For twenty five of my seventy two years, I was in the tourist and hospitality industry. Even now, many years later, I tend to always say "G'day" and smile at whoever is behind the counter/ desk when entering a business.
While having a look around Newcastle, my partner, Jennifer, who has her own motorhome, suggested that I go and inspect new and second hand units in a local suburb. They are a very big, "Family owned" business. I agreed to have a look, even though my T3500 Mazda m/home are quite happy together.
We walked into the showrooms. Lookin around, I see, what I presumed to be, five staff. A couple leaning against the counter. Two more, obviously senior people, sitting in an office, drinking coffee. Finally one person doing his hair in one of the m/home mirrors.
In plain sight of these "sales persons", I stood and waited. I looked in at the couple who were chatting and drinking coffee.
Then I smiled at a person who was watching TV. Then I wandered around the vast array of m/homes in the hope of finding someone who might be just slightly interested in my business.
No one came near me. If I had the money to buy another m/home, there's no way would I purchase it from that firm.
To my way of thinking, if someone comes into your place of business, and you are busy, at least smile and say "G'day, I will be right with you. Feel free to look around!" (Understandably, this may not apply in a funeral home)
This at least lets the person know that you want, and appreciate, their business.
Then again, maybe it's just me, expecting too much.
Regards.
Pipes
aussie_paul said
01:35 PM Aug 23, 2015
Absolutely Pipes. We owned quite a few business's over the years and the first rule is to acknowledge the customer. They have the most important thing in the world on their mind at that time.
Aussie Paul.
Hey Jim said
01:36 PM Aug 23, 2015
Pipes,
It sounds like you were in the Centrelink offices mate.
The one up next to the RV dealership in the main street. They have all those mirrors to bounce the various units on show, back into their offices,
So they can keep dreaming of what its like, to be on the other side.
You should have checked the number on the building before entering.
Try again tomorrow, And I'm sure you will get their full attention.
It was a week day I Assume.
jules47 said
02:51 PM Aug 23, 2015
Used to work in a take away food shop years ago - got sick of the rudeness of customers - strung PLEASE and THANK YOU on each side of a card so it was readable, strung it from the ceiling at just bout average eye level - amazing how many took notice! I don't like to be hassled by salesmen or women, but I do like to be asked if I am ok, or need any help.
NeilandRaine said
03:25 PM Aug 23, 2015
So you went to Australian Motor Homes in Bennetts Green then
Dougwe said
03:51 PM Aug 23, 2015
Nope, not just you pipes.
I'm like Jules, like to be acknowledged and help available if I need it but not annoyed. I just like good old fashion service but is lacking in a lot of places these days.
justcruisin01 said
04:14 PM Aug 23, 2015
Yep,know what you mean, I have walked out of a business more than once. One girl was sitting on the counter doing her finger nails so as I walked past I said; can't complain about the service as there is none.
JC.
Patto44 said
05:15 PM Aug 23, 2015
NeilandRaine wrote:
So you went to Australian Motor Homes in Bennetts Green then
Sounds familiar. !!!
deverall11 said
05:46 PM Aug 23, 2015
Pipes,
Back in early July, I emailed every Ducati dealer in NSW wanting a quote on a new motorcycle. NO ONE replied. But NO ONE.
What apathy. Maybe when they need to meet their targets i may get a call. The reply will be Get F*$@ed!!
Larry
kiwijims said
06:20 PM Aug 23, 2015
I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago,
I am in the process of renovating a 96 Coromal ( the one in my avatar ) so I emailed Coromal requesting all available info on my Model caravan,
IE ;- Bearing size, wheel make and also the availabity of any new Upholstery, left over roll from end of production ,
Still waiting for a reply, probably gone in the "too hard bin " the day I sent the request.
And their factory is only a few clicks away from us, I won't bother contacting them again, seems like are only interested in selling new vans and have no interest in people with old vans.
I find lots of businesses like that especially Telstra impossible to get service most of the time
aussietraveller said
09:46 AM Aug 24, 2015
Customer service hasn't existed for years, another classic example is when contacting companies by phone the classic response is, "please listen to all options as the options have recently changed" now that we have your undivided attention press 1 for then press 4 with a regular requirement to press 7 or 8 bottoms to get to the section that you want and then have the privilege of listening to music or chimes until you hang up 20 minutes later.
