Pick up the phone
I am normally a pretty happy person. Pretty easy to please, not too fussy. Jeff is the same way.
But three times this weekend, we got frustrated to the point of blood-pressure rising. (Not with each other…felt that was an important clarification.)
We got mad at three different companies, all of which we have historically liked and patronized on a (in some cases far too often) basis.
I will say, that in all three cases, the experience we had this weekend, will make me think twice about going back.
And in all three cases, the frustration involved a phone conversation.
It started with Jets Pizza. Moved on to Home Depot, and then P.F. Changs rounded things out.
We love Jets Pizza. It is a staple at our house on away Titans games Sundays. We decided pizza and Netflix was a good way to spend a long weekend Saturday night. So I picked up the phone to call Jets.
“ThankyouforcallingJet’sPizzathisisSparkycanyouholdplease?”
So I held.
And held.
And held.
For eight minutes.
Then I called back.
Busy signal.
Busy signal.
Busy signal.
“ThankyouforcallingJet’sPizzathisisSparkycanyouholdplease?”
So I held.
And held.
And held.
“ThankyouforholdingwhatcanIgetyou?
It ended being almost 15 minutes from the time I started trying to order til I finally did order.
Jeff had a similar experience with Home Depot. We rented a power washer to clean up some things around the house this weekend. After we got it home, the thing would not work right. So he called Home Depot.
“If this…then press this…”
Over and over.
Finally got to the rental desk.
And it rang.
And it rang.
And it rang.
I won’t bore you with the details, but it involved multiple calls and a “can I just speak with the manager please?” Only to find out, “Yeah, that’s not working, bring it back…”
Again, an incredible frustration on the phone.
And then P.F. Changs. We love P.F. Changs.
So on Sunday after church Macie and I decided to get lunch. I had a coupon that was good for 20% off an on-line order that was burning a hole in my purse.
We tried to order on-line with my phone, but the website was showing that everything on the menu was “not available.” So I decided to call the store and check on it. I explained the situation to the man who answered and he explained that it was an “on-line” coupon and I could not use on the phone. I told him about the issue, he said he could not help with the online problem and could not take my order with the special over the phone.
I went on-line again and had the same problem.
So I called back to P.F. Changs and asked for the manager.
I said “I have an on-line coupon and I would like to…”
Before I could even finish my sentence, he said “Ma’am, that is on on-line coupon and you cannot use it on the phone.”
I didn’t even get a chance to explain the situation before he started in on me. We eventually solved our differences and Macie and I were very pleased with our lunch.
It just reminded me of the impressions we can make on the phone at Show Offs Art. We are a small company and it can sometimes get a bit hectic or things can fall between the cracks.
And so if we ever put you on hold for 15 minutes at Show Offs Art(which I hope we never do,) you have my blessing to shop somewhere else.
