I was shopping today at a local shopping centre. The first shop I went to I wanted to purchase a new pair of jeans. There was hardly any service apart from a mere grunt when I walked through the door.
It seemed like the staff were more interested in talking to eachother about their plans for the weekend that to help me buy jeans. Not being one to fuss, I decided to walk out and go to the next jeans shop.
To my surprise the next shop was worse – I didn’t even get a grunt! Having enough of the Jeans franchise shops I decided to go to a large department store to make my purchase. I couldn’t find a single person for at least 5 minutes.
Where is everyone I asked the first staff member, she replied “They are all here… not many of us here though, are there?” whilst looking around somewhat bewildered.
I must admit that the girl at the department store was pleasant. Apparently there is a lot of bad customer service and it is hard to find good customer service. In any case, I believe that the standard has not been good for at least 6 years. But I seriously think that it is becoming worse. Maybe I am becoming old and synical.
I think that I have suddenly realised that there was a dramatic reduction in customer service on the Gold Coast. Maybe this has come from my 2 year stay in Melbourne. Where the customer service is excellent! They really are there to help. (the ONLY way that Victorians are trumping Queenslanders!)
Come on fellow Queenslanders. Where are the friendly smiles? Where are the friendly Gold Coast manners? I thought that us Queenslanders were a really friendly bunch. Don’t let those Victorians show us up in the customer service stakes. We live in one of the nicest places in the World. The Gold Coast is a true paradise – why all the long faces and the low “care factors”. There are no excuses as far as I am concerned.
What are your thoughts? Do you think us Queenslanders are losing our customer service skills? Am I just slow? I have spoken to a few people and it seems like everyone already knows this but accepts it as “the way it has always been”.
I am from USA. I must say that Australian’s are really nice people – will do ANYTHING for you. Very generous.
BUT – when you go to a shop and want to give them money, it seems that Aussies like you less and have less time for you.
It is strange…. Still love the Gold Coast. Would be a lot better if the customer service in the restaurants and cafes was a lot better. I agree that the service standard is poor. I also have to agree that Melbourne is heaps better.
I am worried that tourism is suffering because of it as a few other tourists that I have spoken to are WELL aware of this problem.