From time-to-time, I long for the “good old days.”
This sentimental thought down memory lane was triggered during a recent trip to McDonalds when my sweet 12 year-old daughter, Mantha, invited me to lunch.
Unfortunately, our joyous mother-daughter date quickly turned sour. Upon reaching the counter, we were met by an employee who had the worst customer service attitude, conduct, behavior, and demeanor known to mankind. Imagine being welcomed by someone with the face of Dracula and displaying the personality of a rock!
Like you, I work so hard for my money and become instantly annoyed, irritated, and piqued when I am the recipient of rude or haphazard service and insincere gratitude when I patronize businesses. In other words, I want some “major suck-up!”
Sensing that I was not going to receive a customary greeting such as a “good afternoon” during my lifetime, I broke the ice by asking Miss Jackass, as loudly as I could muster, “Do you sell Happy Meals at this restaurant?”
If her roving eyes and raised eye lids could talk, they would have communicated, “duh.”
Quickly responding to her nonverbal “duh” and her unprofessional body language and subliminal message, I told her that she needed to “eat two or three of them!”
Get my drift?
But, wait a minute—-it gets better!
Only last night, I visited another McDonalds. Keep in mind that this restaurant was in a different city and in a different state.
I ordered my usual drink of choice which is a sweet tea. It costs $1.07. I handed Mr. Jackass $1.10. Mathematically, I should have received three Abe Lincolns (pennies).
Instead, he asked me, “Do you want your change back?”
Calmly, I replied by asking him, “Do you have an ***hole?”
Get my drift?
Am I the only customer who is feeling that today’s employees “ain’t been taught?”
Hey, employees—-your work as a customer service provider is critically important. That’s why companies such as McDonalds spend millions and millions and millions of dollars on marketing surveys that ask loyal customers like me, “How may we serve you better?”
My answer is very simple.
You can start by giving me somebody that has been “taught” to provide exceptional customer service with a smile and who is willing to go that extra mile to delight me. Next, follow-up with somebody else who automatically gives me my change back.
Duh!
