Maremy's Blog

Jeremy and I have come to the conclusion that customer service does not exist in Goderich anymore, at least not at Wal-Mart, Zehrs or Crappy Tire. We've had a few wonderful experiences lately:

• At Wal-Mart, if you are environmentally friendly (or just don't want plastic bags cluttering up your apartment) and use a cloth bag when you shop, do not expect the cashier to pack your groceries. This happened to Jeremy and I twice. We hand her the cloth bags before she even rings anything through and tell her the groceries can just go in there. Each time, the cashier has set them aside and piled the groceries near (or on top) of them. We packed our own groceries. Last time I checked, the cashier was getting PAID and not us. I thought packing groceries was part of customer service? Apparently not if you use a cloth bag and shop at the Goderich Wal-Mart. I'm one to help the cashiers but when it's left for me to do it all AND she's ringing the next person through, that's a bit ridiculous.
  
• A second Wal-Mart story. I've taken to just saying "Yes, I found everything" when they ask "Did you find everything you're looking for?". One day, Jeremy said he was looking for a certain pasta sauce (REMEMBER THAT ENTRY?) and the cashier said "Oh, I don't know...you'll have to call the manager when you get home!". WHAT IS THE POINT OF ASKING THE QUESTION, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND US THE ANSWERS?!
  
• At Canadian Tire, the cashiers and associates do not speak. The last few times I've purchased something there, the cashier did not utter one word! I felt like there was a glass wall there between us. Not even a thank-you.
• Zehrs in Goderich. Where do I begin with Zehrs? Here we go:
• The cloth bags get brought back into this one. Last summer, Zehrs launched "Canada's Greenest Shopping Bag". I think Jeremy and I bought about eight of them (I had four in Peterborough with me when I lived there). Not only would that cut down on plastic bags but...BONUS...you get 50 PC points everytime you use a bag. So, if you use three bags on your shopping trip, you get a 150 points on top of the points you're getting for the groceries you've purchased! 20,000 points gets you $20.00 of free groceries. At the Zehrs in Goderich, if you bring in three bags, guaranteed they will only use two and those will be STUFFED so full you swear they will break on your way out. If you use plastic bags, they will put the eggs in ONE bag. If you use the cloth bags, they will put the eggs in the bottom and pile everything on top of them. This seems only to be at the Zehrs in Goderich. I've started shopping at the Zehrs in Stratford (MUCH nicer store) and if I bring in three bags, they distribute my groceries in ALL the bags and I get 150 points. The other day, I had three bags but only needed two. However, the cashier still gave me the points for all three.
  
• We were yelled at by a cashier. Yes. I couldn't believe it! There some shopping baskets sitting on the conveyor belt where you put your groceries. I thought a customer had left them there and to make room for our groceries, I grabbed them to set them on the floor. Next thing I know, I hear "No, don't touch those! I put those there for a reason!". And out of the blue, a cashier runs over and grabs them out of my hand and walks away. I was dumb-founded and Jeremy and I turned to each other, in total shock. Wrong tone and wrong choice of words! I didn't even know what to say to her because no cashier has EVER spoken to us like that. How the hell was I supposed to know she put those there for a reason? There are a few different ways she could have approached that situation and she chose the WRONG ONE. I've dealt with her before at Zehrs and she is, as my mum would say, a bit of a witch (can you tell my mum doesn't like to swear?).
  
• Not really a customer service issue but the Zehrs in Goderich has a problem with expired foods. I bought Soy milk one night and thinking they rotate stuff properly, don't bother checking the expiry date. Later on, I go to take a drink but I went to look at something on the packaging and notice it had expired three weeks earlier! I took it back and they asked if I wanted another one. I said no (because I'm feeling totally disgusted by this point), but turns out that it wouldn't have been possibly because the other five bottles of it on the shelf were expired as well. Gross. The only positive part of the experience was the girl who was at the customer service desk was very apologetic and was really great with helping me. I've also seen yogurt there that had expired, carrots, bread, etc. Believe me, I've become quite anal retentive about checking the dates on everything!

Given the experiences at Zehrs (especially getting yelled at), I've decided I'll do my grocery shopping at the Zehrs in Stratford. MUCH better produce and they're nicer there. The store is AWESOME! Plus there is a fridge at work I can just put my groceries in for the day.

Overall, Jeremy and I have noticed over the past year that customer service in many places has really gone downhill. Whether it's from the two girls at Tim Hortons who were gossiping and saying inappropriate stuff about their supervisor while attempting to get our order (and managing to...surprise, surprise...screw it up) or the girls in a clothing store in Sarnia who were so busy gossiping about last night's party, I don't think they even saw me come into the store, it seems to be getting worse! Do you sometimes feel when you go into a store that you're annoying some of the employees? Like you're invading their time or something? Perhaps you're interrupting gossip time, as I felt like I was doing at the Tim Horton's in Kitchener. And, I don't mean to stereotype here, but it is the younger crowd who I seem to have the most problems with (like the 16-20 age range). Last time I checked, these people are getting paid. They're getting paid because we're buying stuff. I think that is forgotten. It doesn't hurt to be nice to someone. Maybe I'm so anal about it because I grew up in a retail family and excellent customer service was always instilled in my mind because the customers are the ones who keep you in business. Maybe it's just me, but whether I'm working as a cashier for my uncle or greeting visitors at a museum, it leaves me feeling really good to know the customer is happy. I know for me, when the cashier, associate or whoever is really nice/polite, I leave the store feeling good and know that I'll come back! It doesn't take much to smile and say thank-you. And remember, you're getting paid...the customer isn't!