[redwitch]

Frequently, stockers cannot man the registers and are even told to avoid the customers as much as possible. That means that unless you walk up and tap a stocker on the shouler and ask for help finding something, they will keep on stocking for fear of a reprimand. As ceejay pointed out, sometimes management really doesn't make a lot of sense and just makes the employee look bad.

If you ever have the time and the store is slow, you might ask the sales clerk the store policies and some of their personal horror stories. It can make for some interesting conversations and maybe even get you thinking as to what you can do to make their lives a little easier.

[ladylake1]

I find customer service runs hot and cold here. Have had some excellent experience and some not so good. Sometimes that not so good comes from management when I voice a concern or objection. I try to seek out a manager as it is even more so their role so insure that the customer is always right. I have gone round and round both of our department stores trying to find someone to take my money for a purchase. Bet I would get more attention if I just walked out with it.

[ceejay]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I enjoyed meeting and greeting every one of our customers, and most of them went away laughing or at least with a smile on their face.
JLK

And that is exactly how I feel and work. To a T. I figure if my customers turn away from my window with a smile, I've done my job. And the next time they come in, it's like we're long lost friends.

Which brings us back to the topic of this thread. I don't want to make my customers annoyed or angry if I have to answer a phone...they're too important to me.

[Mikeod]

Maybe I have the wrong attitude. If I call a place of business and the phone is answered with the name of the establishment and " Good morning, can you hold, please?" and they give me time to respond, it doesn't bother me at all. As long as someone comes back on the line in a minute of two. Much longer than that and I'll hang up. If I get the "can you hold" without allowing me to say "Yes", that is not good.

Years ago, our medical group sent all the providers and service reps to University of Phoenix for training. It involved interacting with members of their drama faculty in customer service scenarios. Despite knowing this was not real, those actors really played the part of irate/frustrated customers well. They knew what buttons to push to try to get us riled up and responding angrily. The training on how to turn an unpleasant situation to a positive one was invaluable.

[getdul981]

The office staff at our old vet used to answer the phone with the "Is this an emergency or can you please hold?" when they were busy. They always wait for a response. Once I had to tell them that it was an emergency and there was not a problem with them handling our situation. Wish we could have brought the entire staff to TV with us.

[Tweety Bird]

Originally Posted by BowleesCreekYachtClub

There are those who can not tell the important from the urgent - when the phone rings for example it is always thought to be urgent but it is rarely important. When I take my goods to the cash register and the person there answers the phone then I put the merchandise down and leave the store. That's it.

How about the person answering the phone and asking THEM (the caller) to hold until they are finished with the current LIVE customer standing there?

Or how about "EXCUSE ME"???????? WOW...lol...I can't believe you do that. After taking the time to pick out your things?