Bad customer service?

somehow this topic reminds me of a post on ‘Postsecret’ , a cafe girl posted on postsecret “I serve decaf for those customers who are rude at me”.

it’s the other way round, but thought it was funny.

I had the most unbelievable experience at Myer and DJ’s in Chadstone on Friday.

My friend and I were after a few things from a fair few counters and received the most lazy and rushed service.

First off, my friend approached the Giorgio Armani counter where there were two ladies working, they looked over at us, but proceeded to continue talking to one another without approaching us. So my friend decided to pick up bottles of the foundation she was interested in while trying to grab their attention after many ‘excuse me’s… so after hard long eye contact, one decided to finally come over. My friend told her she was interested in trying the foundation, so instead of the assistant trying to colour match her, the assistant didn’t bothered reaching over to us, but instead insist that my friend colour match herself. She did not speak to us in a lovely manner, she spoke to us like we were trash, looked at us up and down, and didn’t offer any more assistance.
I grabbed my friend and walked away.

Next we went to the Bobbi Brown counter, two girls were working, and we both received assistance straight away, the girl who was helping me was very lovely, however the other assistant was pushing really hard for a sale and pinpointed rudely everything that was wrong at how she does her makeup (my friend fills in her brows with gel liner – because they are really dark, and it helps her thick hairs stay in place), when there was nothing wrong with it.

Both MAC counters were hard to get service because there were only two people working (on a Friday -.-) and all girls were really busy. When I finally got an assistant to help me, she was extremely rude and wanted to rush answering my questions and queries. I understand they were busy and probably a bit tired, but I found that service next to nothing compared to service I’ve received at other MAC counters on Bourke Street and Chapel street.

My Friend and I approached other counters as well, however I just kept on seeing assistants talking to one another, taking one look at you, then continuing on their conversation without helping until WE had to approach them with a query.

Because of this, I feel like I’m not going to Myer or DJ’s at Chadstone for beauty related things unless I’m sure I want something. I’m just going to shop at other department stores where I’ve had exceptional service.

Yesterday, I went to all the same counters, but at Myer Bourke street mall, and, as always, receive amazing service. I also went to MAC on Chapel street and told a makeup artist there about the terrible service and apologized on their behalf, which she didn’t need to do, but I appreciated it.

I recently had a bad experience with SK-II…I wont be naming the store here because I respect the privacy of the salesgirl.

I frequent the Myer and DJ stores close to me because sometimes I just like taking a wander to the mall when I have nothing to do. Over the last few months I have bought a fair few things for Mom, Dad, my sister and even myself (close to $1000 worth if memory serves me correctly).

At SK-II, i’ve spoken to the counter girls a few times but haven’t really bought anything (it’s only fair, it’s an expensive brand and I wont be throwing money their way unless I’m certain they make products to address what my actual concerns are.

So this sales girl who is also from my home country (and speaks the same language) sees me, walks up to me with an agitated expression, and asks me rudely “Now what do you want?!”…I told her I’m trying samples of a product, but I’ve had conflicting advice about some of their serums…she goes “No we don’t have what you want…and if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a customer”.

Luckily for her, there were a few people around so I chose not to go on a tirade. I didn’t say a word to her directly. Until I came back home.

Then I called the parent company for SK-II (P&G), and gave them a solid drubbing, and told them that if they think I’ll put up with that rudeness over a brand of that price, they’re mistaken.

I was at the same store a few days later for getting a Clinique product…I got into a convo with the Clinique lady (the Myer Clinique lady in the store close to me is very nice), and the issue of customer service came up. She called the Cosmetics manager for me, and I gave him a bit of a scrub as well.

As a few posters above me said, I told the manager the same thing, that it reflects badly on Myer, and as a customer I have no loyalty whatsoever except for towards value and service. And if that’s missing, my money will go elsewhere. Moreover, I told him if this pattern is repetitive, it reflects as a failure for myer and SK-II.

The SK-II salesgirl in th DJs in the same mall is exceptional at what she does though.

