Sick of rotten customer service

THE EDITOR: I have just returned from Christmas shopping with my parents at a popular company in the Trincity Industrial Estate. This company specialises in household items and Christmas decorations. Inside one of the bags is a neatly rolled and taped 2005 calendar of a nude woman. I contacted the company immediately questioning them on what I consider to be unnecessary and distasteful publicity. The following is the reaction and attitude of the woman who handled my call:

1. “Is this why you are calling me?” And “it’s not our fault as these are the calendars we receive” (In other words, they have no control over any material used for marketing?)

2. She became defensive and claimed that she always asks the customer if they want a calendar, which of course is a shameless lie and foolish attempt to defend herself.

3. The woman hung up on me.

I am expressing dissatisfaction in the manner in which she handled my complaint as much as in deceitfully placing erotica in my parent’s shopping bags. If the company sees no problem with using such advertisements to sell pots, pans and Christmas trees, I guess in the context of today’s culture, they are entitled to their opinions and some may add that nudity is no big a deal nowadays. However, this letter would not be in the papers today, if the representative had handled my call in a more professional and customer service oriented manner. I am sick to my stomach with rotten customer service in this country and whether or not people think my complaint is legitimate, we must acknowledge that there is a serious concern. Should I shop at this company again — maybe, maybe not, as this woman’s ignorance is one of many others throughout the island, what choice do we have?

LS
St Augustine