You will not find a first post on services. This is my promised end to the post ‘Today is the day for blogging’.
I know I can be a bit finicky but permit me to say that a lot of Nigerian businesses have very bad customer service ethics if they possess any at all. The usual feeling I get when I’m treated badly is ‘there are many of you anyway’. I used to think there was something about me – (I dont look my age, which has been made worse since I cut my hair). However, I have come to believe that no matter what it is there is a dearth of knowledge about how to care for a customer.
I am no customer service expert. Service 2 (from my first post) is yet to deliver my book. And I have given up, when I get it, I get it i.e. if I indeed get it!
That is the attitude a lot of people have and that is why nothing changes. I decided to be a little adventurous and refused to keep quiet today. After what I considered an impolite phone call by a certain officer of at a company I patronise, I wrote a strongly worded letter detailing the exchange and copying the officers superiors. You can be sure I received in response a very polite letter apologising for ruffling my feathers!
In my head, I was like ‘Where was all this civility before?’, Now that sanctions might be applied you suddenly become civil! It was nice to read the reply and nicer to know that deep down in Individuals is an ability to treat a customer nicely! And as the gentleman may have found out, it does not cost much!
25/06/2008 at 3:57 pm Permalink
Word. You know it beats me why such people (most especially, when they are offering you a service. Of which you are paying oh) always feel……a favour it is they are doing you.
When ‘m in my elements & one such tries it, ha…….i try not to make ‘em forget the incident so soon.
Hmmm, “I dont look my age,….” you want to whisper it & let me confirm that?
25/06/2008 at 4:53 pm Permalink
@rethots – u know! but your money doznt mean anything to them
26/06/2008 at 12:07 pm Permalink
Same here dear since I cut my hair, |I look younger than my age and u want to try how okada riders would talk to me!!! Seriously a lot of businesses in Nigeria lack good customer service. I have resolve to let whoever is not polite know. I have tried it and I will still do same if they do not improve!!!
14/09/2008 at 12:20 pm Permalink
here’s the root of the problem – the floorman “providing” the service does not understand what your problem is, or why he is in that position in the first place, which is why speaking to that person’s “manager” yields more results, because that person has a better understanding of the connection between happy customers and the lining of his/her pockets. also, the bad service you’ve complained about is a reflection of a deeper sore in our society – erosion of the value system… respect, caring for your fellow man, integrity, discipline, have all gone down the drain. it’s all now about “what is in it for me right now?” sad, but true… and until we fundamentally change as a people and go back to cherishing the right virtues, we may be complaining about the same issues for a while to come.