Crappy Customer Service - Tell Me Your Stories

[The Mean Lady 604]

When I was in Hong Kong, the customer service was impeccable. You have to look no further than that to get ideas.

Thanks! All of this is really great for me to research on!

[SAT 9,609]

Oh btw, for niki, Costco had the happiest work force, highest pay, and best benefits of the group in that report I read. I can't remember the name or author. But if you wanna continue in retail, Costco may suit you.

[NikLR 13,227]

Point being... people need to raise their children to want to help and be productive people.

You will not find very good customer service at a place like Walmart after 4pm. Also it's Walmart. Really? You expect the person who has to work 2 jobs to pay rent because they make minimum wage at Walmart to care? LAWL! Costco has a happy work force because they pay well and give good benefits. They're not open on holidays and have fixed hours. Even their stocking crews are paid the extra $$ to be working the odd hours. Costco is also generally self help until you get to the till. My mom enjoyed working for Safeway for 25 years. People would purposely line up at her till when others were open because of the good customer service. I had 10 random people tell me the day I left my job that I wasn't allowed to leave. Along with people who knew my ex's family say I was the best customer service they'd ever had. The hardest part was trying to adhere to the company and store policy while giving good customer service. I do not envy the people at customer service at all. They have a VERY hard job and deal with miserable SOBs all day.

People do not get on the job training in stores anymore. When I started at Staples, 10 years ago, I had to spend the first day doing computer learning. Then I spent the first week following someone learning to do my job. When people started under me at Canadian Tire, I showed them the mere basics and they could follow me around for a couple days if they chose to. Otherwise, go figure it out. People are not smart enough to figure sh*t out. Everything is done for us. We have a computer we can look up anything, instantly. We have cell phones where everyone can get in touch with everyone, instantly. We're instant gratification. Everything is replaceable and disposable. There are plenty of books on why it's bad for the world to have this mentality.

People use stores to see products to shop online when they get home or to use products then return them and then proceed to complain when the rules for returning anything is limited.

On a side note: Returning underwear? seriously? Who the #### returns underwear? That's gross. I don't care if you didn't wear it, someone might wear underwear, with the tag on, and try to return it. Yuck. I agree with the store policy to not return underwear, EVER. I get grossed out enough trying to find a swim suit. All underwear and swim suits for me get washed ASAP at home before I ever wear them. UGH...

[NikLR 13,227]

Had to add this:

[The Mean Lady 604]

Point being... people need to raise their children to want to help and be productive people.

You will not find very good customer service at a place like Walmart after 4pm. Also it's Walmart. Really? You expect the person who has to work 2 jobs to pay rent because they make minimum wage at Walmart to care? LAWL! Costco has a happy work force because they pay well and give good benefits. They're not open on holidays and have fixed hours. Even their stocking crews are paid the extra $$ to be working the odd hours. Costco is also generally self help until you get to the till. My mom enjoyed working for Safeway for 25 years. People would purposely line up at her till when others were open because of the good customer service. I had 10 random people tell me the day I left my job that I wasn't allowed to leave. Along with people who knew my ex's family say I was the best customer service they'd ever had. The hardest part was trying to adhere to the company and store policy while giving good customer service. I do not envy the people at customer service at all. They have a VERY hard job and deal with miserable SOBs all day.

People do not get on the job training in stores anymore. When I started at Staples, 10 years ago, I had to spend the first day doing computer learning. Then I spent the first week following someone learning to do my job. When people started under me at Canadian Tire, I showed them the mere basics and they could follow me around for a couple days if they chose to. Otherwise, go figure it out. People are not smart enough to figure sh*t out. Everything is done for us. We have a computer we can look up anything, instantly. We have cell phones where everyone can get in touch with everyone, instantly. We're instant gratification. Everything is replaceable and disposable. There are plenty of books on why it's bad for the world to have this mentality.

People use stores to see products to shop online when they get home or to use products then return them and then proceed to complain when the rules for returning anything is limited.

On a side note: Returning underwear? seriously? Who the #### returns underwear? That's gross. I don't care if you didn't wear it, someone might wear underwear, with the tag on, and try to return it. Yuck. I agree with the store policy to not return underwear, EVER. I get grossed out enough trying to find a swim suit. All underwear and swim suits for me get washed ASAP at home before I ever wear them. UGH...

The policy had nothing to do with the fact that it was underwear.

They wanted a receipt.

My sister bought me a pair that was an XL in my stocking.

I am not an XL, I just wanted to exchange it for the correct size but they wouldn't do it w/o a receipt.

They told me I could return it for the lowest sales price which was like $3 bucks and go rebuy it but it was now $10.

So they would have done nothing but take take money from my sister and keep their product.

Idk if you're on the rag today or what but if you don't agree with what I'm doing, I don't care, just don't post.

The whole point is to say WHY training is effective and what it offers customers.

