Bad Service Needs to Be Flushed

What happened to the service industry? It is rare that I leave a retail store, grocery, restaurant, or any other place that depends on customer service as a happy customer. If I wanted to hear about the clerk's bad day, I would have asked. I also don't think that it is my fault that an item was not correctly priced, or a shelf was not properly labeled. Service has gone down the toilet.

I have been in the service industry for over 15 years. I managed restaurants and retail stores. I worked in hotels, banquets, catering, and switchboard. I was always taught that service is what sells. It is the most important, most valuable aspect of any business.

I had a "day of errands." It is always a day that is dreaded. A drive thru cashier told me how he was tired and couldn't wait to go home. A grocery store cashier in training reprimanded me for placing all my items on the conveyer belt because it made her have to work harder. There were clerks on their cell phones. I was literally body slammed by careless workers not looking where they were going. I interrupted service employees from conversations with their visiting friends to ask a question. I saw employees roll their eyes. I was fed up with all of them.

I have started a habit of not dismissing their behavior. I wait an extra few minutes so that I could politely tell the employee that I did not appreciate their service. I refuse to hand them money until they smile or make eye contact. I have released the feelings from within myself as needed. I am not sure if I did this because I care, or because I am afraid that one day I may explode my emotions on the wrong person.

I feel good about my choices to stop poor service as a customer. When I was a manager, I would immediately correct these situations. Many rude behaviors are not done while a manager is watching.

I have received apologies a few times. What is the worst that could happen? They could argue with me, which just proves my point. I do admit I am careful in the restaurant situations. I fear that my food may one day be altered through vengeance.

I have always made a point to let an employee know when the service was exceptional. I am not afraid to verbalize my good customer experiences. I have thanked employees and given compliments to the managers.

The economy is not the best currently. Service is what sets apart products perhaps more than prices. If a customer is not satisfied with the service, it does not matter what the product is. Without proper service, there are no customers. Without customers, there are no sales. The priorities are obvious.