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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Good Customer Service. We'll take it.

So when you’re in a relationship you rub off on each other. Things that you do, you notice that your significant other is doing and vice versa. And it’s always interesting to see.

So let’s take a trip and go back, back into time.

I majored in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management and Business Management in college. I loved my major. I took a wine tasting class and went on a class trip to Aruba (it was on this trip that I fell in love with Colleen). We had our own restaurant that was opened to the public and each week we had a different job. One week, I was the front of the house manager, another week the back of the house management, chef, waitress, etc. I don’t know about you but I highly doubt you had a wine tasting class and a trip to Aruba for your major. OK, Faith enough of the bragging and get to the point.

But it wasn’t only fun and games. In order to graduate we had to do 800 hours of work study in either a hotel or a restaurant. I decided to do 400 hours of work study in the restaurants on campus. I’ll meet a boy that I’ll like with a hairnet on my head. Sexy. But I know how to make a great sandwich.

The other 400 hours was done at the Baymont Hotel off campus. I was a front desk clerk, breakfast attendant and housekeeper. So I’m that person who knows how to make the bed look like you’re sleeping in a hotel room. I’m the person that knows that the worst thing a front desk attendant can say when you ask for a free upgrade is no. I’m the person that knows that if you check into a hotel really late at night and the parking lot looks empty, you might as well ask for a discounted rate with a straight face.

It’s not great that I did this while in college because I’m also the person who stares extra hard at the bathroom floor to ensure there is no hair on the floor when I check into a room. I look at how the bed is made and how the towels are placed and folded.

I got a job in my major after college but after a year I realized it wasn’t for me. Working on holidays and weekends is just not ideal since I love spending time with friends, family and of course Sean. I still love restaurants, hotels and traveling obviously.

You’re probably wondering what I’m getting at. Well, Mr. Sean did not care much about good customer service. If we went to a restaurant and waited 20 minutes before someone came to our table and asked if we cared for something to drink, it was no big deal to him. Me? I was ready to leave. If we entered a hotel room and there was hair in the tub I needed a different room. Sean wanted to pick it up, throw it in the trash bin and lay on the bed.

Oh how things have changed! Mr. Sean is quick to point out if he is not happy with the customer service. He is quick to ask me to dial 0 at the hotel and do my “magic” since I know all about the hospitality industry.

The reason I’m talking about this today is because Sean moved into our new apartment on Sunday and found a few things not to his liking and he let them know. A few years ago, Sean would have just dealt with the issues and not said anything. It would have been up to me to say how poor the service was, etc. Well not anymore. He went right in and listed everything he was unhappy with and they fixed everything. I have to say that I’m proud.

And me? Well, I’m a little more laid back. It’s OK if I asked for a chicken fajita and you bring me a steak fajita. It’s OK if I asked for a glass of iced water with no lemon and you bring me a glass of iced water with a lemon. We’re only human, right.

But for all things that are holy do not, I repeat do not put mayo on my sandwich when I specifically stress no mayo. That I can’t forgive.

23 comments:

  1. way to go Sean....yahhh for the new apt. and lol at the mistake on your order...i cannot imagine you upset:-) kiddin' i can see it!

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  2. I can't wait to see apartment pics when you move there! Way to go, Sean for speaking up. I'm always hearing a voice in my head saying "The squeaky wheel gets the grease" ~ I am wishy washy in the speaking up department. Some days I do, some I don't. :)

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  3. This is so true and is an example of opposites attracting and growing together.
    I'd like to say the same thing about us but mine can be a bit stubborn, but i have become more laid back and reflective thanks to him.

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  4. Lol! You and Sean sound like my hubby and I. I used to be the same as you. I still check the beds and everything to make sure there are no uninvited guests. Hubby on the other hand could care less. BUT when it comes to dealing with customer service, he always takes a first stab at it and if they don't listen, he gets me on the phone. Needless to say, I am sure I have made some sort of watchlist for customers to NOT piss off on the phone :-).

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  5. Sometimes you get just the right amount of "awesome" off the other person you're with, that's when you know its a good relationship =)

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  6. You did rub off on him! And sometimes that kind of thing comes with age. As you get older you are willing to take less crap. Ha!! I'm kind of in the middle. I will tolerate probably more then you. Well surely more but I will speak up if it passes my limit. I would hate to work nights and weekends too. It's a tough industry for that kind of thing. Along with retail.

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  7. i love it...it's so true that we learn to compliment each other, even if we don't mean to. what a great post!

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  8. OMG. So first - I totally took a wine tasting class in college. It was for our Hospitality majors too, but smart seniors took it. :) I'm smart. HAHA!

    Second - working in the restaurant & customer service industry from when I was 15 to I guess still now since I kind of work in customer service - I get SO ANNOYED with bad service. :)

    Third - will you come teach me to make my bed like a hotel?

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  9. it is so true. seriously, crazy how we rub off on each other.

    because of one of us we are both basically ocd about cleanliness...but i'm not sure who started that one haha.

    K

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  10. haha I love this post. I am definitely one to say something, but I am working on being diplomatic and restraining myself on the small things. :)

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  11. It's great that you've both rubbed off on each other a bit! I'm glad they fixed all the issues in your new place.

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  12. We are like spiritual twinsies!!! I used to be the same way, well I am still a stickler for good customer service. R used to tell me to just dump my expectations below the earth and keep it moving! Ha! Now he's all about the place screaming "how unprofessional!" I love it! *insert evil laugh*

    xo

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  13. Oh my gosh, don't even get me started on random hairs in my hotel bathroom. I get the willies just THINKING about it. GROSS!

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  14. I absolutely love this and could not agree more!! Derek and I have molded into one brain almost. He has rubbed off on me to make me more laid back. And I have done the opposite to him. He was the same exact way when it came to customer service before I met him. Now he will make the calls and do the complaints!

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  15. I agree with this Faith, you'll think I'm insane but one thing in the world I can't stand is onions, if something gets onions in them when I asked for none I will freak out. I'm not a mayo fan either so I can relate to that bit too!

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  16. Good customer service is a must! It always seems like men are less likely to demand it than women, but if you're paying for something why not get good service?!

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  17. That a boy, Sean!! Zach and I are a lot like you two were in the beginning...he's the kind that if they mess up his food in a restaurant, he'll just sit there and not touch it. He wouldn't DREAM of sending it back. Then right when we leave, we have to make a Mickey Dee's run because he's starving. Silly boy! I hope he'll get a little more like Sean one of these days and start voicing his opinion. I was a waitress for several years so I can relate to you on the icky holiday-working stuff...it definitely gets old. Especially with a big, close family like yours!!!

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  18. The restaurant industry wasn't for me either, for the reasons you mentioned as well as poor benefits and extremely hard work. But thanks for that tip about hotels, I might use that. And congrats on the apartment. Fine little blog you have here.
    +followed

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  19. That is pretty awesome that you got to travel to Aruba for school! Lucky girl! I am like you and Garrett is like Sean used to be. He thinks everything is ok and nothing is a big deal. If his order comes out wrong, he eats it anyways. He's learning though because I have gotten on to him about sticking up for himself and getting what he pays for lol.

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  20. hey! we're teaching hospitality business management now (and tourism in the past)! :) so yeah, we both are sensitive about customer service! Flo's parents own a hotel where he worked in his college days, but I never worked in the hospitality industry before...

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  21. Amen on the mayo! Its unforgivable. I will also refuse to eat the sandwich if you take a knife and try to scrape the mayo off. The meat, cheese, lettuce and/or tomato has most likely been infected.

    Did not know that about hotels, so thanks for sharing that tip. Will be going on a business trip next week and see what "Faith magic" I can conjure up.

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  22. Mayo on sandwiches is definitely crossing the line lol. It is pretty gross! I did not have wine tasting classes in my major but have been to a few in my spare time :)

    I tend to be like you when it comes to customer service. There have been a couple of times when the service was so deplorable I wrote to the company to complain. I get making mistakes but just not caring and not bothering? Nope. Not gonna fly!!

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  23. go sean!! :) this made me smile! i am the type to usually keep my mouth shut and steve speaks up (but not in every situation - i'm a big mouth too ;))
    i'm glad he spoke up! i hope you're doing well - i've been thinking about you and keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. <3<3

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