Customer Service- Welcome to My Soap Box

As I grow older I have developed my latest, and one of my strongest peeves. (You really can't have multiple pet peeves, no matter how much Matt argues). It is my firm belief that if you have a job, you don't necessarily have to like it, but you should appreciate it. Unless your job is up for the next episode of "Dirty Jobs" (which I LOVE by the way) there's probably someone who would happily take your job. HELLO! Recession!

So- if I come into your store to use the money that I earned at MY job, I don't think a little customer service is too much to ask for. You're not too good for your job, or you wouldn't be there. I'm not asking for a personal shopper here. If I come to the counter and say Hello with a smile, reciprocate! I've worked in retail, fast food, restaurant, academic, government, inside, outside, get dirty, dress nice, crazy hours, high pressure jobs, so I know that customers can be a bit much to handle. BUT NEVER EVER have I taken my bad day out on a customer. It's my job to help them, not have them be my emotional punching bag. AND why are managers letting their employees act like this? Isn't repeat business a goal??

Furthermore, if I am offered a credit card, I will politely decline once. No thank you, I know you have to ask. What I am thinking is: I'm already paying enough for this purchase, no I would not like to add interest. Not even if you offer me a GAZILLION points for whatever. I don't want your free tote. I just want what I want, but thanks for asking. So- Please don't ask me multiple times in multiple ways. No is no. Don't you have any dignity? One time I had said no to an employee multiple times. No thanks. Oh that's okay, not today. Oh no, credit cards would be a bad idea, etc etc. AND THEN SHE SAID- Sounds like to me that you may just have a self control problem. WHAT!?!?!? Of course I wrote a letter to the store manager.

I don't know if anybody else has noticed this growing trend of poor customer service, but it's making me crazy. Isn't part of the joy of having dinner out is having a pleasant waiter? Otherwise- why am I paying more for lesser quality food, AND tipping? Isn't buying shoes just that much better when an employee helps you find the exact right pair? Isn't going to a movie all the greater when from beginning to end it was a pleasant experience? Shouldn't I get a smile with my $7 popcorn? Not to mention the future health cost of the cardiac arrest it is going to put me in.

Just putting that out there. I am going to smile at every client that comes to my counter today. I am also going to empathize if they end up with an outrageous bill because their insurance wont cover them. Because my job is important to me. A statement Matt made early in our relationship that made me fall a little more in love with him was
"The downfall of American society is people who don't take pride in their work".

Posted in: Reflections