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Shelbyville, Tennessee ~ Tuesday, October 7, 2008
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A mild rant about "customer service"
Posted Saturday, May 10, 2008, at 11:33 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
What happened to customer service? I am not talking about the whole "the customer is always right" mentality. That would never work because people on a whole would try to get something for nothing. I have seen that time and time again. I am talking about listening to a customer's comments (in this case a complaint) and correcting a real problem. Well, in this case it wasn't a major issue, but certainly could have been handled differently.
Today we drove home through Murfreesboro and stopped at an automatic car wash to hose off the week's gunk from our van. After going through the wash and stopping at Food Lion, I saw that there was soap left on the van. I went back to the car wash to ask if they had a hose that I could wash the soap off with. They said no, but that we could run the van through the wash again. After the second time there was still soap on the van. I noticed this while sitting right next to a hose that they had attached to a spigot (thought they didn't have one). I asked if that was the hose that they didn't have and they offered to hose the soap off the van. While this was being done I was talking to the manager of this particularly "monstrous" car wash (on 231 in Murfreesboro) and he said that if I wasn't satisfied with the way that their car wash worked, then I needed to find another car wash to use. Now I'm no expert at dealing with customers but this just doesn't seem like a good approach to take if you plan on return business. So, if you happen to have your car washed at an automatic car wash (particularly one on 231), you may want to check for soap after this has "rinsed" your vehicle. And they do have a hose (it's just inside the car wash at the end of the cycle). Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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Thats how I feel about Wal-Mart . . . most of the cashiers(not all) act as though they would rather be somewhere else and upset that you actually came through their line. It is amazing how many dont say anything to you and you have to ask them what the total is because they are too busy talking to their friend or just think it isnt their job to actually converse with the customer.
It just annoys me . . .
jaxpike, you are right on the money on wal mart. I have heard some, not all, employees make the comment, "Where else will people shop in Shelbyville" Customer service at Wal Mart seems to be at the bottom of the priority list.
jaxspike, I totally agree with you in regards to the customer service at Wal-Mart. What really bothers me is when they have approximately 26 check-out lines and only four of them are open. There are customers backed up to the clothing department trying to check out! I spend more time waiting to check out at Wal-Mart than I do actually shopping:)
Yep, all day they keep most of the registers closed down. At night when the food side doors are the only ones open, the registers that are open are all at the other end of the store.
I really wish there were alternatives to Wal-Mart for groceries and such around here. I would be willing to pay a little bit more if I just didn't have to go in there.
Sometimes I walk out of that place feeling like I just traded a part of my soul for some canned goods and Jones sodas.
I will pay alot more for a product, if good customer service is part of the deal. Just this week I was treated badly at a place of business here in town, mainly because I drive an old beater pickup. They see the pickup and dont think I have any money and dont want to deal with me. I dont shop at Wal-Mart, because of the customer service. I am leaving Regions bank very shortly because of bad customer service from the management, the tellers are awesome, but they sure didnt learn it from their management. I value customer service as much as the product or service I am buying.
I am wondering how you acted toward the employees when you first had a complaint. Maybe you were rude to them, so they were rude back. Just guessing.
Don't get me wrong. I agree that customer service is not what it used to be, but it seems that some people are getting harder to please as well. It really annoys me when I see people going off on some kid making minimum wage because they made a mistake, or people who can't go to any restaurant without finding something to complain to the manager about. It doesn't matter to me if you are the employee or the customer, there is a right way and a wrong way to talk to people.
I'm not saying that happened in your case, I wasn't there.
Yesterday I was asked were do you want to go to eat...So I said let's go and eat at Hooter's...We have never ate there...I wanted to do something different...My Goodness.. The waitress was very rude and she acted like she didn't want the the table with the family...When she got to our table she was writting down what we wanted to drink on a napkin....everyone wanted sweet tea with no lemon but me and I wanted coffee with cream and sugar...She came back to our table and said I have to make a pot of coffee and just gave me a look and I said okay and she walked off like I had said something wrong...Then we ordered some fried pickles...and she said "do you want to order food too" we said no we will wait until our pickles come out and then order...Because we were not sure what we wanted...I finally got my coffee at the same time as our pickles and she gave me 1 cream and 2 packs of sugar and put our pickles down and said are you ready to order now...I told my husband let's just eat the pickles and go some place else that wants to serve us....As we were leaving the manger said Hope your meal was ok...I said we did not eat cause our waitress was too rude and he just looked at us...I am Happy to say we went to TOOT's and had a wonderful time and Good food...
I actually make it a point to be nice to employees at Wal-Mart because I worked there at one time while I was going to college and I know how working in retail with the public can be. I am always polite and say hello and I never complain about anything even if they are the rude to me because I figure they just might be having a bad day (it happens when you deal with the publics in general).
However, it seems now that so many of the cashiers think that actually talking to customers is not part of their job description and that having a bad attitude is ok toward the customer. It is not something that happens once in a while, it seems to happen about 90% of the time I am in there and my friends and coworkers say the same. There are two girls that work there that are supper nice but the rest are just horrible. For a company that supposedly prides itself on customer service and being part of the community, it is definitely lacking that when it comes to our store. I am always shocked when I go to Target in Murfreesboro and employees approach me in the store and ask me if I need nay help with anything because Wal-Mart doesn't even do that anymore and I have never had a bad experience with a cashier at Target. Wal-Mart also use to have a policy that if three or more customers are in line at the checkouts then they would open another lane but they definitely do not follow that now. I have been in there on a Friday evening when it is super busy and they will only have like 4 lanes open and two of them will be the fast checkout lanes for 20 items or less. Wal-Mart has become so huge that they could care less about the average customers because they know people will still keep shopping there. Sam Walton is probably turning in his grave at what his company has become.
