Could the Recession Save Customer Service?

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WHAT I AM TILLING TO YOU TRUE LIFE STORY PLEASE HELP ME
I AM IN ROYAL CARRIBBEAN CRUISE PASS FIVE YEARS. IN FREEDOM OF THE SEA I AM WORKING THREE YEAR. THE LAST VACATION I CAME HOME MY FATHER AND ME HARD A ARGIVEMENT AT HOME . HE, MY OWN FATHER GAVE COMPLAN SAYING THAT I HIT HIM KICK HIM WITH THE KNWIFE I WAS RUN BEHIDE HIM. WHICH IS NOT TRUE I HAVE NOT DONE TO HIM ANYHTING. THE COP CAME AT HOME THEY TOLD ME THAT YOUR FATHER HAVE GIVEN COMPLAN SAYING THAT YOU HIT HIM I SAID I HAVE NOT DONE ANTTHING. COP TOLD YOUR HAVE TO CAME TO POLICE STATION . I SAID OK I WANT WITH THEM AS SOON AS I WHEN TO POLICE STATION THEY START HIT ME AND BAND MY HARD TO WALL AND WITH BELT HIT ME AN HOUR AFTER THAT MY MOM ANITY COME IT WAS TO LET I WAS UNCONSIOUS I WAS HOSPITALIES ME.
AFTER THAT THE THING WERE NOT GOING FINE A MONTH I JOINING THE SHIP THE FREEDOM OF THE SEA. THEY THE THING WERE NOT GOING WELL TOO. I TOLD HR MANAGER WHAT HAPPEN BACK IN INDIA AND THE THING WERE NOT GOING WELL IN TOO. MARK STEVE HE IS PERSON WHO FIND MY BACKGOUND IT IS CHINESSE BORDEN SHE HAVE DONE SOME BACK MAGIE TO YOU.
THE COMPANY SPORSIR ME HOUSE AND 4500$ EVERY MONTH, HOUSE IN BILLY HILL. I TOLD JUDY ABOUT THIS JUDY IS MY BROTHER FIREND SHE WORK MIAMI OFFICE SHE IS ONE PERSON WHO HELP ME TO GET THIS JOB. SHE NOW EVERY THING WHAT HAPPEN HOW ARE I AM. SHE COME TO MY HOME IN INDIA. AFTER DAY SHE TOLD ME IT IS NOT TURE . I KNOW I ALREADY GOT IT.
I TOLD HER GIVE HOUSE AND JOB I WILL PAY FOR IT NO SHE DENY IT. SHE DOUALBE CORSS ME
PLEASE HELP ME I WANT JOB IN LAND, HOUSE THAT I WILL PAY FOR IT
MY COMPANY ID – 3000976
HR MANAGER -MARK STEVE
I AM UPSET WITH JUDY NOT WITH MARK I REPECT HIM. WHAT HE HAVE DONE FOR ME.

RONNIE CARNEIRO of IN 3:05PM September 14, 2009

My experience with "customer service" is that it ceased to exist beginning in the "Age Of Reagan". The new customer service area is a profit center just like the meat department. If you stand in the C.S. line long enough and finally make it to the front of the line, you either buy something from them (gift card, stamps, lottery ticket, etc.) or they will hustle you out of line before you can say "customer service". The real question is not will customer service improve, but rather does customer service even exist anymore?

dfortune of CO 10:34AM February 22, 2009

The problem with customer service is threefold:
1-Increasing numbers of younger people who have no clue how to solve problems are taking the jobs (and they've been spoiled beyond reason economically and functionally - therefore they have no clue how to empathize with customers or solve problems);
2-Those that are capable of customer empathy and problem solving are usually well aware of the fact that they are intolerably underpaid. They are fed up with CEO's and corporate executives getting multi-million dollar bonuses; meanwhile, the REAL producers of income get hours cut, benefits cut, and dignity/intelligence assaulted by management at every turn.
Until CEO's, corporate execs and share holders realize that "line employees" are the ones that make the money for ALL of them to profit on (excepting, of course, the line employee), this nastiness of poor customer service will continue. But no. After 10-20-30 years of work, a typical company give the employee a freakin plaque or mass-produced card. It's insulting.
Quite frankly, I don't think the higher-ups on this miserable food chain give a shite. They don't shop in the same stores they own and many of them have lackies that shop for them anyway. They really don't care; so why the heck should customer service people care, particularly when most get paid barely over, if not minimum, wages?
3-Horrid customers. It amazes me how horridly rude, arrogant, ignorant, hostile, demanding and piggish people become when they cross the threshold of a store. Most malls/stores close at 9:00 pm. They all do. They have now for decades. Deal with it, you spoiled brat that expects others to stay for your crappy $30 purchase at the end of a long day.

Rene of PA 12:37AM February 22, 2009

Back when jobs were plentiful and employees scarce, managers lamented the fact that they had to hire less than stellar employees just to keep their doors open. Customer service really suffered because employers were afraid to correct an employee lest that person quit.
Now that jobs are so scarce, I think it's time to make good customer relations mandatory. Teach your employees to always put the customer first, and if they can't get with the program, show them the door. There should be no problem finding more qualified individuals.

lynn of WI 6:58PM February 21, 2009

This is the reason we started MeasuredUp.com to give consumers and companies a connection that allows them to solve customer service issues, answer questions or to make recommendations.
Great customer service in an economy like this is more important then ever and the companies that get it right will grow share over the recession and be better positioned.
Remember the customer is always right and they vote on companies every day with their wallet. Now more then ever consumers are empowered to make their voice heard.

marc of NY 6:16PM February 04, 2009

I am always amazed that businesses can act so cavalierly at any time, but especially now. Why would anyone want to push a customer out the door? I had a great experience at an AT&T store where they stayed 1/2 hour after closing time to fix a problem that they didn't create.
I always compare that to the time when I was told a business was closed 10 minutes before closing time because as they explained to me "Once we check out everyone who is already in line it will be closing time." I never went back there again

Laurie Brown of MI 6:08PM February 02, 2009

This article nails it. Customer service is more important than ever, especially in this economy. Deliver on the brand promise and execute flawlessly and you will build confidence. And "confidence" is a major part of the loyalty formula. Prove to the customer that the relationship is more important than the sale.

Shep Hyken of MO 5:22PM February 02, 2009

Customers tend to leave due to bad service (68% of them in fact). And, another study showed improved service actually increased revenue from existing customers. So, yes, better service can lead to a healthier business. That's more important today than ever.

Kevin Stirtz of MN 1:45PM January 31, 2009

I read that Circuit City's downfall may have been due in part to their decision to cut many of their most experienced staff members. They seem not to have taken into account that lots of people like to go into a store and ask questions, not just buy on the Internet. Customer service is very important! I hope it will improve. If it does, customer service jobs will likely be better, because customers with complaints won't feel that they have to be mean to get what they want!

Ariah of NJ 11:53PM January 30, 2009