I hate poor customer service. Some people dream about old girlfriends or exotic vacations. I have customer service nightmares.
When I arrived in Orange County (John Wayne) on Wednesday, I went up to the Thrifty Rental counter while finishing up a phone call. I handed the person behind the counter my license and credit card so he could get started and pull up my reservation. While I was on the phone, he kept asking me my name. I pointed at the license. He told me I would have to say my name and that he could not help me while I was on the phone. He asked me to step aside until I was done. I hung up the phone and he began to lecture me how rude I was. I told him that he provided poor service as I was only trying to finish my call while he began checking me in. I yelling matched ensued and I left the Thrifty counter to rent from Enterprise. They appreciated my business.
It is amazing how one incident can make you never use a business again…and tell everyone you meet not to use them either.
Barry,
I hate to disagree, but you were being rude. You should have finished your phone call before you stepped to the counter. I can’t tell you how many times I have been stuck in line behind a customer carrying-on a conversation on the phone while trying to check-out, check-in, or place an order. Their transactions invariably take longer because their attention is divided, and as a result everyone else in line is delayed.
Could the Thrifty person handled the situation better? Perhaps. Is it too much for that person to expect your undivided attention (and respect). I don’t think so.
Dave