Customer Service in 2011...DEAD

[dixiedawg]

I worked for a hotel once, as a bartender. During my first couple weeks, a few folks called off, and I filled in. So I had well over 80 hours for the first week, and expected some OT. Even though hourly wages for bartenders are well below minimum wage, a few extra bucks for OT was welcome. So I get my check, and the hours are all marked "regular". So I talk to the manager, and she tells me "Wayne doesn't pay time and a half". I was shocked, I had managed several other places before, and knew the labor laws, but what could I do, I needed the job, so I accepted it. But then after I left there, I contacted the govt folks, and they looked into it. It was really stupid of them to list the total hours worked, and then list it all as regular hours, because I gave the labor folks all my pay stubs. They investigated, and turns out that "Wayne" ended up paying OT to everyone that ever worked there and earned it. I got checks for about a year afterwards from them to make up for the pay difference.

[jepstr67]

Originally Posted by dixiedawg

I worked for a hotel once, as a bartender. During my first couple weeks, a few folks called off, and I filled in. So I had well over 80 hours for the first week, and expected some OT. Even though hourly wages for bartenders are well below minimum wage, a few extra bucks for OT was welcome. So I get my check, and the hours are all marked "regular". So I talk to the manager, and she tells me "Wayne doesn't pay time and a half". I was shocked, I had managed several other places before, and knew the labor laws, but what could I do, I needed the job, so I accepted it. But then after I left there, I contacted the govt folks, and they looked into it. It was really stupid of them to list the total hours worked, and then list it all as regular hours, because I gave the labor folks all my pay stubs. They investigated, and turns out that "Wayne" ended up paying OT to everyone that ever worked there and earned it. I got checks for about a year afterwords from them to make up for the pay difference.

Wayne was just an idiot. Wayne should have made you an assistant manager and paid you salary to the tune of a dollar ten and hour. (sarcasm font)

I find it disturbing how many big corporations actually get away with that practice.

BTW....I love how you got your money!!! I'm a business owner, and nothing irritates me more than when other management types don't pay their workers what they deserve. It gives us good guys a bad reputation right along with the tight wad jerks.

[GenXer]

I'm going to hijack my own thread for a moment, but how the hell much are mattresses marked up in price? Quick story...If any of you have kids, you know that they quickly outgrow that small toddler/baby mattress. Anyway, we go shopping around today for a twin mattress/box spring/rails. Go to one place and the POS cheap mattress with no padding was $109. Then they wanted $79 for the box spring and another $50 for the rails. Then I ask about delivery. They wanted another $50. To go 8 miles!!! Go to another place, similar prices and they were trying to sell me a freaking memory foam mattress for $350, plus the rail and box spring cost!!!

I went to Big Lots. Got a Serta Boulevard for $159. The matching box was on sale for $10 and the rail was $37. Got out for around $220 TOTAL!!! The mattress is not a Vera Wang top of the line, but it's not like one of those el-cheapo thin mattresses either. Plus it's a Serta. I also saved on a delivery charge. I folded down the rear seats in the Fusion. Made one trip with the rails and box spring, second trip with the mattress. Anyway, how the hell much to these mattress places mark up?

[navy48]

'Gen', you can find idiots everywhere.....WM, Target, Kohls, etc. it's not just the corporations, its society. somewhere along the way it became acceptable to be lazy and feeling entitled.

it's a new world.....driven by greed and managed by a-holes.

[navy48]

Originally Posted by GenXer

Anyway, how the hell much to these mattress places mark up?

ALOT! I think I read somewhere that they have a 300-400% markup! no wonder you see stuff on sale for 50% off and they still make money!

[dixiedawg]

I'm a business owner, and nothing irritates me more than when other management types don't pay their workers what they deserve. It gives us good guys a bad reputation right along with the tight wad jerks.

I agree. Most of the folks who work for me have been here over 15 years, and we have a great reputation in the market. Good folks are always looking to come here. We've also been in the top 10 of Great Places to Work for several years too.

I learned a lot from so called leaders I've had over the years, mostly what not to do though. I could probably write a book, lol. Interestingly though, a lot of the better leaders I've had were in the military.

[UA_who]

I just read this whole thread... and it made me wonder. Maybe the title should be changed to "Customer Service in Retail is Dead".

I look around at other non-retail services and I see more and more emphasis on it. In a tough economy, it is the easy way for a company to separate itself from the competition.

We do it at my company (engineering consulting). Go way out of our way to make the client happy... much more than we did 3-4 years ago.

My insurance broker... seems a lot more willing to help me out now
My accountant...
Even the cable TV technician at the house the other day.

[GenXer]

I have been thinking about the tirade I went on. Sure, it was "not good form" to give the guy a profanity-laced dress down, but I don't feel bad about doing it. What were my other options?

1. Tuck my tail between my legs and walk to the other end of the store to check out.

2. Beg like a dog to some kid hoping he will check me out.

3. Tell a manager about my experience in hopes of changing things.

First of, you know I won't do #2, so that's out from the get go. The first option is something I am really, really sick of doing. No more. The third option, especially at Walmart, would have got me??? NOTHING. The manager would have looked at me thinking, "Who gives a s--t. Just keep buying my Chinese products and scoot along."

[Randoo-N-CJ]

I recently decided to get a new printer that we could use wirelessly so we could keep it in another room (quieter that way). The salesperson, through our lengthy talks, mentioned is a professional photographer and techno-geek and really felt he could help me out (apparently I look as dumb as I actually am?)
We found a printer I liked with every feature I thought I needed and he asked me if I had an N router. I told him no but I have an almost new G router. He told me this printer NEEDED an N router to function. I asked him again about this "Are you sure it needs it and it will NOT function on a G router?"
He told me flat NO, that a G router wouldn't work. That seemed odd but I couldn't see anything on the box that told me otherwise so I let him show me his N routers. I found one at a decent price and also bought it. I then took my toys home and before even opening the new router, I read in detail, the setup for the printer. Right there in black and white "Works on B, G and N routers".
Of course I took it back but this time I went to the manager and told her exactly what transpired. She tried to DEFEND HIM by saying "we recommend the N router..." I cut her off by saying "ITS A PRINTER NOT A GAMING SYSTEM! It didn't NEED an N router but your salesman said I HAD to buy it. He is just wrong. If I ever come in again, I will be sure to never let that guy wait on me because he just flat lied for the sake of a sale."
Yea..I was kinda pissed when I left (after getting my refund that is).

[blackspider]

Had to ask......
whats with the bouncing boobs???

[croat]

Gen .... its your own fault .... and I knew before I read the post that you were referring to wallyworld. This should be que for you to never shop at sams/walmart.

For mattresses tho - yea most places were crazy even for the infant mattresses. I found a local symbol mattress retailer who I got a mattress for 1/3 of the cost of anywhere, delivered for free, and it was made 30 miles away here in America from American materials.

http://www.symbolmattress.com/