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glitch25I feel like I'm running around in circles here.
I am usually reasonably patient with customer service issues as they relate to the food service industry. I've done my time and recognize that there is a lot of backstory to "the service sucked". That isn't to say the customer should be left hanging nor that it is appropriate to not to the best one can, but there are extenuating circumstances that I can appreciate, and accordingly, I try and be open-minded about it.
However, there are two situations that I faced this week that I don't really jive with when it comes to customer service.
One is not answering your business phone in a timely manner. I can appreciate being busy, I can appreciate being stuck on the phone, but there comes a point where you should call a time-out, and at least ask the new caller if they'd like to hold, so that you can continue whatever urgent business you were doing that merited not answering what ought be on of your business' life-lines.
The other is ignoring me at your counter (or for that matter, not keeping your counter staffed well enough to notice walk-up customers). When I'm standing at your counter, it means that in all likelihood, I want to give you money for your product. I'm not going to ask if you want to buy my Amway or ask you if I can share a special message of the saving grace of our lord and savior Jeebus Krihst. So if you see me standing there, take my f'in order. If you don't take the orders and you just happen to be up-front cleaning or doing something else, CALL SOMEONE to come take my order. Don't just turn away from me and pretend I'm not there. And if you aren't keeping your counter well staffed and you peek your head out and see me, don't tell me you'll be right back, and then go back to what you were doing in the back in the apparent hopes that I'll leave.
I think this applies really to any service industry up to and including booths, band tables, and things of the like. Be mindful of the people who have money to spend. I'm not asking that you be great at what you do. I'm not even asking you to be nice. I'm just asking for you to do what it is your business does so that I can get what I want, and your business can get what it wants.
Failing to do those two things nets you pretty much one action on my part: not spending money on your business. Sometimes it might also net me mentioning to people that you suck, and while I expect them to only take it under advisement, bias counts when it comes to spending money.
So apparently I'm making my own burger this week. And writing a letter or two to a few managers to explain in a polite way how they are successfully working to lose my business. Ah well.
I am usually reasonably patient with customer service issues as they relate to the food service industry. I've done my time and recognize that there is a lot of backstory to "the service sucked". That isn't to say the customer should be left hanging nor that it is appropriate to not to the best one can, but there are extenuating circumstances that I can appreciate, and accordingly, I try and be open-minded about it.
However, there are two situations that I faced this week that I don't really jive with when it comes to customer service.
One is not answering your business phone in a timely manner. I can appreciate being busy, I can appreciate being stuck on the phone, but there comes a point where you should call a time-out, and at least ask the new caller if they'd like to hold, so that you can continue whatever urgent business you were doing that merited not answering what ought be on of your business' life-lines.
The other is ignoring me at your counter (or for that matter, not keeping your counter staffed well enough to notice walk-up customers). When I'm standing at your counter, it means that in all likelihood, I want to give you money for your product. I'm not going to ask if you want to buy my Amway or ask you if I can share a special message of the saving grace of our lord and savior Jeebus Krihst. So if you see me standing there, take my f'in order. If you don't take the orders and you just happen to be up-front cleaning or doing something else, CALL SOMEONE to come take my order. Don't just turn away from me and pretend I'm not there. And if you aren't keeping your counter well staffed and you peek your head out and see me, don't tell me you'll be right back, and then go back to what you were doing in the back in the apparent hopes that I'll leave.
I think this applies really to any service industry up to and including booths, band tables, and things of the like. Be mindful of the people who have money to spend. I'm not asking that you be great at what you do. I'm not even asking you to be nice. I'm just asking for you to do what it is your business does so that I can get what I want, and your business can get what it wants.
Failing to do those two things nets you pretty much one action on my part: not spending money on your business. Sometimes it might also net me mentioning to people that you suck, and while I expect them to only take it under advisement, bias counts when it comes to spending money.
So apparently I'm making my own burger this week. And writing a letter or two to a few managers to explain in a polite way how they are successfully working to lose my business. Ah well.