Customer Service . . . How you should behave on Both Sides

In my short time in the Customer Service industry, I have heard all the horror stories from both sides of the counter. How rude I was treated by a clerk/waiter or how much of a bitch this one customer got because of some little detail. Everyone has a story. But what I don't hear about, from both sides, is how to solve these issues. I mean really figure out what is going on. First, let us look at the business side.

Training new or old employees cost money. A lot of money. There is an assumption that you have to possess a certain "personality" to work customer service. That assumption is dead wrong. There are many techniques and skills that can be taught to those in the industry, but they take time to be taught and time is money. With the practice that many employers are initiating cut backs, they cut back on essential training. Training that could be used for the employees that actually interact with the consumer. But in order to save money, retailers install "self-service checkouts" to speed up check outs. When in fact, it takes a customer more time to "scan" and pay their wares and when the machines "freeze up," there is never a person around to fix the problem. And if you notice, to install these new devices, they took out several manned-checkouts. If you work for such an organization, ask this question, "Have I been properly trained to deal with customers?"

But lets not square the blame entirely on the company; perhaps 90% blame. An organization has a very limited pool of quality candidates to pick from. But to those who work in the customer service industry have to realize is unfortunately, you chose this job. And must realize that the bad, a lot of the bad, comes with the good. Putting aside how certain organizations treat their employees, there are people with ugly personalities that will take it out for no reason on a person making $7 an hour. The best advice for now would be to not take it personally. I had a customer tell me "fuck you" to my face, but after I laughed and now its a story I tell because it's damn funny. If you do take it personally, then the next best advice is to do whatever, whatever, you can to find another job that is not in that industry.

Pointing now to the customer, please lets be honest, does ranting and raving to a clerk face to face or over the phone really do any good? If over the phone you are screaming and telling someone "you guys suck," "fuck you" is going to get you an extra effort from an entry-level employee with no real power? You just insulted a complete stranger. How would you feel if someone treated you that same way for something done that was beyond your control. Unless you are into some type of masochistic way of life, do you like being treated like shit? NO? Then why did you just do it to the people at Starbucks for giving you a venti mocha when you asked for a tall? Or complaining to waiter for bringing your steak before you are done with your salad. It's very simple, try being nice to those serving you. You must understand that they are not paid enough, barely below a public school teacher with just as much pull to make any real decisions. At the risk of sounding "religious" Do unto others as they do unto you.

Perhaps if both sides practiced that, maybe that could be the answer to fixing the whole issue.


EP

Eating Healthy....Can You Afford It?

I know that "Daily Ramblings" means daily, but hey I do have a life like everyone else. Anyhoo I had to go grocery shopping and it just occurred, at least for awhile, how expensive diet, organic, or healthy food is. I was looking at soy ground "beef," and for 7 oz the price was on par with 1 pound of ground beef with 20% fat.

With all the talk and dredge about the obesity issue in America, I think that what people or "investigative journalists" ultimately forget or choose to ignore is that healthy food is downright expensive. Even if you are wealthy or rich enough to afford the food, you are still paying an outrageous price. From "Super Size Me" to news reels of showing "overweight" people from the neck down, the real issue is, "fine you now have told me I'm fat, but this is all I can afford to buy."

Example, at KFC, on their 1$ menu, you can get 2 apple turnovers (they are deep fried), which are also a good size each and could very easily be a meal onto its own. This applies to all fast food joints with "dollar menus." I mean, were can you find a healthy meal that is on a price par with a "jr bacon double cheeseburger?" A salad from the same fast-food place cost an average of $3.99.

Back to the supermarket. I advise you that the next time you go shopping look at what's on sale and compare the price to what is the "healthy" alternative. Sure turkey bacon is healthier and better for you than the standard pork bacon, but the price differential is greater than 100%. Now try to truly convince a family of five living on a "meager" budget, to buy one pack of turkey franks (8 franks per pak) for $2.99, when they can buy three paks of the "low end, non-turkey" weinies for the same price. This goes the same for the pre-packed lunch meat vs. the deli lunch meat, the Kool-Aid vs. Orange juice, and the corn oil vs. Olive oil. The grocery store that I frequent, had "Dennison's chili" on sale 10 cans for $10, yes a dollar a can. A can is a whole meal onto itself. This sale applied to all its varieties including regular, hot, chunky, no bean, and extra hot and chunky. B-b-b-ut wait, hold on, this sale did not apply to the Dennison's chili with turkey same size can. Have you gotten the point yet?

And I know there are those who might say. "Well if you eat a smaller portion of the can, you can still be ok and not gain weight." But the point along with obesity is that these cheaper priced items are full of those preservatives and additives which many by themselves can be extremely poisonous to the human body. So why is the public not being told the whole story about this issue. If government and individuals with a "healthy agenda" want us to "eat right," FUCKIN' MAKE IT AFFORDABLE YOU FUCKS!

If not, shut the f . . . well, you know.

EP

Making New Friends (part 2)

As I was saying from my last post, we as adults lose those common threads to make new friends when we were kids. Neighborhoods? As adults most move away from our childhood towns. School? Graduation hits sooner or later. College only extends the thread for some people to make new friends. Depending on where you live, there might not be much of a selection to try new things to meet people. Usually its for single people looking for romantic relationships, but that will be another subject for another time.

There is church, temple, or other relgious meeting sites but again depending where you live, there might not be a big selection of beliefs especially if you practice a faith that does not have an established base in said community. Then there is the workplace. But do you want to spend time with a person on your off time that you have seen already for 8 hrs and lunch break?
Also because depending on the workplace certain people can get shut out or have a job like city inspector in a town of 800 people.

But are all those things obstacles for older guys to make new friends? Not really. I think that life experiences tend to get in the way or put up defenses for guys when meeting new people. Perhaps the old stereotype defense comes up that when a guy is friendly to another guy, could he be gay and hitting on me? In the movies, even "guy movies," there is tons of dialouge between guys, like a Kevin Smith movie. But in real life, guys are like "Hey," "Whats up?" "How's it going?" etc . . .

But that's the way life is, perhaps what I have just said is not how it goes for everybody. Just recently I made a connection with a guy at my new job. We are in the same training class and have hit it off talking about stuff in general and it seems we have some common interests. We have gone out to lunch a few times. Even offered me to join him out of town for a convention for a day if he had a spare ticket (the offer was rescinded when the ticket was actually going to the person who it was initially for). But hey no worries well go out and toss a few beers he said.

Sounds funny when I am writing this because it sounds like something I would describe if I met a person I had romantic feelings for. Part of my point to make is this, life is unexpected. Who knows what or who comes along.

EP

Making New Friends

If anyone can remember when they were younger, how hard was it to make friends? Sure there are outcasts or loners, but even then they had at least one friend. (I did) As little kids, it is so much easier to hang out with someone and do things. In my unprofressional, armchair opinion, it was perhaps that all kids did more in common, i.e. playing dress-up or playing some type of sport. That was the common link.

But as we get older we all become involved in different interests. Many women don't have much concern for dress-up as many still do. Same for guys when many still are heavily involved in sports, some lose interest and don't follow anything.

My point is that older guys have a harder time making new connections with other guys. We all lose friends as we change. And sometimes its hard to make new connections. Well more on this later as I give an example of why I brought up this subject.

EP

Here I go

Though I have been an active Web user for over 10 years, this is my first attempt at "blogging." Like the many before me, I feel I have some tidbits of wisdom or insight to share. Or they could be the mad, makes no sense, ultra-loony ravings of a person in desperate need of professional help.

What ever my postings are, I'm sure to have a fun time at it. Read my profile to get to know me a little better.

EP