I believe the problem with our society is Self Entitlement. You have seen it and we all have thought it a time or two.
Believe me I will not say that such self absorbed thoughts have not crossed my mind.
"This person had better speed up, do they have any idea how late I am for my meeting?"
I have to remind myself, you are the one who did not prepare, who hit the snooze one too many times, who is currently breaking the law and trying to make the person in front of you do the same...
It goes with that saying,"Lack of planning on your behalf, in no way makes it an emergency on my part."
Why should one person have everything handed to them on a silver platter while the rest of us work our butts off?
What makes us so special that special exceptions and concessions should be made? If you ask me, such behavior will be the end of our society.
Often times I will hear people say that it is the problem with the "y" generation. Yes it is, but it is not the only generation that has been infected with this disease. Who taught this generation such theories on life?
What can we do to improve? Is there hope for the self centered, narcissists we have become?
I hope so!
My only suggestion is this, when you get that feeling that you are the only one who is not understood or getting what you need in life, ask yourself a few questions:
Why are you in this position?
Who put you in this situation?
Who allowed you to be in this situation?
Have you considered the other parties' point of view?
Finally, what can you do to make a change?
Now go do it! Remember "it is never too late to be who you were supposed to be."
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
"Are you a bad customer?" MSN
Yes, we have all felt taken advantage by a retailer one way or another, but how did you handle it? The old saying in business is "a disgruntled customer will tell at least 10 other people about thier complaint".
This may be true but how often have you met their friends and would you want them shopping with you? Sure, this assumption may not always be true, but as a manager in retail, I have to say I hated conceeding to the "squeeky wheel" and the nice customers always went by the rules and often should have had concessions made for them.
I can tell you so many stories about customers lying, trying to find the loop holes and believing such behavior is okay because they deserve an exception.
All I can tell you is read the fine print. I picked up a target paper today. I was so impressed with the entertainment cabinet shown, it was only $78! I warned my friend not to get so excited...It sounds too good to be true...and it was. The center component was $78, but the matching shelves...who even knows.
Believe me, I gave excellent service to my customers, I believe they are the people who kept me with my job, however, some of those customers ruined things for others. When I told a man that we maintained policies that were enforced across the board to ensure all of our customers could be confident in their purchases and all customers were treated fairly. He told me "life is not fair!" I told him, "I know that but at least I could make sure that was not the norm at my store."
Another customer asked me to reduce an item more than it was already drastically reduced. I checked the item to see if it could have been mismarked. It was not. When I explained to her our guidelines and the price, she said..."well, I didn't want to give you a sob story, but I guess I will have to. " She continued, " I just put all of my 3 children in private school and this desk is out of my price range."
So, because she has 3 children that she chose to put in private school, it was my companies' responsibility to sell her something at a loss? I politely asked her if she would like to look at another item that my still meet her needs, but more in her price range. She was not happy.
All we ask it the retail industry, respect the policies, be responsible for your actions and treat the staff as if they are human. Can I say that there are lessons for retailers to learn? Yes, treat the customers fairly, with understanding and remember they pay your bills. As a manager, learn to back your policies, your people and most of all don't sell out your staff just to avoid a complaint or conflict.
We have to be savy consumers, we have to read the fine print, we have to know our budgets and stick by them and finally treat others as you would be treated.
This may be true but how often have you met their friends and would you want them shopping with you? Sure, this assumption may not always be true, but as a manager in retail, I have to say I hated conceeding to the "squeeky wheel" and the nice customers always went by the rules and often should have had concessions made for them.
I can tell you so many stories about customers lying, trying to find the loop holes and believing such behavior is okay because they deserve an exception.
All I can tell you is read the fine print. I picked up a target paper today. I was so impressed with the entertainment cabinet shown, it was only $78! I warned my friend not to get so excited...It sounds too good to be true...and it was. The center component was $78, but the matching shelves...who even knows.
Believe me, I gave excellent service to my customers, I believe they are the people who kept me with my job, however, some of those customers ruined things for others. When I told a man that we maintained policies that were enforced across the board to ensure all of our customers could be confident in their purchases and all customers were treated fairly. He told me "life is not fair!" I told him, "I know that but at least I could make sure that was not the norm at my store."
Another customer asked me to reduce an item more than it was already drastically reduced. I checked the item to see if it could have been mismarked. It was not. When I explained to her our guidelines and the price, she said..."well, I didn't want to give you a sob story, but I guess I will have to. " She continued, " I just put all of my 3 children in private school and this desk is out of my price range."
So, because she has 3 children that she chose to put in private school, it was my companies' responsibility to sell her something at a loss? I politely asked her if she would like to look at another item that my still meet her needs, but more in her price range. She was not happy.
All we ask it the retail industry, respect the policies, be responsible for your actions and treat the staff as if they are human. Can I say that there are lessons for retailers to learn? Yes, treat the customers fairly, with understanding and remember they pay your bills. As a manager, learn to back your policies, your people and most of all don't sell out your staff just to avoid a complaint or conflict.
We have to be savy consumers, we have to read the fine print, we have to know our budgets and stick by them and finally treat others as you would be treated.
My computer is my new boyfriend
So what is that saying…”all or nothing?” That is me. I never went on the computer, now I have a fabulous computer and it is stealing all of my time. Maybe the “computer that George built” was not a bad thing. Myspace, new music, crazy tangents….e-mail, pictures, viruses….it is crazy. But the comfort comes to me with the thought that soon I will be bored once again.
The Internet though, you just think of something….friends hanging and you have to prove something….go to the computer….LOVE IT! Just make sure your connection is out if you are wrong!
It is another world. You need a recipe go get it. Then instant messaging.
You can get into trouble with this thing! Did you realize how much crazy drama you can start one night posting comments on Myspace? Do you know how many crazy scandals you could uncover in the postings on craigslist?
If you are a voyeur or someone who loves to psychoanalyze people you could do it around the world from your couch! What ya think about that…by the way did anyone see that accident on the corner of 4th with the pink Cadillac? Just kidding
The Internet though, you just think of something….friends hanging and you have to prove something….go to the computer….LOVE IT! Just make sure your connection is out if you are wrong!
It is another world. You need a recipe go get it. Then instant messaging.
You can get into trouble with this thing! Did you realize how much crazy drama you can start one night posting comments on Myspace? Do you know how many crazy scandals you could uncover in the postings on craigslist?
If you are a voyeur or someone who loves to psychoanalyze people you could do it around the world from your couch! What ya think about that…by the way did anyone see that accident on the corner of 4th with the pink Cadillac? Just kidding
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