The sign read, CLOSED
Come back in one hour....
A young woman stood at the locked door to Sally's Beauty Supply talking on a phone.
I asked, One hour from when? Now? Twenty minutes ago? When?
She put one finger up, motioning me to wait as she spoke on the phone.
As I stood on the opposite side of the door, she hung up the phone and walked away.
Okay, I thought, I'll hang out next door at Bath and Body Work for a few minutes and check back.
Thirty minutes later I returned to the unlocked doors of Sally's Beauty Supply .
As I walked in I stepped over a tangle of computer cords, two women behind the counter on the floor, one with a phone to her ear trying to figure out how to restart the computer.
An additional woman stood in the front of the store telling each person she did not know if the store would remain open because the computer was broken.
"We have to close", she whined, "our computer is broke and we can't make any sales."
"Can't you do it manually?", I asked.
"e don't hav a calculator to figure out the 7% sales tax. "
You don't know how to multiply by seven?", I asked curiously.
"We have to add more than one purchase and how can we figure out sales tax on that??" asked another worker, slightly panicked.
"Well, if it is too difficult to multiply bu seven you could always multiply by five and two and add it", I offered hopefully.
"How are we supposed to count change ??", asked the same young woman.
"Don't you know how to count up?", I asked.
Both looked at me blankly.
We don't know how to open the drawer, another stated.
Twenty people(or more roamed) the store on this busy Saturday afternoon.
The young woman announced, "Everyone is going to have to leave-we have to close the store."
She once again escorted the customers out.
I stopped in the front of the store.
"You cannot add-multiple numbers, multiply by seven or figure out a way to open the cash register?"
"Well, this is the first time this have ever happened, replied one distraught young woman.
Don't you think a contingency plan should be in place? Don't you have an operations manual to help you with certain emergencies?
Do you see how many customers are leaving?"
"Just seems really poor customer service."
All three stared.
One hour later I decide to grab a sub at Quizmos.
Sign on the door,
Our oven is broke,
We can only make cold sandwiches.
I asked, "How long has the oven been broken?"
"Since this morning", came the reply.
I shook my head and left.
In my favorite Thai restaurant after 105 degree heat and my shopping experiences, I order.
My soup and egg roll arrives.
Fifteen minutes later the hostess stops by with my bill for ten dollars and thanks me.
(This place is empty..)
"But I didn't get my food yet", I protest, resigned to the alignment of todays planets and stars...
One hour later I realize I left my ATM card at the credit union in the machine.
I call the branch.
"Sorry this is the call center-that branch must not be answering the phone."
"How can I reach them?", I ask.
"You have to keep trying this number" was the reply.
Ten calls later I drive to the credit union-
As I walk in the door I notice one customer, the receptionist at the desk is hanging out with her boyfriend-who is waiting for her to finish.
No phones are ringing. She has already transferred to the call center although 45 minutes remain before closing.
I explain my problem.
"Sorry, can't do anything about it until Monday"
"Can't you even check ?"
We can put a hold on your card and if it isn't here on Monday we will cancel it."
*sigh*
Doing business feels so painful at times.
Customer service just sucks.
