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Last Saturday afternoon on the way back to my apartment, I decided to walk over to The Gallery, which is a mall in Philadelphia on Market Street, because I wanted to purchase a pair of sneakers at Payless.

However, anytime I go to The Gallery (which is hardly ever) I have to psych myself up to get in and out as quickly as I can because it’s one of the crudest, loudest, and chaotic malls I have ever stepped foot. It’s filled with nothing but cheap nail salons, music stores, dollar stores, and free-standing kiosk’s that sell roll-on body oils that smell like imitation versions of Calvin Klein’s Obsession and Ralph Lauren’s Polo for $5.00 per bottle.

In other words, The Gallery is a ghetto.

For a major city, Philadelphia has some of the most bi-polar shopping. The only department store we have here is Macy’s. And I’m sorry, but I am not a fan of Macy’s. We have a few small outlet stores too, but they're so messy and disorganized that you can't ever find anything. They all look as though you walked into a really bad garage sale.

Walnut Street is Philadelphia’s main area of shopping yet, it’s only within a five block radius and has primarily boutique stores like, Armani, Nicole Miller, Coach, Tiffany and Williams-Sonoma.

So you have two choices here. You either have high-end overpriced stores, or trash.

It’s no wonder that practically everyone in this city goes out to the suburbs on the weekends to do their shopping.

Anyway, getting back to Payless…

As I walked in, not a single employee greeted me with a hello, welcome to our store, or even an acknowledgement that I was there. So I tried on a few pairs of sneakers and finally found ones that I liked and headed for the check-out counter. The gentleman who rang me up never said anything except, “We’re having a 40% off sale today so if you need anything else, now would be a good time to buy it.”

I said, “No thank you, all I needed were sneakers.”

“Are you sure?”, he said, “Because we’re have a really good 40% off sale going on right now, so if I were you I would get something more.”

To which I said, “No thank you.”

He persisted, “Are you absolutely sure, because it’s 40% off?”

I (firmly) replied, “Yes, I'm absolutely sure. I came in here for sneakers and that’s all I’m walking out with.”

After he rang me up and I paid for the sneakers, he never said so much as a thank you or even a goodbye.

All I wanted to do was get out of that store and find the nearest exit. So I walked all the way to the other end of the mall and decided to cut through another store so that I could use their street exit. However, as I entered the store their security alarm went off as I passed through the entrance.

I looked around confused because I couldn't understand why I caused the alarm to go off. I don't have a cell phone, so I knew that wasn't the reason.

But then it suddenly dawned on me that the guy at Payless FORGOT to remove the security tag on my sneakers.

So, I had to walk ALL THE WAY BACK TO PAYLESS.

OMG, to say that I was LIVID is an understatement.

Before I got back to the store, I ripped the sneakers out of the box and held them in my hand. And when I entered Payless, I slammed the sneakers on the counter and said, “Buddy…not only were you a pushy salesman, but you also forgot to remove the security tag on my sneakers.”

Laughingly, he said, “Yeah…I keep forgetting to do that."

To which I said, “You know, my whole experience here today was the PITS. And you better believe I’m going to call your corporate office and tell them about it.”

And then I took my witches' broom and flew out of the store in a puff of red smoke.


Have a fantabulous weekend everyone!

And Happy Halloween!
X


51 comments:

  1. Gone are the days, Ron, gone are the days! I can understand your frustration. My blood boils when I come across poor sales people. To be fair though, I have noticed a marked improvement in the behaviour of assistants in the bigger stores, as if they are (suddenly) being trained to be nice. Not so in the smaller shops. Assistants there seem to think if they ignore you you might go away. I'm glad you had a go and told the assistant exactly what you thought.


    Have a brill weekend, even though you will probably be working. x

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  2. Oh, I hear you, Ron, I hear you!!! You either get ignored or they are just plain rude, like you encountered. And what happened to, 'The customer is always right?.' That went down the toilet years ago.

