Full Service Please!
I seem to be a part of a dying breed of people that prefer and even expect “full service” when buying gasoline. I am so stubborn about this that I absolutely will not pump my own gas! It is becoming a tougher and tougher task to just find a place willing to serve you. I have a perfect record by the way; I have yet to pump it once.
When Don Olson sent me this photograph from a rural Cambodian gas station I thought, “What has happened here?” Just seeing the faces on these kids, happy to serve the customer was heart warming. They prove that it’s not about money, as they have an average income of $40 a month.
We have overweight, overpaid “service station” attendants sitting on their backsides watching people in business suits pump their own gasoline, and then fork over an unreasonable amount of money for it. I have even seen some places that charge you for water and air, and you need to put it in yourself.
When I pull into a “service station” and say, “Fill it up”, I want a tank of gas as well as my tires, water and oil checked along with all of my windows cleaned. I find the places willing to provide this service are always busy. HELLO!
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Hi Ron,
For years, I too never pumped my own gas. I didn’t want to get my hands dirty. But then I compared prices. I am now saving a bundle by pumping my own gas. I use liquid disinfectant afterwards.
You should try it. Serve yourself, since few others will.
Aloha, Pam Chambers
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:41 pm
I did admit to being a part of a dying breed. It’s like; “I wouldn’t take a job in a gas station pumping gas for money, I’ll be dammed if I will pay to do it.” Or, as someone else once said, “That’s mot my job, man”.
On a few occasions when I needed gas and couldn’t find a station offering service, I went to one of the people working there and said, “If you will fill my tank for me I will give you five bucks”. On each occasion they jumped up off of the curb and did it with a smile.
I guess that “no service” should be an option, but so should full service”, kind of like 1st Class or “the other” on the airplane.
I guess that I am fortunate enough to not know or care what the price of gasoline is.
May 1st, 2007 at 11:11 am
I could be wrong, but I remember the reason that they banned employees pumping gas is because of the high cancer rates in gas station attendants. It is the same reason why they banned smoking on planes. Too many flight attendants getting cancer. Gas fumes are carcinogenic when inhaling them constantly. It has nothing to do with laziness. It is a protection policy for employees. Service shouln’t have to come at a deadly price.
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:02 am
Speaking of SERVICE:
Customer Service Doesn’t Get A Day Off!
I just heard this story not more than five minutes ago and I wanted to share it with you because it is another example of how the idea of customer service seems to be leaving us, slowly but surely.
I was talking with a young woman who was venting about a recent experience with her Doctor’s office, now granted Doctor’s are not salespeople but customer service is always customer service. She was trying to get her Doctor to send over a couple pieces of information to another Doctor and was met with so many customer service no-no’s.
The first one was when she was left on the phone for over five minutes with no explanation as to why. Now I understand that sometimes companies get busy and delays like that are unavoidable but the customer at least deserves the courtesy of being asked if they would like to hold or call back at another time. This particular exchange went like this, “Dr. ………’s office, hold! There was no, “Can you hold please, or I’ll be right with you.” There was barely an acknowledgement that there was someone on the line.
The missteps of customer service continued when the Doctor’s office repeatedly did not do what they said they were going to do. They told my friend three different times that they would send the information and never did. That is inexcusable! One of the big points of customer service is KEEP YOUR PROMISES! Nothing can lose you a customer or a potential repeat customer faster than not doing what you say you are going to do.
Another point to remember here is that while customers in front of you are your priority, that does not mean those on the phone deserve one ounce less of the highest possible customer service. As I said before, Doctor’s are not salespeople but the lesson here is certainly one for all salespeople to take note of.
1) Customer service should never have an off day!
2) Every customer-new, repeat, in front of you or on the phone deserves the highest quality of customer service possible.
Customer service is sometimes easy to take for granted, no matter how long you have been in sales but one thing I know is certain-if you take it for granted too often, you probably will not be in sales very long.
June 21st, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Customer service is not just for people is the service industry; it is for everyone that wants to have a customer!
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:53 am
Ron, was this my dad who sent this photo and comment? Do you have any with him in it? Thanks!
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Aloha Chris,
Yes, he did send me that photo, but in searching my files I am sorry to say that I do not have any of him.
Ron