The killer for me was one day when I was checking out and I asked this checkout person how he was doing and he started to complain about the store and how they work him to much and that he was going to join the Air Force because it would be easier than working at Wal-Mart (I almost laughed at that one). He said he was tired of dealing with stupid customers and the like. I just stood there and couldn't believe that he was saying this to an actual customer where he was working. I would have never done that while I was working there because it is just tacky and no place for it.
I guess a lot of it has to deal with the fact that most of the cashiers are high school students and this generation of teenagers definitely lack the ideas of work and integrity that other generations had which is funny coming from someone who grew up from Generation X.
But really, I can understand people having a bad day and such but unfortunately it seems that customer service at Wal-Mart is an extreme luxury and not a necessity.
I hate Wal-Mart, so I have to agree with everything jaxspike said. Walked up to a lady the other day in the electronics department and asked for a specific DVD that I was having a hard time finding and her response "I don't know if we have it" Well if you work in the department, you should know what's in your department or atleast make an effort to find it for me. I just saved my money and will go to Hasting's and buy it.
But my worse customer service has come from Ruby Tuesday's. Had some young man and he couldn't quit hugging up on waitresses, talking, goofing off and such to even refill my drink, the meat was undercooked and he made it seem like an effort to have to get it right. Needless to say he got no tip from me and when I go in, I specifically request NOT to be seated in his section. Still shocked he is working there, they must be hard up for servers.
I know jesuslovesevery1 . . . I had one clerk get mad at me in electronics because I wanted to look at a couple of dvds that they had behind the glass case. It is not my fault that they put all the dvds behind a case so you cant look at them . . . but she kept huffing and puffing because she had to help me when she had been talking to her friends when I "interrupted" her.
I agree on Wal Mart and Ruby Tuesdays. It's crazy at Wal Mart. But, I think Ruby Tuesdays is just as bad. My husband and I went one night. It took the waitress 20 minutes to get our drinks. Then once we ordered, she didn't come by to check on us for 20-30 minutes. We sat there waiting for our check. She finally came to check on us and gave us the bill. We gave her a hundred dollar bill to pay it. After 20 more minutes, she came back to our table and asked if we were ready to pay. I couldn't believe it. We told her that we had just given her a hundred dollars to pay. She said, Oh I forgot-let me go get it. I watched her walk up to the bar and get her little folder and open it up. She gave the cashier the money and brought us our change. She had just left our money sitting there. Thank God it wasn't stolen. Needless to say, I only go to Ruby Tuesdays when I am getting something to go now!
I suggest asking for Tom when you go to Ruby Tuesday's in town.
I have ate one time also at Ruby Tuesdays here in Shelbyville and we also were treated like we were not important...But yesterday at Hooter's I left that rude waitress a TIP...I took my napkin and wrote TIP on it ..Then put... try being kind and nice and put a smile on your face while you are putting those tight short shorts on...
The best advise I can give all of you in Northern Bedford County is go to the locally owned grocery store here in Dolittle (Unionville). The Piggly Wiggly in Unionville has pretty much anything you need on your grocery list and you WILL be treated like a valuable customer there. There is still alot to be said for good ole Southern hospitality and you'll get just that at "The Pig"! Their meat department is excellent! (and no, I have no interest in the store, just enjoy how I'm treated when I go there)
rebelrose, that is priceless and I will be using your "tip" from now on. Boy would I have loved to have seen her face when she saw that :)
I second Laura's suggestion about asking for Tom, when you go to Ruby Tuesdays. I personally do not have any problem, when I go there, as I usually sit at the bar to eat and most all the employees there recognise me, since I go there a couple of times or more a week.
Walmart?! Well the customer service does suck, but I try to go ANYWHERE else, because I prefer to buy things made in the USA and I am willing to pay more for these things. Walmart is China's best friend.
William
My husband and I go to Ruby Tuesday's fairly often and have always had good service there. Tom is certainly one of the best servers to ever grace the planet earth but there are also several other very friendly host/servers there too.
I have nearly stopped shopping at wal-mart just because it's entirely too crowded and they never have enough lanes open. I spend nearly as much time waiting in line as I do shopping. I have been shopping Kroger lately and I love how they have the u-scan lanes that I can just zip in and go when I only have to get a few things.
Well, I work at Wal-Mart as a cashier part time. I use to be a CSM, the manager that runs the front end and deals with angry customers, and the one thing that made everyone's day was when a customer came up to us and told us that he/she had the BEST cashier! When we would go to that cashier and tell them that they had a nice comment about them, that cashier would always try even harder to please everyone! It was amazing! The result of positive re-enforcement is amazing!
Yesterday, as I was cashiering, I was checking out this 60+ year old woman. With it being Mother's Day, I asked her if she had any children, and then wished her a Happy MD. She went on to tell me that her Mom had passed away last Sunday and then we both started cring. I gave her a hug and learned her name was Margaret (if I remember right).
I agree with what has been said about Wal-Mart, and Jakespike, I think I know the guy you are talking about (the one that was bitter), and I think he quit a while back.
You all are more than welcome to come through my line at Wal-Mart, if I am cashiering. I usually have my hair up in a messy ponnytail, and my name is Mary. If I'm not cashiering, then I'm at the Customer Service Desk. This last weekend I was event cashier in Jewelry.
See you there!
