Mar0920109 p.m.
Floating pontoons and how bad customer service can lose you business
So my knee seems to be ok two days following Bath. Hurrah!
This therefore means I’m back on the training band wagon that we are all chugging along on. Decided I’d do a lunchtime run as I needed the evening for various chores.
Probably would have been a very enjoyable run had I not forgotten my jacket and gloves.
Only had a short sleeve t-shirt but no time to wimp out. Off I trotted, into the biting wind. Brrrr..... Oh my god, what on earth was I thinking? No stopping, best to just keep moving and it’d soon be over.
Ran down to the canal. I’ve not run down there since “the accident” and what did I find? They’ve only gone and extended that metal floating pontoon thingamabob. I started running tentatively on it but as it edged further out into the water, I changed my mind. I don’t like bridges at the best of times but this was no where near stable enough for my liking and it went on for ages, so decided it was best to run on the pavements.
This is where I kind of got a bit lost. I headed up a rather long hilly road, I turned left and then down a road which I thought would bring me out where I wanted to be. Did it heck? The road wound round and I ended up quite disorientated as to where I was, but as I still had quite a bit to run, I thought I’d figure out as I ran rather than turn round and go back the way I came. That would be far too obvious.
I ran through some very pretty roads, with some very nice and I’m sure, very expensive houses. I guess this was an expensive part of Islington? Anyway, I saw some signs but none of them pointed to where I needed to go, so I had to ask someone. I could have continued running sporadically but I had work to get back to, so best to find out how far I actually was from the office. A nice lady pointed me in the right direction and fortunately I wasn’t very far off.
Was going to do 4 miles “easy” but I decided to call it quits at 3.82m as I lost sensation in my hands and arms. Far too cold! Nice run though, a good few long hills to mix things up.
So, what’s this about customer service? Well, I went to the pub (near work) with the intention of booking a venue for my pub quiz. Firstly, the barman just plain ignored me until I pointed out I’d been waiting. Then when the manager finally came over, she was so rude! If this wasn’t a good time for her (because she had other customers to serve) then how about she take my phone number and call me later?? Instead, she was just very short and irritated by my presence. I explained about it being a pub quiz and wanted to know the capacity for the mezzanine area. She gave me the capacity for standing, like that’s going to help me. Then asked me how many people I had. Then she proceeded to go on about how she would have to order in chairs and hire extra staff. Erm...I have come in with the potential of increasing a night’s takings and she’s telling me about the things she would have to do. Basically, coming across as this is going to be such inconvenience for her. At which point, I say “it doesn’t appear you can cater for my needs, I can easily get another venue.” Then she tells me she’s busy and isn’t in the right frame of mind and can I come back later. She’s pretty rude about it too. I take her number, with absolutely no intention of calling her back. Frankly I’ve never been treated so badly by a pub where I’ve wanted to hold a quiz before. It’s quite simple, if you don’t have the time to talk, take my number and call me later. How hard is that???
As I’ve reached my fundraising target, this quiz is no longer that important to me so I can afford to use a smaller venue. Everything I make from it will be a bonus and I want to do the quiz because I promised everyone I’d do another one. I can go back to either of the pubs I’ve used before; I’m sure they’d be happy for the business. They were so much easier to work with, unlike this ungrateful cow! I knew there was a good reason I rarely go to this pub – Woodstore in N7. Firstly, they stopped serving my favourite lunch, secondly, their service stinks! So if you’re ever in this area – stay well clear!! It’s rubbish and the staff are rude!
On the complete opposite end of the scale, I popped into Tesco this evening to ask them for a raffle prize. The woman at the customer service desk was so helpful and polite! Although I didn’t get a donation from them (yet), she phoned round to find out who I needed to speak to and wrote out the details for me. What a kind lady. Excellent Customer service skills in Tesco Surrey Quays. 5 stars for them!