    We had the same issue with major department stores either going out of business or only keeping suburban stores open. We even had one suburban mall where every anchor store left except JCPenneys. It's like a ghost town there.

    Hope you have some candy today, to make up for the bad shopping trip!

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  3. Ron, good for you! More people need to speak up about shitty customer service. I've had the same thing happen several times (at Macy's, by the way) with the security tags not being removed on clothing. Not a fan of Macy's either :( One thing that really annoys me are pushy salespeople in most cosmetic departments. I understand they're on commission but sometimes they get so aggressive, which makes me not want to purchase at all. And I've complained about it too.


    Love the last photograph of you as the Wicked Witch!


    Have a wonderful weekend, Ron x Happy Halloween!

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  4. Good morning Valerie!

    "Gone are the days, Ron, gone are the days!"

    You said it! Good customer service seems to be a thing of the past.

    "To be fair though, I have noticed a marked improvement in the behaviour of assistants in the bigger stores, as if they are (suddenly) being trained to be nice. Not so in the smaller shops. Assistants there seem to think if they ignore you you might go away."



    I'm glad to hear that :) In my store, our customers are asked to fill out online surveys about the customer service they experienced while shopping in our store. Therefore, we take our customer service very seriously.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady. Have a BRILL weekend!


    X to you and Joe!

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  5. "You either get ignored or they are just plain rude, like you encountered. And what happened to, 'The customer is always right?.' That went down the toilet years ago."

    Amen! And I do realize that sometimes you can get customers who you can never please no matter how good your customer service is. But, I still think it's up to the store to do the best they can to provide outstanding customer service by doing they're part.

    "We had the same issue with major department stores either going out of business or only keeping suburban stores open. We even had one suburban mall where every anchor store left except JCPenneys. It's like a ghost town there."



    Yes, it's the same thing here. I honestly think that department stores (except for really high-end stores like Neiman Marcus) are going to be a thing of the past eventually. It seems that everything is turning into smaller boutique stores.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a super weekend. And Happy Halloween!
    X

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  6. Hola Denise!

    "One thing that really annoys me are pushy salespeople in most cosmetic departments. I understand they're on commission but sometimes they get so aggressive, which makes me not want to purchase at all. And I've complained about it too."



    You're right, most cosmetic departments in stores are on a commission based salary, so they do get over aggressive with sales. Which to me is SUCH a turn-off. And even if they're not on commission, they are pressured into sales goals. And a customer should NEVER feel that pressure. High-pressured selling only pushes customers away.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Have a wonderful weekend!


    Happy Halloween!
    X

    ReplyDelete
  7. And then I took my witches' broom and flew out of the store in a puff of red smoke.- bwahaha!

    It seems these days it's either crappy service or superior...very little in between. Perhaps the people who love their jobs show it and those who don't don't give a rat's ass!
    My pet peeve are cashiers who can't do math. I handed someone the exact change the other day and she handed me a dime back (45 cents, a quarter and two dimes). I explained it was 45 cents and she told me I gave her a dime too much. I finally gave up and pocked it. Usually they have a problem when the register can't tell them the amount but she just couldn't count change! At least she wasn't rude, just insistent.

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  8. "And then I took my witches' broom and flew out of the store in a puff of red smoke." Ron, between that and the photograph, ROFLMAO!


    And this is why I don't like shopping. If it were up to me I would shop totally online. But my girlfriend is a shopaholic who has withdraws whenever she hasn't been to a mall in three days!


    Happy Halloween, dude!

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  9. Hahahahahaha! I can hear you cackle as you flew out of sight....Happy Halloween, you bitches! And to all a good night.

    Super funny ending despite the sucky service. :-) Payless is pretty good here but we have a few ghetto malls that are not fun!

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  10. Great post!


    God, Ron, that guy sounds like a first-class loser! It's a shame but i think "customer service" is a vanishing concept. Now it's more like "buy this crap and get out!" Unless, of course, you come from money and then it's high end all the way.


