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Customer Service, Is It A Thing Of The Past?

By
Home Stager with 2 Hounds Design + Home Staging

This is the first year we decided to have our lawn treated by a company, rather than by ourselves. We have a hectic life and little time to spend caring for our lawn.

When the company came out the first time, they did a spring 'feed'. This was in May. We were told they would return in a week to aerate and 'weed' the lawn. Well, it is June 18th, and they have not returned. For the past 3 weeks we have called to ask where they were and were told the techs were 'in the area' and would be out within the week. After being told the same thing 3 weeks in a row, we cancelled the service. Our neighbour, btw, uses a competitor and they have been out 4 times since our one application.

We received a call from a sales rep. for the non-showing company...not to see what they could do to make us happy to correct the problems, but to ask us to resign. That's it. Will you resign with us.

LOL. Hello!

In my company, be it a decorating, home staging, or re-design client, if they are not happy, I'm not. At 2 Hounds Design + Home Staging, we are committed to our clients. By hiring us, they are expressing their trust and respect of our services over all others and we intend to keep it that way.

Too bad so many businesses out there only care about the almighty dollar, rather than the people who work so hard to earn it.

 

Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Dane,

You are so right, and I couldn't agree with you more. All too often great customer service our just plain courtesy is a thing of the past. And people wonder why businesses fail at such a high rate.

Jun 18, 2007 12:32 PM
Roger Stensland
Keller Williams Realty Puget Sound - Maple Valley, WA
Let's Move!
Was that re-sign as in to re-sign the contract or resign as in to quit?  I was surprised that my most recent clients were surprised that I give service after the sale.  I thought that everyone did that.  Isn't that part of out job?
Jun 18, 2007 01:02 PM
Melody Young
Milestone Motoring - Auto Broker/Dealer - Westlake Village, CA
Auto Broker-Milestone Motoring
My co workers think I'm crazy because my personal cell phone number is on everything that goes out.  On every letter I always write "my brokers know I'm available to them at all times."  I am ACCESSABLE which results in the service my brokers want when they want it.  If that sets me apart from the competition ...well then good!
Jun 18, 2007 02:53 PM
Toronto's 2 Hounds Design: Decorating + Staging
2 Hounds Design + Home Staging - Toronto, ON

Lynda, so true, so sad.

Roger, my bad, that was re-sign. After sale service...wow, nope most don't! I always follow up and I'm creating a little quiz to see how I could improve my services.

Melody, that is great! We were thinking of making an offer on a house a couple of weeks ago, so I thought I'd give our Mortgage broker a call (at 10:40 pm...thinking I'd be leaving a message at his office). He answered and immediately pulled up our file...next morning our Broker had everything faxed to him!

Once we get great service we stick with and give referrals like crazy. We love to see great work go rewarded!

Jun 19, 2007 01:20 AM
Sandi Gerrard
Toronto, ON
I totally agree with you Dane.  I can't tell you the number of times I hear people in my city complain that they have been calling various companies / trades for quotations or information and no one even bothers to return their call.  It's shameful.  How do these people even stay in business? 
Jun 19, 2007 06:43 AM
Mary Seferian
DIVA DECOR DESIGN - Montreal, QC

Ok maybe it's been a long day and maybe  I'm winding down with a martini :)

..but hello? Didn't you already cancel the service BEFORE they asked you to "resign". And what does that mean exactly? Does it make them feel better to pretend that you chose not to continue as opposed to the fact that they chose to not show up?

Incredible.

Jun 19, 2007 10:15 AM