Customer Service
Don't get me wrong I love shopping centres, the bigger the better. I can remember holidaying in Canada in the 80s and spending half of every day in a different enormous shopping centre..bliss!!
But I do miss good customer service. I miss the butcher and the grocer and everyone else knowing my name. Okay, I am old this is part of the problem. I think the other part of the problem is we have become a throw away society and that includes customers, once you have got their money in your pocket, or sometimes even before, you discard them. Maybe staff believe that customers are like buses and another one will be along in a minute. Not this customer baby!
I first became selective about where I shopped when my twins were little. I only shopped in the stores with doorways and aisles wide enough to accommodate the twin stroller. My favourite was the bank where they would be opening the door by the time I reached the top step. My least favourite was the store where, when I asked if they could open the other side of the door so I could bring the stroller answered "no, we never open that door". Needless to say I didn't bother to go in.
I don't mind waiting to be served if the staff are busy. I do mind waiting while they discuss their social life, either with each other or on the phone. I do mind waiting while staff ignore me in case they have to do something, and I do become annoyed when the day after I have spent thousands of dollars in a store they have forgotten I have ever existed because, heaven help them I might have a problem which requires "after sale service."
I realise that with old age comes a certain level of intolerance and "things are not like they used to be" but I truly believe we are losing the ability to make customers feel special for that minute or two that we deal with them. I know I can be as guilty as anyone aof this. How easy is it to continue to check your email while on a telephone call?
One of my favourites was the Woolworths checkout person who, as I approached the checkout said "how are you today". I said "very well thank you" as taught by my Mum. Half way through the transaction she looked up and said "how are you today" then quick as a flash said "oh, I already asked that" and ignored me from then on.
I promise to make more effort to provide good customer service. How about you?
But I do miss good customer service. I miss the butcher and the grocer and everyone else knowing my name. Okay, I am old this is part of the problem. I think the other part of the problem is we have become a throw away society and that includes customers, once you have got their money in your pocket, or sometimes even before, you discard them. Maybe staff believe that customers are like buses and another one will be along in a minute. Not this customer baby!
I first became selective about where I shopped when my twins were little. I only shopped in the stores with doorways and aisles wide enough to accommodate the twin stroller. My favourite was the bank where they would be opening the door by the time I reached the top step. My least favourite was the store where, when I asked if they could open the other side of the door so I could bring the stroller answered "no, we never open that door". Needless to say I didn't bother to go in.
I don't mind waiting to be served if the staff are busy. I do mind waiting while they discuss their social life, either with each other or on the phone. I do mind waiting while staff ignore me in case they have to do something, and I do become annoyed when the day after I have spent thousands of dollars in a store they have forgotten I have ever existed because, heaven help them I might have a problem which requires "after sale service."
I realise that with old age comes a certain level of intolerance and "things are not like they used to be" but I truly believe we are losing the ability to make customers feel special for that minute or two that we deal with them. I know I can be as guilty as anyone aof this. How easy is it to continue to check your email while on a telephone call?
One of my favourites was the Woolworths checkout person who, as I approached the checkout said "how are you today". I said "very well thank you" as taught by my Mum. Half way through the transaction she looked up and said "how are you today" then quick as a flash said "oh, I already asked that" and ignored me from then on.
I promise to make more effort to provide good customer service. How about you?
posted by Patchworkpicklesandpigeons at 2:15 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home