It's almost as if some shops/salons/companies don't actually want any custom at all....
I recently phoned up a local ironing company as I've been working a lot of hours recently and wanted to get our (huge backlog) of ironing done. A gruff woman answered the phone and when I said 'hello, I'd be interested in getting some ironing done' I got an abrupt 'No we're not looking for anymore customers' and she virtually put the phone down! They may well be stacked out with customers now but this may not always be the case, and they will never ever get any custom from me now. Surely it would make better business sense to be polite.
Yesterday I went to get my hair cut. The hairdresser who cut it is lovely, but then at the end I had to go to the counter to pay, which was manned by the woman who owns the salon, with four other hairdressers standing by her chatting. They were all really hostile and made it clear that I was interrupting their conversation by daring to stand there and pay! I made my next appointment, and asked for it to be written on a card, and got much huffing and puffing and the owner just slapped the card down on the counter and didn't say a word.
There is also a local soft play place, where the service is absolutely atrocious. Things like staff standing around talking and being fully aware that there is a queue of customers to be let in, but ignoring customers for 10 or more minutes until they can be bothered to let them in. Or 6 members of staff standing behind the snacks counter chatting, with one staff member serving a queue of about 10 customers. They really don't seem to give a toss. I'd stop going there if my kids didn't love it there.
Surely happy customers are an essential for any business? Why do places just not seem to care or offer any customer service at all?
AIBU?
To think it's no wonder that so many businesses go out of business when they treat customers like shit?
oolajoola · 16/02/2014 20:27
Yanbu.
I have had many bad experiences in hair salons. From rude people to one visit taking 3 hours to complete, it should take her 20 mins maximum, due to my stylist overbooking appts and running late. I gave up completely and taught myself how to do my pixie cut at home.
I walk past her shop often and she's noticed my fresh haircut, making it obvious I'm still getting it cut, but hasn't asked me yet.
It's not only shop people that shouldn't work with the public. I had an appointment at DWP and the guy on the desk was awful, unhelpful and rude. I wasn't on his list to tick off for that day (because we all know lists rule the world 
) so he basically told me to leave and that I was wrong. I politely attempted, many times, to explain that my appt was certainly that day, I requested he took my NIN and checked a computer. Would he buggery. You'd think I was asking for access to the crown jewels or the bank vault.
With my patience worn very thin by this point I said something like ''Look mate, I've just walked 2 miles to get here for my 100% definite appointment time, I'm not moving''
He replied ''so stand there'' :)
Another guy heard me and came over, took my NIN and checked the system - Lo and behold - I WAS ON THERE 
Trillions "I don't tolerate bad service. I stare hard at the perpetrator and say something like "I'm sorry, am I interrupting your conversation?" (if chatting to colleagues) or "may I pay for these goods or shall I just take them?". I also ask for extra tills to be opened if there is a queue and I see staff hanging about. Most of the time it works." Well done 
.
Me too. Sometimes in a louder voice than normal. Recently had to ask Hospital Receptionist who utterly ignored me when I stood at her desk "I'm sorry are you busy, should I go to someone else?". It would have been so easy for her to say I'll be with you in a moment.
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