    When I stayed at a Marriot hotel in Toronto last year, the entire staff was so nice and so helpful that I wrote to the manager when I got home praising her people's dedication. It seems like most customer service people have the same answer: "I don't know."



    Get on your broomstick and raise some serious hell with these bums. And if that doesn't work, turn 'em all into toads! It might be an improvement!


    Take care, buddy, and Happy Halloween!

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  11. Oddly enough, while I always bemoaned the lack of shopping facilities in Philadelphia, I never encountered poor customer service. My husband and I were always amazed at the helpfulness and friendliness of the staffers wherever we went. Including the Chinese restaurant we ate in about once a month - after our third visit the server said to us "The usual?"

    (There was one bus driver - who decided my senior bus pass was fake because I didn't look old enough to have one - and she was nasty about it and insisted I pay. In the long run she was the one who paid 'cause you can bet your sweet ass when I got home I was making telephone calls!)

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  12. I really feel like people in those positions just dont care as much about their jobs as they should. I have been someone in that position and trust me the co-workers I have dealt with just don't care. To them it is "just a job". They dont think of the customers as people and don't care about their experience. It really is sad.

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  13. This is why I like self-checkout stations so much. At least then if the person ringing me up is rude, I can yell back at him in the mirror!


    Have a happy Halloween and a great weekend. And for the love of all that is holy, stay away from Payless!

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  14. Who trains these people anyway?? Great rant, Ron, and I know exactly what you mean. It's bad enough when I pay a department store bill and instead of a "Thank you," I get a "Here you go!" Sounds as if you got a real lemon!

    I'm not a fan of Macy's either. Every time I go inside ours, I feel as though someone had gone in before me with a HUGE box full of their merchandise, gave it a hard shake, and tossed it up in the air, letting stuff land where it pleased. I never can find anything in Macy's, try as I might.

    Maybe that's why online shopping is so popular?? At least there, you don't have to expose yourself to such maddening rudeness!!

    Happy Halloween, you little green-faced creature, you!

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  15. I don't blame you Ron, there's no excuse for this type of customer service,but sad to say it is becoming more common.

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  16. You know....when we angels get our wings clipped, we just pull out our brooms and continue to fly. Hope you sprayed green goo all over the store on your way out! Why is it so hard to understand the importance of good customer service. many times, it is THE deciding factor in where people will spend their money. Hopefully, Payless corporate understands this as well. But I do have to say, the Payless in our town is pretty good about their customer relations. Hope you have a fantastic Halloween weekend.

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  17. I live in Philly and agree with you 100% about the shopping. That's why my husband and I go to either KOP or Cherry Hill. And you're so right about The Gallery. It's a ghetto. And it gets worst every year!

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  18. "It seems these days it's either crappy service or superior...very little in between. Perhaps the people who love their jobs show it and those who don't don't give a rat's ass!"

    Yes, you nailed it Suzi! And you can definitely tell who loves their jobs and who doesn't.

    "My pet peeve are cashiers who can't do math. Usually they have a problem when the register can't tell them the amount but she just couldn't count change!"

    OMG, I know what you mean. When I first got a job as a teenager at Kmart, we had to figure the amount of change to give back to a customer. There was no such thing as an "amount tendered" button on a cash register. We had to do the math ourselves.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantabulous weekend and Happy Halloween!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hiya Matt!

    "And this is why I don't like shopping. If it were up to me I would shop totally online."



    Even though I'm in retail, I'm very much like you, I DON'T like to shop. In fact, on my days off, a store is the LAST place I want to be. I'm just now starting to shop and order more things online. Yet it's funny though because when I was in my 20's and 30's I was a HUGE shopaholic!


    Much thanks for stopping by, buddy. Have a fab weekend and Happy Halloween!


    X

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  20. " I can hear you cackle as you flew out of sight....Happy Halloween, you bitches! And to all a good night."



