Seems like customer service has gone by the wayside anymore. This past weekend a group of us stayed at the Lake of the Ozarks at friends' houses. We ate Baxters Saturday night before we went to see Liverpool Legends, a band that plays Beatles music. My wife ordered medium well done steak and got a near rare steak. Told her to send it back but she wouldn't. One of our friends has severe RA and it is extremely difficult for her to cut her meat. She asked to please have it cut prior to bring it to the table. The waitress look confused until she showed her, her hands, "ok I'll take care of it." It was served uncut. She did offer to cut it there at the table but she was already embarassed(shouldn't have been) enough and didn't want to call attention to it. A couple of other snafu's with our party of 14 too.

I'm in the process of trying to repair an original XBox. It needs a replacement laser lens. I find a place and order three, ALL bad and he only wants to refund for two plus I had to pay return shipping! Another place I ordered a laser lens from offered desoldering service for an additional 3.00. I pay it and receive a laser lens that was not desoldered.

I just don't get it! Especailly with the economy the way it is you would think customer service would be a high priority.

Rant off! Thanks for listening.

BTW anyone able to desolder a couple of anti-static points on an XBox laser lens for me? I've tried and just can't seem to get it done. Pete

Customer service is dead r.i.p.

Customer service is dead r.i.p.

My wife, bless her soul is one of the most polite and helpful people you ever will meet in a lifetime.
I almost cry at hearing from her co-workers about the abuse she has to put up with from rude, inconciderant and arrogant customers on a daily basis! Yet she will still be polite and not react to their abuse.
Then people wonder why customer service has gotten to the state it's in.
I experienced it when I worked there and it is becoming the norm not the exception.:sad:

I'm not condoning most of what happened to you and your group at the restaurant but isn't asking the wait staff to cut up a steak a little over the top???? I would think that someone at the table would have been happy to do that for her........your right though....customer service is absolutely terrible at most places :yes:

When in high school, our two girls worked for a while at a local K-Mart store. Very good experience for kids. It was a real eye opener for them at just how rude customers can be. Others have told us the same thing. They weren't used to that even though they weren't raised in a home where they were exactly molly coddled either. Over the past year, we seem to see a big change in the stores here. They are going out of their way to be courteous and helpful whenever we are shopping. It does matter. As with any business, not all the workers are in the top ten. I don't know how restaurant girls keep track of the stuff they do. I couldn't do it without writing everything down. It can be frustrating though.

Earlier this week I went to order two gas pedal shaft bushings from a well know Chevelle supplier. Before completing the order I informed him that I wasn't exactly pleased with the last ordered I recieved (rubber firewall insulation pins). He told me that I should find someone else to order parts from and hung up on me LOL.

I just don't get it! Especailly with the economy the way it is you would think customer service would be a high priority.

Rant off! Thanks for listening.

Here's what I've noticed over the years now that I've seen several of these peaks and valleys in our economy. Customer service always seems to go downhill when the economy is booming and doing well. Businesses get sloppy and complacent when the money is rolling in. They think they don't need your business because their attitude is, 20 customers will take the place of one disgruntled customer.

When the economy is in a downturn, customer service always seems to improve as businesses compete for customers. Businesses actually go out of their way to please customers. But I've noticed that in this particular downturn, customer service has been slow to rebound. Businesses have been slower to embrace the changes they need to make to bring in customers. Therefore, those businesses will go away, and the owners will be left wondering why. The businesses that survive this downturn will be the ones that bring back customer service and start treating customers like people again.

While it's not an excuse, a party of 14 is a challenge at any restaurant. I'd hope that, if it would have just been the 4 of you, your special requests would have been better-attended to.

Oh, and here's 3 letters that'll fix that X-Box for ya.



PS3


I've had mine since they came out. Never any issues and a Blu-Ray player too.

I have heard about issues with the X-Box, as cool as it is, but none with the PS3. It's worth a thought...especially while you're de-soldering and looking for a laser lens.

Good luck with all of it!

