The people on the floor would probably suffer from a severe case of headphone envy…they have to listen to that crap all shift long. However, they can’t do a damn thing about it. The people who made the decisions won’t be on the floor, and won’t see you.
But even if you don’t make your point, you won’t be nearly as bothered by the intercom.
Yeah, I know it’s not the fault of the people on the floor. I’ve looked all over the place for someplace to give Sears Corporation my feedback on how incredibly annoying it is, but I haven’t been successful yet.
It right on the homepage of Sears.com. “Give Feedback.”
They always seem unprepared for a response. “Welcome to Hungry’s! Would you like to try our new Peaches & Sauerkraut Calzone today?”
“No, thanks.”
Then we stare at each other, while I wait for her to ask me what I do want.
At my last summer job, I was supposed to tell people (after they bought something at a retail store/stand/cart or candy shop) “Have a Six Flags Day!” You know… because of the ads saying “More flags, more fun?” Didn’t do it. The people across the highway had it worse, though: “Have a Six Flags Day… at Hurricane Harbor” was their expected statement!
There isn’t a “give feedback” place on Sears.ca, but I did find a “contact us,” and I did! I should send them an email a day until they stop it.
Recently at Food Lion, everyone, from the moment you walked in the door till you hauled your purchases to your car, was supposed to greet you. If there were 4 clerks on the registers, they were all supposed to call out to you as you walked in. Talk about something that makes a body want to walk OUT! I’m running in to grab a can of tomato sauce and a gallon of milk. I don’t want to feel like I’m at a grand reception and I’m snubbing my hosts. I just want to get my stuff and get out of there.
I emailed my opinions. I assume I wasn’t the only one, because they don’t do that any longer.
Similar thing in Lowe’s - apparently every single employee is supposed to greet every single customer. If I’m looking at you or obviously looking for you, by all means, speak to me. But when I’m wandering the aisles looking at stuff or moving resolutely to the desired department (or the restroom) I really don’t want to chat. Be helpful, be available, but please also be out of my way. I came to buy a mop, not to make friends.
I’m really not anti-social. I just want to get my errands done. Period.
And I almost never phone anyone so I don’t have to deal with the stupid ways some places answer calls. Whew!
Oh god, yes. I used to work there, and they had this bubbly lady selling crap in a different department ‘come see me for your free gift!’ several times before she was going to go into her spiel.. and she did that spiel I don’t know how many times a day.
I don’t shop there much anymore.
Whenever I call UPS Preferred to schedule a package pick-up, they are constantly thanking me. When I confirm my phone number…“Thank you for that”. When I tell them how many packages…“Thank you for that”. When I tell them nothing weighs over 70 pounds…“Thank you for that”. When I tell them what the latest time they can pick up is…“Thank you for that”. Usually my boss and I stand there holding up fingers for how many times they have thanked us. Drives me batty some days.
My wife used to be a bank teller at a couple different banks. When we lived in Kansas City, she worked at UMB, and whenever she answered the phone, she had to say, “Thank you for calling UMB, where you can count on more, this is Natalie, how may I help you?” She actually won a “Count on More” customer service award for putting up with that crap. At her most recent job, she was actually corrected by a co-worker about how to address customers at the end of transactions. She had been saying, “Is there anything else I can help you with today?” She was told to say, instead, “What else can I help you with today?” as if customers would respond, “Well, now that you mention it, I’d like to take out a home equity loan!”
Now she’s going back to school to become a nurse. By this summer she’ll have her CNA certificate. I asked her before she applied, “Are you sure you’d rather change bedpans than work in customer service?” She answered, with absolutely no hint of hesitation or sarcasm, “Yes.”
Then you would probably overrun by all the helpful salespeople offering to show you to their electronics department so you can buy an MP3 player or stereo to go with those nice headphones.