These days it’s really hard to find good customer service. At most of the big chain stores, the turnover is so high, that properly training present employees isn’t a big priority. Having worked at two of them (I won’t mention which), I should know! I was rarely given any advice on how to handle a “difficult” customer, or encouraged to go out of my way to help one. I did it anyway, because that’s the kind of person I am, but I would have loved to be commended for doing the right thing.

After visiting so many stores where the employees are either playing with their phones, or you have to greet them first, you really start to notice the stores that get it right.

What made me think about this, was an article I was reading about Martin Hanaka, the president of Staples. I don’t visit office supply stores very often, because the few things I need can usually be found at my local grocery store. But the one time I did go to Staples? The customer service was amazing. I needed help finding something, and the floor person was awesome. The cashier greeted me with a smile, and was very nice.

It made me think about how the stores I frequent stack up. I’ve given up on expecting good customer service from places like Walmart, Target, and Price Chopper. They’re a headache to shop in to begin with, and all I really want is to get in and out without going insane. But there are some places that get it so right, I feel almost spoiled.

As a couponer, Rite Aid is kind of my favorite place. The deals I get there make it so that even if the staff at my local store weren’t like a second family, I would still go every single week. Being on a first name basis with most of the staff is a bonus though, and it makes me enjoy going back all the more.

I think the blue ribbon has to go to Trader Joe’s though. Their staff is often described as “excessively friendly”. Growing up in Oklahoma, I didn’t have one anywhere near me, and the one I have access to now just opened up in August. I have definitely been missing out! If you have one you can get to, even if it’s two hours away, it is worth the road trip! It has so many cool things! And being a vegan with an omnivorous boyfriend, it’s really important to be able to get things we both like, at affordable prices. One of the best things about it though, is that even though the store is always packed, the employees never seem frazzled or annoyed when you ask them for help. They know the store so well, that they can find what you’re asking about in a matter of seconds. The cashiers are very friendly, and speedy, and mindful of your items when bagging. They get an A+ in my book!

-Michele

This entry was posted on Friday, February 8th, 2013 at 9:29 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.