I'm in the mood for a bit of a rant. Actually I have spent the entire day mostly engaged in avoidance activities so I figure why not do a little more of it?
I just came from Lowes. I stopped in after church this evening to look at refrigerators because I need one. And I need it NOW! Although I am grateful for cold weather and picnic coolers, I'm not relishing running down to the garage or outside to get food to prepare. AND - with my intent to return to clean eating, I need someplace to store all those glorious fruits and veggies I plan to buy, without fear that they will freeze.
So, I spent 25 minutes in and around the refrigerator section of the store - opening doors, and drawers, and pulling out ice bins and such. Walking back and forth....revisiting units I had already looked at....looking at price tags. Not exactly lolly-gagging, you know? Guess how many sales associates came and asked if they could help me. Go on, guess. If you said ZERO give yourself a prize! Maybe because it was Saturday evening, within one hour of closing, these folks didn't want to get into anything as intensive as making a sale. Apparently they're not working on commission. It's not like I was just buying a pack of light bulbs (although I should be hoarding those now but that's another story). As I left the store, a cashier told me to have a good night. His smile was nice....it was a nice sentiment but it wasn't "Did you find everything you were looking for?" Obviously, because I was leaving empty-handed, I had not. One might think, maybe they were short-handed. Um...no. As I walked out of the store, there were 3 sales associates standing in a little klatch in the seasonal section (which happens to be empty because Christmas is over and garden stuff isn't fully out yet) shooting the breeze together. So, there was no Lowes charge account opened this evening, and no refrigerator purchased.
I went across the highway to visit their competitor. I was greeted but not helped. Two women pretty much ignored my purposeful walk right into the kitchen section. Shortly after I arrived there, though, the announcement was made to bring your final purchases to the cashier.
I suspect that the poor customer service is not rooted in laziness, or being unaware that a customer needs help or being so swamped that I was far down on the list of customers to be served. I tend to think (and this is based on YEARS of experience as a single female in this town) that I was not given attentive service because I was a single female in there. Apparently only men are serious about buying big things like refrigerators and cars. Or they are the only ones whose drink needs refreshing in a restaurant. (Seriously - it's happened on more than one occasion that my date gets many refills and I have to flag a server down to get my glass filled but I digress) I'm not one to pull the discrimination card easily (even though I've had YEARS of experience with it), but I will bet you dollars to donuts (what does that phrase even mean?!?) that tomorrow, when I walk in there with a member of the male persuasion, we will be approached and offered help in less time than I spent investigating the appliances. And if that happens, we will be walking out the door and heading to Sears.
I was in such a tizzy over this that I ended up eating a Sheetz hot dog for dinner. Yuk! So much for new health in the new year. I'll blame it on Lowes.
So am I talking about customer service or taking a stand for feminism? I'll let you decide. But the proof will be in who gets the commission.
