electronics
Most of us are creatures of habit. My wife and I enjoy going to our local Rite Aid because Dolly, a cashier, is always so pleasant. All the major retailers talk the customer service talk, but most of us know it is just talk. Too many store associates have time to talk with each other, but can't acknowledge their customers. People like Dolly are rare. When Lily and I find someone like her we always find a reason to go back. Walgreens seems to have thought out their store locations better than the other Drug Stores. Have you noticed how easy they are to get in and out? Every Walgreens in our area, and there are several, is on a corner. That's smart, but when we go into the stores in our neighborhood no one seems to notice us. I'm not expecting someone to ask me to recite the Gettysburg Address, just notice us with eye contact, a smile or even a hello would be nice. That being said, we'll stick with Dolly.
I enjoy strolling through Best Buy, but I always remember the 15% restocking fee my brother-in-law David had to pay when he returned an item. I also think about the young woman who pretended to know about video cards, but clearly didn't. Why did she have to pretend?
Office Max, Office Depot and Staples seem very much alike. I made three straight Monday visits to our local Office Max, only to find out they did not have the front page item I was looking for. I don't go there anymore. I have also encountered raincheck issues with Best Buy, but not on a Monday. I am pretty confidant if I can't get to Staples or Office Depot till Wednesday they will still have the Ad item I am looking for.
fast food
At least twice a month we go to one of our local fast food drive-ins. We usually go to a different one each week. We stopped going to Carl's because too many times we had to go back because our order was not complete. McDonald's seems to do the best job of always filling our order properly and giving us napkins, even though I like their food least, except for their fries. I don't know which chain is really better than the other, but Lily and I have our preferences for our local market. We go where we go based on our experience, not who has the cutest commercial.
The other day Lily gave our McDonald's at the 99 and Albertson's a coupon for a free moca. The coupon said large because that is what we had been buying. When the lady brought a small moca Lily showed her the coupon and she said no, you're getting a small moca. We certainly don't represent many sales so they won't miss us, but we won't go back to that McDonald's.
Speaking of what should be common sense, how come the restaurant hostess does not understand that large people are not as comfortable in a booth as they are at a table? Is that rocket science? I know the servers have their own areas, but that simply means the server is more important than the customer.
You don't know how good an insurance company is till you deal with one. A young man ran a red light last year and totaled our car. A few days after the accident we received eight letters from lawyers offering their service. I only wanted my car replaced and my medical bills paid. I didn't want to take advantage of anyone and I still don't, so I thought why get a lawyer. I learned two important things. I want nothing to do with Progressive Insurance and if something like that ever happens again I will get a lawyer, not to take advantage of the situation, but to make sure they don't take advantage of me.
It has been a great surprise to discover better customer service on line than in stores. I have had to return items to Newegg and Amazon. With both of these vendors it was painless. They even paid the shipping back. With Amazon I received my replacement item even before I had returned the defective item! If you don't mind waiting a few days they have been a great resource for me.
I have read negative things about Fry's, but I have never had a problem with purchases or computer repairs. Sometimes it is hard to get help when they are busy, but even then I usually get a "I'll be right back as soon as I finish with this other customer." Isn't that all we want? We just want to know they will get to us as soon as they can.
Long lines don't bother me when all the registers are open. When a store has ten or more registers and only four are open with long lines that is poor management. Instead of spending money on those '3 or more' signs spend it on more salary dollars to hire folks who like folks.
I am sure someone can train a pit bull to give good customer service, but it takes time and money that most retailers don't have. Wouldn't it be easier to hire folks who like folks? If management will just pay attention and watch that new hire the first few days they will know very quickly if that person is right for customer service.
Do you want that person representing you? If not, in the very beginning, tell them it is a bad match and spend your money on someone friendly. The person you hire does not have to be a gushy smiley person, just someone who can make eye contact and sincerely try to help your customers.
Personally, I don't care if the person you hire has one eye in the middle of their forehead and you throw raw meat at 'em ... as long as they look me in the eye with their one eye and be kind and gracious.
McCann's is a local store that I really like. Click the link above.
