As a customer - are we really cared for by these "specialists" who have only your best interest in mind? I don't think so. The bottom line directive of any for profit company is to make money. The best way to do this is to keep the customer happy - yes - but i'm thinking this is quickly becoming a lost virtue. Customer service - real customer service is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
Recently, within the last year, I got a new "Smart phone". The reviews I read were pretty good and the advertising was amazing. I was pretty excited about getting it. So I did. I have had nothing but trouble with it since I got it. Now one would think that if I had problems with it I should have returned it when I received it. Well - hindsight is always 20/20 and yes - looking back on this now I should have done just that. However - after seeing that some of the apps weren't working I called my carrier (the same one I bought the phone from) and at first they were trying to be extremely helpful. Navigating me through the map of smartphone streetsigns and explaining to me much of the smartphone lingo. But guess what - nothing was really "fixed". Some of the apps still don't work and now the phone will freeze on occassion. So I contacted my carrier whom I will not mention however I can definitely tell you this "V" is not for victory! Guess what I was told. "Remove the battery from your phone while it is still on. Wait for about 10 seconds and then replace the battery. Then power up your phone again and this should take care of your problem." So I did. It didn't. I called back and guess what I was told - the same thing. I explained that I had already done this. So I was informed that I had to call the customer care people back on a different phone so they could navigate me through possible solutions. My smartphone is my only phone. What to do?? I could call from work on lunch break I guess. This is my project for tomorrow. But I got to thinking about this whole situation. When I had just bought the phone the customer care team was only too happy to help me out. But now that the "return time" I had to return the phone has expired there is a different song in the air. That is one of "screw you customer - you're stuck with this now". I was online tonight looking at different phones I could possibly change to but guess what..........I was told that I would have to pay full price if I change phones. Can you believe it?? I want to get rid of a phone that is less than par and again - "screw you customer."
Cell phone companies aren't the only ones - have you been to the grocery store lately? Or any store for that matter. You've got uninterested teen agers who don't really care at the checkout lines talking amongst themselves without paying attention to the customers. Have you ever noticed this - when they're talking with each other they are bubbly and energetic talking about where they're going after work, or where they went last night, yada yada yada - but when it comes time to tell you how much your bill is or to ask you to sign in the box their demeanor becomes like a zombie, their voice gets quiet and they look at the belt where the groceries once were. And this is the kicker - their "have a nice day" might just as well be "ok - you've got your groceries - now get the hell out." I'm telling you - unbelieveable.
Have you been shopping at a department store lately? I've got some major chains near me, Macy's and JC Penney's. And I looooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee to do this experiment. I will go to those stores during my work day. I wear a shirt and tie to work. I will be looking at dress shirts, suits, cologne, or leather jackets. I can't tell you how many employees ask me if I need assistance. It's almost annoying. I will go home, change into either jeans or sweats, ball cap, etc and go back to the store. I will look at the same items - and not one person will ask me if I need assistance. In fact they will watch me to make sure I don't steal anything! Ya gotta love that!! Where is customer service?
These companies - especially in these tough economic times - really need to step up their game! If they want to survive they've got to care about you and me! Take a look at Circuit City - the huge electronics company that just went under last year. You want to know why they went under?? It's because they didn't take care of their customers. They turned small problems into big ones. Their managers didn't really care how the staff acted. It was awful. People stopped buying at the stores because it was a horrible experience. Retailers - take a lesson!!
Now, not all companies, stores, businesses are like that. There are some out there who get it. I'm not talking about companies who advertise how green their company is, or how they advertise they are giving back to this charity or that charity (which isn't a bad thing but its still a marketing scheme) - i'm talking about those companies who, day in and day out, really do strive to give their customers the best experience possible. One such company is the airline Virgin America. I dicovered this airline 2 years ago when I had to go to LA for a conference. I had flown on many airlines before Virgin America (United, Delta, USAirways, Continental, and all the subsidiaries) so I thought I might as well give these guys a try. Am I glad I did! From the moment I arrived at the gate for check in to the time I got off the plane this company made me feel like I was their most important client. That is why I am once again flying with Virgin America. I have to go back to LA this spring for a wedding and my first thought when it came to travel was Virgin America. Flying from New York I definitely have a huge choice of airlines. And yes, there were cheaper flights. And yes it's a 2 hour trip for me to get to JFK in NYC to catch my flight. And yes, there are closer airports to me HOWEVER - because of the true customer care I got with Virgin America before I don't mind the 2 hour trip to NYC, or even paying a little more for this flight because I know I will be taken care of.