Amen about Wal-Mart. I go to Target or Dollar General or I try to do without. I particularly agree that you can't find anything made in USA. I know the young man you are talking about joining the service. I was talking to him about it one of the rare times I was in there (dog food on sale I think). He was particularly disgusted that day because he had been working 5 hours without a break and his line was consistently 5 or 6 people long. He had been berated by frustrated customers, but he was doing a good job and going as quickly as he could. I stopped by the manager's table and asked her it Wal-Mart didn't still have a policy that if there were more than 3 customers in line they would open another register. She said she didn't have anymore cashiers. I asked her if she could run a register, she just looked at me and walked towards the back of the store.
I am guessing Tom is the same one who used to be at Legends. He is an A+ waiter.
Same Tom!
Richard - To answer your question: There was a time (not very long ago) that I would have gone back and probably would have come across as rude. That was not the case this weekend when I pulled into the lot, popped my head into the office and asked (in a civil tone) if they had a hose that I could use to wash the soap off of my van. I used to work at the casinos in MS and, trust me, I know how much of a pain some customers (or guests) can be at times. I hate to see someone who's rude to an employee because it's generally not their fault if something is wrong with a product (in this case the rinsing mechanism). I was in a particularly good mood when I mentioned this to them, so I know I wasn't rude about it. I might have been rude once he told me that I should find a different car wash to go to. I actually just looked at my wife and asked her "Did you hear what this retard just told me?" That was the only rude thing I said during the entire encounter. Regardless, this seems to be the route that customer service is taking these days. If you're not happy with the way we're doing it, go somewhere else. I remember when customer service meant going out of your way to ensure that the customer left with a good impression of your attempts to right the situation.
I made a promise to myself after an impossible trip to Wal-Mart over two years ago that I would change the way I shop so that I would never waste my time and money just to end up furious and frustrated. I have not walked back in to a Wal-Mart since that day. Even during Christmas. I have been quantity shopping at Target since that time and I actually enjoy my shopping trips. The customer service is wonderful. I usually come out with 2 or 3 weeks worth of items but I don't care. I have extra expense in driving to Murfreesboro but had rather drive the distance than to be treated so terribly and get so upset by waiting 35 min to check out. For quick pickup things, if I can't get it at the Dollar General or Kroger, I do without. I am one happy shopper. We, as customers, don't have to settle for poor customer service. Its America, we have options.
I work in customer service and because of this have learned to be more patient with people but also have learned what good customer service is and let the person know if I don't feel as tho I've been treated fairly.
In your case Thom, the attendant/manager should have at the very least allowed you to use the hose unless of course there is some legalities concerning the use of the hose for insurance purposes. Because he let you go thru the wash again and the soap was still there he should have reimbursed you your money.
Try shopping at the family Dollar too, Steve the store manager there is awesome and always willing to help his customers. I worked with Tom when I was a teenager at Shoneys.He is great and very good at what he does. As for Wal-Mart, I am like everyone else. What's up with all the registers and 1 or 2 open at a time. I am not good at waiting in lines and nothing is more frustrating that waiting 15 minutes in line for something it took 2 minutes to pick up!
I don't go to Wal-Mart unless I have lots of spare time which is usually not often. I can drive to Tullahoma, get checked out and drive home in a shorter length of time than standing in line at Shelbyville Wal-Mart plus I don't have to deal with North Main Street traffic.
And Yes indeed they certainly do have some very rude cashiers.
I went there a while back and I had a buggy full of items it was during Christmas and I had picked up some things along with my groceries and my Mom's.
I was in the process of unloading the buggy and the cashier was ringing up my items when all of a sudden I noticed the belt stopped moving. I turned around and the cashier was standing there with both hands on her hips looking at me. I looked at her and said "What's wrong?" She impolitely added "The bag holder is full and I can't bag anything else until YOU remove these full bags" I politely said "Well there's an empty buggy beside you put them in it" to which she replied "That's NOT MY JOB" I told her it certainly wasn't my job, I don't work for Wal-Mart. I then impolitely said,"well then you can just put them all away and I walked out and went to Tullahoma."
Don't get me wrong if I have my buggy emptied I always unload the bag holder for the cashier but they should NEVER believe it is my job to do so.
Oh wow Dianatn I would have done the same thing!
Mary, I am a Front End Supv.at Michaels Arts and Crafts in Indiana, I deal with customer complants and also work as a cashier when needed.I get very furstrated with customers who come through my line that are all ready in a bad mood, talking on their cell phones and throws a flyer at me so I can cut out the coupon they want to use.I so bad want to ask them if they throw a handful of flyers at the cashier at Krogers or do they actually take the time and cut them out before leaving home, so the check out process can go faster.Yes it does feel good when someone tells you that you have done a great job,or you were very helpful, that might happen once a month.I go to work every morning with a smile on my face reguardless how I feel, but it takes only one customer complaining about every little thing to mess up the entire day.The one thing I personally hate most about customer service is when people buy something one week and pay full price and the then the next week it goes on sale then they come back for a price ajustment.They come in pissed off because it was not on sale when they bought it then they act like you owe them an apology for the item going on sale and inconviencing them becuase they had to come back and get the $1.25 difference.Do you think that if you buy gas one day and say its$4.00 a gal and the next day you go by and its dropped to$3.65 do you think you would get an ajustment....no.I look at it like this,if you play the lotto and the numbers you pick are not winners but the next week the numbers you picked the week before were do you think you could go and say I picked those numbers last week and they were not winners but this week they are so give me my money... I think not. All I'm saying is people live under a lot of stress, and sometimes you have to work when your sick because you need the money sometimes its hard to put on that happy face. Just remember the person behind the cash register is a person just like you.OK I"M FINISHED VENTING!
What in the world is a cashier in Indiana doing reading the blog section of a small middle Tennessee newspaper? Just curious.....
