Have you heard of the term: “The customer is always complaining”? Well, I can say with all honesty that the term can apply to some of our local home stores.
I never pull out the editor card whenever I go shopping in hardware and furniture stores. I shop like everyone else—anonymously, and at the mercy of the salesperson in front of me. On that note, I’d like to gripe about the bad, bad service I recently got. Here are my top three “blind items” (in other words, marami pa sila out there):
IN A MAJOR HARDWARE STORE: I asked to see a mobile wardrobe rack that was displayed outside the store. I approached the saleslady that was stationed near the rack, and she didn’t know what I was talking about. She brusquely turned me over to the next salesperson, who also didn’t know what I was talking about. They finally referred me to a very nice man named Jojo who went out to check the item, went into the stockroom, and announced that there were no more stocks left. Wait a minute—if you’re out of that item, why are you still displaying it? In that case, I’d like to have a word with your merchandiser. Whoever you are, visit me in the office, and mag-kape muna tayo.
IN A MAJOR FURNITURE STORE: I approached two salespeople and asked for a specific brand of orthopedic mattress. They both scratched their heads and said it wasn’t available. I was suspicious, so I walked them over to a stack of mattresses, where lo and behold, the mattress I was asking for was lying there for all and sundry to see. When I asked how soon they could deliver, the second salesman answered, staring straight at my face: “Hindi ko po alam,” and didn’t bother to ask anyone else.
IN A MAJOR HOME APPLIANCE STORE: I chose a ref, checked it out, and decided to buy it. When the salesperson asked for my address, he said that he had to add on a P300 delivery charge (most major appliance stores only charge P100 to 200, anywhere within Metro Manila). Get this—I found out the warehouse where the ref was coming from is located a mere 1.2km away from my house. I asked, as a joke, that if I’d pick up the ref myself if I could charge them the P300 instead. When he couldn’t answer, I went to the next appliance store that only charged me P100 for delivery.
I feel bad about these stores, and I worry about the poor homeowners who’d get the same lousy service! If you want to find out what home stores have excellent customer service, please email me at editor@realliving.com.ph. And if you’re my very close friend, I’ll tell you what the bad stores are. Just kidding.
Email me, anyway.