Depending on the type of business, customer service can be a big part of your shopping experience. Whether or not you're actually offered service, if the staff has a way of lurking around you, or if they're overly attentive can weigh on your impression of a store.
I'm likely to skip out on returning to a restaurant if the service was rude, but customer service at stores hasn't kept me away or driven me to revisit. Have you stayed away from a business or become a loyal customer because of the service?
Shiseido
Suss
Decleor
absolutely! I tend not to revisit places that have rude staff/service.
1Yes, I absolutely will spend my money based on customer service. I've had experiences where I've walked out of restaurants prior to even ordering my food just because they were so rude to me leading up to that. And for regular retail shopping, if the people make me uncomfortable, I'll just leave.
2Yes. I am not likely to head right for the cheap place when I know their service is horrible or if the staff is unfriendly or unprofessional. I am willing to pay more for things just to reward the businesses that expect professionalism out of the staff.
3Abso-freakin-lutely! I hate bad service. I swear if AT&T didn't have the iPhone I would go back to Verizon...
4Yes. I guess you can say that I am customer service at my job in way, so I have a basic idea of what is in the control of the representative and what is not.
When I receive just BAD customer service the chances of me returning is slim to none. However, if its something out of control of the rep then I'll PROBABLT return a second time.
5PROBABLY! ha!
6It depends on how good or bad the service is. Just because one employee seemed to be having a bad day doesn't make me boycott an entire business. But if several managers are rude to me or won't listen to a problem I have, then I'll swear them off for good.
7On the other hand, I'm the opposite of Brendelwoman...I don't mind shopping at poorly-managed discount stores in order to save lots of money on trendy clothes. I'll put up with disgruntled employees if I can pay $3 for a t-shirt.
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! it definitely matters to me. especially since i've worked in the service industry and know that giving excellent service is possible.
8I feel that customer service is a big factor in where I spend my money. I also don't expect the world just normal polite service. I'm not looking to be waited on hand and foot but if someone can't be bothered to do the most elementary aspects of their job correctly I won't go back.
9100% yes!
10Especially bad managers.
Bad employees is one thing.
But if I ask for a manager and still get bad service - forget it. You'll never see me again.
yes
11Of course. At discount places I do not expect much help at all it is all relative but if I am at a department store or boutique you better acknowledge me and not be a complete butthead.
12Absolutely! Just today on my lunch break, I was walking down a street with lots of businesses and remembered that I was followed around in one of the cute boutique girly stores. I was dressed normal (not trashy/junk) so I didn't understand why I would warrant such scrutiny. A few months later, a friend of mine recommended that store because it was owned by a friend of hers. Well, I told her the story which she related to the friend/owner. She asked me to give them another chance but no way. I don't think I'm distinct enough to pull out the race card, but I don't know why else I was targeted. I told my friend sorry but if they treated me like that, I can't imagine how they would treat someone more ethnic looking.
13ABSOLUTELY.
As an employee, you are a representative of the entire company. Why would I patronize a place that obviously doesn't care about my business?
Except Abercrombie and Fitch. They have never had good customer service but I still shopped there all the way thru college and complained all the way.
14After working in customer service, I can't help but notice when customer service is lacking. It definitely deters me from returning to places when I have bad service, but if there is good service it encourages me to return even if I don't really have a reason to!
15Poor customer service is most rampant during the summer when young people are doing seasonal work...it truly depends on the store. If it's a huge chain store it's not really going to stop me but if it's a mom and pop store or a restaurant then I'm done and I'm going to let everyone know how I feel as well.
16Absolutely.
17I refuse to put up with good service to the point where ill make a scene if its really bad. I recently hit my arm quite badly on a rack sticking out from the wall, and the shop assistants did nothing. I said extremely loudly how it was pathetic that they didnt care for my wellbeing and left.
I dont mind NO service (they could be busy, understaffed etc), its POOR service that should be noted. VOTE WITH YOUR FEET PEOPLE!
18*bad service* im so asleep this morning
19Most definitely. I've boycotted stores before because of their appalling service - even if I loved their products. And I always return to stores that have terrific customer service because it's such a bonus if I already want to shop there. One of my favorite places I remembered is a boutique jewelry/clothing/accessories store in Northampton, MA that is quite pricey, but they've got a range of things. I shopped there all the way through my college years because the sales assistants were always friendly and never pretentious. I've also had great luck with the customer representatives I've had to contact at Citi cards - whenever I've had an issue, they've always been very prompt and polite in solving my problems. In fact, I think I once thanked one of them for being so nice!!!
20If someone is rude to me, yeah, forget it, I'm never going back.
I find that reports of bad service I read about on the internet will also mean I don't go to those places (as long as the story isn't unreasonable, of course, I know some people will complain just to complain).
On the other hand, I am prone to buying more than I really need and to keep going back for more if the costumer service people treats me well. The better the service, the more I buy, a lot of the time. Maybe I have this subconscious need to reward good service. This can turn into a cycle - one little boutique now recognize me on sight and treat me like royalty as soon as I walk in the door, which makes me buy more, which makes them happier to see me, which makes me buy more...
My wallet isn't so happy in that case. Haha.
21i have to admit that bad customer service won't keep me from going to a place again, but every time that i do receive bad service - i go online and place a 'complaint' or comment - since i know that a corporation can't be responsible for a bad apple, but they can be accountable for the bad service that they give. almost every time that i've lodged my complaint, i've had a response very quickly and they've sent gift cards as compensation to get my business back. i think that with the economy the way that it is - businesses will do almost anything to try to get you to return.
22Service is number one for me. I work hard for my dollars. I stop shopping in places where they could careless if I there or not. And don't get me started with the Airlines I won't fly on.
23Absolutely! As a former service industry employee, I am apalled at a lot of the "service" I receive and always thank those that give great service whether it be in a hotel or last night when I went to ColdStone Creamery and the girl behind the counter let me ahead of eight pre-teens. There is a new blog out there that discusses customer service - both good and bad - and is pretty right on! http://thebusinessofno.blogspot.com/
24Absolutely! I went in to Ann Taylor by my apartment and they COMPLETELY ignored me, and I refuse to spend money somewhere where I'm not at least greeted, let alone helped, and they went on to all the other women in the store waiting on them hand and foot.
I went on with my shopping, tried everything on, and wrote the codes and the sizes, and went up to the cash register. When the cashier looked up and was like "is this all for you today" I was like, "Actually, this is the commission that you just lost because I refuse to spend money somewhere that doesn't appreciate my business."
He was the same one who saw me walk in and actively ignored me, so I felt pretty bomb.
25istme, that's a great story! I wish I had the balls to do that at my local GAP!
26I always try to reward people for good customer service, whether it's by speaking to a manager to praise them (I travel a lot, so that's common if I can't come back soon,) being a repeat customer or a big fat tip... I'm not so active to dismiss a store because of one employee's crappy customer service, though. I'll usually give it another try, but if they disappoint me again, I'm usually out of their store and eager to do some word of mouth advertising.
yes. when it's really bad, i tell everyone i know. when it's really great, i do the same.
27Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.