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The Dean's List has a few things that really get under my skin. You know those things that have the same effect that fingernails on a chalkboard give you. Tardiness, liars, rudeness, children with no manners, etc. I won't continue because we would be here all day. I will share one more though - Customer Service.
I worked for a Fortune 500 Company here in Rochester for 18 years. Topping our list of priorities was customer service. It was beat into our heads on a daily basis - it was almost like being a part of a customer service cult. It wasn't good enough for us to satisfy our customers; we trained to be "obsessed" with our customer's satisfaction.
While working for this company, I would have never imagined how that training would mold me for the rest of my life. Even though I've moved on and have worked for two other companies since, I've taken that "obsession" with my customers and applied it not only to my work life, but to everything I do. I strive for perfection.
Unfortunately, not everyone conducts business that way.
The Dean's List was moved to write this based on an experience I had last night at a cell phone store in Greece. My cousin and I took my aunt to purchase a new phone. My aunt has a phone only in case of an emergency. Her bill for last month showed that she had only used 2 of her available 300 minutes. Since the entire network will be converted to digital in a few weeks (and her phone was analog - yes, I said analog), we had to get her a new one.
Upon arrival to the store, we used the touch screen to load our information we were seeking. We waited for 20 minutes before someone became available to help us. We told our salesperson that my aunt needed a new phone, as basic as they come because she doesn't use any of the features. Since her contract was up years ago, he said that all she needed to do was sign a new contract and she could get a new phone and it shouldn't cost her that much.
He immediately took us to a phone that cost $139. He said with signing the contract, rebates, etc., the phone would only cost $50 which would include the headset and car charger. My aunt doesn't drive, so I told him that we didn't need those items. He also wanted to increase the number on minutes on her plan (didn't I say she used 2 minutes last month?) While we were talking, I noticed a phone for $39 and asked the salesperson about that one. As his frustration set in, he said that he had never sold that phone before and didn't know anything about it. He also said that we shouldn't buy it because it didn't come with the headset and car charger (didn't I say we didn't need that?). Once we decided to buy the $39 phone, our obviously upset salesperson told us to go to the back of the store to pick up the new phone.
Now this is where it gets more frustrating. The store was very busy last night. There were six registers in this section of the store, with four employees behind the counter and another 4 employees at the front of the store. The thing was, only two employees were waiting on customers who were picking up their new phones. All of customers waiting were there to do just that - pick up their new phones.
During our hour wait, I watched all of the employees not servicing customers talking on phones, having personal conversations, putting on lipstick, laughing, etc. Even the two employees waiting on customers took frequent talk/laugh breaks. I witnessed several potential customers leave the store out of frustration. Thank God my aunt is a patient woman, because I was ready to leave myself. Two hours after arriving at the store, we left with our $39 phone that we didn't have to pay for.
The Dean's List wanted to share this story with everyone because something's got to change! You will never be the great person you were destined to be unless to strive for excellence. Just enough is not good enough! When given a task, job, homework assignment - OWN IT! Treat every project like you will get paid a million dollars if it's done right and on time! One day, you just might get that pay out.
Also, you never know who's watching. It may just be the Dean's List and I will write about you in my blog the next day.
You can write the Dean's List with thoughts, comment or idea's at: Thedeanslist1@gmail.com