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Comments (15)
IMMOVABLE_OBJECT 'It was cold today, I went out in a short sleeved top and froze. Be thankful you have reached your target, imagine how annoying it would have been if you needed the bigger venue. ' added 9th Mar 2010
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peterb 'is there such a thing as customer service these days ???' added 9th Mar 2010
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michael_h 'Glad to hear the knee is OK after Bath. 3-4 miles must seem like such a short run for you now! Some staff just aren't business savvy are they?' added 9th Mar 2010
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Firefly123 'Gosh! I don't blame you for that rant. What awful treatment and I shall avoid the said pub if I'm ever in your area. As for your run - short sleeves in todays biting wind - you are braver than me! Well done on carrying on despite losing your way and being freezing cold! ' added 9th Mar 2010
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glen_b 'I think you should name and shame the pub! My wife is waging a one woman boycott of Tesco (well, judging their results and the fact they own the high street I presume it is a one woman crusade), as years ago they were very funny about changing some baby outfit or something. Very brave going out in short sleeves today, but to borrow my blog title and a Simone comment on her blog, welcome 'back into the saddle'.....' added 9th Mar 2010
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gunes 'Yay I am back on,all up and working! thanks for your advice and help! That sounds like me getting lost he he,I am famed for it,! And that would have worried me coming across that mental pontoon thing again! There is a spot on one of my routes where I once had a fall and I am paranoid every time I run past it! Well done on your reaching your fundraising target ,and glad to hear your knee is ok after the Bath Half :) ' added 9th Mar 2010
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ChrisBrad 'Well done at Barrrf... and no wonder you got mildly irritated by the snotty mare in the pub!! Glad the knee's holding up okay.' added 9th Mar 2010
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crooxi 'Underdressed, on a cold day: not good. Getting lost, underdressed, on a cold day: even more not good! - glad you found your way back before you froze completely. Knee feeling okay after half marathon: definitely good!' added 9th Mar 2010
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eclipse 'The main thing is you have beet your target and you didnt need the help from some very unworthy people. Take care Tel http://www.justgiving.com/MarathonDesSablesorbust' added 9th Mar 2010
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simonedumergue 'Oooh - it is awful when you are underdressed for a cold run. I remember a 7 mile run last year when my hands were so cold that I literally had to unfurl my fingers from my drink bottle, with my other hand - they were frozen solid in a grip position! So glad to hear the knee is OK! My shin is still feeling good - fingers crossed. Makes you impatient to get back into though doesn't it! Customer service - one of my passions. Working in marketing, I care passionately about the customer experience. You lovely Brits are too polite sometimes - I would have told her that her attitude stunk! Good on you for sticking to your guns though and seeking an alternative venue - hope you get one sorted :-)' added 10th Mar 2010
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kizzi10000 'Iw ouldn't have bothered taking her number after that, just walked out lol. A few minutes of being polite for increased takings is nothing! Well done on the running - the sun may be warm, but that wind is certainly a tad chilly!' added 10th Mar 2010
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Kendlef 'wow, you should be a mystery shopper reporting back on customer service skills!! that lady in the pub sounded soo rude, i would have told her where to go. hope you find somewhere friendlier :D' added 10th Mar 2010
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Way_Too_Slow 'Good to hear that your knee is behaving after the weekend. Fingers crossed there are no delayed issues. It has been a little fresh down here hasn't it. It's GOT to start warming up soon hasn't it??? Not too much at the end of April though! Sods law we have a heatwave for the marathon!! I think you were very restrained in the face of such a rude attitude! I might not have been so polite!' added 10th Mar 2010
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Account_closed 'What a complete bitch !! Why don't you post a supicious package (Silican Gel or fertiliser there) and then call the police. Do it on a Saturday and her busiest time of the week will become a full scale lockdown. Or is that too cruel ? What was the pub name again ? *Evil Laugh*' added 14th Mar 2010
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RuddysMarathonEffort 'Having read this blog, I dare not say anything out of turn - for a change! :-)' added 14th Mar 2010
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