Chris and I just got back from running a few quick errands with the boys before bed time. One of our stops was to the furniture store Rooms To Go where we were looking for a new entertainment center and possibly a set of couches for our bonus room. After wandering around the store for almost 25 minutes without having a single sales associate greet us or offer to assist us, I had a question about the entertainment centers. I managed to track down two gentlemen who had Rooms To Go logos on their shirts and were lounging comfortably in recliners near the entrance of the store.
“Excuse me, do any of your packages include entertainment centers or are they all sold separately?” I inquired. “They’re all sold separately,” the older of the two gentleman replied, without making so much as a move to stand up. He did not offer to help me in any way so Chris and I continued shopping on our own. The next time we passed him he gave a brief wave and said, “Ya’ll have a good night now.”
I informed him that we were not actually done shopping at the moment but thanked him very much for the excellent customer service he had provided. He made a half smile at my obvious sarcasm and said nothing further. Once again he did not even attempt to rise. I then asked him his name and where I might be able to find the nearest manager. He motioned toward the back of the store. So while Chris loaded the kids back into the car I politely informed the manager that we had come in possibly prepared to spend several thousand dollars in his establishment but were now leaving with no intentions of returning thanks to the lack of customer service we had received. He of course apologized profusely and explained that dear Larry certainly must have thought someone else was already helping us, and that he was most likely already busy himself or else he surely would not have passed up a chance at a sale. “He sure does look busy,” I replied and I pointed to the chair where Larry was still lounging. As I left the manager was having, or at least pretending to have, a little talk with Larry.
So after the furniture store we had to stop at the grocery store. We decided that since the boys were getting tired I would run into Publix to pick up the bread and milk while Chris waited in the car with the kids. Well I had not been in the store for more than two seconds when I was greeted by a friendly sales associate who also asked if she could help me find anything. And as soon as I approached the front of the store two, yes two, different cashiers indicated with a smile and a wave that their lanes were open for me. The man who rang me up made eye contact and polite conversation as he bagged my two items. I left feeling like a generally valued customer, and marveling at the fact that I had just received far superior customer service in a store where I only spent $3.50 to the customer service that I had received in a store where I was prepared to spend thousands.
