In high school, I worked in my local grocery store; during those two years, I learned a lot about customer service. I learned that, no matter how bad your day, you should be pleasant to your customers. That's a policy that I still try to stick to today.
This morning, I left for work well before the crack of dawn (at 5:15 am). My car's gas gauge was happily resting on "E", so I had to get gas before hitting the road. I pulled in to a local gas station that I don't typically frequent, but they were open and their gas was ten cents a gallon cheaper than my normal location. As my car filled, I ran inside to get a Diet Coke, some water, and some beef jerky (you know, the breakfast of champions!). I was in a pretty good mood, despite the early hour, but the clerk was a hateful, hateful woman. I tried to make small talk with her, but all she could do was snarl at me. Let me tell you...I was thankful when she finally finished running my debit card because I couldn't wait to get back to my car.
Forty five minutes later, I'm cruising in to Midwest City and decide that I want some coffee. I pull in to a locally owned coffee shop that I've been to a sum total of four other times. The owner apparently works early mornings and is always happy and pleasant, no matter the weather or the situation. He sees me walking in, greets me by name, and already had started my latte as I approached the counter. I was so impressed and left a few minutes later, warmer, happier, and with a smile on my face.
The difference between these two experiences is incredible. The first store is in the town where I have lived for four years; I've been in plenty of times previously, but this woman still was nasty and hateful. The second shop is in a town where I do not yet live, but the owner already knows me by name and knows my preference for coffee. Wow! I know which one I'll go back to again!
Moral of the story -- avoid the Conoco at the corner of Country Club and Elm in El Reno and FREQUENT The UnderGround at Douglas/SE 15th in MWC! I promise...you'll be glad you did.
1 comment:
I do the same thing. It's worth paying a little extra for good service. There's some places I will never go to because of how I have been treated by the staff, no matter how good a deal they may have.
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