    Bwhahahahahaha! Yes, Angelia, that's pretty much how I acted, like the Wicked Witch of the West!


    And yes, I agree with you...most of the Payless stores I've shopped in are very good at giving good customer service. However this one in Philly, which is in The Gallery, is pretty much how most of the service is in that mall. Horrible.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fab weekend and a Happy Halloween!
    X

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  21. Hey there Rob!

    " i think "customer service" is a vanishing concept. Now it's more like "buy this crap and get out!" Unless, of course, you come from money and then it's high end all the way."

    Exactly! And it's same here in Philly. They act like they're doing you a favor to wait on you and take your money.

    "When I stayed at a Marriot hotel in Toronto last year, the entire staff was so nice and so helpful that I wrote to the manager when I got home praising her people's dedication."

    Good for you! And I think it's AWESOME that you took the time to do that. I too will either call or email a company whenever I receive great customer service because it's so rare.

    "Get on your broomstick and raise some serious hell with these bums. And if that doesn't work, turn 'em all into toads! It might be an improvement!"



    HAHAHAHAHAHA! CRACKED ME UP!


    Have a great weekend and Happy Halloween, buddy!


    x

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hiya Grace!

    "Oddly enough, while I always bemoaned the lack of shopping facilities in Philadelphia, I never encountered poor customer service."

    Great to hear that. I HAVE encounter good customer service in Philly, but overall I find it extremely careless. The places where I have had good customer service are usually the Mom and Pop places that are run by the owners.

    'In the long run she was the one who paid 'cause you can bet your sweet ass when I got home I was making telephone calls!"



    Brava! And good for you, Grace! I would have done the same thing. And this is why I never take buses because the drivers I have encountered are USUALLY nasty and always in a bad mood.


    Have a super weekend, my friend, and thanks for stopping by!
    X

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  23. LOVED your comment, Shae! And I agree with every single word.


    It's just a job to them and they don't care.


    However, in the store I currently work in it's mandatory that giving outstanding customer service is a TOP priority.


    Have a super weekend, my friend, and thanks so much for stopping by!
    X


    P.S. And just from knowing you through blogging, I bet you're excellent at your job!

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  24. "This is why I like self-checkout stations so much. At least then if the person ringing me up is rude, I can yell back at him in the mirror!"


    HAHAHAHAHA! Good one, Mark!!! And it's getting to a point where I would much rather use self-checkout stations myself. Plus, I can usually check myself out faster than most cashiers.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have an excellent weekend and Happy Halloween!


    X to you and Tara!

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  25. "It's bad enough when I pay a department store bill and instead of a "Thank you," I get a "Here you go!" Sounds as if you got a real lemon!"

    Exactly, Debbie! And half the time they act like it's such a bother to actually TAKE your money for the bill.

    "I'm not a fan of Macy's either. Every time I go inside ours, I feel as though someone had gone in before me with a HUGE box full of their merchandise, gave it a hard shake, and tossed it up in the air, letting stuff land where it pleased."

    OMG...I cannot stand Macy's, and for the exact reason you shared. Even the one in NYC, which is the ORIGINAL Macy's, looks like a bomb exploded. Any Macy's I've ever shopped is all the same. It's a MESS. And Macy's is also very nasty and uncaring to their employees.

    "Maybe that's why online shopping is so popular?? At least there, you don't have to expose yourself to such maddening rudeness!!"



    Amen!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Happy Halloween and have a fantabulous weekend!


    X

    ReplyDelete
  26. "but sad to say it is becoming more common."


    Yes, Jimmy, you're absolutely right...it is becoming more common and I find that so sad. Especially with the economy the way it is, you would think that customer service would be a top priority with businesses.


    Have a super weekend, buddy, and thanks so much for stopping by!


    X to you and Cindy!

