You want it when?

That's not my job.

from JoeUser Forums
What happened to good customer service?
It has become obsolete. It is very rare to get good customer service these days.
Every time I see a McDonald's commercial I want to sue for false advertisement! They don't care if I am "smiling" or not, as long as I have ordered my #7 no onions supersized with a Coke. They don't HAVE to care. How many people do you think will actually stop getting their #7's no onions supersized with a Coke, because of bad customer service? Or in other words, start going some place else and never returning to a McDonald's again? Same with all large companies. They don't have to give good customer service, when they have something everyone wants. Like AOL , Time warner, Verizon and Comcast, just to name a few. They will continue to have high prices, and say it's because of demand. That demand, in turn, will allow for bad customer service.
I work 10 hour days as a receptionist for a large scale commercial printer. I have no problem with my attitude, through out the day. Proudly, I have been complimented on it. And believe me, I do not have a perfect life. It's hard to leave it at home ALL the time. The difference, I know the people walking through the door, may want to spend money, I will treat them with respect. That money, is what pays me. Besides, they have lives and bad days too. Why not make their day and yours a little better? I have worked in customer service jobs ever since I was able to work. It's what I do best. I know it, that's why I do it! Do what your good at, right?
If it were only that simple! How many people are actually, truelly happy with what they do?
I blame our society. Everything has sped up. Computers got faster, cars got faster, higher speed limits, we got fast food, drive through everything from liquor to banks. When do we have time to slow down?
Same for customer service, gotta hurry you up, just to get to the next guy, to make that quick buck. It has gotten way out of hand. Big companies thrive off of this. We are in too much of a hurry to complain, and if we do, no problem, drop it in the box and someone (if anyone) will read it later. Or maybe, you tell a supervisor, who is younger than you, and a couple of days later you notice no difference in the performance. What do we do, nothing, except keep complaining to people who don't care about the consumers that patron their establishments. I for one, will keep on with my great customer service, with high hopes that it will catch back on.....like bell bottoms...
crazy lady
business
14,037 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well said. I was just thinking about the same thing the other day. Another thing that seems to be a thing of the past is people who don't know anything about the product or service they are selling or providing.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
One of the worst inventions is the automatic answer - press 1 to blah, blah, blah. I hate that. I just want to talk to a person. And then there are the companies that charge you to talk to a real person. It is ridiculous. I truly appreciate good service and I am going to try to make a point to speak up and thank those who actually take the time to be helpful. Yes, I think starting a movement towards more civility and politeness in this world would be a great thing.
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
you are correct in all of your observations, and there are a lot of people who share your frustrations... The closest things that we have to the ideal that you're looking for are small towns and companies that still put emphasis on treating the customer well. (like the one you work for, I hope )
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I know this comment is a little late, I had a hard time getting in to my articles. Hopefully all is well now!
I am so glad that I am not alone in this. I have definitely felt like I was for a while. No matter where I have gone
it's more of the same! It's even hard to find good service at the nicer restraunts! I am not asking for too much,
just a smiling face! : )
and yes imajinit, not just saying this, but the company I work for actually does care. Which is why I have continued
to work here... I was hired on through a temp service, and I hope they decide to keep me! It's looking good so far....
wish me luck!

Crazy Lady : )
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well. Chi-Chi's does pretty well usually with their customer satisfaction and so does umm.... Olive garden. I like both of those restaurants because of the friendly atmosphere.

Capt. over and out!
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was just thinking this! Yesterday I was buying a skirt and the two girls behind the counter were gossiping, complaining, and bitching about whatever and everything, about past customers, the slow debit machine (and I was about to pay with debit, I could imagine the daggers), everything. I left without saying a word because I'm introverted and because i was put off by their conversation, and one whispered to the other, "Wow, she's not very friendly." I turned around and looked at her and she seemed embarrassed in a righteous way. I'd like to believe that customer service starts with the service, not the customer.

On the flip side, while friendly is better, I hate the overly friendly, extroverts-ramming-conversation-down-the-introverts kind. I am far too introverted to enjoy chitchatting while waiting for a receipt to print. A smile and a "have a good day" is fine with me. Is that too much to ask for?

