Thursday, December 4, 2008

Customer Service Is Not What It Used To Be

I am a firm believer that customer service is extremely important. It can make or break your business.

With that said, if you are not a people person, please do not get a job in customer service. I beg of you.

Case in point, I had to return some curtain rods that were the wrong size at Wal-Mart. This is a “super” Wal-Mart in that it is fabulously large with a Subway, a nail salon, a bank, an ophthalmologist’s office and acres upon acres of grocery and household fabulousness.

I walked up to the customer service office armed with said curtain rods and was terribly disappointed to be confronted with a painfully long line with only one girl at the register and she looked all too pleased to be working at this time. Sure, I had nothing else better to do at 12:45 pm on a Tuesday afternoon anyway.

Finally, someone noticed how the line had stretched out of the office and wrapped around to the ophthalmologist’s office next door and decided to jump on the register next to Ms. Speedy Cashier there and help out.

Lucky for me when it was my turn at the register I got Ms. Speedy Cashier and instead of greeting me with a smile and asking what she can do for me today she stared at me without a word uttered, took hold of my receipt and began punching numbers into that register machine thing of hers. About 3 seconds later she looks up at the line and uttered not once but twice, “Gosh! People still keep getting in line. Dag!”

I merely turned my head to look at the end of the line, which I could not see, then I turned back to face her. I said nothing. I hope she wasn’t trying to get sympathy from me because she was ass out today my friend. This is your job. Get over it.

Since when was it OK to grumble and complain in front of customers?

If you don’t like your job then you need to find another. I'm just saying.


23 People saying stuff:

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com said...

Unacceptable, seriously...! At least button it up and just give nasty stares but talking is out of the question

Moooooog35 said...

I work in tech support and have for years and years.

I hate people.

In fact, I have a shirt that says:

Front: I hate people
Back: I hate you

It's a real crowd-pleaser.

Pray you never get me on the phone.

Trixie said...

She thinks it is bad now? Wait until after Christmas!

Anonymous said...

That is soo true. Customer Service people are special individuals. They need cheerful people and not whiners. Well written

Anonymous said...

People don't know what "customer service" is nowadays.

All the company wants is a warm body to fill the void....

Anonymous said...

That bothers me to no end when the cashier/customer service person says absolutely nothing to you. AARGH!!

1/3 said...

I agree with you. I hate that companies seem to find the most disgruntle people to work with the public. the MVA case in point is the worst place in the world! their attitudes are horrible!!!

CarmenSinCity said...

I totally agree with you about customer service making or breaking a company and she was definitely in the wrong line of work!

Melissa said...

I agree with you about customer service people and enjoying people. At least be semi-upbeat. I also agree with you, if you don't like your job then get something else

Freckle Face Girl said...

I can't complain now that I live in Texas. Everyone is gooey nice here. In Miami, nobody is even pleasant. People grunt instead of talking. RUDE!

Sandi McBride said...

I think it may be a walmart thing...I mean, they treat the women who work there like cattle and expect them to like it and we just keep coming in and buying things enabling them to have a job which pays better than nothing and no one SMILES IN THAT STORE! So, why do we keep going? Oh right, we don't work there!
hugs
Sandi

*Tanyetta* said...

**Since when was it OK to grumble and complain in front of customers?
**

It's NEVER ok to complain or grumble! You're right, stay home or quit!

Anonymous said...

It always surprises me that people like that keep their jobs.

People, as a whole, suck.

Anonymous said...

It's not. Ever. People are just stupid and they don't think. By the way WalMart is hell!

Anonymous said...

I know I'm not a people person which is why I hated retail but I did my best to be as nice as I could and I had to work Kmart ON Thanksgiving once.

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

dmarks said...

I've found the service at Wal-Mart to be better than most other stores, at least in regards to register staffing.

I've had it happen a few times where I wanted to buy something, and I get to a huge row of registers, with only two or three manned, and huge long lines. Why not just open the rest of the registers? I figured they didn't really want my money, so I left without buying.

The Walmart just seems less understaffed than Meijer and some others. If they have empty registers, they even often stand out in the store direct you to their empty register. I've seen no other store do that.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

man that gets on my nerves - not to mention what do they think they are being paid for

Lys said...

Oh I would have gone off and had a "come to jesus" meeting with her supervisor. Unacceptable.

Joe said...

They have a subway in the Wal*Mart? That is a big store!

"Household appliances...Household Appliances. Next stop Electronics"

Unknown said...

You didn't have to put me on blast like that.
Sorry :(

No, I feel you on this.
When I go to the store I try to be the pleasant one.
I come into line and smile and greet them with a hello. And thank them for their service even if they don't respond.

Moe Wanchuk said...

I'm a salesman....and I once told a customer.."How about I bounce my b*lls off your nose!"

I still want to punch his lights out.....and I have no idea how I still have my job.

OHmommy said...

Seriouly... people don not know what customer service means now days. Ugh

david mcmahon said...

Yup, customer service is crucial. Was then. Is now. Will always be.