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  27. "You know....when we angels get our wings clipped, we just pull out our brooms and continue to fly. Hope you sprayed green goo all over the store on your way out! "

    HAHAHAHAHA! Loved that, Lisa!!!!

    "Why is it so hard to understand the importance of good customer service. many times, it is THE deciding factor in where people will spend their money."

    You are sooooooooo right about that! So you would think that customer service would be a TOP priority, right? This way they would get more loyal customer who would spend their money there.

    "But I do have to say, the Payless in our town is pretty good about their customer relations."



    In all honesty, I have to say that most of the Payless stores I've shopped in are very good about their customer service. However, Philadelphia is notorious for their careless customer service. I see that in MANY of the stores here. They just don't care.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a Happy Halloween with Twix and Peanut!


    X

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  28. Greetings Elaine!

    Welcome! Thank you for stopping by!

    "I live in Philly and agree with you 100% about the shopping. That's why my husband and I go to either KOP or Cherry Hill."



    For such a major city, Philly has the worst shopping, doesn't it? And I VERY rarely go to The Gallery unless I desperately need something. They even closed the Kmart, which I here is being replaced with a Target. I never understood why we never had a Target in this city to begin with because it's much better than Kmart.


    Please stop by anytime. You're always welcome here. Have a super weekend!


    X

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  29. You GO, Ron! I laughed my ass off at your last line and photograph. Hilarious! No one tells a story like you!


    And I hope your call to corporate was heard and that they did something about it. Customer service in general is getting worse all the time. Maybe if companies focused more on the value of customer service instead of always thinking up ways to get the customer to spend more money, they would get more customers to return and MAKE more money.


    Happy Halloween, you wicked witch, you ;)

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  30. " Maybe if companies focused more on the value of customer service instead of always thinking up ways to get the customer to spend more money, they would get more customers to return and MAKE more money."


    AMEN and thank you, Robert! I couldn't agree with you more! No one ever thinks about the importance of building a loyal customer base so that they make more money in the long run. And that can only be done by giving outstanding customer service so that customers RETURN.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a faaaaaabulous weekend and Happy Halloween!


    X

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  31. Ron, thank you for your warm welcome. I'm originally from the mid-west but moved here about four years ago. I still can't get use to living in Philly. I have to say, it's a strange place.

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  32. Elaine, trust me, I was born in Philly, moved away for 20 years, and then moved back 12 years ago. And even to me it's a strange place in many ways, so I understand how you feel.

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  33. OK, I laughed out loud at the broom and flying away. You are SO FUNNY!

    You know, I just went to a Claire's shop with my daughter Thursday. The lady asked if I wanted to add something for half off. No thanks. What about a bracelet for a dollar? (pointing to a basket by the register) No thank you. Are you sure? They are only a dollar. I laughed and said, "No, just this." She then APOLOGIZED and rolled her eyes and said quietly, "I'm sorry, I HAVE to ask all that." So I think these poor sales people are being forced to ask tons of questions - or lose a job I'm sure. I think management or above needs to know how amazingly annoying this is... it turns your shopping experience in to harassment. It must be a trend in multiple stores, because at Hot Topic they were OVERLY nice and OVERLY helpful - which was good for us, but at the register I saw she got credit for helping us. So much push for these people just trying to do their job. It's all about the money to the big man up there.

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  34. Hahaha......remember asking if there were problems with discus? Yup--just had one. It ate my comment when I logged in. Booger!


    Needless to say--I'm sorry you were treated so poorly by the fella. Seems pride in your job is becoming less of a norm now a days. We have that 'overpriced or a garage sale' thing going on in the bigger cities around us. Drive me nutz and makes it an 'interesting experience' to say the least.
    Being a small town, we don't have those chain stores (except for one hardware store). The rest are privately owned and are an adventure of another kind. The newer owners have more organized, more friendly, more helpful atmosphere--and the older owned stores seems to have less of all of that. Probably a product of the age of the owner--but it still makes for a different experience, store to store.