-T.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Too much? Never, I would never expect simple amounts of kindness to be to much! If I ever get a job again and I have to deal with people I'm gonna be one of those talk you to death with kindness kind of people. I'm just shocked that you think that the customer can't be the one to start the kindness. What if the cashier was having a horrible day and you just gave her a nasty look for saying you weren't nice. Maybe she wanted you to go up to her and talk as you paid for your skirt. Maybe then she'd be in a good enough mood to not gossip anymore and maybe, just maybe she would do the same kind thing for someone else. You could have started a great day for hundreds of people and you chose to walk away. I'm ashamed. But then again I guess we can't all be expected to care. I just always thought that customer service was a two way street.

Capt. over and out! ™
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Capt. Cornbread,
I have to admit Olive Garden is one of the few who always seems to have great waitstaff. They are always friendly!

Angloesque,
I have to admit something else, I am one of the people you talk about.....I usually try to make small talk while waiting with a customer. Usually just saying anything to get a smile from my customers....Nothing in the way of heavy conversation though.
I just can't stand that silence... you know the one. Most of my customers are waiting for someone and end up standing at my desk for several minutes. I try to get a sense of the customers mood and go from there.
smiles are contagious! :)
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
It must be a personality thing. I despise having to chat with people to fill a silence. I don't mind if it's significant conversation, such as "I'm sorry, the card scanner's running slow today. Is there anything else I can get you?" or even a complimentary "Wow, I love the color of this skirt you've picked" and I can say "that's okay" or "thank you" but I don't want a whole conversation. Those of you who are super sanquine won't understand that at all, but that's how it feels when someone's saying "So how have you been enjoying the sunshine?" All words leave my brain and I stutter, "Uh...right...I'll have a la- ...what?"

Capt Corn, go on and be ashamed. It just seems like ya'll are blaming the customer for the bad customer service. If I'm a customer, I want good service whether I'm bitchy (which I'm not--at worst I'm silent) or whether I've had a great time. And I didn't give her a nasty look. I just turned so that she knew I'd heard her. Don't infer things that aren't there.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ok. I'm gonna feel ashamed. And yes I am blaming the customer. If you aren't going to be a "good" customer than don't expect a "good" employee. You haven't noticed that when you just shut someone out that they tend to be less happy? I always feel like, if I'm shutting someone out that I'm not being a good customer and don't take this the wrong way. I don't prefer having someone talk to me when I'm trying to buy something but if they want to then by all means let em. Don't put someone down for trying to do their job right. The cashier you dislike just so happens to have a quality that the employer liked so then you'd also be putting the employer down and I'm not one to create such a large problem in public. It's mannerisms like talking back that makes good customer service not a "here you go now get out of here."

Capt. over and out! ™
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I get you, agloesque. I have a few customers that are the "silent" type. I don't mind, I myself have been in that kind of mood. Especially if I am in a sour mood, I hate to spread those moods around. I usually keep silent to avoid being contagious!
I just know a few of those that treat me horribly, no matter how well I treat them. You just can't please some people.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think your one of those people! I'm speaking generally.
I agree with the Capt. I believe the customers help set the tone. If you come in grumpy, and treat people as such, some people respond in bad ways! I am not perfect....I have gotten attitude with a customer or two....i have also learned to let most of it roll off my back.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I guess I should step back for a moment. I do think customers should be polite, and I do agree that they help set the tone. Regardless of them, however, I think the onus of customer service is on the one providing the service.

Secondary to that is my illustration of the bad customer service that pissed me off. I think no matter the kind of day the sales rep is having, a customer service representative should refrain from gossip, rolled eyes, and not acknowleging the customer except to say "sign here" and then stupidly insulting me when she thinks I'm out of earshot. That is bad customer service no matter what kind of customer I am.

I hope that clarifies things. Crazy lady, I understand you. Capt Corn, I gotta say, you really lost me on that employer thing. But whatever.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think you got the idea for the most part though so my work is done.

Capt. over and out!™