What Happened To Customer Service?!?

I was a cashier as my first job too! I worked at kmart, which yup, meant I had to say "thank you for shopping at kmart" to every customer. My kmart closed down when they went bankrupt (this was after I quit working there) but there is still one by my house and never do I hear any of those guys say that. I did their customer service desk for awhile too and I always had such rotten people but I always nice to them. I also used to work at Home Depot for a long time and I was awarded employee of the month and getting their merit badges constantly because I was actually nice to people. I even had customers bring me flowers and presents when I worked there because they were just astonished at how nice I was to them all the time despite all of their problems! I don't know why it happened, but I know I have a lot of expectations because I did it and went through all that crap for years and it is possible to do a bad job with a smile on your face.

Most of my career has been in the customer service field. I think some of the attitude comes from employers. How they treat customer service employees. Like we are not valued.Just a number. Quite a few of the places Ihave worked have high turnover rates. The attitude is "you are very replaceable" It is like that in so many careers now. Gone are the days of working a job for most of your life and retiring with a nice pension. Yes some people have an attitude that bothers me. But then I remember more and more of these service positions that has been the bread and butter for so many are also being shipped overseas to save companies money.

i work as a cashier now at a large retail company and i work in services department as well where i deal with lots of customers everyday... i always say thank you after serving every single customer even though i didn't say have a nice day to every customer... i also try to smile as much as i can and be as polite as i can... i don't really agree that customer is always right... that is not always the case... there are some occassions when they are wrong as well and they still try to push me to the limit... in that case, i have to call the security and the security will have to ask the customer to go... take care and have a nice day...

I agree with you about employees being nice to you when you are shopping, or go through the drive thru. Like you, when I went worked with the public, I was taught to be polite and say how are you and to say thank you for shopping with us. Anymore, when I am a customer, it is rare to have the cashier even to talk to you at all. I hate it when you are in the check out line and they are talking to someone else instead of you. My other favorite thing about customer service these days is this one store that I shop in. When I am in this store they always ask me if I need help and when I say that I do, they say that is not their department and send you to someone else. If they cannot help you in the department that you are in why do they ask if they can help you?

I have noticed this alot of places. Its like the empoyees are just there for the money and dont care about the costomers. I work in food service and I ALWAYS say thank you have a great day, or come back soon...even if the costomer was rude to me. Its just what you are supposed to do. I had my manager tell me the other day she has had many costomers say good things about me because I always smile, am very courtiouse and say thank you to them. That made me feel good about what I do and how I treat people. I treat them as I would want to be treated. Bad service or rude empoyees turns me off and makes me not want to go back to that place. I wish more people would say a simple thank you. It wouldnt kill them you know!! LOL!! ~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper

Most of the time the cashier acts like they are doing you a favor not doing the job they are being paid for. It really gets on my nerves when you can't understand the cashier and it isn't due to the fact that they were born in a different country, they are just to lazy to annunciate the words. I don't know what happened to customer service but I sure do miss it a lot!!!

i havent really given it a thought until now..maybe because in our place the employees are very respectful and always attend to our needs (department store,malls and etc.)

It bothers me too and usually happens in places like chain fast food joints.I know at my favorite restaurant I am always wished a good day and thanked, so I guess thats part of why it is my favorite restaurant come'to think of it. On the other side I learned something too'when it came my turn to be waited on at my bank. the man before me had apparently given the teller a really bad time because' when my check was deposited and I withdrew some money,and 'asked her a questin then thanked her for all her help,'she smiled andsaid, you are the first thankful person I have waited on all morning, have a really great day. so it does work both ways I guess.lol.

Every job I have had, I have been "drilled" on customer service too! I have worked in grocery stores and downtown retail and restaurants. Small town, so know most everyone and they do say "have a nice day". Lucky me!

Yes indeed what happen to Customer Service but you should also remember that because Customers comes first they abuse workers and these bosses are coming to realized that abusiveness towards staff is also wrong. When I used to Manage the wholesale downtown, there was a lot of time were I have to give my workers right and the customers did not like it and go and report me but I did not care. Not because a customers are spending $500 with us that give them the right to abuse. Sears and Walmart are now looking at those comments about Customers coming first because they have lost alot of money were customers buy a suit wear it and carry it back and say they don't like it and want back their money. When we as a people respect and love others then disrespect will stop. We have to start with us.

i defaintly agree with you. i am a very polite person by nature. i hate rude people. I've noticed more and more that employees dont say thank you after purchasing something. I know alot of people dont like there jobs but that is still no excuse to take it out on customers. I always say thank you even if the employees dont.Customer service has went down the drain i think