Last year I made it a point to start insisting on a higher level of customer service from businesses I patronized. This required me to follow up when my expected level of customer service was not received and be willing to stop doing business with companies that did not address my customer service complaints in a proper manner.
This practice caused me to stop doing business with two stores. Unfortunately both stores were small business owned. I prefer to give the small business owner my dollar but in both situations the customer service was horrible. You would expect a small business to place more emphasis on customer service. Both businesses were unique to the area in the sense that they were the only local store to offer their products/services. One was a cigar shop and the other was a saltwater aquarium shop. I often wonder if this played a part in their lack of highlighting customer service.
From this point on I will use my blog to spread the word regarding bad customer service experiences. In fairness to companies I will first give them the opportunity to address my concerns as one local grocery store recently did in a timely manner.
If you experience poor customer service please empower yourself via communication with the powers that be. Address your concerns to the owner of a store or the corporate office of a company and feel the since of liberation that comes with being heard.
This practice caused me to stop doing business with two stores. Unfortunately both stores were small business owned. I prefer to give the small business owner my dollar but in both situations the customer service was horrible. You would expect a small business to place more emphasis on customer service. Both businesses were unique to the area in the sense that they were the only local store to offer their products/services. One was a cigar shop and the other was a saltwater aquarium shop. I often wonder if this played a part in their lack of highlighting customer service.
From this point on I will use my blog to spread the word regarding bad customer service experiences. In fairness to companies I will first give them the opportunity to address my concerns as one local grocery store recently did in a timely manner.
If you experience poor customer service please empower yourself via communication with the powers that be. Address your concerns to the owner of a store or the corporate office of a company and feel the since of liberation that comes with being heard.
3 comments:
Bro. I couldn't agree more. Sally and I are always trying to support the local joints-the corner bodega for small items instead of A&P, the pizza joint around the corner as opposed to the chain down the block, even the mart for our fruits and veggies as opposed to the big grocery. So the local corner store/bodega is a really alright place. The guy who works there on Saturday mornings is real stand-up cool guy, clearly works hard. We made it a point to get breakfast from there rather than in the city. But, when we go there during the week and nights the owner (a diff. guy) is rude. Really makes us reconsider.
I know that it is good for the economy to have big businesses providing jobs, but what gets lost there is the customer service and somebody knowing your name. YOu find that the employees in these big groceries are filled with apathetic employees who are kids just trying to make a buck or adults who feel they have been shafted in life. Rarely do you meet somebody who really enjoys doing their best. And that is really unfortunate, there are few qualities so endearing as the guy/girl who no matter the position does their best. Somebody caring really justifies a higher process to an extent. I know I am rambling, but my main point is that it's simple business 101. These local stores pass on higher prices to the consumers and therefore need to be giving the consumers either a better product (which they usually are not) or better customer service.
Another thing to consider though is that if the people who own these local joints live in your community they are really helping the economy of your little cohort as well. Another good reason to support.
Good point bro! A director at my job tried to tell me to keep going to the cigar shop because the rude dude wasnt the owner. He said he knew the owner and that dude was a distant cousin that he let run the shop. My response to him was , "that sucks for the owner because his cousin is costing him $$$"
you have a point. it's on the owner to make sure the folks working there are representing his brand properly.
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