We at the Depot have a newish policy being thrust down our throats by corporate.
I say newish because its a rehash of our orientation training.
It even has an acronym FIRST.
Its on our aprons (underlined of course) and on a patch that we had to take a class to get (It was a 2 hour class WTF)
*F* Find the customer.
I agree, find them while wielding a blowtorch and grease paint that would make Rambo proud.
*I* Inquire about their project.
Wait, you really want us to find out what they think they can do with a sharp object? "Of course you're doing little Johnny's science project for him, what a good mom you are."Gag me.
*R* Respect the customer.
....like they do us, right? "No, really holding the handsaw upside down will work for you, you just keep trying. You'll get it."
*S* Solve the customers problem.
Oh, wait, do it for them, right? So the fat broad in the powerchair can say she built her extra large casket herself.
*T* Thank the customer.
In my professional opinion, the only way I could thank them is chasing the DP's, spawn, and NAT's out of the fucking store with my paintball gun, with orange paintballs naturally.
Live orange!
-DepotDemon
Someone needs to tell them that the customer doesn't want to be harassed. The Depot is one store where I never have trouble finding great help when I need it; I know they're not all like that but ours is really good at hiring staff who know what they're talking about. The only time an employee has approached me there it's been to bug me. I don't know if they're brought in or managers or what but they're never in aprons, always in shirts and ties. Last time a guy asked me if I was interested in home organization or kitchen replacement. I told him neither and he was all "oh really, you don't need to organize your home better?" Oh yeah, insult the customer, that'll make them drop a few grand on a closet organization system or a new kitchen. Not to mention I watched him for a while and he only approached women because naturally women want to organize their shoes and guys are probably there for power tools.
Posted by: N/A | Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 06:16 AM
Oh God, that's like Borders GREAT. Greet, Request, Engage, Act, Thank. It's the dumbest rehash of what we were already doing. Except now we have to tell them our names. Waste. of. time. Ours and theirs.
Posted by: Bookslave | Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 07:49 AM
Those are the at-home services people, that walk around and bug people. They're nice people individually usually, but I hate what they do, which is get custys all pissed off so they will explode on you if you try to say hello to them. (which is the very least of the phrases of which we are required to greet people, because I don't care about anyones project because I'm a cashier, pay me and go away)
Posted by: Jkeller | Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 09:10 AM
Was expecting the initial response to say "FIRST!"...
My store's sanctimonious acronym is "GOT" which stands for "Greet, Offer (the special of the week) and Thank".
A couple of years ago corporate had one that said "GROW" but it was only unveiled at an executive meeting and we only heard about it through the newsletter. I never found out what it stood for, but I wrote in the breakroom copy of the newsletter that it stood for "Get Rid Of Wages". I guess they abandoned that one, wonder why? :)
Posted by: Eric | Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 06:35 PM
where i work we have GUEST....greet understand explain suggest thank
Posted by: Alex | Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 09:42 PM
We just had got told to be nice, ask if they found everything, and talk to the customer. I guess I was lucky to work for a company that realizes their employees can interact with customers without the aid of cheesy acronyms.
Posted by: N/A | Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 05:43 AM
When I worked at Lowe's about 15 years ago, they had the "10' rule". If a customer was within ten feet of you, you should ask them if they need help. After awhile, I'm sure people felt like they were being stalked. But I heard from someone later that they felt like whenever they got within ten feet of someone in a Lowe's, they would disappear! LOL!
Posted by: Pharmacy_psycho | Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Yum! Corp - L.A.S.T. Listen, Apologize, Satisfy, Thank. Satisfy? I'm not sure minimum wage is worth 'satisfying' people. I can stand on a streetcorner to do that... and make a LOT more money
Posted by: Taco Slave | Friday, January 01, 2010 at 04:19 PM
I work at a Dollar Tree and we have a similar thing on the back of our nametags. ours is "GET". Greet The Customer, Exceed their expectations, and thank the customer.
yeayeayea. its hard to exceed their expectations when they're bloodsuckers in the first place.
Posted by: BatsandCupcakes | Tuesday, March 02, 2010 at 04:10 PM