I hear the same is true with Southwest Airlines. I haven't had the opportunity to fly with them. Perhaps if I am going somewhere that Virgin America doesn't and Southwest does then I will get a chance to try them out.
Let's send these other companies a message! People do have the power and it's found in their wallets. I don't care if you've got only 1 dollar or 1 million dollars - the people possess those dollars and where they choose to use them will control the company's fortunes. Make them listen to us - make them care about us!!
I'm so riled up now I think i'm going to travel down to their corporate offices and lodge a complaint!!!!....................................Oh wait - my VZ Navigator app doesn't work and my carrier won't fix it - I guess i'll have to write a letter instead.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Freakin' Dr Jekyll!!
Ok people, it's been almost a month since my last blog - you know how it goes - work, recession, work, recession, yada yada yada. Seems like 2 steps forward, 4 steps back. I keep playing MegaMillions - most i've won to date - 16 buck-a-roos - enough for a coffee!
Anyhow - that's not what I came out of hibernation to chat about tonight. I'd like to talk about the age old problem of 2 faced-ness! Yes - we all have done it - and we all have experienced it! We say one thing and do another. We think one thing and act like another. Now - sometimes its warranted for example - when your date is wearing the outfit fresh from the Geek Squad; or how about the haircut that ate Manhattan - and puked it all over their head?? Those are the times that 2 faced-ness isn't so bad. We don't want to hurt feelings - or at the very least we want to have a good date so we may need to put on that alter ego for the evening to ensure they pay the bill. Afterall - enduring an evening with that - we are definitely paying so much more!!
No - what i'm talking about is those freakin' people out there who pass themselves off as one person only to find out that they are really a totally different person! What the hell is up with that???? This is a severe 2 facedness that needs to be paid attention to more! So many times it's later than sooner that we find this out (which is not good) and then people actually get hurt. Kudos to those who find out in time and get out of the relationship! Even if you're just in a friendship - it can still hurt and piss you off when you find out your friend is not who you thought they were. People - listen - this is a crazy mixed up world we live in - BE CAREFUL!!
Now, nothing happened to me but I am aware of situations in this world that people are getting hurt in. This is really pissing me off!! A note to those who are experiencing this type of relationship right now. If you are the one enduring the person who is being 2 faced - LEAVE! Go to the door, turn the knob, and walk through. You are worth so much more than having to endure something as crappy as that! Your life is precious - you only have one - make it count as much as you can!! Staying in a relationship like this will anchor you down to the ground and force you to become a bottom feeder, only able to survive on the scraps this IDIOT is throwing to you. You are valuable!! DO NOT allow this creep (male or female) to control you! You may "love" this person - but in order to truly love you have GOT TO love yourself first - and enough to make sure you are okay. You can never truly love if you are enslaved. What do I mean by enslaved? I'm glad you asked. To be enslaved by a person means that who you are, how you act, what you do - all of this revolves around the reactions of one person. Now there's a difference between not doing one thing because it may make someone upset and changing who your are as a person because someone demands you be a certain way. This is enslavement.
If you are in this type if relationship, whether it's your boyfriend or girlfriend (I know some pretty scary females out there), you have got to get out. If you are not strong enough to leave on your own then call someone when you can and ask them to come get you. Don't be embarrassed, don't be ashamed, this is for YOU. A true friend will not judge you - they love you and want to help you. Call them. Regarding the relationhship you're leaving - if that person truly loves you then they will seek professional help and get over the demons that are controlling their lives. Remember - they already have something ugly controlling their lives - DON'T LET IT CONTROL YOURS!!
If you are a "friend" of the 2faced one - please step back and look at the situation objectively and get your friend some help. Please DO NOT blame the abused one. Please look at all the events and try to be as rational as possible. The friend will never get better if we don't look at the whole picture!
