my admission, i am a reformed SC

[Damien]

I used to be a bit of an SC in my younger days, well, into my early 20's anyway... I was never violent, but at times yelled at the wrong people, yelled at all, got snooty etc... I was not very nice at all.

This changed alongside everything about me in 1998 - the year I chose to leave the mineral industry and try my luck in teaching, a year when a group of us finally went to the place a friend was murdered 5 years earlier and finally said goodbye, the year I forgave my estranged sister (just months before she passed away)... it was also a year, when I was in a major accident...

...when I was in teh hospital I was treated so well, so kindly - the doctors, the nurses, the orderlies were wonderful, truly wonderful.

When I was hobbling around my home town during my recovery phase, many customer service reps went out of their way to help me, one store owner who I wasn't all that polite to earlier delivered my groceries home for me! (and his store does not offer deliveries normally!)

So, I went on a 'mission' - and apologised to as many of the reps I was rude to and to thank them for helping me.

Ever since then, I am not a SC - I always say 'excuse me' when I wish for assistance, and always always make sure I say please and thank you and to wish the rep a good day/evening/night.

Some seem a little stunned when I do that, but reading here and reflecting on my earlier abhorrent behaviour, I can see why. I have also got into the habit of writing and verbally reporting nice comments to managers about great service.

it is now almost 10 years without any suckiness from this greatful customer and I plan to continue being so.

[Knightmare]

That is a wonderful story! I just wish more SCs would read these forums and change like you did.

I was never really an SC, but since I joined this forum many many moons ago, I have gone out of my way to be even more polite and as helpful as I can with retail employees. It also helped that I worked in retail for almost 20 years.

[Becks]

Like Knightmare, I never really was an SC, but this site has made me an even better customer.

Kudos to you!!!

[Damien]

Thank you for the kind words.

I have, over the years, managed to get a friend of mine who was a tad worse than I was to be a polite customer as well. He has since reformed his brother...

I will admit, I get a kick out of seeing the shocked-then-happy looks on the reps faces when I let them know that I am very happy with the service they have provided, or when I tell the cafe owner that the meal/coffee/snack was very nice.

I used to be shocking to the phone reps - but I am extra polite - when I call my bank, I speak very politely and use my manners, one lady in particular went a little quiet when I replied to her question...it went as follows -note: this was a query about an unclear transaction on my statement - it turned out to be a code for a hotel purchase that I had made:

nice lady rep: NLP
me: HI!

NLP: Is there anything elseI can help you with today, sir?
Me: No, thank you, you have answered everything and reassured me, I appreciate your service.
NLP: <I heard what sounded like a sob>
Me: are you okay, m'am?
NLP: <sniff> yes, thank you, you were the first today who treated me nicely.
Me: well you should be treated nicely.

I called in later to a manager and made a complement for her, as she helped me a lot. I will do that as often as I can. I could not help but wonder, I called at 4:30pm... that poor lady must have had a hell of a day.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I went on a 'mission' - and apologised to as many of the reps I was rude to and to thank them for helping me.

Is your name 'Earl'? ;)

In all seriousness, GOOD FOR YOU!

I've never been an SC type, either, but having worked in retail for a number of years and having been on these boards for almost a year now, I am much more aware of how some things can come across to others, and also how maybe an employee can be truly affected by a few nice words/actions on the part of their customers, after dealing with SCs all day.