I blogged about this experience Here: http://twistertales.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/actions-reactions-and-misplaced.html

I recently bought a top at a retailer and the sales girl was so rude that at the end of the sale she didnt bother to hand me my bag, instead she threw it on the counter to me. I dont know what her problem was, but I just brushed it off. I just give someone the benefit of the doubt and reckon that theyre just having a bad day (or a bad life?) and I get on with it. I think it takes all sorts of people to make the world go round, so if someone’s nice, thats great, but if they are rude, then thats their problem, not mine.

I have found that there are some rude people out there, and they arent the shop / sales attendants, they are the customers. I have had people push me by when they want to look at a particular top in a rack or someone say “excuse me” when I havent been standing in their way in the first place. I find these people much ruder than a sales attendant who may be having a bad day. Anyway, whoever they are, I just brush it off.

That’s true BeautyShop, but I was always taught you can’t be rude to customers/patrons as you are representing the company. But other customers that are rude drive me bonkers as well, everyone has bad days but there is no excuse for being rude.

Hi Dorme, yes, thats true, the sales staff do represent the company and it does give a bad impression- but I think this particular sales girl didnt really care because she was the only staff member in the shop. But I think its all just the way the world is, some people are nice, and some are rude. Its the way the world is?

That sounds awful, dorme 🙁 you shouldn’t have to _prove_ or explain to anyone why you have a disabled sticker. It’s not their business. Very poor effort by both the company and shopping centre to block those parks off. I know those parks aren’t always used, but to assume no one would need to use them at this event. Gosh, it makes me angry!

Sadly, I’m no longer taken aback by such stories… Just seems like such a large number of people don’t care about customer service, being nice, or come to think of it, just *not being rude*. It feels like every second time I going shopping I get frustrated with bad service somewhere or other. And I’ve been in customer service for most of my working life – it has such a great effect on people to just smile and be genuine in helping them.

A massive problem I see with many Australian businesses is a lack of response when you make a formal complaint too. I’m never shopping at Esprit ever again, as I got treated so badly that I actually bothered to email the company (which is rare for me) and they never replied – it’s one of the few stores I have well and truely blacklisted.

It is sad when you feel you just can’t go to stores anymore, and sadly Myer may be one for me. I decided I’d give them the benefit of the doubt and head in again (after the craziness of the weekend died down) and was again greeted by rude staff and less than helpful ‘specialist’ counter staff. I know they are new, but they should be able to find an answer to my question if they don’t know it, at least ask someone more senior or point me in the right direction!

Hi, Dorme, I think a Customer Feedback form from Myer is worth filling in, you can do it via email at http://www.myer.com.au or phone them on 1800 811 611. The lack of respect and service you’ve had really needs to be brought to Heads of Departments/Managers. It isn’t acceptable and you may well find that those in Management are appalled too.

Hope all is well, apart from this and that you’re doing well. With love and hugs.

I recently bought a top at a retailer and the sales girl was so rude that at the end of the sale she didnt bother to hand me my bag, instead she threw it on the counter to me. I dont know what her problem was, but I just brushed it off. I just give someone the benefit of the doubt and reckon that theyre just having a bad day (or a bad life?) and I get on with it. I think it takes all sorts of people to make the world go round, so if someone’s nice, thats great, but if they are rude, then thats their problem, not mine.

I have found that there are some rude people out there, and they arent the shop / sales attendants, they are the customers. I have had people push me by when they want to look at a particular top in a rack or someone say “excuse me” when I havent been standing in their way in the first place. I find these people much ruder than a sales attendant who may be having a bad day. Anyway, whoever they are, I just brush it off.

That’s true BeautyShop, but I was always taught you can’t be rude to customers/patrons as you are representing the company. But other customers that are rude drive me bonkers as well, everyone has bad days but there is no excuse for being rude.

I recently bought a top at a retailer and the sales girl was so rude that at the end of the sale she didnt bother to hand me my bag, instead she threw it on the counter to me. I dont know what her problem was, but I just brushed it off. I just give someone the benefit of the doubt and reckon that theyre just having a bad day (or a bad life?) and I get on with it. I think it takes all sorts of people to make the world go round, so if someone’s nice, thats great, but if they are rude, then thats their problem, not mine.