    I'm glad you didn't get arrested. And I'm sorry you didn't get an apology and that it was treated so non-challantly by the fella--I'da been tripping all over myself apologizing for my mistake. But I'm an 'old fart' who still takes pride in her job and who has a sense of ownership in what she does.
    That sense of ownership seems to be a dying thing......

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  35. I don't get it. Especially since the economy isn't solid enough to warrant not caring if customers spend their money with you or not. It always throws me when salespeople/cashiers can't even bother to say a simple "thank you."

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  36. I can really see your frustration Ron!! I would have BLOWN UP! Patience is not my thing! Maybe send a note to PayLess? I have done that with some companies that I just got fed up with! It truly seems as if the customer is an intrusion. So WRONG! I was in Bath & Body Works the other day and I had to actually interrupt the salesperson (who was TEXTING!) to ring up my purchase. Unbelievable! I want to thank you ... You have SUCH an awesome writing style! When I am down or just feel like bloghopping...

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  37. Hey there Katherine!

    " So I think these poor sales people are being forced to ask tons of questions - or lose a job I'm sure. I think management or above needs to know how amazingly annoying this is... it turns your shopping experience in to harassment."

    You are absolutely correct about that, it all starts with CORPORATE. They are the ones who pressure the salespeople to ask so many questions and also require that they open charge accounts. And I called them and not only expressed my dissatisfaction with that stores' customer service, but also that by pressuring the salespeople to PUSH customers to spend more money only pushes customers away.

    "It's all about the money to the big man up there."

    You said it!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're having a FAB weekend!

    X

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  38. "Hahaha......remember asking if there were problems with discus? Yup--just had one. It ate my comment when I logged in. Booger!"

    Aw, shucks...sorry about that, Mel. And thank you for taking the time to let me know and republishing your comment. Next time try logging in first, then write your comment, and then hit the publish button. Disqus seems to work better that way.

    "Being a small town, we don't have those chain stores (except for one hardware store). The rest are privately owned and are an adventure of another kind. The newer owners have more organized, more friendly, more helpful atmosphere-"

    That is so great! And yes, some of the privately owned stores here in Philly are the same way. You seem to get much better customer service it those stores.

    " And I'm sorry you didn't get an apology and that it was treated so non-challantly by the fella--I'da been tripping all over myself apologizing for my mistake."



    Yes, I too would have been tripping all over myself apologizing for my mistake. And I think that's what annoyed me the most, he just seemed to not care.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady. Have a great rest of your weekend!


    X

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  39. "I don't get it. Especially since the economy isn't solid enough to warrant not caring if customers spend their money with you or not. "


    Yes, that's my thought exactly. Stores should be working harder to give outstanding and caring customer service in order to KEEP customers coming back.


    I can't tell you how many times I will purchase something in a store and NEVER get a thank you.


    Hope you 're having a FAB weekend, my friend. And thanks for stopping by!

    X

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  40. " I would have BLOWN UP! Patience is not my thing!"


    Jeanne...I am the SAME way. I'm getting better at being more patient, however, in a situation like this I was not patient. If someone is trying to do their best, I can be very patient. But this guy was just careless.

    And yes, I called Payless when I got home and told them of my experience.

    " the other day and I had to actually interrupt the salesperson (who was TEXTING!) to ring up my purchase. Unbelievable!"



    OMG... I can't tell you HOW MANY times I will be in a store shopping and see so many of the salespeople on their phones TEXTING. It infuriates me! In my store, we are FORBIDDEN to have phones on the floor. And I think that's the way it should be in EVERY store. You're there to WORK, not talk or text on your phone.


    Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind words, my friend. You're sweetheart!


    Have a GREAT rest of your weekend!


    X to you and the girlz!

