Wednesday, May 2, 2001

It starts like this: You take your purchase to the checkout counter at (any store name here). The two cashiers there look at you for a second, finish their personal conversation, and then deign to wait on you.

There is no word of greeting, no smile, no feeling like you are welcome. Your purchase is totaled up, correctly if you are lucky, your receipt and change are thrown at you, and then it is back to another conversation.

God help you if you cannot find an item, or if you have a question. Nobody seems to know anything, but what's worse, no one cares! "I just work here" seems to be the battle cry of all these completely bored sales clerks.

Am I just oversensitive? Is anyone else out there as fed up as I?

I have tried to talk to supervisors and managers. I get a lot of smiles and nods and, "We'll take care of the problem." Of course, they never do. I have also tried to go to other stores, but they are all pretty much the same.

I have a suggestion. Start taking $5 "rudeness penalties" out of the paychecks of each person who has a complaint made against them by a customer. Hit 'em in the wallet! That will make them pay attention! Use the money for a remedial customer service training session. This will only work if customers complain to the management.

On the other side of the coin, I also tell clerks and their managers if they have an employee who goes above and beyond the call of duty. Fair is fair, but I'm not so sure about a reward. After all, it is their job to help.

Thank you for letting me vent my frustration.

Leah Trevathan

poopiedog@mindspring.com

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