crusader. [Wilber is] a cross between Dave Barry and Dilbert.”

St. Petersburg Times

“Hooray for Wilber Winkle, the Ralph Nader of morons, railing against all the inanities of day-to-day life. Is there a deeper message in the ramblings of this contemporary crusader? I don’t think so. Just sit back and laugh.” (RANDY FELDMAN IS THE SCREENWRITER OF TANGO & CASH)

Randy Feldman