The next option is almost as bad news with this one I ask the 2 percent to believe that I really am not a racist, you ring a company that advertises that you can speak to a person, unfortunately they usually have such a strong accent that you can't understand what they are saying especially when you are ringing to discuss something of a technical nature.
i understand that it may be much cheaper to have call centres off shore but Australian companies need to realise that they are dealing with Australians, who in a lot of cases have difficulty with strong foreign accents and hate pressing message buttons a dozen times on the phone only to end up with a long wait
-- Edited by aussietraveller on Monday 24th of August 2015 09:49:30 AM
dogbox said
12:01 PM Aug 24, 2015
you people need to get in to the real world you have to email or phone them them even if you are on the premises that face to face stuff is old fashion
Roving-Dutchy said
01:43 PM Aug 24, 2015
If it is the same company that has been mentioned, I went there about 18 months back and was being shown MH's around the $120,000 mark and when I stated I only had $65000 to spend I was dropped like a hot potato, all the MH's and vans I looked at were overpriced by at least 1/3, so if you like being ripped off this is the company to do business with.
Cheers
David
Umpie1 said
01:57 PM Aug 24, 2015
dogbox wrote:
you people need to get in to the real world you have to email or phone them them even if you are on the premises that face to face stuff is old fashion
Would you buy a $50,000 car or a caravan/motorhome solely by email or over the phone? I think not. I presume you would be quite happy to try and discuss things over the phone with someone in an overseas call centre and an accent that you cannot understand. If you do I wish you luck. The real world still has the face to face contact. Come into the real world.
Bruce and Bev said
03:34 PM Aug 24, 2015
Been in retail for too many years. Always used to bang on at my staff (and me) to smile and say "Hello", or "Beautiful Day isn't it?" Acknowledge the person if not appropriate to hard sell approach.
But I HATE being called "Mate". My friends can call me Mate, but not some spotty boy in a shop or servo !!
And never say to me " You OK Mate? (or similar)". My very loud reaction is to act like Im about to have some sort of fit and ask for an ambulance or say "Im as mad as a snake - what about you?"
Then I leave the shop.
I don't expect to be referred to as "Sir". Just a smile and "Hello" is sufficient. I will ask, if I have questions or want something.
We're in Batemans Bay at the moment, and most of the staff at MacDonalds are the pits - the worst Ive seen at any Golden Arches. All the male staff, including the shift managers use the term "mate" (other stores its Sir) and some will finish off their private conversations before serving the increasing queue at the counter. And yes, I made an email complaint, but 3 weeks later, still waiting for a response that obviously isn't coming
-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Monday 24th of August 2015 03:36:49 PM
03_Troopy said
04:44 PM Aug 24, 2015
Umpie1 wrote:
dogbox wrote:
you people need to get in to the real world you have to email or phone them them even if you are on the premises that face to face stuff is old fashion
Would you buy a $50,000 car or a caravan/motorhome solely by email or over the phone? I think not. I presume you would be quite happy to try and discuss things over the phone with someone in an overseas call centre and an accent that you cannot understand. If you do I wish you luck. The real world still has the face to face contact. Come into the real world.
I think dogbox meant that tongue in cheek...
dogbox said
10:02 PM Aug 24, 2015
03_Troopy wrote:
Umpie1 wrote:
dogbox wrote:
you people need to get in to the real world you have to email or phone them them even if you are on the premises that face to face stuff is old fashion
Would you buy a $50,000 car or a caravan/motorhome solely by email or over the phone? I think not. I presume you would be quite happy to try and discuss things over the phone with someone in an overseas call centre and an accent that you cannot understand. If you do I wish you luck. The real world still has the face to face contact. Come into the real world.
I think dogbox meant that tongue in cheek...
it might have been a bit tongue in cheek but unfortunately it is the way things are going. people buy things over the internet with out even seeing them and the auctions even do a booming business over the internet based on what people see in a few pictures
dishlicker said
07:39 AM Aug 25, 2015
Ah Pipes i have also been to the same dealership and would not buy a unit from them after there lack of salesmanship i went second hand ex rental matec / britz ect they are a good solid unit with good warranty and proven record have a look at em you could be suprised
For twenty five of my seventy two years, I was in the tourist and hospitality industry. Even now, many years later, I tend to always say "G'day" and smile at whoever is behind the counter/ desk when entering a business.
While having a look around Newcastle, my partner, Jennifer, who has her own motorhome, suggested that I go and inspect new and second hand units in a local suburb. They are a very big, "Family owned" business. I agreed to have a look, even though my T3500 Mazda m/home are quite happy together.
