🚀 go-pugleaf

Mike Makarov wrote:
> 
> How can anyone complain about lousy customer service from stores that cut
> prices to the point that no independent business person can stay in
> business.   Hmm, maybe it's because they pay nothing to the workers, and
> only hire half the required workers needed to properly run a large store.
> The reason you get lousy customer service is because you are NOT PAYING FOR
> IT.

Geeze, guys--I'm having trouble relating here!

It's some of the "independent local businesses" where I've
experienced the *very* worst customer service, even if/when I'm
willing to pay their higher prices. Plus, I've become so
annoyed at how some of them keep changing the hours they are
open, seemingly at whim, that I've stopped considering several
of them as a source of anything, evne if their customer service
is otherwise good.

A lot of them have shorter hours that they're open anyway, and
that I could work around if they'd just stop *changing* the
hours every week or two or three.

When I mentioned (nicely) to one store-owner that I found it
difficult to work around the changing hours, and that this was
my third try to get in to buy the particular item I was buying,
she said, "That's why we like owning our own business, we call
the shots!  If you don't like it, too bad.  We do have other
customers", or words to that effect.  I hope they do, because
they won't see me again.

Another time, at a small hardware, I simply asked (again
nicely) as soon as I got into the store if they carried a
particular brand of the item I wanted.  (I have problems that
make it harder for me than for most people to wander around a
store searching for something; that's why I went to the small
hardware that time.)  The guy said in a very snarly voice, "If
you want selection, go to Home Depot or somewhere.  I get sick
and tired of people expecting us to carry every damn brand
there is."  This was one of the store owners, and he didn't see
me again, that's for sure!

Well, I tried Wal-Mart, & asked the "greeter" by the door as I
went in.  She smiled, said, "Oh, yes!  Just go straight down
there (pointing) and they're at the end of the aisle on the
right-hand side.  I think the boxes are red and white, and on
about the second-from-the-bottom shelf."  I walked straight to
them and she was right.

Those are just two examples; I have enough others in my
personal experience that I've totally stopped trying to
"support local businesses".    

I've been getting *excellent* customer service at our local
K-Mark, Wal-Mart, Superstore, Save-On, Home Depot, and even
*Price/Costco* (Price/Costco does expect you to help yourself a
lot, but when I've needed help and asked for it, their staff
has been great).  These stores also have the lowest prices I
can find, except if I buy stuff "used".

The only low-priced store I've had even hit-and-miss service
from is Zellers.

There, I've had excellent service most of the time--always
great service from the staff on the floor or at checkouts, but
sometimes-great-sometimes-lousy from their customer service
desk.

When it's been lousy at the customer service desk, it was the
same kind of things someone else mentioned as lousy customer
service about K-Mart--person too busy talking to a
fellow-worker about their lives outside the store to get busy
and help the customers waiting, losing track of what they're
doing and having to start again because they're still yakking
(grrrr!), etc., etc.

Besides how their staff treat customers: depending on when you
go, our nearest Zellers does have times when there are way too
few checkouts open.  And I've also noticed they have more than
they should of items without prices shown. I usually just
refuse to consider that item, which usually means I don't buy
my "whatever" from Zellers. I'm not going to go stand in line
to maybe just find out the price is more than I'm willing to
pay!!  

Now, if all those other low-priced stores can have excellent
customer service *and* the lowest prices in the city, how come
Zellers can't??

And how come lower-priced stores in other cities can't do it
too?

Seems like "you get lower prices, you aren't paying for
customer service so you don't get it" doesn't apply, at least
not based on my experiences.

Melanie Piper
 
> When you want to buy a bicycle or a fishing license, go to a sporting goods
> store or a bike store or a local bait shop.  Sure you will pay more for
> stuff there, but you will most likely get better and prompt service.
> 
> The moral of the story is, don't expect something for nothing.  When a large
> company comes in and sells products so cheaply that it drives out all other
> related businesses in the area, something has got to give.