People, this is not only a local problem, rather, this is a global epidemic! How do we combat this?? How do we support those who need the help to get out? How do we support those who need treatment to learn how to live with this type of mindset or oversome this type of mindset? I don't know all of those answers. I wish I did. All I know at this point is that if you know someone going through this - please love that person. Support that person. Help that person the best way you know how. Sometimes that means just calling someone who can help them better than you can. And knowing when to be there and when to not be there. That is love.
Well, like I said at the beginning of this journey - I don't know where this trip will bring me. Sometimes I guess part of life is going through dark tunnels. This definitely is one of the darkest you can go through - but necessary to face in order to make it through life triumphantly because this is a reality. Together we can emerge on the other end of this tunnel stronger than when we entered.
Then there will be a time for peace.
Anyhow - that's not what I came out of hibernation to chat about tonight. I'd like to talk about the age old problem of 2 faced-ness! Yes - we all have done it - and we all have experienced it! We say one thing and do another. We think one thing and act like another. Now - sometimes its warranted for example - when your date is wearing the outfit fresh from the Geek Squad; or how about the haircut that ate Manhattan - and puked it all over their head?? Those are the times that 2 faced-ness isn't so bad. We don't want to hurt feelings - or at the very least we want to have a good date so we may need to put on that alter ego for the evening to ensure they pay the bill. Afterall - enduring an evening with that - we are definitely paying so much more!!
No - what i'm talking about is those freakin' people out there who pass themselves off as one person only to find out that they are really a totally different person! What the hell is up with that???? This is a severe 2 facedness that needs to be paid attention to more! So many times it's later than sooner that we find this out (which is not good) and then people actually get hurt. Kudos to those who find out in time and get out of the relationship! Even if you're just in a friendship - it can still hurt and piss you off when you find out your friend is not who you thought they were. People - listen - this is a crazy mixed up world we live in - BE CAREFUL!!
Now, nothing happened to me but I am aware of situations in this world that people are getting hurt in. This is really pissing me off!! A note to those who are experiencing this type of relationship right now. If you are the one enduring the person who is being 2 faced - LEAVE! Go to the door, turn the knob, and walk through. You are worth so much more than having to endure something as crappy as that! Your life is precious - you only have one - make it count as much as you can!! Staying in a relationship like this will anchor you down to the ground and force you to become a bottom feeder, only able to survive on the scraps this IDIOT is throwing to you. You are valuable!! DO NOT allow this creep (male or female) to control you! You may "love" this person - but in order to truly love you have GOT TO love yourself first - and enough to make sure you are okay. You can never truly love if you are enslaved. What do I mean by enslaved? I'm glad you asked. To be enslaved by a person means that who you are, how you act, what you do - all of this revolves around the reactions of one person. Now there's a difference between not doing one thing because it may make someone upset and changing who your are as a person because someone demands you be a certain way. This is enslavement.
If you are in this type if relationship, whether it's your boyfriend or girlfriend (I know some pretty scary females out there), you have got to get out. If you are not strong enough to leave on your own then call someone when you can and ask them to come get you. Don't be embarrassed, don't be ashamed, this is for YOU. A true friend will not judge you - they love you and want to help you. Call them. Regarding the relationhship you're leaving - if that person truly loves you then they will seek professional help and get over the demons that are controlling their lives. Remember - they already have something ugly controlling their lives - DON'T LET IT CONTROL YOURS!!
If you are a "friend" of the 2faced one - please step back and look at the situation objectively and get your friend some help. Please DO NOT blame the abused one. Please look at all the events and try to be as rational as possible. The friend will never get better if we don't look at the whole picture!
People, this is not only a local problem, rather, this is a global epidemic! How do we combat this?? How do we support those who need the help to get out? How do we support those who need treatment to learn how to live with this type of mindset or oversome this type of mindset? I don't know all of those answers. I wish I did. All I know at this point is that if you know someone going through this - please love that person. Support that person. Help that person the best way you know how. Sometimes that means just calling someone who can help them better than you can. And knowing when to be there and when to not be there. That is love.
Well, like I said at the beginning of this journey - I don't know where this trip will bring me. Sometimes I guess part of life is going through dark tunnels. This definitely is one of the darkest you can go through - but necessary to face in order to make it through life triumphantly because this is a reality. Together we can emerge on the other end of this tunnel stronger than when we entered.
Then there will be a time for peace.
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