Would'nt it be great if an unsatisfied customer was just an unsatisfied customer and bad customer service was just bad customer service? See, the term "customer service" actually means public punching bag, or scapegoat. Lets not pretend that we don't get high and mighty and some what resentful when we spend our money at Wal-mart. Then we go and project our bad attitudes onto the cashier who only makes $7.00 an hour to put up with our crap. We slam things down on the counter and get mad because we had to wait five or ten minutes before moving on with our consumer driven lives or because she did'nt smile at us right, or because we like to victimize ourselves. . .
A majority of the cashiers you see in wal-mart are trying to pay their rent and put gas in their car and probably put in a lot of time for not enough $$$. Cut them some slack because there is more to their life than wal-mart and the frustrated collective they deal with on a daily basis. But where has good customer service gone? It's probably out there somewhere with the "good" customers.
Working at Wal-Mart or any other public service job is a choice ,that is the job they chose to do and if they can not do that job then they should rethink their profession.
We all work everyday also and when we run into Kroger or Wal-mart it is not our goal in life to stand at a check out for 30 minutes nor is it our entire life standing there waiting while the cashier chats with her friends. We also have better things to do within our life besides being ignored by the person standing behind a counter thinking what she is doing is more important than anything we need to be doing.
She is the one being paid to be at work not us the consumers. If it were not for the consumers she wouldn't even have a job!
What can we expect? It hasn't been that long ago when you went into a store the OWNER was there. Now, with the large chains, the person in charge actually has little interest in how well the operation does over time. Remember, they are paid regardless. We sometimes complain about the very stores that have closed most of the Mom and Pop operations in this country, however, it is we who are to blame. For we are the ones who left the locally owned merchants and flocked to the chain stores just so we could save seventeen cents on our toothpaste.
In general, if you want service, go to a small operation where the owner is present. You will usually find a courteous smile and a helpful hand. If however, you want to save those pennies, continue to be abused by people who don't care whether you are there or not. Their lives are much simpler if you don't come into their place of business. The part they have yet to figure out is that without their customers, they will not last.
Mike Molder: Do you ever watch the Andy Griffith Show? There's an episode called "Stranger in Town". It's about this man from another town who subscribes to the "Mayberry Newspaper". When he comes to Mayberry he already knows everything about the town and the people who live in it so that he can fit it once he arrives. Maybe this person plans to visit and wants to know all she can about our town...maybe redcat00 used to live here...maybe redcat00 has relatives here...
I'd say you're probably right. I figured it was one of those scenarios also. I'm guessing it is someone who used to live here and has moved.
I'll also agree with Dolittle about shopping at "the Pig" in Unionville. My Sister and Brother-in-law along with Eric have really tried to maintain the small town relationship with the customers at the Piggly Wiggly. Most of the kids there are students at Community and are always very friendly when my Wife and I shop there. I hope everyone continues to support the store there because it has proven to be very convenient to those of us who live in that area.
Mike Molder,
I live in Plano, Texas but was born and raised in Shelbyville. I look forward at the end of my day (every day) to reading the blogs and have even joined in on commenting. This is the highlight of my day. I miss Shelbyville and call it "God's Country". The blogs are the best.
Mike,
I was born and raised in Shelbyville, I still have family there and I come to visit from time to time, in fact I'll be in Shelbyville next Thursday dropping by to visit on my way to Florida...see you all soon!
Cookie, What took you to Texas?And how long have you been gone from Shelbyville?
I used to work at Shelbyville's Walmart in high school and we were *trained* to be friendly. It was part of the culture and our managers were watchful. Of course, that was when Sam Walton was alive. Things have changed quite a bit- at Walmarts everywhere. I live in Georgia now and haven't stepped into a Walmart in 2 years because the cashiers are rude and the company is ruthless. I agree with other posters, shop your mom and pop stores. They are our last hope.
Maybe our Mom and Pop stores will carry more American made products, and NO China products. (That are probably slowly killing us with lead poisioning and such).
: (
You know there is a dinein/drive thru resturant here in town. It has always been the place to go and get good breakfast in drive thru. But If you know were I am talking about pay attention next time you go there. Sometimes I go in to avoid the line at the drive thru and the cashier at the speaker and the window because you cant understand a dang thing she says. Low and behold when you go in the cashiers at the front counter never look clean, Dirty fingernails, the counter is dirty, and it is just a really gross place to go into. The bad thing about it is they still have the best biscuits in town.
Hmmmm I am thinking really hard about where you may be talking about but honestly I don't have a clue. Maybe you could enlighten me a little with some more clues :>)
I always felt Hardee's had the best biscuit in town. I don't know if that is the place she is talking about or not.
I'm thinking it probably is Hardee's. There is one woman that works the window that sounds like she has a mouthful of gum. Also, take care in using your credit/debit card at Hardee's. On two separate occasions, when my statement came through, the charges were completely different than what it was suppose to be. The biscuits aren't as good as they used to be. There used to be an older lady that worked there who made the best.
Hardee,s it is!
redcatoo,
I have lived in Texas since 1974 and my husband (ex now) was transferred here. Now it is home for both my children and grandchildren. Still very much miss Tennessee but have a sister that still lives in Shelbyville.
If you want great service go to Landers Tire. I can hardly get out of the truck before they are jacking it up to rotate the tires or take care of me. There is a long standing tradition of service there.
Another great waitress/server is Karen at Pizza Hut. No one can have lunch there with out a hug and alot of "baby". She is always happy to serve you and always has a good time. I have said many times that if I were to open a restaurant I would recruit her, Tom from Ruby Tuesdays, and a guy that used to serve at Pizza Inn before it closed. You can see I like pizza.
I think the problem with the service is a lack of people to pull from. I have been to many restaurants with a bad server only to go somewhere else the next week and get the same bad server. A lack of help means settling for bad help.
Cookie,
I have lots of family still in Shelbyville uncles,aunts,cousins nieces and nephews.My older sister Gail, my brother Lonnie and my older brother Steve wait he has moved god only know where, he moves alot with his job but he seems to remain in the middle Tennessee area.I've been away from Shelbyville most of my adult life,I've lived in Georgia,Germany,(X hubby was Army)Almost got sent to Alaska I told the hubby if his orders went thru he would be going alone...hint hes the X lol.I've lived in Califorina (bay area wonderful place to live), and now my Husband works for the Navy here in Indiana.... and yes believe it or not there is a Naval Station in Indiana.Crane Navy and Warfare.I hope I did not bore everyone to tears.
Well Danny and I went to Ruby Tuesday's tonite and again we had tremendous service from Darcy. We, of course, sat in the bar area as usual and I commented to my husband about these blogs and he said it must just be the relaxed atmosphere in the bar area.
Tom was there and did bring our food to the table but he was not our waiter. We have had several very good waiters as well as hostess at Ruby Tuesday's and not once have we been there and not had great service.
Now that is one thing I can't say about another particular steak house here in town where we have to beg and plead to get bread even tho the tables around us got several baskets... we never even got the first basket and we eventually had to go ask a different waitress for a refill after 10 minutes. We haven't gone back to that place.
Oh and while we're on it... we also went to wal-mart.. Mary I didn't think to look for you but I wish I had since our young cashier was less than friendly! I made it a point to ask how her night was and she simply said "fine" not good thank you and how is yours? that would usually follow that question. Oh well, the cake I just ate was well worth the trip inside the store :)
I have been both a server, and worked for Wal Mart. I learned how to be extremely nice to people, even when I was treated very rude by customers. I am not saying that there are not rude servers, or cashiers, however, there are also very rude customers that can make servers and cashiers have a very bad day. I can remember being treated bad, and even cussed by customers because we were out of an item they were looking for. As for servers, many people treat them like servants, run them to death, and then tip very little. It is very hard to live on 2.15 an hour, when tips are not what they should be. In my opinion, I do not think people should go out to eat, if they are not going to tip at least the standard 15%. Many servers in Shelbyville will tell you that the average tips in this town are a mere 10 percent. What people do not realize is servers have to pay tips to bartenders, hostesses, etc. and if you do not tip them, they pay out of their pocket to serve you. Maybe it will not solve all of the problems, but good customers will create better customer service as well.
jesuslovesevery1, is it possible that server just was not on his game that day. Everyone has a bad day once in a while, where they are just not with it. I have been to ruby tuesdays, and had about every server there. I do not recall any that I would say should lose their job. I have had not so good service by one and excellent service by the same one another time. Jesus would forgive, why can't you?
Ive heard alot of comments about the reason for bad customer service is because they dont get paid well. Thats not an excuse. When I was growing up my Dad used to tell me that if you take a job for a nickel or a hundred bucks an hour you work just as hard. If they dont like the job for the pay then they should find a new one.
As far as the comment (I dont know if it was directed at me or not) about being rude to people. I am always courteous to people who work with the public, cause ive done it and it sucks. My wife also works with the public, so I understand about how rude people can be. You should still be nice even when the customer isnt, thats part of the job.
I tip well for good service and tip low for poor service. I try to tell people that they have done a good job, because I really appreciate good customer service.
bratgirl1216,
It wasn't so much that he had an off night, for my wife and I have had him as a server twice and both times he was too busy flirting with girls and even sitting down with a young woman while taking her order and putting his head on her shoulder while I was waiting on my beverage refill and going back go to her table over and over again rubbing on her back, I gave this young man a second chance when they seated me in his section again and the same thing occurred, I actually had to go find him to get my check and found him hugging up on a waittress. If he chooses to chase women and display such public affections then he doesn't need to be working where customers need attention and he actually needs to do a job. Perhaps a strip club would be more to his liking.
I will continue to ask not to be seated in his section and when they ask why I will continue to gladly tell them. I still say they must be desperate for servers if he is still employed there. I have encountered many wonderful employees at Ruby Tuesday's, he is not one of them and I am not the only one that complains of him, I have been told that by servers and by management as well.
jesuslovesevery1,
I wonder if there are so many complaints, why the managers do not do or say anything. I worked at Ruby Tuesdays in Florida for two years, and the one here in Shelbyville. Company policy, does not allow that many complaints without action. Many servers are very young, and maybe if someone said something to some of them in a nice way, they would realize how their actions look to others. There were girl servers I worked with that acted like that, and never thought about how it looked to others. Once they were made aware, they changed behavior. However, it helps to do this in a nice and respectful way. I am not much into bad mouthing anyone. I may not agree or like what someone does, I just hate to get on here and see people trashing other people.
I could however, understand if it was a serious matter like abuse, or something. I think it just surprised me coming from you with your name.
Poor customer service is unacceptable. I have probably showed my rear( regretablly) many times waiting in line at the local Walmart,commenting how 'this is the worse store in the chain', and other grumpy mutterings.
I,however,must say this in defense of cashiers, waiters and waitresses, and other servers. Many are extremely young and many are extremely old. The younger lack basic working skills that are being learned daily on the job while the older are a little slower than in their younger years. You also have to realize that the labor pool in this town is not as deep as in others. The 'Boro has thousands of young adults in college that need to work to pay basic expenses, have some work experience, and can move rather rapidly. We just don't have that younger or middle aged crowd in Shelbyville that can afford to work in the lower paying service sector.
The comment about lacking cashiers at Walmart or enough servers at restuarants is true enough.It must be realized with such a shallow labor pool for these type of jobs, businesses just can't terminate at will. Who will replace the fired employee?
bratgirl1216,
Well from what my wife and I was told last night, the said waiter seems to be buddy buddy with some of the managers and they don't take the crticism very seriously, the particular waittress I spoke to was very upset at the preferential treatment this young man was shown.
and just because my name is jesuslovesevery1 doesn't mean that I shouldn't receive good service and not be able to complain when I don't. I spend a great deal of money at Tuesday's but this man will never see another tip of mine and I tip above the 15%, for I know that they (well some of them) do a great job for little money.
Especially Tom!! I would eat anywhere this man worked, he is a wonderful server and deserves every penny he gets and he gets alot from me and my wife.
Nothing makes me and mine walk out the door of a restaurant faster than a flamboyantly "gay" waiter. Now, b4 ya'll bash me, I don't really care if they are truely gay, but all this acting gay crap gives gay a bad rep.
hhhmmm...,
Well if that wasn't the most ignorant comment I have ever read I don't know what is, and I have read plenty of them on here. What exactly is "acting gay"? and how does one go about "acting gay"? You are either are gay or you aren't, and you can't classify how someone acts when they are gay, there are gay cops, politicians, football players, basketball players, actors etc and you can't tell because there is no exact way to "act gay" that was utterly ridiculous to say the least, you need to hook up with Michael Bell on his blogs.
OH and I hate Ruby Tuesday's (except for Tom) and I despise Wal-Mart!! I can't believe some of the people they hire. Too bad that's the only place some people feel they have to shop, Target isn't too far down the road. You can be there and back home by the time you get out of line at Wal-Mart.
I'm guessing he is referring to "acting gay" in the manner that Damon Wayans and his brothers used to do on some of their "In Living Color" skits. That would be my guess. Perhaps he should have said a male homosexual who possess very openly feminine qualities.
hhhmmm...,
I don't care if he "acts gay" or if he acts straight, as long as my glass never gets empty and he's attentive he can act as he wishes. Perhaps he's not your cup of tea, which is fine, just don't expect your cup of tea to be full. There are certain servers who put me off and if I am truly uncomfortable (there is a really really intelectually challenged young lady at a local establishment that fits this bill for me) I will ask for another waiter/waitress. Not because I am rude, but because I expect you to remember my drink and be capable of spelling "steak". I never do so in a fashion that would embarass the waitress.
hhhmmm...
I'm with you. I don't care what people do in the privacy of their home, I just don't want it flaunted in my face, especially when my children are present, or any other children for that matter. How are we as parents suppose to explain to young ones why two men or two women are behaving in a manner that is suppose to be reserved for people of the opposite sex. There will be enough of the stuff in their faces when they get older. I can't stand to see gays openly acting that way in public. At least when it's on t.v. I can change the channel.
Disturbia,
Please don't pretend to be ignorant of the comment that hhhmmm... made about acting gay. Unless you still live in thinking ways of 100 or more years ago, you know exactly what he means by "acting gay crap "
I am not the ignorant one when it comes to the comment from hmmmmm.....I don't know what the "acting gay" means, I have many gay friends and 99% of them act straighter than most straight men, while at the same time I have encountered "straight" men with wives and children that really do just need to come on out of the closet. There is no standard way that a gay human is supposed to act.
Disturbia,
you commented with:
"while at the same time I have encountered "straight" men with wives and children that really do just need to come on out of the closet....."
what makes you think they have something to come out of the closet about...what clues do you have that they are gay?
something to come out of the closet about...what clues do you have that they are gay?
-- Posted by time2relax on Mon, May 19, 2008, at 3:58 PM
LOL......busted! Must of been "acting gay" as someone else said...
Or MAYBE it could be the fact that I know they have "relations" with gay men....ever thought of that one? You would be stunned at what really goes on in the real world.
Or MAYBE it could be the fact that I know they have "relations" with gay men....ever thought of that one? You would be stunned at what really goes on in the real world.
-- Posted by Disturbia on Tue, May 20, 2008, at 9:00 AM
I've been on 4 different continents and all over the United States, so I probably have a pretty good idea of what goes on "in the real world." I'd also be willing to bet I'm a bit older than you. I never came down on either side of this argument, but also felt you are a bit naive to not now what was meant by "acting gay". I don't condon openly gay behavior (such as holding hands and kissing by same sex people) in a family setting either. I don't morally agree with it and don't care to explain it to children who don't understand. If you choose to do in it private, then have at it.
Or MAYBE it could be the fact that I know they have "relations" with gay men....ever thought of that one? You would be stunned at what really goes on in the real world.
-- Posted by Disturbia
I don't claim to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but if you are aware that these people are having gay relations, then obviously the cat's out of the bag. If your facts have no flaws then there's nothing for them to come out of the closet about. If you know their secret, I'm fairly certain other people do too.
One other thing: For those homosexuals who have not "come out", why do YOU think they have not? Because they know it's wrong and they are ashamed. They know in the normal public eye it's wrong and they are afraid of being an outcast. These men that you say have children and wives, they know it's wrong so they won't publicly admit it.
My opinion is mine and yours is yours. Homosexuality is not only morally wrong, it's also spiritually wrong. I feel that this type of behavior from homosexuals is unacceptable in public. It's unhealthy for the mentality of younger children. Furthermore, I also don't feel it's appropriate to raise a child in a strictly homosexual environment. In other words, gays shouldn't be allowed to adopt. What example would these "parents" be setting? How would they learn a "normal relationship"?
Before you even say it, yes I agree with many opinions of Michael Bell.
I also say this for those who feel that I'm only bashing gays: I feel that type of behavior from HETEROSEXUALS should be reserved for privacy. I think it's disgusting to show certain types of intimacy in public.
Ok, but seriously Tom is great at what he does. Since this blog is not about who's gay and who isn't and who they have and haven't told can we possibly not take away from the service some in this community provide by picking apart their private lives?
I totally agree with you time2relax. Kissing, hugging, and even holding hands should not be done in public by same sex adults, nor do I feel they should adopt children, or have a regular wedding as husband and wife (What God put together let no man put asunder)Mark 10:9 God did not put "Man & Man" together or "Woman & Woman" together. He made "Adam & Eve" (Man & Woman)and told them to be fruitful and multiply. Gay or Lesbian couples should not be united together in marriage through God. Maybe some other form of unity.
They are people too, and have feelings and rights, but I do not think the laws of marriage between man and woman should be changed for them; but some other form of unity done maybe by family, friends, and a notary perhaps. But they also need to be liable for indecent exposure for "ongoing" affectionate acts in public, as well as Heterosexual couples.
Momof3&3step&1gran,
Glad you have an opinion on the subject. So where's your favorite place in town to eat and who's your favorite server(s)?
At&t - Have to go through Automatic proccess before you can get to customer service "And then have to hang up, dial again, and listen to the automatic menu again because the menu they are talking about has nothing to do with why you are calling"; and then have to wait 10-20 minutes listening to music before one picks up the call; then after telling them to cut off a service have to listen to there many offers that can save you money, but don't after all the other charges are added. And then get a bill 2 weeks later charging you for 3 more weeks of services that have not yet occured, and that you told them "2 weeks Ago to CUT OFF".
Gay or Lesbian couples should not be united together in marriage through God.
Posted by Momof3&3step&1gran
I agree with every single thing you said. What scares me is that some of these atheists will even try to make into law that the word "God" can't be used when performing wedding vows. It may sound like a joke or that it's too farfetched, but, He has already been taken out of schools and other places.
In my opinion, homosexuals can never be truly "married" in the eyes of God. How can they when it goes against what is written in God's word. I don't know how a preacher can live with himself after performing these unholy ceremonies; he of all people should know it's wrong in the eyes of God.
In a true Christian community homosexuality should never be accepted. Government has allowed it to be shoved down our throats and in our faces. We are forced to be tolerable of homosexuals. Because of political correctness (the keyword here is political) we are to keep our opinions to ourselves. The Christians of this world are the people who are being pushed aside all because of politics and the government.
We may have to silently tolerate it but we don't have to ACCEPT it.
LauraSFT :
My favorite place to eat is Hong Kong.
LauraSFT. I enjoyed eating at Uncle Buds restuarant in Tullahoma; the food and service was wonderful. I have only been their twice. I use to like going to the Shoney's restaurant when it was here (more so because of the Speghetti, Food Bar and Hot Fudge Cake Sundae) the service was OK.
I ate at the chinese restaraunt there when Shoneys went out of business, Food was OK, the service wasn't what I call bad, but it wasn't what I called friendly and courteous service either. I ate at the Mexican restaurant across the street from Kentucky Fried Chicken twice, their food is Good and fresh, and they checked regularly to see if I needed anything. I haven't been to the new restaurants out North main street yet.
Now days when eating out I usually do drive through, or take home food because of 3 children, (2) that want to try me at times, so instead we come home eat and then the children go play. I haven't really had anyone be rude to me that I can think of. I have had some that are simply doing their job and do not neccessarily go through the friendly courteous greetings.
Don't really eat "Out" enough to have picked a favorite server, but anyone that has a smile when greeting me, has a courteous tone in there voice when serving or taking my order, and checks to see if I need anything is "Definitely" an Excellent employee, waiter/waitress, or customer service.
Since God has been taking out of schools, then perhaps more chuches need to have schools that children can attend. Pre-K to 12 grade. We parents already have to come up with paying something at schools. So Non-profit churches should be able to get grants for education, donations for supplies and/or equipment, and parents contributions for their attending children. They have many curriculums on the internet for homeschoolers and such, that can be used.
I've never tried Hong Kong or any of the other Chinese places in town, not a fan of Chinese food. El Mexico has always been a favorite of mine, I don't know any of the servers in particular but they are all usually pretty nice. I love Cracker Barrell in M'boro but the last time I went I did not leave a tip b/c I had 5 different servers and have no idea who I would have been tipping and 2 of my 5 didn't deserve a tip. The food was still good though!
As for the original purpose of this blog, I've found that the best car wash in town lies in my back yard.
LauraSFT I liked the Cracker Barrell food in Murfreesboro too, It is similar to the Uncle Buds food to me. I prefer to wash my car at home as well, whenever I finally get around to it. That wand at the car wash makes my hands and arms hurt. Don't care to pay $5.00 for the Drive-thru either.
Momof3&3step&1gran
I have been looking for information on internet schooling in the state of Tennessee, do you know where I can get that? I know Florida had virtual public school, and they did not charge you for it.
bratgirl1216
I know you asked Momof3&3step&1gran, but used a website to get information about home schooling in TN several years ago.
I am not sure about internet schooling, but this website that might be helpful - http://tnhomeed.com/Start.html.
Back when I was looking for information on homeschooling, this is where I started.
Hope it helps.
Disturbia and anyone else on "that" side,
I have the right to my opinion on the matter as well as you do.
So, If I don't want a man waiter acting like a pretentious girl with his pinkies up serving my family, what business is it of yours or anyone elses? How does that hurt you?