You're acting as if I'm some snobby person that needs everyone to cater to my needs when I've, in fact, been on the customer serving end for 14 years now.

Just because it's walmart doesn't mean it's above helping people.

In fact, one of the stories in my book gives praise to one of the BEST experiences I've ever had with someone and that is AT a walmart.

That lady was beyond awesome and caring and went above and beyond the call of duty when their store lost something I had on hold.

She literally crawled over boxes in the back room looking for another box to bring to us.

I don't see how me writing a book about how effective good customer service can be can rile you up so much.

[NikLR 13,227]

I agree that training should be better! I don't disagree with you at all. I can see why you're getting that impression, but it's not what I'm trying to say. I fully, absolutely, totally, agree that it's lacking. I think part of the problem is the way people are raised. The other part is store policy, which is put into place because of customers who abuse a system, but I know exactly how frustrating it is.

I don't think it's a bad idea as there are books out there on how to improve customer service which stores should put to use, along with much better training procedures. Maybe when all the stores are almost gone because everyone shops online and is tired of bad customer, they'll figure it out?

I'm typing because it's pissing rain, I'm in a city I don't want to be in, I don't want to watch TV, and I'm bored. No other reason. However if it bothers you enough to think I'm on the rag (rofl) and tell me to stop posting because we're having a discussion about both sides of the fence in retail then have a nice day and I'll butt out.

[SAT 9,609]

Ok ok......2 of my closest friends here should not start to bicker.....

Kdh, yell at me, go nuts.....

Niki, I know what you're saying.....

[The Mean Lady 604]

I agree that training should be better! I don't disagree with you at all. I can see why you're getting that impression, but it's not what I'm trying to say. I fully, absolutely, totally, agree that it's lacking. I think part of the problem is the way people are raised. The other part is store policy, which is put into place because of customers who abuse a system, but I know exactly how frustrating it is.

I don't think it's a bad idea as there are books out there on how to improve customer service which stores should put to use, along with much better training procedures. Maybe when all the stores are almost gone because everyone shops online and is tired of bad customer, they'll figure it out?

I'm typing because it's pissing rain, I'm in a city I don't want to be in, I don't want to watch TV, and I'm bored. No other reason. However if it bothers you enough to think I'm on the rag (rofl) and tell me to stop posting because we're having a discussion about both sides of the fence in retail then have a nice day and I'll butt out.

I just felt like you were coming at me for trying to write something productive.

Basically telling me my efforts are worthless, more or less.

I agree, yesterday, the experience I had buy (1) fricking box of ziplocks made me want to pay more to buy the stupid things online where someone wasn't arguing with me over the price I saw on the shelf.

And mind you, I was wrong in this situation as far as the price on the shelf.

Someone had moved the box over and I READ THE TAG and I saw 40ct Freezer Bg 3.28 and I was like SWEET KILLER DEAL! I just didn't notice it said GV before that (great value) and these were the ziplock brand.

But the girl was like 'i'm sure someone just set it in the wrong place' and i'm like 'uhm, i swear, i read the tag' and then she kept trying to look in the flyer for a sale and i'm sitting there starting to shout now IT ISNT ON SALE! IT WAS JUST ON THE NORMAL TAG!

Finally I took the box and started to walk away and she calls after 'Oh! I can call back and have someone look for you' and it's like, no, at this point, you've been arguing with me for 2 minutes and I could have walked my butt back there and looked myself. Which is what I decided to do.

I'm not mad at her, I'm mad that someone hasn't taught them how to handle a situation like that.

I told her right away it wasn't in the flyer (so don't fricking look) yet she kept trying.

She should have immediately called back for someone to check on the price not made excuses on why I was wrong about the price when I am insisting that I read the tag to make sure it was right.

I didn't expect her to just change the price for me, just not to give me 50 reasons why I was wrong and continue to look through a flyer for a sale that I told her didn't exist

Also, I don't want to fight with you Niki, that was all very awkward for me.

Edited June 2, 2013 by KDH

[The Mean Lady 604]

dbl post

Edited June 2, 2013 by KDH

[SAT 9,609]

Fight with me

[The Mean Lady 604]

I don't like to fight here at all.

I have a history in forums and it isn't for being a nice person and it isn't on nice forums with rules.

I have to really bite my tongue (or my fingers) here to keep myself from getting in trouble.

I have a very small amount of toleration for stupidity (not referring to anything in this thread) so I'm constantly having to tell myself 'don't respond the way you want, just walk away'

[SAT 9,609]

Remember I said at the beginning of " the rant reloaded" that it's difficult to detec tonality when words are typed?

Perception is a powerful sense.

I don't think niki's intent was to come at you.

That's my perception.

Now yell at me all you want lol

[SAT 9,609]

I bite my tongue all the time holding back my wise azz comments my humor is wasted

[NikLR 13,227]

I bite my tongue all the time holding back my wise azz comments my humor is wasted

nah it's just wasted on those who cannot appreciate a good comment.