What The Heck Happened To Customer Service?
@danishcanadian (28953)
Canada
April 5, 2013 6:16pm CST
In this day and age of unemployment, why are so many employees directing us to machines that do their work for them?
Case in point. Instead of going to my usual lotto retailer, I went to a different one whih happened to be right next door to the German bakery. I scratched and signed the tickets, and gave them to the guy to check. He told me there was a mchine that checked them for me. I told him I could not see the screen on the machine, and he tried to convince me it was easy to see. LOL Great line! One does not know what another person can see, unless they see the world through their own eyes.
He finally got the message, and stuck it in the machine behind the counter, that announces audiably, whether a ticket wins or loses. Now, why don't the self-serve machines do that? What's more, whatever happened to human service? In the past I've been encouraged to use:
-ATM machines
-Self-serve check-outs at the grocery and drug stores
-Serf-Serve lotto machines
-Self-serve photo machines (can't see the screens on those for photo editing)
-Automated computerized calls, either the ones that call me, or the computers that answer the phone when I call various comapnies
In this day and age of un-employment, why are people allowing their jobs to be taken by machines? And when they do hold down a job, why would they rather point me in the direction of a machine, than offer me the customer service I'm paying for?
3 people like this
12 responses
@TeamCholent (2832)
• United States
6 Apr 13
Welcome to the age of the machines. Not that this is justifying the lack of social skills by any human being but it seems people just care less and are more self focused. I myself prefer to do everything online, avoid the human contact and shop at local stores that give a damn about me and my money.
1 person likes this
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
6 Apr 13
Same here in Mexico. Even to pay water or electric bills are now done through atm type machines.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
7 Apr 13
I really don't know. We have the scanner for lottery at the store that I work in also. Personally, I find it to be the stupidest invention. It has to be located in a spot close to the Lotto machine and is right in the way of people coming up to the register for purchases. It is way easier and quicker for me to scan the tickets behind the counter.
The only time i would encourage someone to use the ATM is when our card system is down and we are taking only cash or when they want cash back as we are not programmed to give cash back.
I would never point you to a machine if it were in my capabilities to help you myself. You should bring your business to my store instead.
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
12 Apr 13
Automation has become a major part of life today. Although I agree with the phone systems, none of them are really that good. But as for banks, I use the ATM machine all the time. It has been years since I went to a teller in the bank. And I see more and more automation happening in life. With all the smart phones and tablets and wireless interactivity, the automation is endless. I bet to the younger generation it is common and useful.
@cecil04 (409)
• South Africa
5 Apr 13
The answer is really easy, by using machines the owners or retailers will save money because they don't have to pay a salary or wages every month end. That is how life currently is, employers just cannot afford paying for employees without their operation going under.
@mrindustrious (140)
• Philippines
6 Apr 13
I agree with you. Companies now prefer to invest on machines. They would save a lot in the long run.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
6 Apr 13
Hi Danishcanadian, the reason is very simple.
The company wants to cut down on the number of employees.
That guy probably does not know yet that his job is on the line to be chopped.
He probably buys the management argument that the machines will make life easier for him, especially when there is a large crowd waiting to buy tickets.
@Mantohave (83)
• Trinidad And Tobago
6 Apr 13
Customer service is down the tubes. That is about all I can say. Here in Trinidad I call them the executive counter service. They chat, move according to their own convenience and treat the customer as a nonentity. They all try to say they are updated and modern but the service is worse than before these modernistic times.
@teotimoponcerosacena (1552)
• Philippines
6 Apr 13
What in your mind is a medieval world thinking, Machine invented by men to assist us not a competition. By letting the machine do your job now you can attained to much more necessary work to be accomplished.
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
6 Apr 13
that would be nice if all telling machines talk and yet you could talk to them and never have to put in a pin numer
