Whatever happened to "The Customer is Always Right"?

[Horse with no Name]

I worked in retail in my early years and it was unheard of for an employee to argue with a customer and especially impose their will on a customer.
So did these good manners go out with real American values only to be replaced by what we are told are "American values", but in reality do not represent the majority of Americans?
Calling Target today regarding them refusing to fill women's health prescriptions, basically they are telling us that their employee's religious rights supercede my medical rights.
That wouldn't have happened in my America when the customer used to always be right.
It just seems they want to pick and choose which "values" they want to impose on us. I guess it isn't any different than the Bible passages that they cherry pick to prove their points.

[mtnester]

1. Customer service has been in the toilet for about 2 years now

people are as mean as the government tht bullies them. It is by example.

[cantstandbush]

19. It left when the Clinton administration went out. Putting people first

was the motto of the Clinton administration. Government made many changes and customer service was one of them beginning with the Social Security Administration and FEMA. Since the Republicans have been in power it's all about putting the bottom line first and screwing the people.

[givemebackmycountry]

2. Screw the customer...

Like we give a shit.

The customer is always right?
Bullshit.
Quit complaining and sign the check dammit.

You don't like it?

Leave.

[sproutster]

5. No Joke

This may seem minor, but I tell ya it totally ticks me off. I live next door to an Albertsons. I used to go there every day, and one day I ran from my apt. to get some coolers. The manager is there and I'm in a t shirt and shorts with no pockets, but I go there EVERY DAY. I wait in a long line and he cards me. He says, "I know I've carded you before and you are legal, but you don't have your card so you can't have alcohol." WTF? Ok flipping fine (btw 36 here)...

I also buy vanilla creme. It ran out and I told the guy in the back. couple of days later, still none, I tell em up front, a week later, STILL NONE. I put in a complaint on paper. I check every week without buying anything, NO CREME. I filled out two more complaints and the last one I sent. Finally creme.

I take it personally of course :D But I don't shop there any longer. It feels oppressive in there.

[Matariki]

3. man, you know what i hate?

i've got my wallet in one hand and my purchase in the other and the cashier ALWAYS hands me my change AND receipt AND bills in a stupid pile that is impossible to do anything with. i worked in retail too and was taught to give a person their coins first, then bills, (counting them no less) and receipt in the bag.

/old person rant over/

[sproutster]

6. When was the last time...

Anyone counted back your change? Now it's "Here."

[HeeBGBz]

9. I count it back

Every time.

[Extend a Hand]

7. *that * drives me nuts too!!

I thought I was the only one. tee-hee glad I'm not alone. ;)

[Bill McBlueState]

21. wow, you mean people used to do that?

I always thought coins then bills then receipt seemed like a good idea.

[Neil Lisst]

4. Amen. Now it's "up against the wall ...."

Now the customer is always wrong. Why? Ownership is so distant, it's layers of managers, and an attitude that customers who complain can just go somewhere else.

[Selatius]

8. This is not about customer service. This is about religion in America

The same problem you ran across is the same problem that is now seen at Walgreens. This has nothing to do with customer service and everything to do about somebody trying to impose his or her religious views upon you. It strikes at one of the fundamental ideals that inspired the Founders to establish this Republic.

[Laelth]

10. Buy Blue has the answers.

Target: Pretty Big Repuke Donor
http://www.buyblue.org/node/1963/view/summary

Albertson's: Generally Repuke Donor
http://www.buyblue.org/node/170/view/summary

-Laelth

[daveskilt]

11. I have fired some customers

I was a customer service manager for 3 years for a dotcom and then a hotel manager - now I am the CEO of a skilled nursing facility.

My background and education is all about customer service and I am a service fiend. I just sent out 160 more customer surveys and we have daily meetings with EVERY employee in the building (185 of them) to get suggestions and implement improvements based on customer service
HOWEVER
I have also always been an advocate of firing customers who need fired. I wrote about it in grad school and have done it in three different industries. sometimes a customer is simply not worth the hassle - examples: A customer who used the free service of our website only, but called daily for up to three hours with ridiculous complaints like "why are you using X type of server when I think Y type of server is better" or "Why won't you pay me for all of my great suggestions to improve the site like changing the color scheme"

at the hotel - guests who destroy furniture - out.

Here at the nursing home, the occassional delusional relative (your 91 year old husband with severe progressive dementia, renal failure, heart disease and cancer who hasn't spoken or moved in 8 years and is kept alive by multiple machines will not get better and go home no matter how much you "feel" he will) out

people who cost the company in terms of time, assets, or liability (lawsuits etc) and who cost far more than they bring in - I fire them.
Actually I very kindly explain that we are not able to meet their needs or expectations and here are some alternate vendors who may help etc.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

12. When citizens were reduced to consumers...

and employees were reduced to vassals....

and corporations were elevated to human status.

Now corporations are the most powerful people in America. The rest of us - we're landfill.

[KoKo]

16. Well said... and it explains it all these days. Can't add a thing to what

you say. :-(

[anitar1]

22. I have run across some dim bulbs running cash registers,

but for the most part I receive fairly good service. It could be because I am not rude to rhe employee or am not on a cell phone or possibly it is because I do not have screaming, rude kids with me. I think we need to look at our own behavior. I have witnessed all of these things while shopping. There are some rude,ugly,angry folks out there looking for a target. My 2 cents.

[Chemical Bill]

13. The same thing as the owner waiting on you. n/t

[mzteris]

14. What did I miss?

**Calling Target today regarding them refusing to fill women's health prescriptions, basically they are telling us that their employee's religious rights supercede my medical rights.**


I haven't heard anything about Target not filling BC pills!

[Horse with no Name]

17. Here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5091379&mesg_id=5091379

[mzteris]

18. thanks

I sent my letter off and email addys just now.

I didn't know that was a Target.

BTW - Don't these ijuts know that SOME women have to take BC pills for reason's OTHER than just "birth control"????

[KoKo]

15. Having been hassled constantly lately when I buy something,

Cashiers asking if I want to use my "store" credit card instead of whatever I have...and if I say "No Thanks" they say..."but you can save 15% if you use our card...do you want to fill out an application."

I repeat "No Thank You." They say "but, don't you want to save the 15%, it's a good deal." I say...repeating "No Thanks." They then allow me to swipe my one VISA Card and then they ask for my Driver's License. I give them that...then they ask for my phone number! I say, "sorry but my phone number is unlisted" and they give me the "evil eye" about this and shove the credit card thingy I need to sign in my face. That ends the transaction...but I leave the store with a bad taste in my mouth over being "interrogated."

Don't even ask about Medical/Dental Personnel these days. They think they are doing us a favor and we are "nobody" even if we pay cash or check and don't leave it for their "insurance personnel" to deal with.

Rudeness is Rampant. It's overwhelming to have to fight with folks about purchases, and health and dental care.

[Paranoid Pessimist]

20. We lost it when we became "Consumers" rather than

"Customers." Customers had a little bit of dignity. Consumers are just there to be manipulated into buying stuff, by any means necessary, and jerked around if they should dare to complain.

"Consumers" are led to believe preposterous stuff, such as a cream that will "help reduce the appearance of wrinkles." A Customer might ask for an explanation as to what that phrase actually means, but Consumers are there to just buy in and buy.

Consumer begins with con.

[Hardrada]

23. At chain bookstores I am ALWAYS asked

if I want one of their special sales bargain deluxe pre-approved grand company store cards and I, by the way my mind works, have to always be creatively NICE in my refusal each time. Maybe I could just cluck my tongue and shake my head in disapproval.

[Telly Savalas]

24. You act like this attitude is something new