We Spend a Lot of Money for Poor Service!

We willingly spend a lot of money for poor service. Several months ago I visited a well-known department store; I was looking for a piece of jewelry for my wife. I walked through the front door of the store, and no one greeted me. As a matter of fact, there were no store-employees in sight. I walked by the women’s clothing area and saw no one. I continued down the aisle near the first jewelry counter; still no employees in sight. I walked to the second jewelry counter and stood there for a few minutes when I noticed two employees at the nearby, third jewelry counter. The employees continued to talk and never looked up to greet me or offer assistance. I walked back and forth for several minutes before I noticed a third employee getting ready to step onto the escalator to go to the second level of the store. Thank God she made eye contact and asked if I needed help. By then I was furious and was getting ready to leave the store. I explained to her that I had been walking back and forth at the two counters viewing the items as I wanted to buy a birthday gift for my wife.  I said to her, “I have a pocket full of money and I’m about to walk out of the door.”

Actually, I had no money in my pockets, just credit cards. But that was beside the point. I said, “is this the type of service you folks provide!”  She looked at me as if she had heard that phrase before. Fortunately, she was a supervisor as she apologized and offered to give me a discount on my purchase. By now our conversation has gotten the attention of the other employees; one came over and offered assistance. I lit into her explaining what poor customer service she had provided, or in my case not provided. I explained that not only did she lose a sale but possibly a customer.

Like many of you, I’m fed up with service that is akin to the type of treatment you would likely receive from a cook at a minimum security correctional facility. We work hard for our money and when we go out to spend some of it, we want to be treated with decency and respect. We want merchants and their employees to roll out the proverbial red carpet. Not because we are special, but because we deserve the best service that money can buy.

You deserve more, we deserve more! We spend a lot of money for poor service, and I’m fed up with it! No longer will I sit idly by and allow sales people to get away with offering me mediocre service. I’m going to let them know when the food and service is bad and when the attitude is poor. I’m going to fill out that survey, and I’m going to inform their managers, and I’m going to write letters to their headquarters. Will you join me?