Customer service should transform to self service

Nice. So other than getting two for one, what was the cost of the chair? Makes you wonder how companies like that get as big as they do! Thanks for stopping by.

I think the funniest experience I had was at my area Walmart. I'd purchased a new patio set for my front deck and wanted a matching lounge chair. Found a box with the picture of the lounge chair I wanted, but lo and behold there was no price tag or sku. So flagged down a worker who sat rubbing his chin no less and couldn't decide what to do. He called up his manager. She spent 30 minutes on the computer trying to figure it out. Couldn't come up with anything. Finally decided to call the front service counter and they said they had no idea it was her department.

In the end, she took the sku from a similar chair and went with that. I got home, opened the box, and discovered that it was the shipping box with a set of pre-ticketed/priced chairs in it. I wasn't about to make another 80 mile trip, so we ended up with two chairs instead of one.

Well, to be fair and balanced there are examples of good service now and then. I've had great experiences at the local AZ DMV three times since I've moved here. And I actually got a great guy at the Verizon store last week, and was able to get a new Juke (they are much smaller than you think they are!) for less than full retail, even though my contract renewal was 7 months away. Don't tell however, they might charge me more money!

Thanks for your comments, Ginger.

Ugh, that reminds me of my latest retail pet peeve - employees that walk in front of you as you're carrying products. I have worked retail/food service jobs before, and in the places I worked, I would have been severely reprimanded for stepping in front of customers. Unfortunately, that seems to be considered normal and acceptable behavior in most places. Just yesterday, I was walking through the grocery store and carrying a large case of water toward the registers. As I was about to exit an aisle, two employees stepped in front of me and proceeded to hold a conversation as I stood there wanting to pass. I finally had to excuse myself and push through, as it was getting kind of heavy by that point and I was in a hurry.

Thanks for reminding me how irritating "customer service" can be :)

Ah, Ginger. Thanks so much for adding this comment. I see this ALL THE EFFING TIME!! And I think to myself, "Who the hell raised you?" But more importantly, do they even have a remote clue as to what they are doing when they are at work? Where they are? Where the PAYING customers are? As you said, "UGH!"

"leaving with my pride" concept. A few months ago, I went into that same Office Max to get a new adjustable foot rest. Granted it was about 5 minutes before their posted closing time, and as I was walking in I could see that I was pissing off the customer service person that had come out to lock the doors. But I knew exactly what I wanted, and when I went in, I asked explicitly for an adjustable foot rest for under my desk. Unfortunately, I happened to ask the dud that was trying to lock up, where I would find foot rests. "Uhm, we don't sell anything like that here." So, I left thinking even then what a screwed up "office" store. Later that week, I had to get some paper or something, and the Office Max was closer than the Wal-Mart so I went in. While I was there, what did I come across? An entire section of adjustable foot rests! So, yeah, I bought one, which I should never have done, however, I didn't want to wait for my next trip to Prescott (an hour away) or for however long it would take me to order one online.

Now, I just need to realize that I should plan ahead, anticipate things I may need and order them online ahead of time, or think to get them next time I am in a real town with real retail outlets. Go figure! Thanks for your comments Matt.

rofl, that sounds like an awful experience...haha, great vision in my head of what that box looked like...wow to them all looking like that; at least you left with your pride and didn't purchase that nonsense.