Anyone notice a change in customer service in recent months?
 

I have been noticing a gradual change in customer service that started maybe six months ago. Everyone is really going out of their way to be helpful and make me happy. I know it has to do with the ecomony going sour and trying to retain as many customers as they can, but it is still amazing how much it has changed.

For example:

I went to autozone this morning to pick up some jack stands. There were two associates there waiting by the door to ask me if i needed help with anything. I told them no and they said "let me know if you need anything". On my way back there i got distracted by the horribly ricer parts they sell in there, and the manager can up to me and asked if i was finding everything ok and they can specail anything that i don't see that i may need. I was only in there for about 5-7 minutes.

After that i decided to treat myself to, the always healthy, Jack in the Box ultimate breakfast sandwich. Normally these people don't give a crap whether or not i am there. This time they were very polite and greeted me with a "how are you doing this morning sir?".

It sucks that it takes this for people to change and i know that it won't last after things get better. Atleast there is something good coming out of this though.

When the economy starts to suck, businesses lay people off.
Those that are retained are usually senior which makes them more experienced so you get better service. Those employees also know damn well if they weren't as good as they are, they'd be unemployed like the dipshit 20yr old who show's up late and blames it on his girlfriend or forgets to shower or some other stupid shit.

On the other hand, a very good buddy of mine lives in Midland TX. 2 years ago during the oil boom, it was IMPOSSIBLE to get good service anywhere. All the oil companies snagged up every single moderately capable person for the fields. The guys slinging hash were the ones so dumb that they couldn't get hired to work a rig or drive a truck. Y'all have watched the TV series Black Gold, right... those are some of the dumbest motherfuckers I've ever seen.

for about a month in DC following the election, the normally surly and unhelpful black CVS (drugstore) employees were very friendly. now they are back to apathy and barely notice that people shop there.

and before you think this is a racist commentary, shop there.

Gotta agree with y8s...I work for the gov't in a predom black "organization" and people I work with acted the same way.

I am not naive enough to think this will last very long after the economy does better, but i'm glad it is here for now.

One of my customers is black and he always sits down to talk with me for a while when he is here. He said that he was having a conversation with another (black) guy and the guy said he must have been excited Obama got elected. When he told him no and that he voted for McCain, the guy went off on him yelling that they could have missed out on their chance to "stick it to the man" because of him.

Anyway I am off subject. I stopped going to Home Depot and started just shopping at my local mom and pop hardware store a long time ago. Sure i pay a little more, but the service has always been out of this world. It didn't take the rough economy to do it. Places like that are rare these days.

So, some CVS drug stores are black and some are white? :dunno: