Jolly or Grinch

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Today’s blog is from PhoneSmart secret shopper and sales rep, Angela.

‘Tis the season to be Jolly or is it?

I ask this question in good faith that the answer should be rhetorical but it is not. As the Christmas season is approaching, the stores are ready in every way imaginable except for the associates that either have missed the memo on friendly customer service or had an over dosage on “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

It is a shame that you can go in to a store and smell the pine from the trees and the Christmas melody soothes your mind and leads you directly to the Holiday aisle. As your mind gets lost in the music and you ignore the over priced items as your hand continues tossing items into your cart, thoughts flutter around aimlessly. These thought expand into elaborate decorations and scenery that will look appropriate for the lawn, garage, the roof tops, the edging, the fence, etc. And as planned, more decorations go into the cart. As you go to the other aisles that are filled with big red signs with white letters that make up the word CLEARANCE and the “50% off “adds attraction to our eyes, so here we go racing to the sign; ignoring the two small words “up to” before 50%.

To get through the crowded aisles and ignoring the bumps you repeated “excuse me”, “pardon me”, “I’m sorry” as you make your way to that particular section for that specific item, to only discovered that the item is not there and so with some disappointment you proceed with your shopping list. On your way to the next item on your list you spot a sales associate. Your disappointment turns into relief, your prayers have been answered and here is a chance to redeem your faith and find that particular item that you felt did not exist.

With all the confidence in the world you approach the sales associated with a smile and ask for the much-wanted item. Instead of the anticipated response with clarity you get a half smirk of a smile, a low toned demeanor; and the entire person, both body and verbal language, wreaks of frustration. To top this off you get an answer of “I don’t know” or “I think that it is down here”. When you alert the associate that you already looked “down here” they reply with the first response, “I don’t know.” How helpful is this one being? And can we add some personality to this person? Wouldn’t it be nice for the associate to add to the first response “I don’t know” with “but I will find someone who does”? This simple addition to the sentence would make life a lot easier and will still allow you to continue shopping and take your mind off of the cart that is filled with the items that you did not need in the beginning.

But once the “Grinch” comes out the cart is quickly noticed and the music becomes annoying and then you are irritated with the smell of pine and holly and spice all mixed together as one fragrance and then you are out of the store empty handed. All of this to go home and then realize that you must again face the stores that may or may not have the “Grinch” working for that day.

If anyone knows a sales associate, please let him or her know theses three things:

1. We too are frustrated
2. They are the ones that filled the application out to help and “I don’t know” is not helping, it is ignoring… and shoppers like myself we don’t go away.
3. This is the season to be jolly is not just “now” but the season is as long as they are employed with the establishment.

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.