We walked into the showrooms. Lookin around, I see, what I presumed to be, five staff. A couple leaning against the counter. Two more, obviously senior people, sitting in an office, drinking coffee. Finally one person doing his hair in one of the m/home mirrors.
In plain sight of these "sales persons", I stood and waited. I looked in at the couple who were chatting and drinking coffee.
Then I smiled at a person who was watching TV. Then I wandered around the vast array of m/homes in the hope of finding someone who might be just slightly interested in my business.
No one came near me. If I had the money to buy another m/home, there's no way would I purchase it from that firm.
To my way of thinking, if someone comes into your place of business, and you are busy, at least smile and say "G'day, I will be right with you. Feel free to look around!" (Understandably, this may not apply in a funeral home)
This at least lets the person know that you want, and appreciate, their business.
Then again, maybe it's just me, expecting too much.
Regards.
Pipes
Absolutely Pipes. We owned quite a few business's over the years and the first rule is to acknowledge the customer. They have the most important thing in the world on their mind at that time.
Aussie Paul.
Pipes,
It sounds like you were in the Centrelink offices mate.
The one up next to the RV dealership in the main street. They have all those mirrors to bounce the various units on show, back into their offices,
So they can keep dreaming of what its like, to be on the other side.
You should have checked the number on the building before entering.
Try again tomorrow, And I'm sure you will get their full attention.
It was a week day I Assume.
I'm like Jules, like to be acknowledged and help available if I need it but not annoyed. I just like good old fashion service but is lacking in a lot of places these days.
Yep,know what you mean, I have walked out of a business more than once. One girl was sitting on the counter doing her finger nails so as I walked past I said; can't complain about the service as there is none.
JC.
Sounds familiar. !!!
Back in early July, I emailed every Ducati dealer in NSW wanting a quote on a new motorcycle. NO ONE replied. But NO ONE.
What apathy. Maybe when they need to meet their targets i may get a call. The reply will be Get F*$@ed!!
Larry
I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago,
I am in the process of renovating a 96 Coromal ( the one in my avatar ) so I emailed Coromal requesting all available info on my Model caravan,
IE ;- Bearing size, wheel make and also the availabity of any new Upholstery, left over roll from end of production ,
Still waiting for a reply, probably gone in the "too hard bin " the day I sent the request.
And their factory is only a few clicks away from us, I won't bother contacting them again, seems like are only interested in selling new vans and have no interest in people with old vans.
K.J.
The next option is almost as bad news with this one I ask the 2 percent to believe that I really am not a racist, you ring a company that advertises that you can speak to a person, unfortunately they usually have such a strong accent that you can't understand what they are saying especially when you are ringing to discuss something of a technical nature.
i understand that it may be much cheaper to have call centres off shore but Australian companies need to realise that they are dealing with Australians, who in a lot of cases have difficulty with strong foreign accents and hate pressing message buttons a dozen times on the phone only to end up with a long wait
-- Edited by aussietraveller on Monday 24th of August 2015 09:49:30 AM
Cheers
David
Would you buy a $50,000 car or a caravan/motorhome solely by email or over the phone? I think not. I presume you would be quite happy to try and discuss things over the phone with someone in an overseas call centre and an accent that you cannot understand. If you do I wish you luck. The real world still has the face to face contact. Come into the real world.
Been in retail for too many years. Always used to bang on at my staff (and me) to smile and say "Hello", or "Beautiful Day isn't it?" Acknowledge the person if not appropriate to hard sell approach.
But I HATE being called "Mate". My friends can call me Mate, but not some spotty boy in a shop or servo !!
And never say to me " You OK Mate? (or similar)". My very loud reaction is to act like Im about to have some sort of fit and ask for an ambulance or say "Im as mad as a snake - what about you?"
Then I leave the shop.
I don't expect to be referred to as "Sir". Just a smile and "Hello" is sufficient. I will ask, if I have questions or want something.
We're in Batemans Bay at the moment, and most of the staff at MacDonalds are the pits - the worst Ive seen at any Golden Arches. All the male staff, including the shift managers use the term "mate" (other stores its Sir) and some will finish off their private conversations before serving the increasing queue at the counter. And yes, I made an email complaint, but 3 weeks later, still waiting for a response that obviously isn't coming
-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Monday 24th of August 2015 03:36:49 PM
I think dogbox meant that tongue in cheek...
Ah Pipes i have also been to the same dealership and would not buy a unit from them after there lack of salesmanship i went second hand ex rental matec / britz ect they are a good solid unit with good warranty and proven record have a look at em you could be suprised