[Vision2020] Am I too demanding of Customer Service?

Dick Schmidt dickschmidt@moscow.com
Thu, 8 Apr 2004 09:01:38 -0700


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Donovan, Wayne & All,

I too have had quite a few instances of "poor service" in Moscow as well =
as "over charging" for services.

In 2002 I was informed by my dentist that I needed a tooth removed. He =
sent me to a local Moscow Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon so I went for =
the first visit to him where he looked at the tooth that needed =
extracting and charged me $57.00 for a look and sent me into a little =
room with one of his girls where she informed me that it would cost an =
additional $523.00 to extract the tooth. I made an appointment and on =
the way home got to thinking that $580.00 was a very outrageous price to =
pull a tooth. When I got home I went online and found the names and =
phone numbers of oral surgeons in  Spokane. I called one and asked the =
price for extracting my tooth. The office girl said that it would =
probably be $100.00 to $300.00. I made an appointment and they ended up =
pulling my tooth for $199.50. If I hadn't done some checking I would =
have paid 300% more in Moscow for having a tooth extracted. Moscow =
business have a pretty much captive group with the college here and =
college towns are known for having higher prices but this is way out of =
line.=20

Tri State Hardware gives the best service of any store in Moscow. The =
owner or manager there must really understand service and its importance =
to his customers. I too shop at Winco as their service, quality, and =
prices are what interest me. Most fast food places are known for their =
poor service and you take your chances on quality because quality =
control doesn't seem to be part of the deal.=20

I too found that Latah Federal Credit Union have the friendliest tellers =
and the best service in banks in Moscow. My wife was banking with =
another bank before we moved to LFCU and we drove up to the drive up =
window to make a deposit. There was a guy sitting there doing nothing =
but made us wait for 5 minutes before he waited on us. She cancelled her =
account the next day and moved it to LFCU.

I have been a traveling salesman most of my adult life and customer =
service is very important part of my job. I expect=20
to be given the same level of service that I give my customers.=20

I place the blame on business owners doing a lousy job of training their =
help and some seem to have so much business that "service" doesn't mean =
anything to them. Some communities have a strong chamber of commerce who =
have=20
a training program for clerks and store owners. Poor service is probably =
not recognized by business owners here so it probably will never happen. =
We vote with our feet. If service is bad we don't go back.

Wayne, What is "Jesus Rock"?

Dick Schmidt


----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Art Deco aka W. Fox=20
  To: Vision 2020=20
  Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 7:34 AM
  Subject: [Vision2020] Am I too demanding of Customer Service?


  Donovan, et al

  I also have had bad experiences at the three places you mention.

  I now shop at WinCo for many reasons including price and service.  =
They have an electronic product locator and employees have been always =
helpful when asked.

  I bank at Latah Federal Credit Union which besides being friendly and =
very customer oriented allows the transfer of funds between accounts and =
other convenient things over the internet.

  I hope my immune system is OK because food safety problems exist not =
only at McDonalds but at other fast food places.  Although I don't like =
being continuously subjected to Jesus Rock at high volumes, I go to =
Rudi's in the Eastside Mall for (take out) burgers, fries, etc.  They =
have very tasty food and I have more confidence in their food safety =
than I have at places where distracted, poorly trained teeny-boppers are =
the preparers and servers.

  Another fussbudget/old codger with high expectations of those who =
exchange their products and services for my money, Wayne

  Art Deco  (Wayne Fox)
  deco@moscow.com

    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: Donovan Arnold=20
    To: vision2020@moscow.com=20
    Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2004 10:41 PM
    Subject: [Vision2020] Am I too demanding of Customer Service?


    I don't know about the rest of you, but Customer Service plays an =
important role of where I choose to shop and do my business. I wanted to =
know if you all have the same experiences as I do in the community and =
if I am overreacting to how I sometimes get treated.

    Case number one: I go through the drive-thru at McDonalds, the one =
on Troy Ave. I ask for two separate orders. One is 93 cents, the other =
one is $4 and some change. The person in the car with me has 93 cents in =
hand, and says so to me in front of the cashier in the window and =
clearly in view. I then pull a $5 from my pocket and hand it to the =
casher, they take $5 and pull 93 cents from it hand me my change and =
then ask for $4 and some change back. Was the cashier thinking I wanted =
93 cents exactly for the $4.22.

    The other McDonalds I refuse to go to because they were having a =
spit fighting contest when I walked in there one day. Lord only knows =
what they do when customers are not around.

    Case Number two:
    My bank, FirstBank, took 6 weeks to get my checks. The first time I =
got checks, they messed up my phone number, the second time they lost =
them, the third time they sent the numbers on the check the same as the =
ones that were lost, dumb because they were stopped because they were =
lost.=20
    When I had been at the bank for about 2 years, one time UI didn't =
get the checks out in time and one of my checks bounced by just $5 from =
my checking account and I had $4,500 in my savings. Rather then floating =
me the $5 they charged me $20 and the place where my checked bounced was =
my Apartment, ruining my perfect 4 year record of one time in full =
payments.=20
    Today, my check card was declined when I had more than enough money =
in it. And yesterday the ATM was down, so I could not transfer money =
from one account to another to pay my bills. I work during the day and =
often cannot go in, nor does my bank allow me transfer funds other than =
through that ATM.

    Case number three:

    I went to Tidymans and was looking for frozen chicken in the frozen =
section. I looked for about 10 minutes, up and down, and down and up the =
section, could not find it at all. Finally, someone that works there =
walks by, standing in the frozen food section, and gesturing toward the =
aisle, I ask if she can tell me please where the frozen chicken is =
located. She tells me to go to the deli. I didn't want to go to the =
deli, so I ask her where the FROZEN CHICKEN is again. Then she asks me =
what I want to eat with my chicken, I have no clue where this came from =
other than maybe she wanted me to have a kids chicken frozen food meal =
or something. I finally say to her, "I want frozen breaded chicken in a =
box, just chicken." Then she says, "Oh, I don't know where that is". =
Then treating me like a child says, "Well, why don't we LOOK for it". I =
would tend to think this was OK for a 17 year old that just started =
working there for a week. But in all seriousness, most pe! ople that are =
55 would know the store better, or at least know who to ask. It was =
precisely why I asked, because I was tired of looking for 10 minutes.=20

    So, am I being an a-hole by not continuing my business to these =
places? Just curious what others do, and if they were raised to respect =
the customer, be courteous, and make sure they leave happy, not pissed =
off.

    Keep in mind, I also have my favorites too. Win-Co, Wendy's, Arby's, =
Safeway, Tri-state, Book People, Papa John's, Bruneel's, Torso's and =
many more are really good to me 95%+ of the time. Many of these people =
have spent 15 minutes with me to make sure I get exactly what I need and =
was looking for.=20

    Is it normal for me to lose my temper with these other places that =
you feel like they are hanging a sign on the door that says, "We don't =
want customers".=20

    Sincerely,

    Donovan J Arnold
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<DIV>Donovan, Wayne &amp; All,</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I too have had quite a few instances of "poor service" in Moscow as =
well as=20
"over charging" for services.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>In 2002 I was informed by my dentist that I needed a tooth removed. =
He sent=20
me to a local Moscow Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon&nbsp;<?xml:namespace =
prefix=20
=3D st1 ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"=20
/><st1:place><st1:City><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
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</SPAN></st1:City></st1:place><SPAN=20
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mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">I=20
went for the first visit to him where he looked at the tooth that needed =

extracting and charged me $57.00 for a look and sent me into a little =
room with=20
one of his girls where she informed me that it would cost an additional =
$523.00=20
to extract the tooth. I made an appointment and on the way home&nbsp;got =
to=20
thinking that&nbsp;$580.00 was a very outrageous price to pull&nbsp;a =
tooth.=20
When I got home I went online and found the names and phone numbers =
of&nbsp;oral=20
surgeons&nbsp;in&nbsp; Spokane. I called one and asked the price for =
extracting=20
my tooth. The office girl said that it would probably be $100.00 to =
$300.00. I=20
made an appointment and they ended up pulling my tooth for $199.50. If I =

