How to Blog about service

Given the reader volume of this blog I have decided to introduce others to the act.  Start a blog, I reccomend wordpress, and follow the instructions from this link.  Then write about your service experiences as you see them.

Paradise Bakery N Scottsdale 11-25-08

My Experience: They were very busy for 2pm.  They were completely out of every type of ice tea.  Spent an hour in there on my laptop and phone.  The cashier yelled to her manager that it was time to get off as I was ordering.

Total Score from a possible of 10:  7

Interaction Cost: $10

Said “Hello” first:  1 Out of 1 point

Smiled:  3 Out of 3 points

Efficient:  0 Out of 2 points

Friendly, Engaged or Enthusiastic:  2 Out of 2 points

Said “Thank You”:  1 Out of 1 point

Bonus for getting all of the above:  0 Out of 1 point

If you have been here please leave a comment about your experience!

Borders Books N Scottsdale 11-24-08

My Experience:  Stopped in to pick up The Art of Influence by Chris Widener.  I spent 10 minutes looking for it and then five more trying to get someone to help me since I was sure they had one.  A nice clerk found it one minute. Ooops… 

Total Score from a possible of 10:  8

Interaction Cost: $13

Said “Hello” first:  0 Out of 1 point

Smiled:  3 Out of 3 points

Efficient:  2 Out of 2 points

Friendly, Engaged or Enthusiastic:  2 Out of 2 points

Said “Thank You”:  1 Out of 1 point

Bonus for getting all of the above:  0 Out of 1 point

If you have been here please leave a comment about your experience!

Starbucks N. Scottsdale 11-23-08

My Experience: Again tried the one at Frank Lloyd Wright and Thompson Peak.  Why is this place literally half as fast as any other Starbucks (for years) and they do not seem to know?  Being 8th in line and taking nearly 20 minutes is a joke.  The one at the Target center down the road would have had me out in 12-14 minutes.  The thing is they have enough bodies so they are spending the labor $.  One person always seems to be doing a non-customer task like “bring up coffee from the back”  in the middle of the rush.  Maybe they practice their juggling at 5:00am instead of stocking up.  If McDonald’s can get the Latte’s as tasty as their coffee, Starbucks is going to really be in trouble.

Total Score from a possible of 10:  7

Interaction Cost: $4

Said “Hello” first:  1Out of 1 point

Smiled:  3 Out of 3 points

Efficient:  0 Out of 2 points

Friendly, Engaged or Enthusiastic:  2 Out of 2 points

Said “Thank You”:  1 Out of 1 point

Bonus for getting all of the above:  0 Out of 1 point

If you have been here please leave a comment about your experience!

Hub 51 Chicago 11-20-08

Experience: If you do not think you are cool go to Hub 51.  Something about this place makes everyone look and feel like every other person is part of their own, personal, entourage.  Good service, good food, great vibe.  I think our server made a million dollars that night which matched her look and personality.

Total Score from a possible of 10:  10

Interaction Cost: $60

Said “Hello” first:  1 Out of 1 point

Smiled:  3 Out of 3 points

Efficient:  2 Out of 2 points

Friendly, Engaged or Enthusiastic:  2 Out of 2 points

Said “Thank You”:  1 Out of 1 point

Bonus for getting all of the above:  1 Out of 1 point

If you have been here please leave a comment about your experience!

McDonald’s Drive-Thru N. Scottsdale 11-18-08

My Experience:  Hit the drive-thru for a couple of McMuffins and coffee for me and the wife.  Their new coffee is good but why don’t they have Sweet & Low?  It’s less expensive than Equal and certainly is popular. Maybe the cashier wanted it too because she wasn’t real smiley.

Total Score from a possible of 10:  7

Interaction Cost: $6

Said “Hello” first:  1 Out of 1 point

Smiled:  0 Out of 3 points

Efficient:  2 Out of 2 points

Friendly, Engaged or Enthusiastic:  2 Out of 2 points

Said “Thank You”:  1 Out of 1 point

Bonus for getting all of the above:  0 Out of 1 point

If you have been here please leave a comment about your experience!

Walmart 11-18-08

My Experience:  Where does all the food go?  No matter what I do my kids wake-up hungry every day.  I must say that I abandon this place a little over a year ago mostly due to the deli.  It was a long brutal experience.  I use to take a number then do all my shopping and come back just to wait a few minutes more.  However, they got it together and I have been in and out with friendly people lately.  Tonight I also used a gift card which had some issues and, unlike the folks behind me, the cashier stayed very patient and friendly.  Safeway might be in trouble for my dollars.

Total Score from a possible of 10:  10

Interaction Cost: $89

Said “Hello” first:  1 Out of 1 point

Smiled:  3 Out of 3 points

Efficient:  2 Out of 2 points

Friendly, Engaged or Enthusiastic:  2 Out of 2 points

Said “Thank You”:  1 Out of 1 point

Bonus for getting all of the above:  1 Out of 1 point

If you have been here please leave a comment about your experience!

Mattress Firm N. Scottsdale 11-16-08

My Experience: Stopped in to look and ended up buying.  Was able to talk them down another $400 off the already on sale price.  Mattress stores, to me, fall under the “just ask” philosophy where the worst they can say is no if you ask for a lower price.  I did stray from my normal script so I could engage the sales man and his manager to talk them down.  That being said they were friendly and enthusiastic about my purchase.  My back will be happier…

Total Score from a possible of 10:  10

Interaction Cost: $999

Said “Hello” first:  1 Out of 1 point

Smiled:  3 Out of 3 points

Efficient:  2 Out of 2 points

Friendly, Engaged or Enthusiastic:  2 Out of 2 points

Said “Thank You”:  1 Out of 1 point

Bonus for getting all of the above:  1 Out of 1 point

If you have been here please leave a comment about your experience!

NYPD Pizza Scottsdale 11-15-08

My Experience: Eight of us grabbing a pie after soccer with the kids.  Nothing special either way.  It was my first time there and no real reason to return.

Total Score from a possible of 10:   6

Interaction Cost: $40

Said “Hello” first:  1 Out of 1 point

Smiled:  0 Out of 3 points

Efficient:  2 Out of 2 points

Friendly, Engaged or Enthusiastic:  2 Out of 2 points

Said “Thank You”:  1 Out of 1 point

Bonus for getting all of the above:  0 Out of 1 point

If you have been here please leave a comment about your experience!

Mikuni Sushi Denver, CO 11-14-08

My Experience: I have been here a few times and the sushi is good but the service is spotty.  It always seems to take forever to get my bill.  Once we ordered two beers from the bartender, he gave us one and we never saw him again…literally.

Total Score from a possible of 10:  5

Interaction Cost: $55

Said “Hello” first:  1 Out of 1 point

Smiled:  3 Out of 3 points

Efficient:  0 Out of 2 points

Friendly, Engaged or Enthusiastic:  0 Out of 2 points

Said “Thank You”:  1 Out of 1 point

Bonus for getting all of the above:  0 Out of 1 point

If you have been here please leave a comment about your experience!