When Customers disturb your staff

I have been tasked to write an article for one of the local (national) newspapers. Had a great idea about picking up on the latest government campaigns about giving better service. To be honest my planned approach was going to be all about how the service level is just as much the customer's responsibility, but being a diligent chap I decided to do my research first.

So against my better judgement I headed off to the shopping malls this weekend with some genuine shopping needs in mind. (birthday coming up soon, so why not?)

I confess I have come back with a fresh perspective. Having genuinely gone into a few shops with the intention to select presents for myself (yes, ready to buy and money in hand) I was stunned to discover that in some shops I was obviously a complete irritation to the staff! How dare I disrupt their peacful (non)working day by actually expecting help and information!

Stand by for some rants as I vent my irritation over the rest of this week!

We won't give names, the guilty will know who they are!

Now this first example is a particularly big store. On previous visits I have noticed how rare it is to see a member of staff. When you want information about how to find an item I guess you are expected to wander the store for hours looking for it yourself. That being the case, why do they keep moving things around?

Anyway it is now CNY. prime buying time. So the shop is full of "staff" wearing cheerful red t-shirts. Great, I thought, now I can get help. But no! Wearing a company t-shirt and sporting a company lanyard and id tag, we are informed "Sorry I don't work here, I'm just a promoter. you had better ask a member of staff" no kidding. The promoters (presumably that means temporary sales staff for the festive period) and I quote "Don't work here"

So if you ever spot an employee (sic) wearing a t-shirt with the logo "We are pleased to help" on the back, laugh derisorily and run a mile. The only thing they are pleased to do is go home at the end of the day!