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  41. 'Laughingly, he said, “Yeah…I keep forgetting to do that."' I cannot believe his cavalier and nonchalant attitude after hearing the security alarm had gone off in his failure to remove the security tag. Seems to me, Ron, if he "keeps forgetting to do that," he's getting pleasure from it and others may have been subjected to the same. And his pushiness! He should not be in the people business!
    I hope you're having a wonderful weekend, in spite of it, Ron! :))

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  42. Hey there Petra!

    "I cannot believe his cavalier and nonchalant attitude after hearing the security alarm had gone off in his failure to remove the security tag."

    Yes, and that's what irritates me about the attitude that some people have when it comes to doing their jobs - their nonchalant and careless attitude. And you would have thought that if he did this time and time again, his manager would have confronted him about it. So, I blame this on proper management as well.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a super Sunday!

    X

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  43. I know exactly what you mean Ron, I have the self same problem at our local Homebase store. I'm sure it's a job requirement that you have a lobotomy prior to starting work there.

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  44. "I'm sure it's a job requirement that you have a lobotomy prior to starting work there."


    Bwhahahahahaha! Brava! Loved that, Dale! Brilliant!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a grrrrrrreat day!


    X

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  45. Hi!

    OMG...what a horror story with Payless, but I'm glad you were finally able to straighten it out. Normally, my experience with Payless is good, however, this time it was the PITS. And I called corporate and told them about it.

    ".I say hire people to do a job and hire more if they cannot be doing 3 other jobs beside the one they have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"



    I totally agree with you on that. Many companies hire as minimal employees as they can and then except them to do the work of THREE people.


    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your experience!


    Ciao!

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  46. what a lousy excuse for customer service Ron but I'm not surprised. what a dying art it is becoming. on a much lesser scale, one of my big pet peeves recently is the, "I think so" or "I'm not sure but it should be ok"....come on. if you don't know the answer about the product s you are selling,Find out!!!is that asking too much when you call or visit a store??? typing this on my kindle hope it isn't too wonk y!! have a great week Ron and keep up your great service,it has its own rewards,doesn't it? ;-)

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  47. "one of my big pet peeves recently is the, "I think so" or "I'm not sure but it should be ok"....come on. if you don't know the answer about the product s you are selling,Find out!!!"


    OMG, me too, Geraldine. This is why whenever I'm not sure about something at work that a customer asks me about, I will go out of my way to find a definite answer for them. And if we don't carry a product they are asking for, I will always direct them to another store that has a product.


    Too many people just don't care about customer service.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a super week!
    X

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  48. Do you think it's because you work in retail you experienced this purchase as poor customer service? Here in Alberta (where we never have enough people to fill all the jobs), this would be considered good customer service. There have been times when places like MacDonalds have had to close early because they don't have enough people to staff all the shifts.

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  49. "Do you think it's because you work in retail you experienced this purchase as poor customer service?"

    Yes, most definitely, because I'm more aware of customer service BEING in retail myself.

    "There have been times when places like MacDonalds have had to close early because they don't have enough people to staff all the shifts."



    Yup, it's the same here in the US.


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  50. I seem to remember the Gallery being a nice Mall wayyy back. I took the train over with my mom a hundred years ago (early 80s) and I think we had lunch in a little pub inside, if memory serves. But the last couple times I went it was trashy. :(
    I find customer service can go either way.... sometimes I'm amazed at how excellent it is, and then other times I shake my head that a big store or restaurant would be so indifferent about losing customers. I've called and written letters that have gone unanswered. Some truly just don't care. Sad.
    Glad you got a pair of sneakers though.

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  51. Hey there Mary!

    Yes, at one time The Gallery was a very nice mall, in fact, I still think it's an awesome space, but as you said....it went trashy. :(

    You're right, customer service can go either way (like at Trader Joe's) where the customer service is OUTSTANDING. But man, other times it's HORRENDOUS.

    "I've called and written letters that have gone unanswered. Some truly just don't care. Sad."



    Same here. And yes, sad :(


    LOVE my new sneakers!!!


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