A timely reminder

Categories: Singapore

The article by Sunday Times correspondent Chua Kong Ho (Sunday Times September 25, 2005) about how he went under cover as served as a waiter and a shoe salesman for one day is a timely reminder that when you expect good service, then be a good customer.

With the recent emphasis on the service personnel providing good, cheerful and enthuasiatic service or lack of in the Singapore service industry, this article highlighted the bad behaviour that the service personnel received in the course of their duty. We had been taught from young that customer is king, but that doesn't gives customer the excuse of being discourteous, and unreasonable. Like the second Newton law - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction - the customer must know that if you are being disrespectful, then expect the same from the people you are dealing with.

Nowadays, people always complaints about poor service. But have they look at themselves how they behave when they are served? If you were to beckon the service personnel with the finger, then expect to be served with a finger pointed at you. If you are being unreasonable, then expect curt replies.

Sure there are people who truly have poor working attitude. I have encountered people who have eyes that do not see, ears that are not tuned to the customer but to collegues. There are promoters who pretended not to see you when they see you choosing their merchandise. I think we cannot expect every service personnel to have bad working attitude. Instead of waiting for good service and complained if they are not forthcoming, maybe it is easier for the customer to make the initiative and smile at them first. You will be surprised how a simple smile will bring good customer service.