Hey all!

I have started a group in Plainfield, Indiana.  It is though MeetUp.com

The group is for people who believe that you must give to get! It is that simple. I want to meet other people that feel as I do….basically that KINDNESS…I know here she goes again!!! Kindness is missing in our society today and we need to bring it back. I do a few things myself, my current endeavor is to send a card to someone each and every day to make them feel special! Today I sent 7…although Christmas is right around the corner so that is not fair, but they were individual cards all different with different special greetings in each one and I hope they are appreciated and something tells me they will be.

Anyway, if you live near and would like to come to one of our meetings join the group! It is brand spanking new and I am the only  member so far! I hope that changes fast. I like to believe there are alot of like minded people out there that feel the same way as I do and I am anxious to hear what everyone else does to make others feel special and show kindness to people…..even people you don’t know!!!  Or maybe that is easier..maybe I should say to your own family! LOL

Whatever the case. Go to   http://www.meetup.com/The-Plainfield-Give-to-Get-Meetup-Group/  and JOIN today!!!

Hope to see you there!

****JOIN THE FORUM****

Have you ever been treated badly by the check out person at the grocery store? or the
receptionist at the dentist office? Maybe you were on hold with the phone company for 20
minutes only to finally be greeted by a “customer service” rep who wanted nothing more then to argue with you?

And do not even get me started about the cable installers, repair guys or plumbers…ya know, “we will be there between 8am and 5pm, but DON’T bank on it! What if we tried to say” You will receive the payment somewhere between the 1st and the 30th”! Yeah, oh sure I can feel the phone being turned off as I write this!

Okay, so customer service is not what it used to be! We all get that, it is time to do something about it. Help me resuscitate the ever dying Customer Service Industry!

The GOAL of my website is to provide a community where consumers can gather to learn about and discuss customer service, good or bad. I want to take a sometimes humorous look at customer service today.

Along the way I would be pleased if we could also educate a few businesses. I want businesses to realize the customer is the backbone of their business, the reason they open their cash register in the morning and make that bank deposit each night.

I have been gone for awhile, taking care of my ill daughter and her family. I have had alot of time on my hands to think and reflect on issues as they are and the state of our customer service industry. On to my musings….

Customer Service, by definition, is to “serve” your “customer” why is it then that so many businesses act as though they have NO customers? Of course, I am not speaking literally here. I do not understand how it is that so many businesses that serve the public act as though they do not need the very public that they serve. As I have mentioned in the past, I really feel this goes back to basic kindness. We, as a society, have a lack of kindness towards our fellow people. We do not feel it necessary to be KIND to others. We have a entitlement problem in this country, so many people, especially young people, feel that they are entitled to things, even kindness when they do not give kindness to others. We all should live by the Golden Rule, “Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto YOU!” If you can honestly put yourself into someone else’s shoes and say that you would be OKAY with the treatment that you are handing out in the exact same situation then you are living the Golden Rule…if you can NOT say that you would be OKAY with the same treatment then you are in violation of the Golden Rule. Of course you need to be honest with yourself in order for this to work. Now I could go on about my thoughts on customer service and the golden rule or I could give you some examples of “good” and “bad” customer service.

This week my husband and I had to go buy a sofa, yes, a sofa and a couple of other items. While we were out shopping we had the opportunity to experience both good and bad customer service. Let me share…… Okay so we go shopping on 2 different days, the first day we meet on his lunch break to take a look at Ashley’s because there was a sofa there a month before that I really liked. So I arrive first, and am greeted by Rex, one of the Associates, he asks me how I like my 300C, the car he saw me drive up in, AHHHHH…. good way to start a conversation to talk to a person about their baby. Okay, smart move on his part! And he only gets better from there, he made sure to talk to me about things other then just the furniture, I think that is smart, it shows that he knows I am a person not just a paycheck. As it turns out he is rather new at Ashley’s, I know what it is like to start a new sales job, there is alot to know and tell the customer about and alot of inventory to know about. He did a good job, not only did he talk to us like he cared but he helped us find what we wanted and if he did not know an answer he found the answer. I LIKE THAT and I think that is the #1 thing to remember in sales, never, EVER, BS the client, if they know better, if maybe they have been through the situation before, then you lose all credibility with them and your integrity is worth alot more then a sale. As far as customer service goes Rex certainly made me feel like a guest at Ashley’s that day rather then a mere customer. On the other hand, I went to ULTA the day before and when I got to the register I handed my credit card to the girl, she didn’t notice that my picture as well as my signature were on the front of the card and asked me for my ID. I do not mind getting it out but will point out that the pic and signature are on the front of the card, in all my years of having this card when ever this happens the cashier will smile and say she or he didn’t notice it and that it, of course, was sufficient. So, at ULTA this day I am getting out my ID and point out that the items are on the front of the card and the girl is NASTY to me! I mean, I got the distinct impression that she did not like being wrong or told about the oversight on her part! She was beyond rude. There was no reason for it. She was probably having a bad day and I got my feathers ruffled over it. She knew I was all ruffled and still did nothing to recover the situation. At this point it was a matter of principle, I mean customer service is my passion after all! And I learned a good lesson that day….NEVER leave the house without my business cards! I leave a card with businesses when they provide me service, whether it is good or bad, and I forgot my cards because I changed purses!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!! I could not believe it. Well, the little girl at ULTA has gotten a reprieve….we WILL meet again! I guarantee it. SO there you have it kiddies, I didn’t just lecture today about treating others right, although you should, but I also took the time to tell you 2 entertaining and TRUE customer service related bedtime stories. Happy you stopped by? I am!

Hope you come back soon.