Sometimes I wonder why they use the title Customer Service when they don’t really want to serve us customers. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves. I’m normally a pretty laid back person, I understand that sometimes the day can be hectic at work. I don’t mind waiting to be served when there’s a line ahead of me. I worked in Customer Service before so I really understand and can sympathize with those who truly wish to serve their customers. What I don’t like, nor understand, is Service Reps copping attitudes when it’s my turn at the window.
I went to one of the Clubs to cash a check and exchange cash for yen. The employee at the counter was reading something (probably the sales ad) so I inquired as to the limit I can cash. She glanced up and looked as though I was bothering her, then she told me the limit. Ok, so I start filling out the check and ask who I make the check out to, MWR or NEX. She can’t be bothered so she continues to read. Now I’m getting irritated so I ask her again, she looks up and replies, “yes ma’am”. So I say, “yes ma’am what? MWR or NEX?” Then I ask if maybe I’m in the wrong line or if perhaps she’s on break or something. And I might add, it wasn’t in a very pleasant tone. By some miracle, she stands from her stool and says, “No ma’am, I can help you.” with a customer service smile. Now that wasn’t hard, was it?
Today, I called to make appointments for Kamalani to go into the Day care center because I have an appointment on Wednesday. The clerk asks what day I need the appointment so I tell her. Then she asks what time I need service, I tell her that too. Then she says, “I’m sorry, all we have available is blah blah until blah blah. Well, if she knew this, why ask what time I need??? So I take the available times then she tells me that they have a waitlist of two names for Kamalani’s age group because they’ve combined the 3 and 4 year olds to form one class. I can understand that because of the staffing cost. So I ask how many children do they place on the waitlist before they separate the group. She sounds as though she’s either stumped or doesn’t have the time to go through her manual to find out exactly how that separation thing works. Either way, she should know how to respond to that question, it’s not like I’m asking how to build a friggen spacecraft or anything. Again, I started off in a very good mood but it was spoiled by her attitude. I called back to schedule more days for Kamalani, just to irk her. Then a few minutes later, I called again to change the times. I might wait until the day before she’s scheduled to go in before I call to cancel a few of them. Heh. That’ll teach them to work on their people skills. Or NOT. In any case, it’s my way tossing the ‘tude back at them.