Here's what I've noticed over the years now that I've seen several of these peaks and valleys in our economy. Customer service always seems to go downhill when the economy is booming and doing well. Businesses get sloppy and complacent when the money is rolling in. They think they don't need your business because their attitude is, 20 customers will take the place of one disgruntled customer.

When the economy is in a downturn, customer service always seems to improve as businesses compete for customers. Businesses actually go out of their way to please customers. But I've noticed that in this particular downturn, customer service has been slow to rebound. Businesses have been slower to embrace the changes they need to make to bring in customers. Therefore, those businesses will go away, and the owners will be left wondering why. The businesses that survive this downturn will be the ones that bring back customer service and start treating customers like people again.
I would've agreed with you maybe 5-10 years ago. Now I don't think this is the way it is at all. I think most people are concerned with price and that's it. I understand price is a priority but I don't think people look much past that. People want to get what they have to get and not think about much else.
Look at most dept stores now, they have lines where you can scan your own items but will pay someone to greet you as you walk through the door. The cashier used to provide a friendly face for that business before? Everything is so impersonal and I think that’s where a lot of face-to-face communication is lost. The lost art of communication and customer service.

I'm not condoning most of what happened to you and your group at the restaurant but isn't asking the wait staff to cut up a steak a little over the top???? I would think that someone at the table would have been happy to do that for her........your right though....customer service is absolutely terrible at most places :yes:

The point was she was trying to save her dignity, a womens thing. I was more than happy to cut her steak and offered to. To her it would have been embarassing done right there at the table. Was it a little to ask yes, over the top, I don't believe so. She would have been compensated generously for doing it. We were very understanding, took a long time to get everything we ordered. For our party of 14 there were three wait staff. Reservations were made a week in advance. Pete

One thing about ordering a steak…I guarantee the Customer Service Dept isn’t located in India! ;)

Earlier this week I went to order two gas pedal shaft bushings from a well know Chevelle supplier. Before completing the order I informed him that I wasn't exactly pleased with the last ordered I recieved (rubber firewall insulation pins). He told me that I should find someone else to order parts from and hung up on me LOL.

Don't tell me you got those pins that only have the ribs about half way. The correct pins have the ribs all the way up. I emailed a guy selling them on ebay to tell him that his were wrong and he told me I didn't know what I was talking about.
Do the 67 earlier cars use these pins with less ribs, cause I know the 68-72 cars don't.

anyway, I rcently ordered a firewall pad for a 69 Cutlass and installed it and it came with the fully ribbed pins and they worked very well, only with a little bit of difficuly putting them in.

When it comes to the workplace, shopping at a store, customer service or whatever:

IF EVERYONE DID THEIR JOB, IT WOULD MAKE EVERYONE ELSES'S JOB A LOT EASIER.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Yes, sometimes it is really hard to be good customer service person.. and keep in mind that customer is allways right..

Once when i was small engine mechanic, a man bought new basic lawnmover. We tested it and lifted it in his car. Half an hour later he carries it back to the shop and really SLAMS it to the floor and starts yelling what kinda POS it was and it didnt start.

I looked it and plugged sparkplug cap back on and said that it should be okay now. He had removed the cap himself when transporting mover in his trunk.

He didnt yell after that.. but never even thanked.

Kalle

I'm not condoning most of what happened to you and your group at the restaurant but isn't asking the wait staff to cut up a steak a little over the top???? I would think that someone at the table would have been happy to do that for her........your right though....customer service is absolutely terrible at most places :yes:


No it's not too much to ask for them to cut the steak!

You are paying for service and if you asked them to cut it and they didn't, thats like ordering a steak and getting served a hot dog and them expect you to pay for the steak.

I guarantee if I go somewhere and order something, if it's not the way I ordered it it's going back! I work to hard for my money to pay for something I didn't order. And I sure don't reward bad service either.



Rocky



Rocky

I would've agreed with you maybe 5-10 years ago. Now I don't think this is the way it is at all. I think most people are concerned with price and that's it. I understand price is a priority but I don't think people look much past that. People want to get what they have to get and not think about much else.
Look at most dept stores now, they have lines where you can scan your own items but will pay someone to greet you as you walk through the door. The cashier used to provide a friendly face for that business before? Everything is so impersonal and I think that’s where a lot of face-to-face communication is lost. The lost art of communication and customer service.

That's likely why it seems that business owners are slower to embrace the need to improve customer service this time. Although, I was at Home Depot earlier today and had several associates come up to me and ask if I needed any help. That's never happened to me at Home Depot, ever. Usually, you have to send out a search party to find someone to help you at Home Depot.

No it's not too much to ask for them to cut the steak!

You are paying for service and if you asked them to cut it and they didn't, thats like ordering a steak and getting served a hot dog and them expect you to pay for the steak.

I guarantee if I go somewhere and order something, if it's not the way I ordered it it's going back! I work to hard for my money to pay for something I didn't order. And I sure don't reward bad service either.



Rocky



Rocky

IMO, asking the staff to cut your steak is in the gray area. I mean, I don't recall ever seeing it done, however, what about after your request to have your steak cut, would you ask to have them feed it to you too?
IMO again, I think it all depends on the conditions (of the customer) and the restaurant. It's the gray area I tell ya'......the gray area! :cool:

Funny you should say that. I didn't read all the responses but I've made that exact same comment to my wife on several occasions. It seems to come up alot at restaurants.

That's likely why it seems that business owners are slower to embrace the need to improve customer service this time. Although, I was at Home Depot earlier today and had several associates come up to me and ask if I needed any help. That's never happened to me at Home Depot, ever. Usually, you have to send out a search party to find someone to help you at Home Depot.

Got that right, Randy! :yes:

I believe it's due to the lack of customers in this economy and those people have nothing better to do, so to avoid boredom, they do what they were hired and paid to do......assist the customer. :D

No it's not too much to ask for them to cut the steak!

You are paying for service and if you asked them to cut it and they didn't, thats like ordering a steak and getting served a hot dog and them expect you to pay for the steak.

I guarantee if I go somewhere and order something, if it's not the way I ordered it it's going back! I work to hard for my money to pay for something I didn't order. And I sure don't reward bad service either.



Rocky



Rocky


Sorry Rocky Rocky........not even close :noway:

Funny you should say that. I didn't read all the responses but I've made that exact same comment to my wife on several occasions. It seems to come up alot at restaurants.


As long as I get my steak rare....rare, but not cold, I'm content. :beers:

When we go out to eat, the same rule applies.

I usually don't say much but its kinda irrating to go through your spill cheeseburger, with mustard no mayo, no tomatoes, add jalapenoes, fries, diet coke,
then have to repeat the order at least once and
I get it back there's mustard AND mayo, loaded with tomatoes , jalapenos are nowhere in sight and the cokes too darn sweet. People just don't listen and it aint always kids...

My sis-in-law that was a waitress for years said yes, if that is what the customer wanted. She would do it her self not ask the kitchen staff do it. They are busy enough.
She said she even did an order where an older couple ordered steak his well and hers medium well. It was obvious that his wife had a stroke at one time and he asked that the medium well steak be pureed!
She said you should have seen the chefs face when she took the steak off the plate and tossed it in the blender!!:D

If you do not know someone who has Rheumatoid Arthritis, then you do not know the jest of the request to have the steak precut. It is not a pleasant affliction.

The problem with a party of 14, is the tip is already figured in. When our bowling team goes out after a tournament, and there are more than 8 of us, we usually break up into two groups just for this reason. Before we started this, we had a bad waitress at a well-known chain, and when I paid my bill (with gratuity already added), she had the nerve to ask if I wanted my $2.xx change back.... :noway: I said "hell yes I want it back, you were already overpaid...."

Rant off! Thanks for listening.

BTW anyone able to desolder a couple of anti-static points on an XBox laser lens for me? I've tried and just can't seem to get it done. Pete

do you have one of these
http://cgi.ebay.com/Antistatic-Desoldering-Pump-Sucker-Solder-Removal-Tools_W0QQitemZ270357559542QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item270357559542&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50
this is what I have used in the past on elect boards
not Xbox mind you the solder sucker works better than that copper wick material.


