Anecdotes of bad customer service!

(TotalPosts:7)

Montreal Expat
Sep 28, 05 - 6:05 PM Anecdotes of bad customer service!

I don't think Bermuda Sucks, far from it, but I do think everyone here
has experienced some appalling customer service from time to time. My
favourite excuse for it is the mandatory tipping (what reason do they
have to be nice to you when they get 15% added to the bill anyway?).
Please share your stories of bad service! I love reading them!

Here's one of mine, I don't really think names are necessary!:

There's a certain deli/sandwich shop in Hamilton that I used to frequent
only owing to its proximity to my place of employment. The quality of its
food had always been dubious in comparison to the Lemon Tree or the
Hungry Bear or even the soup nazi adjoint to Cafe Continental.

One of the sandwich makers, a woman, unfortunately had a rather large
growth of hair on her chin (many mean people may have called her a
bearded lady, but I am not one of those people). Many a good time was had
at lunch when a colleague and I would play a sort of "Russian Roulette"
to see who would get the bearded lady and who would get the non-bearded
one to make their sandwich that day based on the way the line went.

But one early morning I came into the deli in a rather rush due to a
presentation that morning for a croissant and a coffee. I found a longer
than normal line up, the source of which was a sloth-like crusty cashier
"working" behind the counter.

As I approached the counter to order my croissant, she took a phone call.
I assumed it must have been important business, because this was "rush
hour" in the bakery and there was a long line. However, by the loud
discussion which ensued, I was forced to the conclusion it was
exclusively personal in nature.

"Oh Gurrllll how your momma? She in de hospital again?"

She must have seen the look on my face because she finally nodded in my
direction. I asked for my croissant and she kept yammering on and reached
behind her (still on the stool) and grabbed a muffin. I stammered out
that I asked for a croissant instead, and she turned around and grabbed a
random donut..while continueing to talk on the phone.

Finally I could take it no longer and raised my voice (coming to the
conclusion she couldn't hear me due to being on a phone call) asking for
my croissant. At this she put the phone down and yelled at me not to
raise my tone to her.

I told her I was forced to raise my voice because she hadn't heard me two
times already. This started a heated argument before I'd even had my
coffee...and at this point, I was running too late to continue and ended
my transaction without purchase, telling the fat, loud, miserable and
poorly mannered person behind the counter that she had lost my business
and that of my colleagues as well.

V. M. Smith
Sep 28th, 2005 - 8:40 PM Re: Anecdotes of bad customer service!

Montreal,

Oh, now you've done it. I'm going to have to setup a whole new section
for this thread!

The real downside of a place with a negative unemployment rate is that
anybody can have a job. Employers are forced to choose between hiring
people who would otherwise be out biting the tires of passing cars, or
leaving the position unfilled.

What shocks me are those who are fired for whatever reason,
(incompetence, negligence, theft), and are snapped up again as soon as
they hit the job market.

So, let the floodgates open, but as Montreal has set the standard, please
do not name any individuals - detailed descriptions of facial hair are
enough.

VMS - webmaster
Email: info@bermudasucks.com

Fedup
Sep 29th, 2005 - 12:20 AM Re: Anecdotes of bad customer service!

I have a good one (bad one). I stopped at the pharmacy on the way to
Somerset village to get some pain killers ( I had a headache and a car
full of kids). I went to the pharmacist, there were 3 people behind the
counter, 2 were having a conversation and one was on the phone. I waited,
I waited, they all looked me in the eye and turned away, I waited, I
waited, I said excuse me, they looked at me and all went back to their
conversations, I waited, I waited. Finally I said to my kids I guess they
dont want my business and left and stopped at the next pharmacy in
Somerset Village. So much for customer service. They did not say 1 word
to me, just looked me in the face and turned away.

Ronald
Sep 29th, 2005 - 8:09 AM Re: Anecdotes of bad customer service!

Fedup,

Well, it was you own fault they wouldn't serve you. Don't you know that
as the person entering the business YOU must say "Good morning/afternoon"
first? It is because you were so disrespectful that they ignored you.

Saying "excuse me" just makes them think you farted and would only furter
add to your problem.

Gosh, you'd think you'd know how to properly greet a Bermudian after
reading the government manual on the subject.

FEDUP!
Sep 29th, 2005 - 12:48 PM Re: Anecdotes of bad customer service!

I should have known **** and here I was thinking I was being polite
saying "excuse me" maybe I should have said "AXE CUSE ME!!!!!"

smiley
Sep 30th, 2005 - 11:51 AM Re: Anecdotes of bad customer service!

Me: Good morening, howyadoin?
Cashier: (Glare, silence)
Cashier v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y enters my three items into the register,
overcharging on two of them.
Me: Excuse me, the price of those should be...
Cashier (to friend): So, there's a 75% off sale at Gibbons...
Cashier holds out hand for money.
Cashier glares.
Me: Actually, the price of these should be $1.39, not $1.94.
Cashier (to friend, still holding out hand): They got these jeans, $15.99.
Me: Excuse me, the price came up wrong. It should be..
Cashier: (glares at me, nods at amount on register, holds out hand).
Me: I'll just put those back then, and take the correctly priced item.
Cashier: (glares, cancels transaction, takes away all items, turns away,
starts picking at nails).
Me: Thanks, enjoy the rest of your day.
Cashier: (no response whatsoever)

Ah, grocery shopping in Bermuda... I know, I shoulda been grateful to
(over)pay for those moulding goods. Shouldn't I?

Fedup
Sep 30th, 2005 - 1:01 PM Re: Anecdotes of bad customer service!

don't you know the customer is never right, especially if you DARE to
interupt a conversation. Get real.