It's been awhile since I've been able to write. The excuses are unlimited, but the main reason is my job sucks the creativity out of me. Don't get me wrong, I love everything about my job. There's just only so much thinking someone can do during the day. At the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is write something else.
Today is a new day. I've been able to muster some energy from irritation, which is a big motivator for me as most of you know.
It all started with shopping online for Black Friday. My rational was to order online, ship to the local store (free shipping), and pick up avoiding any big crowds. Simple as 1, 2, 3. Right? Right. It was all good until I had to interact with customer service in the store last night.
Step-by-step process to pick up merchandise:
- Wait in line. 5 minutes.
- Ask: "I would like to pick up my order that I ordered online."
- Customer Service 1: "a;dldfj ja;sfj adjf;lajf saj;ff;"
- I couldn't understand a word the CS1 said.
- CS1 moved to another counter. I followed. 5 minutes later.
- I handed my phone over with the email receipt. 5 more minutes later
- CS1 asked for my ID. At least that's what I thought the gesture meant. 5 additional minutes later.
- The sound of keys clacking continues for another 2 minutes.
- Then CS1 disappears. 2 minutes later she reappears.
- CS1 comes back empty handed. She picks up her radio and speaks into it. Clearly my nerves are starting to tingle with irritation at this point.
- From all of this behavior, I gather I need to wait for them to bring my order from the back part of the store.
- CS2 appears from somewhere magically behind the counter.
- Ask: "Should I bring my car around to the back to load?"
- CS2 says, "No they will bring it up front, but you could pull your car up the front doors if you would like."
- Continue to wait.
- Another customer pulls in line behind me. I move out of the way.
- Customer asks: "Can you check to see if this toy is in stock?"
- Silence. CS1 is dumbstruck. Glassy stare.
- Customer asks again: "Can you look up to see if this toy is in stock in this store?"
- CS1: "Um, no, we can't, um we can't do that."
- Silence from customer with a distorted face. I'm not sure what my face looked like, but I know my mouth dropped open.
- CS2 asks:"Did you look in this isle?" He pointed in some non-directional space behind us.
- Customer: "Yes, but there was none in there. I just want to know if you have them any where else."
- CS2: "No we wouldn't have access to any of that."
- Since I've been waiting so long, I couldn't allow for this to continue.
- Me suggesting to CS Duo: "Couldn't you look it up online?"
- CS2: "Well that's not always accurate."
- Me being pissed. I whip out my phone. Pull up the store website. I ask the customer, "What is the product you are looking for?" It was some foreign toy in the Monster High realm, but they spelled it for me and with two clicks later I had it pulled on my phone. Identified for the customer it was out of stock in the store, but was available in Franklin. "Would you like the phone number?"
- Customer declined and quickly grabbed her daughter's hand.
- As customer was walking away, I raised my voice and said, "Thank you for shopping at _________. Have a great day!"
- By this time I lost track of the amount of time I've been waiting so you can only imagine how overly dramatic my customer service hat was while helping this customer.
- I walk away from the customer service counter. Hovering around the front door area. Finally my merchandise is being carried by another young gentleman. I'm ready to grab and run, but he walks me back to the customer service counter. Ugh!
- CS1 asks for my name again. I think. Clacking on the keyboard continues.
- Nope she needs my order number. I had her my phone again with the order on the email that was sent to me to tell me my order was ready.
- Clacking away.
- More dialogue I can't understand.
- Receipts are being printed. She wants me to sign the receipt, but walks away. Clearly she doesn't have a pen.
- I whip out my handy pen in my purse and sign.
- Grab my receipt and merchandise and run for the door.
The sad part of this whole experience is that my order wasn't complete and I will have to go back and do this all over again.
Can you guess which big box retailer this was at?
My only hint is this:
Note: I was a sales/customer service rep for three and half years that financed my college education. I respect the hell out of the job. It is a hard job. I have a high tolerance for bad customer service because I've been there, but I stop the line when the customer is denied a simple request.
It hit me hard last night. I ache all over. Even my teeth hurt. The chills attacked me trying to cool my feverish head. It was a vicious cycle. The chills would shake my body vigorously trying to bring a slight cooling tingle to my head. Only to be over ruled by the incessant heat radiating from my face and ears. Up all night with no relief in sight, I was constantly turning my pillow to feel the cool underside for a brief moment before the heat took over the surface again. The barky cough didn't help either. Hopefully this will be short lived. 
