RPMDAD
Well-Known Member
Leave.
And why would you say that Mr. Grumpy Pants?
speaking of customer service
- Thread starter libby
- Start date
And why would you say that Mr. Grumpy Pants?
You also don't just hire any dip#### that rolls through the door, either. That makes a huge difference.
MarieB
New Member
As someone who has been in retail for a long time in many different states... Yes, SOMD does not have the best job applicants. You take the best of what applicants you get. GETTING applications can be difficult because people can't pass the tests incorporated in the application process. Once you do get someone hired, you really have no "threats" you can discipline them with....either they file a suit against you or just walk out the door when you write them up for something. The ones that DO manage to stick out a job for 6 months become the supervisors.
Any jobs dealing with customer service are considered 'toilet paper' jobs, not a career. Not many take any pride in doing a good job. They just don't care.
You mean those ridiculous online head assessments?
It used to be that you could walk into a place and sell yourself. Now you have to take a 45 minute assessment that for some places is complete bull####. Thank you HR
acommondisaster
Active Member
Those things are ridiculous - I watched my son try to fill one out - he's a hard working kind of guy that his managers are always happy to have, once he's hired. Polite, no tattoos or piercings, speaks fluent english, clearly, punctual and generally takes pride in his work. But he'd agonize at the "head tests" - "none of these answers fit, he'd say, and never get call backs. Worse yet, he'd fill out applications and the manager at places never seemed to be there, and when they were, they'd tell him they hadn't looked at his app, or they couldn't find it, or they'd call "soon". Poor managers have a lot to do with the type of service and employees in a store.
MarieB
New Member
Yep
I agree with the poor management part. in my experience, people are promoted to be managers who really shouldn't be in those positions at all and not just in retail.
HR and consulting agencies have really changed the business world from retail to blue collar to professional
And yes, there are a lot of really ####ty customers too
I've live / traveled and can second what Vrai said about the local "help".
Things I have often wanted to ask or say to a clerk or server;
1. Am I bothering you?
2. Did I interrupt something?
3. I apologize for asking you to do your job.
And some of the attitude is a result of the chain's management or I should say "bossing" practices.
But make no mistake, a lot of retail establishments have cut hours and pulled sales clerks off the floor to save money. In a lot of chains the local manager is under pressure to increase sales (which is hard to do in an economic depression). The "failure" of the company to meet targets is passed directly to the lowest paid worker. Treat your employees like crap and that's how they'll treat you customers.
Managers manage, they lead, they accept responsibility, they make decisions and accept the consequences. Bosses order people around and pass the blame on to their subordinates.
funny thing is studies have shown that people who use ATM / Debit cards spend more. It has something to do with knowing the cash you have on hand is all you have so you budget. Using plastic gives you the safety net of running to the closest machine and getting more cash.
MarieB
New Member
Very true
Why do you think retail establishments all have their own branded credit cards that they push
And you don't see any problems with this scenario?
That seems to be the new "golden rule". They don't want to and nobody makes them.
Same with me! I lived here in the mid-2000's and we had really great time. Now, I'm counting the days until I can leave this a-hole infested part of the country! I know there will be opposing arguments (no doubt from descendants of the 3-4 family names that settled here in colonial times) but this place sucks! People are rude, drivers are rude (and stuuuuupid), no customer service anywhere (except Chick-fil-A and the little old lady who works the self checkout at Lowes) and it just is not a place I want to stay and raise my kids.
ginwoman
Well-Known Member
I am sad to see the county get like this.
Lurk
Happy Creepy Ass Cracka
This is the mother who has conversations with family members who aren't there, right?
Good idea! We had excellent customer service at LaTolteca last night. The food is always good, their service is prompt, and courteous.
Lowes is one of the few places that improved customer service.
It use to be you could die of old age trying to get some help, but not now.
I know it's a marketing ploy, but the MyLowes thing is great, yes, it tracks your purchase. But I went in with a broken power tool. Didn't have the receipt, but thought it might be covered. Took less than 10 minutes to send me on my way with a brand new replacement - just looked it up. Returns have been totally hassle free, plant warranty was honored without a question.
Chick-fil-A's success starts with how the corporation selects their franchise owners and how they are trained. They in turn are careful when hiring.
Some of the other local businesses have turned it around. It use to be they felt they were doing you a favor, saving you a trip up the road. Prices were high, service was poor, attitude worse. Unless you "knew" someone.
RPMDAD
Well-Known Member
Just a quick observation, all of us here are very quick to point out bad customer service, however, no one on here ever starts a thread out with i just witnessed good customer service at this store or that store, or this restaurant or that restaurant. I don't think bad customer service is isolated to to the SOMD area and it never use to be, i think it is just an expansion of being connected to the Washington / Baltimore Metro areas. I do remember when most of this area was country and customer service was always pretty good. But we should all start threads or have one thread we add onto when we see and experience good customer service. PS moved to SOMD area full time in 1984 so still a newbie to the area. Worked at Pax in the 80's and early 90's.
People shout out to great businesses on here all the time. Service people, waitstaff, anyone who's gone the extra mile or been particularly pleasant to deal with. We just don't notice them because bad news always gets more attention.
I certainly agree that good customer service needs to be recognized. However, one or two nice employees, unfortunately, don't make up for the rest of the place being awful.
There are a few cashiers at the Callaway Food Lion who are always pleasant. They are also quick to scan your items, etc. I know that they are not the ones responsible for opening up a new register when there is a group chatting at the Customer Service desk and I don't blame them. It's management that has not emphasized to the deli, etc. that they are to stop everything for the customer that is standing in front of them.
Again, I have no real problem with treatment once it's my turn. It's the fact that I have to wait so darn long while there are clearly other employees who could help me.
I would say that for each grumpy cashier at any given retail establishment, there is another who is pleasant.