How About That Service??
mike writes
Is it just me, or are there others in our community who find it as difficult to receive good service as snapping a photo of Bigfoot at the boat basin?
I cannot recall the last time when I received good service in this town! Whether a retail store or a fast food chain, it’s always the same; no smile, no thank you, wrong orders, no “have a nice day”, no anything. It seems as if we the public are privileged to have these fine folks waiting on us, rather than these employees thankful that we are doing business with them!
continued in comments
Heck, I’m not the only one who just “let’s it go” when the order isn’t right for fear of someone _______________!?
This is our work force of the present and the near future! How are we going to entice outside industry to come to a town who has a workforce that is poorly eductated and doesn’t understand the most basics of customer service?
So what do we do? Here’s one suggestion my family has started. Every time you receive great service, tip that person. Whether it is your mechanic, a cashier, the guy cleaning the tables off; it really doesn’t matter. If you see someone with a smile on their face and they are doing everything possible to make sure you are satisfied with the job they are performing, slip them a couple of dollars!!
Just think what might happen to the person in the drive-thru who never smiles or makes eye contact with you when they see you hand a couple of bucks to the guy sweeping the parking lot or the employee who is working right next to them! It is obvious the owners of these establishments aren’t going to do anything to change the status quo, but it doesn’t mean we can’t try!!
Comment by mike — October 11, 2009 @ 1:14 amIn addition to offering a tip (I sometime tell them to keep the change), offer them a smile and a quick wit yourself. I may tell a frowning service person to “smile it makes the day go by better”. I almost always call people by their NAME (if on a nametag). People LOVE to hear their own name.
Now, I understand that we certainly have a problem with generation of workers in the workforce. Part problem is they are not trained properly nor do they have very well trained managers over them. The biggest problem is we have become a society that have had Unions, ACORN and other radical or socialistic minded organization demonizing the businesses that bring JOBS to our communities. They have told todays “work force” that they “deserve” more pay and “deserve” to work less INSTEAD of telling them the truth, which is work your butt off for your employer, be glad to have a job, help the business to succeed and you will earn a better wage for it. If you want to earn more than a service employee…then get better educated!
Comment by arkseven — October 11, 2009 @ 9:42 pmI agree: businesses do not train their employees as they should.
It seems that business owners and managers have forgotten the most important parts of making a successful business.
#1) Is customer satisfaction. The customer IS-NOT an interruption of what is taking place in their business, the customer is the reason for what ever is taking place in their business. Without loyal customers, they have no business.
Owners and managers forget that the person who has face-to-face; one-on-one contact with the customers, represents that business. That face the customer sees, is the face of the business itself. The attitude of the employee, is the official attitude of the business that the customer sees.
Fast food restaurants are among the very worst offenders. Not only is the counter people usually in a bad mood, the food is just slopped together by employees who do not care, their attitude seems to be that they are not the one having to eat it, so why should they care.
But to everyone who feels they never get a smile from clerks, cashiers, or waitresses. How often do you approach them with a pleasant smile; a good morning, or; good afternoon; or; hi, how are you today? How often do you say something pleasant that will draw a smile of chuckle from the person waiting on you?
Ninety percent of the time, I leave the person who was waiting on me, either with a big smile/grin, or laughing; and it only takes a few seconds, and a few words.
One last thing to think about:
The person who is waiting on you: What kind of day have they had. What kind of nasty folks with an arrogant attitude have they had to deal with in the last hour or so.
Let me assure you; if you had to deal with the public as most of these people do, there would be times when you would not have a smile on your face either, and you would appreciate a customer with a warm smile, and a friendly word.
Try approaching everyone with a smile and a friendly, kind word and see what starts coming back to you.
If you want good service from the waitresses in a restaurant; Then TIP-GOOD. For one person dining alone. A minimum of $3. or more. For two people, a minimum of $5. or more; and for each additional person in your party, a minimum of $2. each.
The reason I added this is because I have several friends who are waitresses, at several different restaurants.
Now: to everyone: have a wonderful day; and be blessed.
Comment by J. PAUL JACKSON — October 12, 2009 @ 12:37 amIt does seem now days that our business is not appreciated very much.What happened to manners,respect and caring about peoples feelings? Not only in restaurants,fast food,department stores.
It also happens in the medical field.I called my family doctor of several years last week because I was sick and was told he could not see me for nearly two weeks.He has told me before if I really needed to see him to let him know and he WOULD see me.I told his receptionist and nurse this but it did no good.I know doctors are busy but if they don’t have time to see you when you are sick???
There is always the E.R. but our insurance balks on that unless it is life threatening!Guess we have to grin and bear it.
Comment by Anita — October 14, 2009 @ 2:10 pmMike,
Comment by Country Lady — October 21, 2009 @ 7:06 amI would just like to take a moment and THANK you! There are so many people on here that post complaints and go on and on and on about what’s wrong and they hardly ever offer a solution. I appreciate so much your willingness to help find a solution to this problem - I believe it will work! There are so many times that people are just going through the motions in life and they never take the time to find solutions to problems that we see as everyday issues. I have been so encouraged by reading this post, and, once again, thank you!
I have a great solution. Give their job to someone who will at least speak to you when you go through their line and for heavens sake Get Off That Cell Phone. I feel like laying my stuff down and walking out. Now how about that suggestion?
Comment by Sweetjanice39897 — November 2, 2009 @ 6:42 pmi agree w the last post. who cares what they are going thru “emotionally”. I swear sometimes i think people in this town are touched in the head and not in a good way. THEY ARE AT WORK. you leave your personal business at home..and go to work to make a living for your family..for your children. COME ON!! i say if they hate their jobs so much get rid of em..and give the jobs to people around here who are struggling to find work. Let these rude folks sit at home and wonder how they will feed their children for a while. thatll show them. and i dont know about yall..but whenever i recieve bad..nasty attitude or service around here..i let them have it right back. it may not solve the problem..but they will dang sure see me coming if i ever return to that place of business. and i want them to dread it…:).
Comment by bonnie — November 4, 2009 @ 10:12 amI am a big believer in calling the “Tell Us How We Are Doing” lines. I call to report on excellence service, as well as bad service. Those people who get good calls get rewarded and it gives them positive reinforcement. Those who receive 3 bad calls are usually fired. People in the corporate office will not tolerate as much as an on-site manager. If someone repeatedly gives bad service they get rid of them PRONTO. I’m not sure of the local fast food policies, but I worked at an Arby’s while I was in college and we were rewarded with one extra hour’s worth of pay for every “Job Excellence” call we received. Usually, no one made it to their 3rd bad call - they were fired before that.
Comment by Country Lady — November 9, 2009 @ 9:02 am