RE: [Paddlewise] Paddle woes.

Hi Michael,

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Michael Daly

>
> I'm grumpy.

>
> Back when the snow was flying, I ordered an AT Xception Tour paddle.
> The only vendor in eastern Canada is 150km away.  I sent two email
> messages and followed with live voice confirmation to ensure they
> understood I wanted the variable length version with a specific
> length range.
>

<SNIP>

I'm very sorry to hear that you had an unpleasant experience with your
paddle purchase.  I know how frustrating it is to lay out lots of cash and
have the order fouled.

Sometimes companies drop the ball, sometimes staff members screw up orders,
sometimes vendors ship the wrong product, mistakes happen.  I hope the store
was incredibly apologetic.  They should have caught the length mistake when
the paddle was received and before you were notified.  If you are unable to
get good service from this company, go mail order.  I'm sure there are lots
of folks on this list that would be happy to share names of good mail order
retailers with superior service.

> I get to the store, track down the salesdroid and wait.

Maybe part of the problem you are having with service is related to the way
you interact with the sales/ customer service people.  Unless I
misunderstand and you were really dealing with a droid rather than a human.
(wow I've only been out of retail 9 months and they've automated)  You see,
one of the things that I have noticed with staff/ customer relations over
the years is once the staff is treated like a droid the customer stops being
seen as a customer and becomes the jerk that ordered the paddle.  I always
tried to teach staff to treat each customer exactly the way they wanted to
be treated-acknowledge that the customer is upset, because you would be too.
Do what you can to rectify the situation, discount the paddle throw in free
shipping on the re-ordered correct paddle, give them a loaner, etc.


> Am I missing something?  (besides the paddle - now I hope I get one before
> September  :-( )

I think so, you made it a point of referring to another human twice in this
post as a droid,  Something sub-human. I think you are probably missing a
lot of wonderful opportunities with your downward view on others.

Your post exemplifies what I think is one of the biggest problems I see in
society (not just retail) today.  We have stopped looking at each other as
humans.  Oh, he's just a salesdroid, not really worthy of respect, she's fat
ignore her, those kids are black, they're probably in a gang and selling
drugs.

I would suggest that you try treating the sales staff the way you like to be
treated and you may find they respond in kind.  That is, if you stop seeing
them as droids, they are likely to stop seeing you as the bonehead that
ordered the paddle, and my guess is that everyone will be better served.

Rob Cookson
 "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"
Benjamin Franklin

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