Remember the olden days when good customer service was the norm? You weren’t expected to put up with bad service. And no one blamed you for complaining to the higher ups. The funny thing is, they didn’t have follow-up surveys for everything you bought or every service you used. Didn’t need them, because it wasn’t a very big issue. However, there’s really no point in taking a survey or making a formal complaint these days, because there’s nothing can be done about the labor shortage that is hitting stores, hospitals, plumbers, doctor’s offices and even locksmiths. We may as well start getting used to poor service, because it’s not going to get any better.

getting used to poor service BECAAUSE LABOR SHORTAGES WILL COTINUE — GETTING USED TO POOR SERVICE. Practice your patience skills because it’s not going to get any better.

Since the holidays began, we’ve encountered lackluster service almost every where we go. Which , at our age, is far less than the average family of four.

It started with our hearing aids specialist. When we purchased them three years ago, we were assured that there would always be someone in the office to help us with any problems we might encounter. That went well for a couple of years. Clogged up? Twisted? No problem. Stop by this afternoon for a quick fix by the audiologist. Except, now, the audiologist is only available one day per week. He’s moved somewhere else, and they haven’t found a replacement. So, you might have to go full week with poor hearing.

If you need your locks changed, it’s probably for a reason. You want to keep someone out who may have gotten hold of the key to your home, or office. In the old days, your trusty locksmith would be out by the end of the day. Trouble is, there aren’t many experienced locksmiths available now. It may be several days before they can come to the rescue. You’ll just have to put a chair up to your door, and hope for no uninvited visitors.

Bought a new dishwasher last week when our old one gave out. They delivered it promptly, and the installer quickly explained which buttons to push, before rushing to another job. I was confused , because the instruction sheet did not include a control panel diagram. Called the dealership, and was promised the service man would give me a call-back to answer any questions. That was four days ago, and I still haven’t heard from him. Thank heaven for YOU TUBE, where I finally learned how to operate the dishwasher

It’s an epidemic. School bus drivers are working double shifts. Consequently kids are late to school. Restaurants are short of help so it may take an hour to get served. Grocery stores have empty shelves (crackers, especially), because there aren’t enough truck drivers. I’m not sure what’s causing the shortage of workers, but I suspect it’s not going to get any better. We may as well start getting used to poor service, and it won’t help one bit to answer that follow up survey. Remember: patience is a virtue.

Have you ever noticed someone checking their receipts before leaving the grocery store? I stopped doing it a long time ago, because I trusted the clerks to scan items correctly. That’s all changed during this pandemic. Many of the clerks are new, and poorly trained. The seasoned ones are overwhelmed with the volume of food coming down the conveyor belt. Warning: scanners may be scammers. Costly supermarket checkout mistakes are becoming more frequent.

It started last month. My husband came home from the store and glanced at his receipt. It listed two cartons of ice cream. And yet, he’d only bought one. We looked in the car again, thinking maybe he actually had unwittingly picked up two cartons. But he hadn’t. It wasn’t really a big deal, but since I was going back to that same store the next day, I offered to try and get it corrected. Since we’ve been shopping there for over 30 years, they usually take my word for things. However, when I got to the business office , there were about 10 people waiting in line to cash checks, make returns, etc. It seemed like more trouble than it was worth for $4.00—especially with my arthritic knees. I shrugged, and chalked it up to experience.

A week later, at a different supermarket, I bought one frozen dinner. When I got home, my receipt said I’d purchased two. I knew that was wrong, but again, it seemed like a lot of trouble to go back and make a complaint—especially since this is a newer store, where I’m not known.

during this pandemic, clerks are making mistakes at the checkout. Scanners may be scammers.

Warning: Scanners May be Scammers. Store clerks are overwhelmed during this pandemic, and making mistakes that cost you money

It happened again this week at yet a third superstore. All the checkout lanes had long waiting lines. Everyone’s cart was loaded. No one goes to the supermarket to pick up a few things these days. They mask up, and grimly load up for the long term. The clerk seemed confused. She didn’t know the difference between a plantain and a banana, and she had to look it up. Maybe she was new on the job. I didn’t look at my receipt– just wanted to get out of there, since an unmasked man in the line was talking loudly. When I got home, I saw that she had scanned a carton of Kool Whip twice, and I’d only purchased one.

Are the clerks scanning one item twice on purpose? Of course not. They’re simply rushed, nervous, and often poorly trained. But now, I know better. This pandemic has left everyone confused. Therefore, receipts should be checked—not inside the store while close to other people, but before leaving the parking lot.

Warning: grocery store checkout mistakes are happening more often during this pandemic. Scanners may be scammers.

Tag: consumer affairs

GETTING USED TO POOR SERVICE

WARNING! SCANNERS MAY BE SCAMMERS

A week later, at a different supermarket, I bought one frozen dinner. When I got home, my receipt said I’d purchased two. I knew that was wrong, but again, it seemed like a lot of trouble to go back and make a complaint—especially since this is a newer store, where I’m not known.