Wednesday, May 07, 2008

RStheGr8: Customer "dis"service

I have a recently discovered interest excellent customer service. I can typically tell a company that will stick around and a company that will fade away solely based on the way they handle their biggest asset—the customer. I enjoy acknowledging the good guys and pointing out the bad guys. Fortunately, there are others like me. I just came across a site with endless complaints about service—not dissimilar from my own though I've only dealt with this company for three months.

 

For the entire time I've lived in my condo, I've been "dealing" with one company. They're a pain. They're rude. They're unprofessional. And they lie—a lot. But I almost need them: Comcast.

 

Fortunately, I have my internet service through AT&T, where I've had no problems with service. But Comcast finds a way to make a simple amenity like cable absolute torture.

 

First, if you can actually get somebody on the line (they love to "drop" calls around there), the technician people will have you run all kinds of tests that they know will NOT work but they "have" to do the tests BEFORE they can send a technician out. Then they will SAY they're going to send somebody out. But if and when that actually happens is a toss-up.

 

The fact that all of my service features have not worked properly since day one is definitely a source of frustration. Comcast in many places in Chicago is a complete monopoly. I really want to switch to a Dish but that would violate the rules of my condo. So for now, I wait…I do my best NEVER to have to deal with Comcast. And when I do, I try to call my "allies" there whom I always have to leave a message for and who may or may not return my call. After all, what's the point of getting frustrated with a bunch of employees who probably hate their jobs anyways and hate me for calling and expecting customer service?  

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

When life was all scoops and ice cream...

The people I'm working with now remind me of when life was simple. With me being so green in my career, it's amazing that I'm working with people who have been with the same company for decades—longer than I've even been alive.

 

I remember when I landed my very first job. I was serving up ice cream at the local Baskin Robbins, which was literally a 10 minute walk from my house. I was 16 years old and so excited to be making $6 an hour. It felt like a lot of money to me. I worked there for about two years, steadily earning a little bit more every several months. If I were still working there today, I'd probably be making about $12 an hour and I'd be 15 pounds heavier with all the consistent ice cream consumption. I wonder if life would still be "simple"? Would I be any happier?

 

For example, my biggest concerns while I was working there:

 

* If the "thick as a brick" milkshake lady would come in and order us around to prepare for her the perfect shake.

* If we'd run out of a flavor of ice cream before our next shipment.

* If my friends would come in expecting me to shell out free ice cream.

 

But overall, I loved my job.

 

In memory of the founder of Baskin Robbins who died today, I wanted to reflect on those more "simple" times.