As far as poor service when dining out if the place has a web sit fire off a good letter of displeasure. This has netted me some free meals. The last one I did was News Years week in Myrtle Beach SC. Cheese Burger in Paradise got me two free meals. I made a point to point out that I did not make a scene in the restaurant while people were still coming in for lunch. The manager was the offending party and was apologetic for what had happened on his part and his employee’s mistakes on his phone call to me. The home office must have jumped him big time.
Good Luck

Earlier this week I went to order two gas pedal shaft bushings from a well know Chevelle supplier. Before completing the order I informed him that I wasn't exactly pleased with the last ordered I recieved (rubber firewall insulation pins). He told me that I should find someone else to order parts from and hung up on me LOL.

I would call back and talk to the supervisor on that one.

Here's a counter point story. I had to have a new Discover Card sent out. The customer service agent actually took the post office envelop containing the new card, and put it in an overnight DHL envelope. Even though I was in no hurry for the card. When I called to activate the new card, I asked if I could comment on my customer service experience. When I gave a compliment over the good initiative to beat my expectations, he didn't know what to do.

I once ordered a Miller Lite and got a Bud Lite. Pretty sure i drank it anyway.

Customer service is dead r.i.p. That is so true :( My wife works for two eye doctors. They believe in great customer service. They go out of there way to make sure there customers are happy before they leave.

I would say 60% of the places around here just don't care anymore :(

That's likely why it seems that business owners are slower to embrace the need to improve customer service this time. Although, I was at Home Depot earlier today and had several associates come up to me and ask if I needed any help. That's never happened to me at Home Depot, ever. Usually, you have to send out a search party to find someone to help you at Home Depot.


It always seems like when I'm just browsing around in there, killing time, I'll get half a dozen people asking to help me find something. But when I'm actually in a hurry, and need to find something, they're no where to be found.

This is the type of stuff that frusterates me. People either dont listen to customers or dont care about customers or anything else on the job. But I will say, there are plenty of customers out there that are completely unreasonable in certain situations or circumstances and IMO, thats also uncalled for.

Im with you as for someone cutting the steak for your friend. How hard would it have been for the waiter/waitress to write down to cut it next to your friends order on the paper? After all, you would think they gather all the orders together once they are ready and go down the list to make sure everything is good and nothing is missing or anything that may be ordered on the side.

If you do not know someone who has Rheumatoid Arthritis, then you do not know the jest of the request to have the steak precut. It is not a pleasant affliction.

Well said! My Mom has had this for 15 years now. She used to be very out-going, now it's too big of a pain in the ass. I would have cut your friend's steak even if I was passing by. And not at the table...too embarrassing!
Poor customer service is simply a lack of respect for others and not taking pride in the things you do.:angry:

I'm probably going to offend somebody, but here goes. Customer service stinks for several reasons. First restaurants: Most waiters/waitresses depend on tips to make a halfway decent wage because they are underpaid by their employer. Because of the inherently low wages, restaurants seem to attract more than their share of people who couldn't care less whether you're happy with your meal, even when it means less income for them. Those who really provide outstanding service are rewarded with better tips. On the other side of the coin, I've been out to eat with folks who received excellent meals and great service who wouldn't leave a decent tip or even a tip at all if their lives depended on it. I know we all have had bad experiences at fast food restaurants, but the business-model at Chik Filet ought to set the standard for the industry. Have you ever been to a Chik Filet where the employees weren't cheerful, courteous and efficient? Sometimes those kids just make my day, AND I TELL THEM SO!

Stores and service establishments (and just about every workplace in this country): A fairly small percentage of employees in any business truly care about the success of their company and have the integrity to give an honest day's work for a fair wage. These folks make an effort to contribute to that success. The rest are there for the paycheck and benefits and nothing else, they have no problem taking sick days to conduct personal business, cheating the time-clock, surfing the Internet during worktime, and using email for their personal social circle.

A lot of the complaints in this thread regarding customer service can be easily explained. There has been a breakdown in civility when dealing with people, regardless if we are the complainant or the service provider. Many times we've already lost our cool before we ever voice a complaint or listen to a complaint. Often complaints become a personal attack on the service person's character. Cuss-fights rarely get the problem resolved.