I have found that there are some rude people out there, and they arent the shop / sales attendants, they are the customers. I have had people push me by when they want to look at a particular top in a rack or someone say “excuse me” when I havent been standing in their way in the first place. I find these people much ruder than a sales attendant who may be having a bad day. Anyway, whoever they are, I just brush it off.

That sounds awful, dorme 🙁 you shouldn’t have to _prove_ or explain to anyone why you have a disabled sticker. It’s not their business. Very poor effort by both the company and shopping centre to block those parks off. I know those parks aren’t always used, but to assume no one would need to use them at this event. Gosh, it makes me angry!

Sadly, I’m no longer taken aback by such stories… Just seems like such a large number of people don’t care about customer service, being nice, or come to think of it, just *not being rude*. It feels like every second time I going shopping I get frustrated with bad service somewhere or other. And I’ve been in customer service for most of my working life – it has such a great effect on people to just smile and be genuine in helping them.

A massive problem I see with many Australian businesses is a lack of response when you make a formal complaint too. I’m never shopping at Esprit ever again, as I got treated so badly that I actually bothered to email the company (which is rare for me) and they never replied – it’s one of the few stores I have well and truely blacklisted.

It is sad when you feel you just can’t go to stores anymore, and sadly Myer may be one for me. I decided I’d give them the benefit of the doubt and head in again (after the craziness of the weekend died down) and was again greeted by rude staff and less than helpful ‘specialist’ counter staff. I know they are new, but they should be able to find an answer to my question if they don’t know it, at least ask someone more senior or point me in the right direction!

That sounds awful, dorme 🙁 you shouldn’t have to prove or explain to anyone why you have a disabled sticker. It’s not their business. Very poor effort by both the company and shopping centre to block those parks off. I know those parks aren’t always used, but to assume no one would need to use them at this event. Gosh, it makes me angry!

Sadly, I’m no longer taken aback by such stories… Just seems like such a large number of people don’t care about customer service, being nice, or come to think of it, just not being rude. It feels like every second time I going shopping I get frustrated with bad service somewhere or other. And I’ve been in customer service for most of my working life – it has such a great effect on people to just smile and be genuine in helping them.

A massive problem I see with many Australian businesses is a lack of response when you make a formal complaint too. I’m never shopping at Esprit ever again, as I got treated so badly that I actually bothered to email the company (which is rare for me) and they never replied – it’s one of the few stores I have well and truely blacklisted.

Bumping this up, I really want to share my awful experience at Myer tonight.

First off, tonight was the VIP opening for our first Myer. Very very busy, which was to be expected. But it was terrible. First off, (still unsure as to who was in control of the carpark/stopping people coming up, possibly Myer, possibly the shopping centre) but the car park was full, they were not letting people in to drop passengers off or anything. I have a disabled sticker which I had full intention of using to try to avoid having to hobble a marathon with crutches, one person let me in and told me there was disabled car parks available, got to the second person they told me there was nowhere to park and couldn’t let me park in a disabled car park because I was not disabled (uh… how else did I get the government permit?), eventually she let me in, but would only allow me to park in a “disabled” car park nowhere near a door, or ramp, or lift. It was literally up against the edge of the carpark (I also later found out that Myer blocked off disabled car parks so that people queueing to enter Myer could stand there). I figured I had a park I may as well head in, so I did. I was expected to walk across the carpark, through most of the shopping centre, walk up and escalator they had turned off and walk through another car park to stand in a queue in another car park to wait to be let in to Myer in a group. I gave up, left and ate dinner and came back.

I got a closer car park and went in. I was armed with some questions about some products I was interested in. I was ignored by most staff, other staff were rude when I asked questions and another staff member tried to force me to leave while I was waiting for my mum and sister to try things on! I don’t know if it was what I was wearing, maybe my crutches were scary? Who knows! Needless to say I’m not going back! I’m more than happy to get things cheaper online and just wait to shop in Myer in Melbourne, at least down there people seem to want to help me!