Whether someone is gay or not is none of my business, however, there is a time and place, and in the public in my opinion is not the place for a man to show a obvious feminine side. I have worked with "gay" men in the resteraunt business that it was not obvious while doing their job that they are gay. And yes there are some that "act" more gay than others.
bratgirl1216, sorry I had not come back to this blog until today and seen what you asked. I had a list of things in my favorites at one time and can't seem to find them all. But here is a website that has information about homeschooling. I have not ran into anything that was free. There is a place on Jackson street pass Tysons that you can sign up with, I forget how much it cost for the year. Their is another one in Tullahoma that you can sign up with too. I was going to use the one here in shelbyville on Jackson st. a year or two ago.
http://www.tennessee.gov/education/homes...
http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/index....
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regi...
amalphia has a good one too. Good luck hope things work out with what you are looking for and trying to accomplish. It's also good to get together with other homeschoolers, like at the park for interaction with other children. Plan trips, with these other children, to make sure it is as close to regular school activities as possible. God Bless.
Do any of you remember Po Folks in the Boro? I miss that place :>(
There's a great place in Gulf Shores also if anybody is headed that way it's called Lamberts "Home of the Tossed Rolls"
Wonderful Food and they actually stand at the front and throw you these great homemade rolls Hmmmmmm makes me wanna drive to Gulf Shores :>)
And BTW I love Tom, he's the best waiter in Shelbyville, he always has been even when he worked for Shoney's years ago.
Dianatn,
I actually just went looking for the Po' Folks that used to be located in Chattanooga and much to my dismay, it was also closed. That was such a great place to eat.
and once again I will state, that I too in fact love Tom :)
well about hardees food is good there morrings i love coming thru drive thru its fast depends who on window in morrings one women works there at drive thru name brenda she nice and always have smile i can tell when she there and not there move fast i think its managment not enough help. place has change i can tell not enough good help..
lets talk about dairy queen i love there icecream but cashier isnt friendly there every time i come in they act like they dont care if peolpe come in or not and not even smile or thank you.. all i see they pick thier nose not washing thier hands and they dont have hair up .. the place alway dirty when i stop by..
oh yeh its in shelbyville dairy queen
ON TO HARDEES I REMEBER A CERTAIN WOMAN THAT WORKED THERE ..SHE SPOKE VERY CLEAR ON THE SPEAKER AND I COULD UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD SHE SAID CLEARLY. SHE GOT YOU IN AND OUT SO FAST TO ..BUT ONCE YOU GOT TO THE WINDOW SHE OPENED AND WOULD ASK ME EVERY MORNING "HI AND HOW ARE U DOING TODAY" SHE WOULD ACTUALLY TALK TO ME AND NOT SLAM A WINDOW IN MY FACE LIKE MOST PLACES ... I WAS WONDERING IF SHE HAS QUIT HARDEES BECAUSE I HAVE NOT SEEN HER IN A FEW MONTHES , AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I REALLY MISS HER,I ACTUALLY WOULD LOOK FOWARD TO GOING THROUGH THERE AND SEEING A SMILING FACE SO EARLY IN THE MORNING...IF SHE DID QUIT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WERE SHE WENT BECAUSE I NEED TO GO THERE , NOT SAYING HARDEES HAS BAD FOOD BECAUSE THEY REALLY HAVE GOOD FOOD,I JUST LIKE THE FRIENDLY SERVICE AND HER SMILING FACE EVERY MORNING AND THE SMALL CONVERSATION ...NOT TO MENTION THE QUICK SERVICE ...IF I REMEBER CORRECLTY HER NAME IS ALISHA ..DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF SHE HAS QUIT ..I REALLY DO MISS SEEING HER
yeh she quit went to day care center i have ask other women there i see and she told me..she there every morrring , she nice i ask about other girl that when she told me she left...
thanks sassy i wish her the best and i do agree she is a very nice woman.. i bet the kids love her .....i sure am gonna miss her though ...hardees really lost a extreme employee when she left .. i am sure that if you know whom i am talking about that people would agree..fast very friendly and a smile ...good way to start out your mornings
why is hardees so slow mosty drive thru or front line dang cashier there are slow...maybe not enough help or need better peolpe there
Look i am a server in shelbyville and work my butt off to help feed my family with my tips.I don't do it because i can't get another job or i don't want better things in life, i do it because i love to meet new people and make them simle. I have been out eating tons of times and got bad service but i don't go around talking about it.I give the server a tip and tell them on the back of our bill what they did wrong in a nice way that way they can learn and move on.I'm sure there are days you stink at your job and your boss gets upset that is life you learn do better and move on.Sometimes people have things going on in their life you don't realize and it's not always easy to put on a smile and serve rude people.So please don't judge people till you quit your factory job and serve me.
Pizza Hut in this town is a joke. They are always "out" of something. Every time we order something to be delivered. It's been the P'zones more times than I can count that they've been out of, they've been out of breadsticks, thin crust (how the h*** does a pizza place run out of crust?), olives... pick something, they've probably been out of it when I've tried to order at one time or another. The manager there is a waste of space. He simply cannot manage the facility. My husband and I saw him at Wal-Mart one day (and yes, I much prefer to go to Target as well) buying mozzarella cheese!!
The last two times we've gone for the lunch buffet, we have had to sit there for 30 minutes (no exaggeration) while waiting on ANY pizza to be placed on the buffet. The one and ONLY reason we will go in there is to see Karen. No I don't know the woman, but she makes us feel like we are truly wanted when we go in there. I actually enjoy seeing her when we went. Unfortunately, even Karen isn't enough to make us to go a place that is so completely and utterly mismanaged.
(We will miss you Karen).