I walk into a Car Dealership to buy a new car and walk by many salesmen and no one says hi. Perhaps it was me..lacking dripping diamonds. Far Guy complained to a few salesmen in the parking lot..they were standing around shooting the breeze. THEN they tried to make the sale…nope..if their salesmen are not friendly their customer service sucks. There are other car dealerships.
I walk into a Dairy Queen grab a quart of frozen Ice Cream out of their freezer take it to the counter to pay for it and a small container of their topping to take as a birthday treat..only to be told that they don’t sell toppings separately. I said “What do you mean..you are in the ice cream and topping business??” I put the quart of ice cream back in their freezer and left. Far Guy said “I bet we won’t be going back there again for awhile.” Yathink?
Is it just me or is customer service non existent?
I was in Ben Franklin with a few purchases..the checkout gal had a hard time stopping her conversation with her friend. I cleared my throat loudly. Then she asked me if I really needed a bag? What..of course I need a bag. Did she say Thanks for Shopping at Ben Franklin? No.
It is no small wonder that small businesses are failing.
I shudder to think that I should begin shopping for Christmas soon. I would like to shop small businesses..but I am not sure I can do that without going stark raving mad.
I hate shopping. I really hate shopping. I really hate shopping places that do not treat their customers nicely. Every customer that walks through the door should be greeted warmly and if they buy something it is proper to say thank you:)
I agree completely. I often feel like I am disrupting the employee's "fun" time when I try to ask a question or purchase something! Where will you have Thanksgiving this year?
ReplyDeleteThis is precisely why I shop online now. For the most part I get good service without the hassle of lineups, or poor customer service.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it's the little things that grow a business.
ReplyDeleteHello......I agree.....no smiles, no hi, how are you, so so sad,....Blessings Francine.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's why we love our small town. Even our McDonald's is friendly. And it's always nice to go to the hardware store, local cafe, water company, bank, vet office... Hard to find now I'm afraid :-(.
ReplyDeleteTimes have changed. I was in Bed Bath & Beyond the other day and the cashier couldn't make change because her machine didn't tell her how much to give me back. Can you believe it?
ReplyDeleteI was in retail for over 10 years ans always greeted my customers with a smile and a hello or can I help you . Some customers came in with a look to kill but I always changed that from a frown to a smile by the time they left . I know what you mean I often say some thing to them , that was when I moved from the country to the city when I was a young adult but here in the country towns and village stores they are all so happy to serve you and so friendly . That's why I prefer the small towns for shopping and the family owned and run Ma & Pa shops ! Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteCustomer service is what drives the industry...those small shops that won't or don't and the big ones that do the same will understand when they fail.
ReplyDeleteI hate walking into a small store and they act like it's a imposition to even look up, most times I will then just walk out without purchasing after a few minutes.
Jen
I definitely like shopping better during the day when there are more mature people working. Most of them definitely have better customer service skills. The store managers would have a fit if they knew how their employees were treating the customers.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I see that here, too, as well as the opposite - a clerk that follows customers around the store, chatting a mile a minute like she hasn't seen a customer for a year. It was enough to drive me out of the store.
ReplyDeleteThat is simply not being cranky, but expecting a proper courteous service... it never takes much to engage a customer, and that is what grows a business.. the assistants who stand around talking, should be remarked on to the Manager.. My mother used to call for the manager if she did not get good service. She had worked all her life in shops, and would not stand for poor service, and rightly so.. We are all too afraid to make a scene, but sometimes that is just what is needed!! Good on you I say!!
ReplyDeleteWe were disCUSSing the same thing yesterday. Wait people that are rude and still think you OWE them a tip for their "service" (don't eat yellow snow girl). I went into a local bank (we're changing banks (Whole other story) ) and waited at the reception desk for five minutes (I know that was stupid) while the clerk twirled her hair and discussed a night out with a friend. The least she could have done was acknowledge me. Finally another girl came and asked what I needed and she said I'd have to talk to the "phone talker" and make an appointed. Do I need these people taking my money? I don't think so!
