Make Me Smile Customer Service

Cosmos Diner 50s Style Interior Decor Thorold ON Photo Linda Randall the idea girl

they make the best baked beans in the world!

i loved the pick 5 items menu.

i had bacon (2x) baked beans a pancake white toast 2 slices

and it filled me up for under $7.

its seems like the only thing i'm doing these days is checking out chicken wings at various restaurants and coming up disappointed.

my biggest beef is the fact that i'll order them crispy and saucy and I get neither with ANY order.

they always seem to forget one or the other?

maybe it's the way i say it?

i don't know

i'll keep you posted.

now i love the FLAVOR of the wings from Dunnville's restuarant - bobs place.

remembering a fabulous waitress who passed away in april 28 2011.. Cindi Oxley Meskey bobs place deceased april 28 2011. for giving great service every day she took good care of her customers and we are going to miss her.

I noticed that Telus is going back to talking to real people instead of the stupid ivr they had before. It was a complete waste of our time and money!

Now we can get REAL people to talk too and that is the way every single business out there should do - get personal.

I'm finding this is important when dealing with new clients for my hubby's new landscaping venture.

People get muddled in phone conversations.

I think its great way to make arrangements, but the best thing is face to face.

Robin Jay taught me a bit about that in her book - The Art of the Business Lunch.

Now I haven't actually taken any clients out to lunch, no money to do so.

In the future I do plan to have little rewards, cards and sentimental things created for them.

As a thank you for hiring us to do their yard work!

On here and on my idea girl consulting lens I talk about customer service did you make me smile award or the you did not make me smile award.

It's supposed to be my way of gaging how they serve customers, and to give them valuable feedback.

Some appreciate it, others don't.

I worked in customer service on the phones for 10 years and before that I did a lot of sales and marketing, door to door type jobs.

I was really good at it actually, I could sell you swamp land in florida if i was that type of person.

I am not.

It's hilarious today, I was out handing business cards to chamber of commerce luncheon participants.

I told them I'd be able to make them a video. One fella asked how much?

I told him for my own region it's going to be FREE. He likes FREE and thought my idea was cool.

It made me feel good, so I'll have to give him a you made me smile award.

Trouble is this...
I cannot for the life of me remember his name or what his company name was lol

This is a book of my ideas on how customer retail services can improve. Many of my ideas are for the future retail market. Innovative and thoughtful about how to better the services provided to your customers. I have even given ideas on how to promote and expand the buyers market. You will want to get feedback to designers so that you will increase your sales. Learn how to make your shoppers visit to your store a pleasurable one. This book speaks mainly to the retailers themselves. However if people would share this vision and add to it we can all come up with some money saving solutions that will help us stretch our money and give us the potential to acquire all that we need, when we need it. My vision is to have a happy and fun experience while shopping at your local retail store.

Linda Randall/make me smile/how customer retail services should be/prologue
I see a future of what a retail store could be. Entertaining and fun. Not a time of exhaustion or depression when trying on clothes, and finding nothing to fit. I have solutions for the problem shopper. The reason that people rarely shop is that they hate the crowds, the walking, and the constant disappointment of not finding something they want or need. Shopping could be so much easier. The retail industry will have to change in order to expand and make sales. With the cost of living increasing and people having less money and time on their hands, retail will have to provide fresh and innovative ideas to lure shoppers in to spend their hard-earned money. I have developed some ideas and strategies that will appeal to any shopper and will help to increase sales in the retail market for many years. My ideas will work in all sales oriented stores.

When Wal-Mart first opened its doors, I really did not want to shop there simply because it was an American company. The papers wrote stories about the United States taking over the Canadian retail market and that Canadian based stores would close. Kmart was the first to go, and then sears followed. All the American companies were slowly buying up the retail franchises. The papers had instilled a fear into me. That if I were working in a Canadian retail store, I would lose my job to another. It was not long until I finally walked into my first Wal-Mart. A lovely elderly man greeted me with a smile on his face. He reminded me of my grandfather. Instantly I felt comforted and at home. Going through the store, I noticed several people with the blue Wal-Mart smocks on. There were people ready to help? I am not used to having help. It was strange to get used to at first. I am so used to going in a retail store, looking all over the place

