There's a side of customer service most don't see

To the Editor:

I felt compelled to offer the other side of the story when it comes to customer service.

I have worked customer service for 25 years at the same company and I have seen a huge decline in the way customers treat workers in the public sector.

It seems that every other person has a cell phone glued to their ear. I make a habit of greeting each customer, ask if they need a bag for their purchases, thank them, and tell them to have a nice day.

The cell phone addicts will give me a glare for interrupting their conversation and stomp out the door.

I have had customers act like you don’t exist.

Then there is the customer that doesn’t know the first thing about your job but will tell you how to do yours.

I have had customers swear at me and employees, call employees names, and I have even had one reach out and flick one of the girls in the face.

So, for every 99 awesome customers we have, there is that one customer that will make you wish you had stayed home in bed.

The customers who have commented that all we do is sit behind the counter and wait on people do not get to see us as we race around mopping floors, changing garbage, stocking coolers and shelves, shoveling snow, and oh yes.... cleaning the bathrooms that some wonderful person has decided to spread their bodily functions all over!

So, we the people of customer service, have seen a change and decline in customer etiquette. I have great respect for anyone serving the public. I’m sorry that the other letter writer has had bad experiences but if as she claims, the “unmotivated” convenience store clerk was rude, there are options for her. There are a ton of convenience stores in our area.

In closing, I would like to thank my loyal and oh so awesome customers! They are the reason I go to work each day. Thank you to all of the repeat out of town customers that stop in a few times a year to say hello. This is the reason I have devoted 25 years to customer service.

Marcy Koivisto, Bessemer