Kids in tow, I decided to make a quick stop to pick up a gift card at a local shop for someone on my holiday list. 

Here’s how I envisioned the stop:  unload kids from minivan, zip into the store, ask for gift card, plunk down payment, zip out of store, buckle kids back into their car seats.  Oh, then, the best part:  the sigh of relief!  Shopping completed for another person on my list.

I didn’t plan for one thing.  I didn’t even anticipate it.  Bad customer service.  The clerk seemed completely annoyed that I wanted a gift card.  In fact, he came as close to saying it, without actually saying it.  It’s not like he was busy helping out other customers either.  He was just standing behind the register when I walked into the store.  And, it’s not like gift cards are an unusual request.  In fact, the counter featured a huge display of cards just waiting to be purchased.

Even though I wasn’t in the store for much longer than I had originally so brilliantly planned, I didn’t expect that I would spend much of the afternoon fuming about the experience.  I thought by the time I was back in the minivan the shopping experience would have been completed.

My solution:  I called the store and spoke with the manager.  The manager seemed truly appreciative that I took the time to call about my experience.  He apologized profusely.  He promised to attend to the problem promptly–I took that to mean talking with the employee.  He asked me to see him next time I come into the store.  He thanked me again for taking the time to call, and he thanked me for my patronage.

A happy ending to my shopping experience emerged.  A happier customer.  Shopping experience completed.

Do you have a tale of customer service survival this holiday season?  Do you have a strategy for dealing with poor customer service, especially when your kids are in tow?  If so, leave a comment and tell me all about it.