How is this for service?

Most of the time, I receive at the very least adequate service when I shop (either for real or assignments). Today was an exception.

My cashier said two words to me, "This it?" She did not speak again. She thrust a crumbled receipt and coins in my hand and threw my bag in my cart. Yes, she seriously chucked the bag in the cart.

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We were not greeted by a hostess who did not speak. She looked at us, grabbed two menus, led the way to a table, placed the menus on the table, and left. Seriously! I actually wondered if she was speech impaired.

I once did a warehouse type shopping place and the greeter (who needed to be evaluated) said as I entered, hey, how ya doin? no more, he remimnded me of Gomer Pile.....this was for Bestmark, and I never did another. They wanted to disagree with me and insisted I give more, no more to give, sorry.

Live consciously....

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> They wanted to disagree with me and insisted I give more, no more to give,
> sorry.

I had that once with Service Sleuth. "Please give more detail of your interaction with the associate.'

There was no interaction. Associates played video games, customers took care of themselves. Questions were answered with grunts.

After only being a MS for a few months it's pretty obvious that many if not most employees fall far short of their employers expectations. Of course I could have guessed that by just being a customer but when you fill the reports you see the true lack of performance vs expectation.

I disagree, so many jobs I do exceed my expectations. I recently did Best Buy (T.V.) and really learned alot. The guy was so great...and this happens to me more than not. I guess it depends on where you shop, but I think 75% are more than terrific and 20% fall under the scale, and 5% are "not there".

Live consciously....

Some of the best buy employees were over the top wonderful with info on cameras, computers, tvs, and then there are some who you had to lead them and practically pull the words out of their mouth.

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> I disagree, so many jobs I do exceed my
> expectations. I recently did Best Buy (T.V.) and
> really learned alot. The guy was so great...and
> this happens to me more than not. I guess it
> depends on where you shop, but I think 75% are
> more than terrific and 20% fall under the scale,
> and 5% are "not there".

I've also done a few TV shops recently and while the salespeople were enthusiastic and knowledgeable they didn't come close to actually following the guidelines as laid out in the questionnaire. They are probably successful at what they do but they were not doing it the way company wanted.

I guess they didn't make eye contact...lol.

Live consciously....

Shops and real life truly run the gamut for service. It is frankly a mystery to me, with unemployment numbers where they are, how some of these folks can hold onto a job! A recent banking experience showed me just how inept the teller was at finding anything on her computer. She was not new, I have seen her there for months. Or someone working in 'electronics' who knows absolutely nothing about cameras except what I can read for myself off the sign. Or in a predominantly English speaking neighborhood an employee who can neither understand a question in English nor provide an answer because of a lack of English. On the other hand it gives me the heebie geebies when an employee follows me around the store giving me a blurb on everything I pause to look at. That happened at a 'real life' store visit the other day and I departed quickly only purchasing the one item I came in for.

A recent dinner shop at an authentic Italian restaurant was pure joy. The restaurant was spic and span, including the restrooms. The menus were absolutely like new. (I have a thing about grungy menus, even with only a speck of sticky, smudgy residue.)

Service, staff and timeliness, was spot on. The manager was gracious and actually enjoyed herself. When she called my husband "paisano", she came across as genuine.

Nothing on the menu had been frozen or canned. This was a low-mid priced hole in the wall place. If not for mystery shopping, I would never have even seen it.

Mert, I love when that happens, and yes, MSing is a great way to explore and discover new places...that's the joy in this. I get great service at my BJs, especially in my town, they know me and really work to please, the Manager always comes to the table and asks how everything is and is very visible, in this economy they don't need coupons or cutting back, the good ones remain.

Live consciously....

Best Buy: Those employees likely work on commission, so of course they are more engaged than others who do not.

But I am rather disturbed and very angry at the numb behavior of many cashiers who ring up sales and expect you to look at the register for the amount due. Many speak in almost sub audible, mechanical tones of voice devoid of any enthusiasm.

This younger generation has been so numbed out and dumbed down by communicating via technology that they barely can communicate verbally anymore. It is quite scary if not sad to see this occuring more frequently.

Thank God for the happy employees of Trader Joe's at least!!!

I just did a TV shop at HH Gregg. It was great! I spent over an hour with the same guy and I thought he did a good job explaining the different TV's. I felt like I had been in school after I got done! I really wanted one of them! LOL I was to get a card from him (to prove I was at right place) and I asked but he said he was out. I ended up leaving without the card but had to have A card from there no matter what to get paid. So I took my husband with me the next day so it would look like I was showing him. I really did want him to see them. Gosh, we spent almost another hr with the Same guy! The 3-D TV was super! My husband picked up a card for me.

I used to love doing the Best Buy Shops. Their sales staff aren't on commission. I'm sorry the shop company doesn't seem to have them any more. I love it when the employees do well and have learned about great places that I now give my business.

I have had a few employees that need more training as my server and try to factually list the specifics of items not provided but I have never had one fail to do "everything" during a shop.

In real life I was in a fast food restaurant where the counter person had a melt down and verbally abused a customer who returned abuse. The manager came out from the back to take care the customer, but the counter person was still fuming when I got up there. I said, "You seem to be having a bad day." She really vented, but wasn't abusive to me. When she was a bit calmer I said, "Your job would totally be better if there were no customers, wouldn't it?" She didn't get it but every other employee and all the customers laughed, she thought for a minute, gave me a twinkling smile and said, "Yep"

Everyone has a bad day sometime and I hope I'm not the cause.

Best Buy is not on commission. I asked the guy that was helping me, saying I wanted to return to buy from him, is he commissioned, and he said no.

Trader Joes is a delight, almost too good to be true. We can't forget their human, just like us having a bad shopping day, they have there problems as well., but if we catch them on a bad day, oh well....trouble city.

I did a very negative report on a great place. The Barrista was having a horrific, day, place was dirty and I reported it all. They accepted the report, and I hope he is talked to, but doesn't get in trouble.

Live consciously....

Oh my yes, if the companies want the most from having their locations shopped, they should be training people not demoralizing them or letting them go. From the bottom line view, it is cheaper to train an employee, if it is a training problem. Most people want to do a good job if someone will just tell them how.

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