Moreover, not finding what I want. I am used to going to the customer service desk and asking for assistance. I am used to them calling for personnel from the back stock room over the intercom. I am used to waiting 10 to 15 minutes for someone to assist me. Finally, they show up, nope, sorry they are out of stock on that item. When will they get it again? They shake their head and lift their shoulders. I know we can leave a note for my manager, who will be in four days from now? Usually I would just say no thanks and walk out. Now i never have to go through that again! Wal-Mart changed retail history here in Canada. Their customer service was unheard of. We quickly adapted, and have learned to depend on their style of customer service. Finally, a super sized store that has everything 'l will ever need and more in stock. Consumers Distributing has gone out of business. Where they only stocked a few items and I had to fill out

An order form and come back two to five days later. Now if I cannot find what I want in stock, I can go online and order it. I can pick it up a few days later at a store close to me. Convenience is the key. Now I do not even have to leave my home, if I have internet access. I can have anything delivered to my door. The only drawback is ordering clothes. If I have an odd shape, it is easier to go into a store and try different items on. Some things look fabulous on the hanger. However, once i have put it on, it is all crooked and bent out of shape. It will be nice if someday they can develop memory material for clothing so that an outfit will adjust itself to your shape and fit correctly. Who knows? We have memory foam beds, sleeping bags and footwear so far! I really love my memory foam pillow top bed. It is amazing to sleep on. It moulds itself to the contour of your body. For many years, I suffered insomnia and now i sleep like a baby. I also listen to meditation cds that promote sleep as well.

Sometimes I need help falling asleep. Take my mind off the things. Meditation helps you relax and find yourself. You can also come up with wonderful ideas and visions of what you could be doing in your life. It makes it fresh and exciting. I have always been a firm believer in retail therapy. If I am blue or depressed or just need to have fun, I will go do a bit of shopping. If I am really down in the dumps, I will end up doing too much shopping! Shopping puts me in another world. I forget all my troubles and problems and just immerse myself in the awe of looking at new things. I will mentally take note of what I really need and want. I will even compile a wish list of things I think I need. You take the list home and let is sit for 30 days. If you still feel you need something, then get it. The only time you buy something right away is if it is on sale at an incredibly low price a savings of ten dollars or more. Then go ahead

and get it. Only if you are sure you will use it all the time. Otherwise, you are just wasting your hard-earned money on something frivolous. Always take time to spring clean your home once a year. If you find something that has not been used for a year, then get rid of it. Donate it to a local charity or hold a yard sale if you have many items. The catch is this; once you get rid of it, never replace it again. Learn to do without it! It will save you future yard sales and your home will no longer be full of useless things. It is easy to buy and buy, especially if you love to shop. In that case, buy something that is good quality. Not something, that will break easily or fall apart easily with wear and tear. I find most things you buy on the market will only last you a year or two. Then you have to replace it because it is worn out or the technology's changes so much that you have no choice in the matter. Choose what you

When I call Customer Care, I expect to spend less than 10 minutes on the phone and solve my problem then and there.

I hate forms to be filled out, contact my supervisor stories and the fact that the Customer Care Representative that I just poured my heart and soul out to cannot help me! That is the most unpleasant experience to put your customer through. I know, I worked in Customer Care for 10 years, I've had the misfortune of having to tell my customers that exact same, song and dance. In many cases, I probably could have fixed the problem, If I would have had the right resources, information and empowerment.

Scott Sweitzer the manager of Niagara Factory Outlet Flea Market, is making the vendors and customers very unhappy. When approached about the flea market charging fees at 330pm on Sunday Dec 27, 2009 while 3/4 of the vendors were closed for a staff christmas party, Mr Sweitzer began to yell and scream at the customer, throw a dollar and tell her to get lost. He refused to listen to the customer's story about the 13 year old girl door greeter being rude to people about returning money for a flea market that is never open. I go there every sunday and most of the time, the vendors close at 330 or 4pm, yet the hours say open till 5 pm. They are still charging the entrance fee at 430?

There was no sign on the door today, telling people they were closing, and after letting the girl at the front know that most of the vendors were closed she just smiled when I asked to have my money back.

She said, No i'm not giving you your money back.

I asked for a manager.

She said, they won't give you your money back.

I asked where is the managers office, she pointed and smugly said, over there.

I walked and knocked on the door and asked, Hi how come your charging the fees when 3/4 of your vendors are closed for a christmas party?

Scott pulled out a loonie, snapped it on his desk, and was angry.

I tried to tell him about the girl at the front and he began to yell and scream at me.

