Was last week "National Be Extra Nice to ALL Your Customers Week?" It seems that most places I shopped or used services mentioned "Oh, there's a survey for you to take about your visit," or some variation of that. Sometimes the clerks would circle the website on the receipt.
So I decided to see what the surveys wanted. Most websites automatically entered you in a contest to win a cash prize when you were finished. Hancock's fabric stores gave you a $5.00 off coupon on a $30 purchase - not bad if you're a regular customer. Only the U.S. Postal Service offered no incentive but their appreciation.
What the surveys wanted was simply what the customer thought of their services and the products. Each clerk was identified with either a number at the bottom of the receipt or by asking for a description. I find that interesting. That is REAL followup!
In all the surveys, I gave glowing reports because that is the service I received. None of the surveys were short. All gave space for you to give details about specifically why you gave your good or bad evaluation. I also find that interesting.
At first, I thought, "Maybe they don't really care what we think, maybe no one will bother to tally the surveys, maybe no one will read the comments. Maybe they think we'll come back if we think they care." But then, I was a part of developing several customer surveys once upon a time and I know what tremendous thought goes into the process. It also is an expense to train your clerks to give good customer surveys and the internet process to deliver them. So, my conclusion is that most places really do care what we, the customers, think about their services and products.
Is this interest because our U.S. economy is struggling and competition is greater? Perhaps. But at least there seems to be a genuine interest in customer perception among our retailers and at the post office.
Now what if you and I were surveyed by all those with whom we interact? What kind of 'scores' would we merit? Are we always friendly, even when we don't feel like it? Are we always efficient in our work? I was trained at hospitals that our 'customers' are not only our patients, they are our colleagues, the doctors, the housekeepers, in short, every person we encountered, and we were to treat them with equal respect and kindness: a worthy, attainable goal, if we kept our 'cool' at all times. In other words, we could be professionals, if we tried. And I think, most of us were.
So, who are our 'customers,' other than those we serve at work and our colleagues? Are our 'families' our 'customers?' Yes, yes, yes!! They are the very ones we should treat with the utmost kindness but we know that usually they're the very ones who bear the brunt of our bad moods. Families are the ones we 'vent' to. Is this fair? Of course not!
Is there any reward for being kind to your family members? Oh, yes, oh, yes! We reap all the kindnesses or all the nasty, grumpiness we bestow on others at all times. The response may not be immediate but it certainly is cumulative. As the Bible says, "Ye will reap what ye sow." Maybe we're strong now, maybe we're in charge, do what we what, let the chips fall where they may - who cares? Maybe we mow over others, at will, in our quest to demand what we want for ourselves. Someday we will need kindness for ourselves. Will there be anyone left to love us?
God in Heaven, it is sobering to think that at the end of our lives, it is Your survey of our entire lives that matters. It is the only lasting opinion of us. What do You think of us? How are we doing NOW?
No comments:
Post a Comment