hadn't&nbsp;done&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">some=20
checking I would have paid 300% more in Moscow </SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">for=20
having a tooth extracted. <SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Moscow=20
business have a pretty much captive group with the college=20
here&nbsp;and&nbsp;college towns are </SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">known=20
for having higher prices but this is way out of line. =
</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Tri=20
State Hardware gives the best service of any store in Moscow. The owner =
or=20
manager there </SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">must=20
really understand service and its importance to his =
customers.&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">I=20
too shop at Winco as their service, quality,&nbsp;and prices are what =
interest=20
me. Most fast food places are known for their poor service and you take =
your=20
chances on quality because quality control doesn't seem to be part of =
the=20
deal.&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">I=20
too&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">found=20
that Latah Federal Credit Union&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">have=20
the friendliest tellers and the best service in banks in=20
Moscow.&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">My=20
wife was banking with another&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">bank=20
before&nbsp;we moved to LFCU </SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: =
AR-SA">and&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">we=20
drove up to the drive up window to make a deposit. =
There&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">was=20
a guy sitting there doing nothing but made us wait for 5 minutes before =
he=20
waited on us.&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">She=20
cancelled her account the next day and moved it to LFCU.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">I=20
have been a traveling salesman most of my adult life and customer=20
service&nbsp;is very important part of my job. I expect </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">to=20
be given the same level of service that I give my customers. =
</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">I=20
place the blame on business owners doing a lousy job of training their =
help and=20
some seem to have so much business that "service" doesn't mean anything =
to them.=20
</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Some=20
communities have a strong chamber of commerce who </SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: =
AR-SA">have&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">a=20
training&nbsp;</SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">program=20
for clerks and store owners. Poor service is probably not recognized by =
business=20
owners here so it probably will never happen. We vote with our feet. If =
service=20
is bad we don't go back.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Wayne,=20
What is "Jesus Rock"?</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Dick=20
Schmidt</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN>-----=20
Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3Ddeco@moscow.com href=3D"mailto:deco@moscow.com">Art Deco =
aka W. Fox</A>=20
  </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dvision2020@moscow.com=20
  href=3D"mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision 2020</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, April 08, 2004 =
7:34=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Am I too =
demanding=20
  of Customer Service?</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4>Donovan, et al</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4>I also have had bad experiences at the three =
places you=20
  mention.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4>I now shop at WinCo for many reasons including =
price and=20
  service.&nbsp; They have an electronic&nbsp;product locator and =
employees have=20
  been always helpful when asked.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4>I bank at Latah Federal Credit Union which besides =
being=20
  friendly and very customer oriented allows the transfer of funds =
between=20
  accounts and other convenient things over the internet.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4>I hope my immune system is OK because food safety =
problems=20
  exist not only at McDonalds but at other fast food places.&nbsp; =
Although I=20
  don't like being continuously subjected to Jesus Rock at high volumes, =
I go to=20
  Rudi's in the Eastside Mall for (take out) burgers, fries, etc.&nbsp; =
They=20
  have very tasty food and I have more confidence in their food safety =
than I=20
  have at places where distracted, poorly trained&nbsp;teeny-boppers are =
the=20
  preparers and servers.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4>Another fussbudget/old codger with high =
expectations of=20
  those who exchange their products and services for my money, =
</FONT><FONT=20
  size=3D4>Wayne</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D4>Art Deco&nbsp; (Wayne Fox)<BR><A=20
  href=3D"mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A><BR></DIV></FONT>
  <BLOCKQUOTE=20
  style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
    <DIV=20
    style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
    <A title=3Ddonovanarnold@hotmail.com=20
