Whats your BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE?

One day we had to have the microphone of the two way radio in our taxi fixed. It was late on a Friday afternoon and so we went to the more expensive shop in hopes it could be done soon. The only person in the shop was the owner. He started to look after us then someone came in that was a bigger more profitable customer so the man turns his back on us and ignores us for a good 10mins. before we leave in disgust. Not only will we not go back to him neither will our friends in the business. We then roll up at the new radio shop in town, it is 10minutes before the weekend and this guy not only fixes our mike he does it for free! Never again will we use the services of a man that choses to ignore repeat customers just for the quick buck. On the other hand we were so impressed by the second guy that we have sent him lots of business. Sometimes I think customer service is a thing of the past and I work in customer service! It drives me nuts!

At a Friendly's Resteraunt in Maryland, we had some terrible service...cold food, wrong order, horrendous waitress, cursing staff, etc. So, I talked to the manager after I got nowhere with the waitress. Well, the manager wasn't much better. He kept quoting his shop had the highest customer service rating on the East Coast with a 96% which didn't say much when you are the one having the bad service. All I wanted to do was inform him and remove the uncooked food from the bill. The wrong order, we'd accept and pay for, but the rest needed immediate attention. The manager refused and when I asked for Regional HQ, he became belligerent and said he didn't have it. Undaunted, I got the number from another Friendly's on our way home. The next Monday, I called Regional and told them how I was treated and wanted to let them know exactly what happened and that I would be following the phone call with a registered letter signed by me stating the facts so they have something in writing. Later in the week, I was called by a National VP! As customary, he asked what could the company do to keep my service? I didn't want anything but just wanted to report the substandard performance of one of their stores. He appreciated my candor, thanked me, and we parted our ways. The next week, I got a letter from the VP of Marketing with a booklet of free coupons for meals, drinks, specials, etc. , and apology, and a note asking if I would help them rate other Maryland stores. In return, I'd have the meals reimbursed if I called in and explain my experiences. This was to last a month. Needless to say, we accepted and found almost all of the Md resteraunts. Although the atmosphere of the one store was bad, the rest weren't and later that store did improve. I'm not one to complain to get something for free; however, I will notify management when something goes awry that was within their control (BTW: That Friendly wasn't the first time we had a problem, it was the first time I complained). Other great companies with exceptional customer service: Olive Garden, Jiffy's, Wily X (sunglasses),Saturn, Met Life and Food Saver. Companies with terrible customer service: Hewllet Packard, Sears, Dairy Queen, Ford, and Sony. I understand some customer service reps are better then others, but to make my list of terrible service, takes more then one event that wasn't resolved to satisfaction, or the company tap danced and blamed the customer. Normally, I will not go back to those companies.