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okay. i've had widely varying customer service experience. i'll chronicle some of the highlights.
British Airways. truly a pleasure to work this job. the passengers, with the exception of a few lousy ones (mostly americans) were great, and never lost their tempers or got travel-paniced when something went awry.
America West. as good as BA was, America West was bad. underpaid employees dealing with low-fare/high expecation asshole passengers who were demanding, excitable, and short-tempered. on top of that, the supervisory staff was unsupportive of its agents' desicions, undermining them on many occasions. I was glad when they fired me, i'd had enough of it anyways.
Flex Foam. this was a different customer service experience. the customers i was handling were businesses, many times the people who ran the businesses. you'd think that means people would be a little more understanding and appreciate the plights of customer service. wrong. grown men who ran high-dollar businesses were just as bad as screaming children if you didn't do everything any anything to make them completely happy and assure them that nothing will ever go wrong. what a mess.
Costco. beyond the time i had at British Airways, this is quickly turning into my favourite customer service position. The members (as they're called because they actually pay to shop at Costco) are normally very polite, and appreciate someone who spends a little time with them to make sure their needs are met. I appreciate the fact that Costco encourages its employees to treat the members with a higher level of service, and it translates into a good experience when i'm helping them, because when i'm done, the members know what they need to and normally communicate their appreciation. of course, as any other retail gig goes, there is the general picking-up after people who leave items in odd places, but that's true for any retail gig, so it's just par for the course.
overall, customer service really adds up to the employees and their happiness. if a company pays their employees well and supports them and their desicions while on the job, you will find a higher level of service than at some fly-by-night or retail hell where everyone working is underpaid, overworked, and generally fed up with their jobs.
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My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
- Thomas Paine
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