ReplyDeleteWe have a great car/truck dealership though.....the sales guy even bought us lunch ;)
Since I am older now I can see this happening more. You should have walked out of the dealership, how could salesmen pass up customer? linda
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree completely that all store personnel should give good service, I think it is wrong to generalize from one place to another or even from one clerk to another. Now, if the bad service takes place by the store owner or in front of the owner, that might be the kiss of death for me, as far as me being a customer. If the bad service is repeated by a particular employee, I might consider telling the owner/manager. On the other hand, we might all get better service if we thank and praise people waiting on us with great service. Should we have to do this? I suppose not, but why not show appreciation when appropriate? Maybe we could also do so in front of the employees who are lacking in skills. I just bought a TV from a large chain store. I was happy with my interaction with the clerk, so I went out of my way to say an extra thank you. I've had numerous interactions with the customer service people at AT&T for my cell phone as well as Century Link for my land line. Can you imagine what these customer service people have to put up with? But I've been extremely happy with my contact with AT&T and I always give them an extra round of thanks and praise. I hope I make their day, because if they do their jobs well, that saves me a lot of headache and sometimes money. OTOH, I had to call Century Link 10 times over the course of 8 days to get my phone service set up the way I wanted it. The people were nice and kind to me, but 9 of them, it turned out, didn't know what they were talking about. They gave "good service" but it was wrong service.
ReplyDeleteLiving on the East Coast, where we're known to be notoriously rude, I've encountered such responses as yours. It's why when I was a principal I told everyone that they must be courteous at all times. I reviewed with my secretary that when someone arrived, her work needed to stop, and the visitor would be greeted with a friendly, "Good morning, may I help you?" Phones needed to be answered promptly with a friendly voice and an offer to help. Flies...honey... it really does work!
ReplyDeletePeace,
Muff
I cracked up at your post... not because it was funny, but because we went car shopping yesterday and walked out of the dealership! Mr. Dreamy actually stood at the 'Help Desk' (where no one was sitting) and called the Dealership to ask for help!! He told them he wanted to buy a car... someone (I think the phone operator) finally came over and took us to a salesman. He was on the phone. He never even looked at us. He never excused himself from the call to let us know he'd be happy to help us in a minute. No one even suggested we sit down. We had much nicer treatment at a dealership in the next town. We will be doing business with them!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that some places have stepped up customer service, especially as the economy has tanked. One would think that would be a priority with the managers of other places.
Similar things have happened to me many times. Customer service is a dying art.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest pet peeve are the clerks that don't say thank you. Why is that not being taught when they are trained for their job? I think they forget that if their place of business did not have customers, then they wouldn't have a job!
ReplyDeleteE in MN
I don't like shopping. Maybe this is why. I agree the service is completely lacking. It's not the business owner you deal with now. It's somebody they hire for next to nothing and that's the type of service they deliver.
ReplyDeleteFor all small businesses that start, one year later 50% have failed.
Small businesses should take note. Even Walmart has greeters~~~ As you, I will not tolerate rudeness when I'm willing to part with my hard earned dollars!!
ReplyDeleteYup. Agree with your whole post. It's true for the box stores, too. I've had cashiers that couldn't stop their conversation while I was checking out.
ReplyDeleteI often use the 'tell us about your experience' portion of the sales receipt if it has a web site.
Have a better weekend!
i completely, completely agree.
ReplyDeleteSure, I have experienced poor customer service, but I think I've experienced far more good customer service than poor. Doesn't matter the size of the store.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely though, poor customer service deserves to be 'rewarded' with no money spent there.
I think I leave a store more disturbed from the feeling that I'm invisible than from rudeness. I get a healthy little indignation when someone is rude to me, but feeling as if a salesperson looks right through me can be demoralizing, which is silly to let it, I guess.
ReplyDeleteDewena: Yes it can be demoralizing, but we always need to remember, we are fine. It is the bad clerk who is at fault. Someone needs to train that person or fire that person. And that person also needs to then get emotionally rewarded when doing a good job.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, and it is important to look that salesperson in the eye so they won't feel invisible. And so rewarding when you treat them like a person and see them glow.
DeleteI HEAR YOU! And the big box stores are just as bad. The heating element went out of our hot water heater...we were having a hard time getting help with the purchase of a small part that goes with the heating element....everyone was extremely busy doing nothing...standing around chatting, walking by and trying not to see you...then at Sam's Club well....you know the rest of the story.
ReplyDeleteIt's a rather sad world today where customer service is concerned!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
I would go in to buy aquarium fish and if I didn't get help after fifteen minutes, I was gone. I don't understand who trains the help but someone should teach them the company is trying to sell things and customers need to be encouraged, not taken for granted.
ReplyDeleteI hate shopping too unless I get good service!
ReplyDeleteYou'd think jobs were a dime a dozen these days!
ReplyDelete