It's MY FAULT, I DIDNT LOOK AT THE TIME!

YOU CANT BLAME a 13 YEAR OLD.

I GAVE YOU YOUR MONEY NOW GET LOST!!!

I am a weekly patron and I know most of your vendors by name.

I noticed a few weeks back how miserable everyone is in the place.

I found out that the rents were raised after what 20 years? or something like that.

And...

EVERYONE HEARD SCOTT SCREAMING AT ME THERE IN FRONT OF THE FOOD COURT, WITH ABOUT 50 PEOPLE MILLING AROUND. THEN HE WALKED TOWARDS THE FRONT AND STARTED SCREAMING AT THE 13 YEAR OLD GIRL FOR TAKING MONEY...

His behavior was unacceptable and poor customer service.

As it so happens, I was there to do a REVIEW on your business for the ST Catharines Standard.

This man should be fired, and you need someone in there who knows how to treat the customers with some respect.

I've been attending this flea market for the past 20 years and I've never come across someone who was so rude and ignorant to a customer.

It was the way he pushed me out of the way and went past me while I was trying to talk to him.

HIs GET lOST was heard by everyone, and believe me, jaws dropped.

I wish i had a camera. I would have put it on youtube..

ALSO..

your sign says open till 5pm..

every week they close those stalls around 330 or 400!

It's annoying.

And I had to tell someone , actually i'll be telling millions of people on my blog and in the paper, about scott being a good example of very poor customer service!

When I asked for the owner to file a complaint about the way things are I was refused the information.

I am writing a review about the flea market in the standard and unfortunately this is the story that will be printed.

This business will go down because of this guy, get rid of him.

Linda Randall

Idea Girl Consulting

Knowledge is Power

We're here to educate you about car ownership. We have no problem helping you with a quick question over the phone or if you stop by our shop. Did you know a very small amount of maintenance can go a long way when it comes to the life of your car? Our goal is to make sure our customers understand the basics when it comes to owning a car. This way, you're not stuck coming in for hundreds of dollars worth of repairs because you missed some routine maintenance.

If your automobile does need major repairs, we hope you'll stop by our shop because you trust us and know we're going to treat you with respect.

Focus on You. Not Your Wallet
At Advantage Auto Repair of Parker, you'll get an honest consultation and evaluation of your car. We'll do the repairs you need and then recommend anything that would help your car run better. We won't hold your car hostage and force you to make repairs that you don't need. There are no unnecessary sales / high pressure service writers upselling you additional services.

If i find that your customer service stinks, I'm going to go and complain to 10 people and those 10 people will complain to another 10 people and before you know it, 100 people have heard about your crappy customer service. You have just lost 100 potential customers!

So I order a chicken salad sandwich the other day.

When I open the sandwich half is bun with no chicken whatsoever, so I take it back and complain.
Can you please put more chicken on this? only half the bun is covered.

she shakes her head no and says were only allowed to put 2 scoops on it, portion control.
Great , there isn't enough mean on your new BIG buns.
I want the manager!

The manager informs me she will not add any chicken to this sandwich so then I say.
I know why don't you spread the chicken around on the sandwich so it's covered?

she says, yeah we can do that!

I'm rolling my eyes as I say thanks.

Why didn't the girl have any common sense in the first place?

Who wants to each a sandwich on the new big CIABATTA bun with no meat on it?

It should have 3 scoops > like they had last year on the SMALLER BUN?

what's with this portion control crap?

How about I portion control how many times I visit Tim Hortons.

If you're going to give us a bigger bun, then give us plenty of meat on it!

I remember that I USED to scrape off the EXTRA chicken, stick it in a baggy at home and make a second sandwich. That was about 4 years ago....

Now I have to scrape this tiny layer of chicken to reach each end of the bun?

What's up with that?

Maybe I'll just end up being a disgruntled customer!

I appreciate that I can AFFORD to eat lunch there for $5.

I get a drink, a donut and a sandwich.

But please... don't cut down on the meat.

It's bad enough that the donuts are half the size they used to be.

And the tea biscuits?

Well there a joke now, a spit in the bucket, about 1/4 the size they used to be a few years ago!

I know times are tough but when you've eaten at the same place for over 10 years, and get used to a certain standard of service and it changes, so do your desires to frequent the place.

I used to go every day, sometimes two or three times!

Now I'm lucky if I got 3 times a month!

Now that's what I call chicken little.

little sandwich

little service :)