    href=3D"mailto:donovanarnold@hotmail.com">Donovan Arnold</A> </DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dvision2020@moscow.com=20
    href=3D"mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> =
</DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 07, =
2004 10:41=20
    PM</DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Am I =
too=20
    demanding of Customer Service?</DIV>
    <DIV><BR></DIV>
    <DIV>
    <DIV>
    <DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>I don't know about the rest of you, but Customer =
Service=20
    plays an important role of where I choose to shop and do my =
business. I=20
    wanted to know if you all have the same experiences as I do in the =
community=20
    and if I am overreacting to how I sometimes get treated.</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>Case number one: I go through the drive-thru at =
McDonalds,=20
    the one on Troy Ave. I ask for two separate orders. One is 93 cents, =
the=20
    other one is $4 and some change.&nbsp;The person in the car with =
me&nbsp;has=20
    93 cents in hand, and says so to me in front of the cashier in the =
window=20
    and clearly in view. I then pull a $5 from my pocket and hand it to =
the=20
    casher, they take $5 and pull 93 cents from it hand me my change and =
then=20
    ask for $4 and some change back. Was the cashier thinking I wanted =
93 cents=20
    exactly for the $4.22.</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>The other McDonalds I refuse to go to because they =
were=20
    having a spit fighting contest when I walked in there one day. Lord =
only=20
    knows what they do when customers are not around.</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>Case Number two:</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>My bank, FirstBank, took 6 weeks to get my checks. =
The first=20
    time I got checks, they messed up my phone number, the second time =
they lost=20
    them, the third time they sent the numbers on the check the same as =
the ones=20
    that were lost, dumb because they were stopped because they were =
lost.=20
</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>When I had been at the bank for about 2 years, one =
time UI=20
    didn't get the checks out in time and&nbsp;one of my&nbsp;checks =
bounced by=20
    just $5&nbsp;from my checking account and I had $4,500 in my =
savings. Rather=20
    then floating me the $5 they charged me $20 and the place&nbsp;where =
my=20
    checked&nbsp;bounced was my Apartment, ruining my perfect 4 year =
record of=20
    one time in full payments. </DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>Today, my check card was declined when I had more =
than enough=20
    money in it. And yesterday the ATM was down, so I could not transfer =
money=20
    from one account to another to pay my bills. I work during the day =
and often=20
    cannot go in, nor does my bank allow me transfer funds other than =
through=20
    that ATM.</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>Case number three:</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>I went to Tidymans and was looking for frozen =
chicken in the=20
    frozen section. I looked for about&nbsp;10 minutes, up and down, and =
down=20
    and up the section, could not find it at all. Finally, someone that =
works=20
    there walks by, standing in the frozen food section, and gesturing =
toward=20
    the aisle, I ask if she can tell me please where the frozen chicken =
is=20
    located. She tells me to go to the deli. I didn't want to go to the =
deli, so=20
    I ask her where the FROZEN CHICKEN is again. Then she asks me what I =
want to=20
    eat with my chicken, I have no clue where this came from other than =
maybe=20
    she wanted me to have a kids chicken frozen food meal or something. =
I=20
    finally say to her, "I want frozen breaded chicken in a box, just =
chicken."=20
    Then she says, "Oh, I don't know where that is". Then treating me =
like a=20
    child says, "Well, why don't we LOOK for it". I would tend to think =
this was=20
    OK for a 17 year old that just started working there for a week. But =
in all=20
    seriousness, most pe! ople that are 55 would know the store better, =
or at=20
    least know who to ask. It was precisely why I asked, because I was =
tired of=20
    looking for 10 minutes. </DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>So, am I being an a-hole by not&nbsp;continuing=20
    my&nbsp;business to these places? Just curious what others do, and =
if they=20
    were raised to respect the customer, be courteous, and make sure =
they leave=20
    happy, not pissed off.</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>Keep in mind, I also have my favorites too. Win-Co, =
Wendy's,=20
    Arby's, Safeway, Tri-state, Book People, Papa John's, Bruneel's,=20
    Torso's&nbsp;and many more are really&nbsp;good to me 95%+ of the =
time. Many=20
    of these people have spent 15 minutes with me to make sure I get =
exactly=20
    what I need and was looking for. </DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>Is it normal for me to lose my temper with these =
other places=20
    that you feel like they are hanging a sign on the door that says, =
"We don't=20
    want customers". </DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>Sincerely,</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV class=3DRTE>Donovan J=20
  =
Arnold</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BO=
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