Bad service is also perpetuated when we suffer in silence and don't bother to lodge a protest with the person in charge. If you receive bad service or rude treatment by a service person, make it a point to contact the manager and tell them. If you don't get satisfaction, send your complaint to the corporate level. On the other hand, if someone goes the extra mile to help me out, I feel it's worth my time to tell them so, and when appropriate send the compliment to their management.

My message is this: We are all responsible for making things run smoothly and keeping our customers happy. We as consumers need to take a deep breath before we light into whoever is behind the counter. It's just not fair to hang our lousy mood on a service person. Sometimes we are all just a little too angry.

Sorry for the ramble, just my 2 cents.

I'm probably going to offend somebody, but here goes. Customer service stinks for several reasons. First restaurants: Most waiters/waitresses depend on tips to make a halfway decent wage because they are underpaid by their employer. Because of the inherently low wages, restaurants seem to attract more than their share of people who couldn't care less whether you're happy with your meal, even when it means less income for them. Those who really provide outstanding service are rewarded with better tips. On the other side of the coin, I've been out to eat with folks who received excellent meals and great service who wouldn't leave a decent tip or even a tip at all if their lives depended on it. I know we all have had bad experiences at fast food restaurants, but the business-model at Chik Filet ought to set the standard for the industry. Have you ever been to a Chik Filet where the employees weren't cheerful, courteous and efficient? Sometimes those kids just make my day, AND I TELL THEM SO!

Stores and service establishments (and just about every workplace in this country): A fairly small percentage of employees in any business truly care about the success of their company and have the integrity to give an honest day's work for a fair wage. These folks make an effort to contribute to that success. The rest are there for the paycheck and benefits and nothing else, they have no problem taking sick days to conduct personal business, cheating the time-clock, surfing the Internet during worktime, and using email for their personal social circle.

A lot of the complaints in this thread regarding customer service can be easily explained. There has been a breakdown in civility when dealing with people, regardless if we are the complainant or the service provider. Many times we've already lost our cool before we ever voice a complaint or listen to a complaint. Often complaints become a personal attack on the service person's character. Cuss-fights rarely get the problem resolved.

Bad service is also perpetuated when we suffer in silence and don't bother to lodge a protest with the person in charge. If you receive bad service or rude treatment by a service person, make it a point to contact the manager and tell them. If you don't get satisfaction, send your complaint to the corporate level. On the other hand, if someone goes the extra mile to help me out, I feel it's worth my time to tell them so, and when appropriate send the compliment to their management.

My message is this: We are all responsible for making things run smoothly and keeping our customers happy. We as consumers need to take a deep breath before we light into whoever is behind the counter. It's just not fair to hang our lousy mood on a service person. Sometimes we are all just a little too angry.

Sorry for the ramble, just my 2 cents.

Very, very good! :beers:


And as I stated earlier:

When it comes to the workplace, shopping at a store, customer service or whatever:

IF EVERYONE DID THEIR JOB, IT WOULD MAKE EVERYONE ELSES'S JOB A LOT EASIER.

And that's all I have to say about that.

I've been a restaurant worker before and it sucked to a degree. The work wasn't hard, most people were rude, but I'm not a A-Hole to begin with. Most of my fellow workers were and that's where most of the "bad service" comes from...THE PERSON THEMSELVES. How they are as a person, usually relates to how their work is.

Now, being in a Military town, most of the CS is terrible around here, I've gotten used to it. But, I don't know if it was the crutches, but tonight was some of the best CS I have received since I've been here. We went to the local KFC for dinner and the people behind the counter was really nice. I then went to Dick's Sporting Goods and had the Shoe Rep running back and forth getting shoes...for 45 minutes. I know, I know, what am I buying shoes for when I WON'T be wearing them for a few months? Well, they were on sale. :)

Anyway, sometimes it seems the nicer I am to the employee the worse their attitude. But, not all is lost out there in the support side of the house.

The steak should have been cut in the kitchen before it was plated. 100 years ago when I worked in a restaurant our chefs/cooks did this upon request. Sometimes it was for kids, sometimes for a stoke victim or some other person with a disability. No embarrassment for anybody.

