customer service
I had a reminder the other day about why I never want to have to work in customer service ever again. now, you can say, hey, you’re a teacher – you DO work in a form of customer service. but that’s different from what I’m talking about.
I went to tcf the other day to officially end my relationship with them. I had in my hand a typed list of all the reasons I wanted to break things off. it was long, I won’t get into it. i arrived at the tcf branch, and got into line behind a young man. there were two tellers, both occupied. one by a lady with what seemed like twelve different deposits. the other by an older gentleman…at least old enough to be my grandfather… talking the teller’s ear off. well, ranting would probably be more of an appropriate word. at first I thought he was just rambling about whatever while the teller worked, but it seems he was instead berating the young guy for something that wasn’t his fault. now, I had a letter in hand of all the reasons why I was not pleased with the service tcf had given me over the last year, but I also know that it isn’t the fault of whatever teller happened to be open when I walked up the counter. this guy -he didn’t seem to get that. so he talked and talked and talked. there was issues about his social security check that spurred him on further.
the woman next to me…because for some reason when she got in line, she didn’t feel like she should stand behind me, but rather at my side…mumbles to me, “this is taking forever.” now, I had been thinking the same thing, but I also knew that it had only been a few moments, and it wasn’t like we had been waiting here ALL DAY LONG. I mean, come on, lady. I may have half smiled and shifted my weight to stand a little further away from her. I do not feel any need to talk to complete strangers while in line.
the young teller was doing his best to get the job done as quickly as possible, trying to jump in when he could to ask questions. when he was finished fixing what needed to be fixed, the man still sat there and rambled. the woman next to me kept sighing and shaking her head. now, I’ve been in customer service long enough to understand that sometimes people just need rant. yes, it frustrating to be standing in line watching, but I always take the time to remember what it was like to be the one behind the counter. suddenly makes waiting not seem so bad.
after another minute or so, the young teller shot an apologetic look our way, and this set the guy off again. he ranted that he would take as long as he needed to in order to say what he had to say, because he had served our country and it was his right! when he began to walk away, still ranting, he walked right by us standing in line, and muttered, “next time let them draft somebody else!”
now, I understand the risk people take to serve their country. many lose their lives, and I most definitely support the troops (thought not the war). but I don’t feel like the reason you serve your country is so that you can berate unsuspecting tellers who have done nothing wrong other than their jobs, and who fixed the problem you came in to get fixed. threaten all you want to take your business elsewhere. you don’t like it there, then go somewhere else.
I did.
