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The value of customer service

By Amazon, Money / Finances, Rants, ShoppingNo Comments

Many companies these days under estimate the value of good customer service to it’s customers. I have over the last 12 months experienced very poor customer service from serveral large companies including: a well-known British Telecommunications company, a mobile phone company (containing a 2 in it’s name) and a bank (which has singing bank managers in their adds). I thought about creating a wall of shame to name and shame these companies, but I wouldn’t want to give them the publicity. The problem with these companies ofcourse is that they have millions of customers most of which will put up with this poor customer service.

Well not me. I change companies, even if I have to pay more. That’s the value of customer service to me!

However I have decided to name some companies that would go in my Hall of Fame, if I had one. Two companies that have always given me excellent customer service are Amazon and ASDA. Of course you only test a companies customer service when you have a problem with their goods / services. I guess I am lucky that most of the time I don’t have a problem with goods / services that I purchase.

Where does this post come from? You are probably asking yourself. Well over the weekend David and I ate at a resturant. I was dissatisfied with the mash I ordered with my lamb cuttlets. It was suppose to be freshly made (for the price we’d paid) but it turned out to be smash. You know, the horrible instant stuff out of the packet. I complained and got the drinks for free and the meals half price, with an apology. That for me is excellent customer service.

Rant over.

Antony

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Pink News on Manchester Pride

By Gay, Political, RantsNo Comments

I regulary check PinkNews.co.uk for the latest news in the gay world. Last week this article appeared: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-8862.html.It follows an article the week before, where some young people had protested that Manchester Pride had become a money making venture.

In this article the Villiage Buisness Association (VBA) states that we have a ‘Marketing Manchester Pride’, which to me basically means a business. Having given it considerable thought – I would tend to agree. It has become about making money in some senses.

I have a few reasons for saying this. Firstly, for the last few years I have taken young people who identify as gay, lesibian, bisexual or questioning. The tickets are bought by the organisation in advanced, but even in advanced they are £12.50. How many vunerable young people, with little free cash could afford this? In addition to this, some of them are under 16 years of age. Where’s the consession for young people, OAP’s (Old Aged Pensioners), etc.

A friend of mine bought a weekend ticket on the Saturday after the main parade. He had to pay £18. To me that’s the cost of a gig and is outrageous for a so called ‘celebration of gay culture and the diversity of Manchester’. And my final point to make is that I have massively seen an increase in the money Manchester Pride spends on advertising, this year I have seen more adverts for Manchester Pride than ever before. Why do they need to advertise? All gay magazines list the dates of the different pride festivals around the country. And most gay people who have the internet check the Manchester Pride website.

I do recognise the good work that is completed with the funds raised. Support for gay men around HIV and in supporting the work the LGF do. But my question is: Why is it so expensive, therefore excluding the isolated and vunerable LGB people in society?

Answers on a post card…

Antony

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