It takes a special person to be a good waiter/waitress. In my opinion most that do the job are not cut out for it. But the hours are flexible and you walk away with some cash in your pocket every night and that's what is important to them.

As far as fast food goes, I almost never use the drive through. The exception is ChiK-Fil-A. I have never had them screw up an order. Just remember Joe Pesci in Lethal Weapon: They always screw you at the drive through!

IMO, asking the staff to cut your steak is in the gray area. I mean, I don't recall ever seeing it done, however, what about after your request to have your steak cut, would you ask to have them feed it to you too?
IMO again, I think it all depends on the conditions (of the customer) and the restaurant. It's the gray area I tell ya'......the gray area! :cool:

Don't go overboard! No one asked anyone to feed anybody did they? It was asked to cut up a steak for someone who has rheumatoid arthritis!!! And thats not to much to ask of ANY restaurant.



Rocky

three people I work with, including my boss, have the absolute worst listening skills of anyone I have ever met. In fact, I would say they have NO listening skills. None. Listening is a lost skill. I don't know how many times I have told them something, or given someone instructions in response to a request, only to find they did it differently, or whatever, than I said. As an example, one guy was looking for the keys to one of the rental cars we have here. I told him, "it's in my room, on the dresser". He comes out a few minutes later with my personal car keys in his hand, saying he couldn't find the rental keys. My personal keys were in my computer bag, not on the dresser. I went into my room to find the contents of my computer bag dumped out on the bed. This sort of thing is constant. I get asked for my opinion on something, and then the asker talks over half of my response, obviously not listening. People wonder why I get testy, but Jesus, I get really tired of repeating myself 6 or 7 times because people don't know how to listen.

Don't go overboard! No one asked anyone to feed anybody did they? It was asked to cut up a steak for someone who has rheumatoid arthritis!!! And thats not to much to ask of ANY restaurant.



Rocky

Calm down Rocky, I stated it was "In My Opinion."

Perhaps you and others here feel it's not a big deal to have had the steak pre-cut, but apparently that restaurant thought it was.

No it's not too much to ask for them to cut the steak!

You are paying for service and if you asked them to cut it and they didn't, thats like ordering a steak and getting served a hot dog and them expect you to pay for the steak.

I guarantee if I go somewhere and order something, if it's not the way I ordered it it's going back! I work to hard for my money to pay for something I didn't order. And I sure don't reward bad service either.

Rocky

I hope you are sweet as pie about it. One thing I never do is offend the people handling my food. I had a friend who worked at Pizza Hut when a customer came in yelling that his pizza didn't "look like the picture."

They made him a new one. Complete with machine oil that they used to oil the chain on the pizza oven! :D

It looked like the picture and he went away happy.

I also had a friend that used to work at McDonalds. We were eating there one day and he showed me his half eaten Quarter Pounder and said "Watch this." He gets up, goes to the counter and comes back with a fresh one. He told them it had "the wrong onions" on it. It had diced onions when it was supposed to have sliced ones. It was funny at the time but it always seemed to me like he was begging for an extra helping of spit. :D

Well said! My Mom has had this for 15 years now. She used to be very out-going, now it's too big of a pain in the ass. I would have cut your friend's steak even if I was passing by. And not at the table...too embarrassing!
Poor customer service is simply a lack of respect for others and not taking pride in the things you do.:angry:

I reached for her plate to cut it for her but she emphatically told me NO!! Again I believe it was too embarassing for her. She was amonst friends and it shouldn't have been. I should say when she requested her steak cut initially when she placed her order the waitress replied happily "no problem". Pete

Calm down Rocky, I stated it was "In My Opinion."

Perhaps you and others here feel it's not a big deal to have had the steak pre-cut, but apparently that restaurant thought it was.

I don't believe the waitress or restaurant thought it was a big deal. The waitress forgot to do it, even though she said she would. Pete

I don't believe the waitress or restaurant thought it was a big deal. The waitress forgot to do it, even though she said she would. Pete


I got it now, Pete. :thumbsup: