“Customer Service” in Jamaica
Goodnight bloggers. Hope you have had a good day so far. As for mine, I suppose it was pretty routine.
I have decided to address the issue of customer service in Jamaica. You will note the quotation marks in the title. For those of you who do not live here or have never been to this country, doing business here can really test your patience. I don’t know if the foreigners feel the same way. How often have you been into a place of business where you are going to spend YOUR money, and you get the impression that you are asking for a favour?
I think that here, in some business establishments, the people who are put on the frontline are not adequately trained in customer service or they are just not well educated. They are oblivious to the fact that certain types of loud and “off colour” language should not be uttered in earshot of the customer.
Years ago, before I had started Medical School, I worked in a medical laboratory where blood and urine testing on patients were done. There was a fast food restaurant that was catching on at the time called “Chuckle Berry’s”. I had become quite fond of their fish burger and fries as it was tasty. I decided to go there to have this for lunch on this particular day. So I went to the cashier to order. I was told they had no fish. So, I decided to go with the beef burger. Then I was informed that they had no burger buns, only regular sliced bread. If I was happy with that, fine. I sighed and shrugged my shoulders telling her to go ahead. Hence, my order was for a beef burger and fries. Within a few seconds of my order being placed, I hear coming from around the back, “A wah dem hear ’bout French fry today so, me tiyad a fry French fry you nuh.” (What have they heard about French fries today, I’m tired of frying French fries.) Then the cashier chants, “Me cash it because me know seh potato roun dey.” (She took the order because she knows they have potatoes inside.) Suddenly, a little face comes to the window and in a more decent tone of voice she asks, “Who is for the French fries?” The cashier says, “See the gentleman standing and waiting patiently right here.” She looks at me and puts on a plastic smile. “Sir, it will take about ten minutes if you don’t mind waiting.” I just nodded. Needless to say, I never went back there again. Lowlifes!!
The point behind today’s post is that customer service is pivotal to the success of any business. It is something that we are frequently not priviliged to receive in this country. Too often we are greeted with ATTITUDE by front desk staff. Yes friends, thats the status quo more often than not in our beloved little island. I’m sure that Rufie has far more anecdotes to share than I do as she worked in customer service for quite a while. Rufie……… Hope I provided you all with a chuckle for the evening.
May 1st, 2002 at 12:26 am Dr. D. I quite remember the Chuckleberry’s story as told by you…as usual your comments are posted verbatim - I can always look forward to a good joke from your blog. As far as I am concerned, Ja ranks number one when it comes to the lack of customer service…in the native tongue it’s -’serve here!’ Prime example is the Tax Office! Pssh, please I don’t even want to evoke any memories! Don’t expect the normal salutations and courtesies afforded you by normal people - they are a breed apart! A hint of a smile you say, no, no, those things are unheard especially if they say, ‘mi nuh inna no mood fi deal with you now.’ My dear Dr. D gov’t businesses and to a lesser extent the private sector - hah!! All I can say is arm yourself with your own attitude and enter at your own risk! I refer to the saying, ‘if you can’t beat them, join them.’ I weep for the future.
May 1st, 2002 at 7:48 am Hey Rufie, I just went to the tax office yesterday, and it wasn’t a bad experience. I do believe they have improved with time. Also, with the advent of call centres, the service one gets from larger companies tends to be improving, as they usually are implemented with an eye to service. Unfortunately, the service one receives in smaller organisations tends to be spotty at best.
May 1st, 2002 at 4:51 pm Of course you’d say that Mad Bull as you are not the common type man in Ja! You are what we term as a ‘money man.’ So I can understand if they treat you well my dear, but I on the other hand am a poor and lowly casual worker; to be more specific, a common marble so…….with that in mind I rest my case! Remember I am getting the info from Dr. D and the blogs and he SAYS (No, my big bro doesn’t lie) and more than once that MONEY IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM!!!! You are Mr. Big and very Rich
May 2nd, 2002 at 7:31 am Rufie, you are right, MB is a money man, he doesn’t even know the extent of his wealth. He tries to make everyone believe that he is broke, but alas we know better. He is supposed to give me the funds to start my private practice ( I couldn’t keep it a secret MB, I’m very grateful of course). He would not be able to understand what it is like to have a small budget on which to live…….maybe he should have become a doctor.
September 12th, 2002 at 6:23 pm PLEASE SEND ME PROPOSAL FOR RESARCHING AS POST DOCTOR THESIS WITH TITLE FRENCH FRIES POTATO AT YOUR COMPANY. DO YOU SUPPORT FROM ME FOR RESAERCH AT ABOVE AREAS AT YOUR COMPANY AND STUDY AT POST DOCTOR GRADE? I AM Ph.D. AT FOOD SCI.&TECH. WITH THESIS OF FRENCH FRIES POTATO AND OIL ABSORPTION . I AM FROM GORGAN,IRAN. I AM MARRIED AND HAVE 37 YEAR,AND ONE GIRL WITH 4 YEAR. I WAIT YOUR REPLY AT ABOVE AREAS.
September 12th, 2002 at 9:23 pm Habib, you obviously do not speak English very well. I have no company that makes french fries. I am simply relating a story here. This place does not do business anymore. Hence, you cannot do any thesis Ph. D. or otherwise. Sorry to disappoint you and good luck with your studies.