Shopping in general.

[bornagainbiking]

Is it my imagination or is customer service going south.
I was out over the holidays and saw that stores had extra staff hired (best buy, chapters). However all they did seemed to be they stood in pairs and talked and talked talked and you as a customer had to wait for a lull in the conversation as well as your immediate presence until they finished a sentence to address you. It was refreshing to hear their plans for Christmas or what they should buy their boyfriend but like many men it was last minute to me and I was in that customer first mode.
I have come to realize that maybe a gift card is good enough for me and i will focus on shopping online. Especially with free delivery.
I saw a book at chapter that was $14 more at the store and the sales staff suggested i buy it online OK.. I will. Also free shipping any order over $39.
I know that times are hard and jobs are very important, we should not run across the border to shop but jeez give me a carrot here for shopping Canadian and Hamilton, stroke my ego and make me feel like you are grateful for me driving or walking into your store.
The basic rule of survival is you have to have a hook to get people to come back and good customer service and after sale service can offset price.
Owners cannot keep a store or business open without customers.
I was delighted with my recent experience at the Farmers market, but what I saw at Best Buy i can get the same crappy service at Walmart at a better price. I don't want to mention the age of the staff but the younger ones seem to treat the workplace as their social event and my presence is an inconvienience. The one guy I got (30ish) was great, good advice based on my needs not the price,