On the idiocy of “Excellent customer service”

[kenfrequed]

I am absolutely tired of the expectation of “excellence in customer service.” And in all fairness it isn’t just because I perform customer service. The cult of customer service has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives to the point where all of us are exposed to techniques and training in that area no matter what our chosen vocation

Comments

[gloomchen]

I was a door greeter for eight months and it ROCKED. But then again, I was 18 years old and was making slightly more than minimum wage WITHOUT having to sling burgers. And my friends would stop by and hang out with me by the carts.

I don't think it would be nearly as fun at 80 years old though.

[jgoode]

Thank you...for writing this. ;-)

I can't stand the greeters at the "large box stores." I hate phony friendliness. I'm just here to buy some shampoo, garbage bags, and maybe a bag of cookies. We are not buddies now!

[leaves1]

Dave Chappelle did a rather funny hyperbolic spoof of customer service in his "Pop Copy" employee training video:
http://www.truveo.com/Dave-Chapelle-Popcopy/id/1538782153

[bigvividworld]

Firstly, it's psychology. Customers do respond to cheerful representatives and greeters, and the company's bottom line goes up. I don't know who to blame for that.

Secondly, there's the other extreme. I was buying some hair dye in Hamburg, and the lady at the counter just stood there talking to her friend for about ten minutes, during which time I made eye contacted, and said I was ready to buy a few times. She just glared each time, like her discussion of nail polish was more important, and I was the rude one.

And a side note, I do appreciate being thanked after making a purchase, but it really only makes sense if it's a privately owned store, and the person who is thanking me is also getting my money.