Thursday Thirteen (Vol. 88)

"The customer is always right." Marshall Field (1834-1906)

"The customer is always screwed." Di (1962 - the next time I have to deal with AT&T)

Thirteen Extremes of Customer Service

1. AT&T - The only reason I have my cell phone service with AT&T is because of me deep, abiding love of the iPhone. Yesterday I spent 68 minutes on the phone with AT&T customer service while driving 30 miles to the closest AT&T corporate store and while standing in the store. Plus I spent too much time talking to the manager of the store. Apparently the corporate stores, the 800 number customer service and the non-corporate stores are like completely different entities...argh....

2. Jersey Mike's, Fuquay Varina, NC - Puts Subway to shame. There's a kid who works there who can simultaneously put the extras on one sub, while putting the meat on the next sub, while taking the order for the next person in line.

3. The place my friend bought his boat - He left and got on 95 only to find that the boat was shaking on the trailer. They came and fixed it and took off.

4. The place my friend bought his boat - When the wheel of the trailer came off a few miles down the road, they brought him a BRAND NEW TRAILER with their apologies for his inconvenience.

5. Apple - I've said it over and over and over again. I have NEVER had a bad experience with Apple whether by phone or in an Apple store.

6. Assaggio's Pizza, Fuquay Varina, NC - Order a pizza by phone. Go there to pick it up. It's an eat-in place, with no table service, so the eat-in people have to order at the cash register...yes, the same cash register where the take-out pizza is picked up. So I'm standing there seeing my pizza on the counter, cooling off by the minute, while the Mom in front of me is discussing with her 4 year old whether he would like plain spaghetti or ziti!!!

7. David Anthony's, Fuquay Varina, NC - Best. Gift. Shop. Ever. I have never gone in there and not been able to find something for the person for whom I am shopping. Plus, they wrap for free and their hand-tied, curled ribbons make the gift extra beautiful!

8. Most DMVs - Sometimes I think the employees get bonuses based on how many people they piss off or how many people they turn away because they didn't dot the "i" on their signature.

9. DMV, Angier, NC - A little farther to drive, a much more pleasant experience. Thanks to Monte who told me about it or I would have been cooling my heals at one of those other DMVs.

10. Dickens Insurance, Fuquay Varina, NC - And speaking of Monte, when I needed a new proof of insurance, he asked if I wanted to come by and get it or have him drop it off at my house since he was going to be headed this way anyway!

11. Harris Teeter - They really do have good customer service. But I always wonder why the cashier asks, "Did you find everything today?" I mean, there are three people behind me. What would happen if I said, "No, I couldn't find the arugula and I couldn't find Adobo...it's a Cuban spice." Would she leave her post and go find these things for me while everyone waited?

12. Starbucks - Sometimes I forget to order my chai iced. OK, here's my order - Grande Non-fat Iced Chai. With all of that, I sometimes forget an adjective. So when they present me with a hot chai and I say, "Oh no...I meant to order it iced!" they don't roll their eyes. They don't get irritated. They turn around and make my order the way I wanted it...even though it was MY mistake that I ordered it wrong.

13. Four Oaks Bank, Fuquay Varina, NC - A truly old-fashioned bank where everyone knows your name. Since we've had our construction loan, mortgage, checking account and construction account there, I have had the pleasure of dealing with everyone from the tellers to the vice president. Special kudos to Theresa, who not only helped me with some special requests during construction, but who was selected the Best Teller in Fuquay Varina by the Fuquay Varina Independent!

See, you thought it was going to be 13 examples of horrible customer service that Di is going to bitch about. But no! My low tolerance for horrible customer service makes me really appreciate the good stuff.

Di

 

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Comments

[Jennifer]

Hmm..... I don't know if I could come up with good customer service examples. I'd have to really dig into my brain for some (lol). This is yet another really creative and fun list!

[melanie]

I have AT&T as well..enough said. :)

[Nicholas]

You seem to be doing quite well there!

You spent 68 minutes on the phone WHILE driving? If you'd done that in England, when I was a cop, I'd have locked you up for that!

[JoAnn]

#1 - The reason I do NOT have an iPhone is AT & T.

#1 - A reason to buy the new (to me) Bluetooth device that mounts on your visor is spending 68 minutes on your cell phone while driving!

#5 - I have NEVER had even one bad customer service experience in my 26 years as an APPLE user.

#6 - stores like this make me nuts. Why do I have to wait in line behind someone ordering a 3 complicated sandwiches when all I want is a cup of coffee??? GRRRRR

#7 -My version of David Anthony's is The Enchanted Owl, which has been around for about 50 years. An absolutely amazing store with more selection of gifts than anywhere I have ever been. They wrap for free AND deliver for free within a 20 mile radius. Imagine that. Every bride I have ever known (including myself and my daughter) has registered there.

#8 - DMVs are non-existent in PA. For tests, we go to a state police testing facility. Very efficient. For photos, we go to a photo-licensing place every 4 years. Very efficient and they hire mentally challenged people. For "driver services" we go to independently owned facilities which are incredibly efficient because they are a profit-making business, not state-owned and -operated. For car inspections, we go (once a year) to garages and service stations that are licensed by the state.

[Robin]

Not to give away one of my best secrets, but you can give David Anthony's a list of people, and a dollar amount, and they will pick the most wonderful gifts and wrap them up. It is a win-win. You don't worry if you got them the right thing (because you don't know what you got them until they open it), and you stick to whatever budget you have planned for the particular holiday. How absolutely great is that.