Monday, November 26, 2007

The Big K stands for Krappy Kustomer service


Posted by Aaron:

So today I went out to run some errands for my business. Stop by the bank, Sams Club to get some shelving and Kmart to pick up some Western Union money from a customer. I kind of dislike Kmart for a number of reasons:

1. The aisles are all WAY to narrow
2. It's very cluttered
3. It's like stepping back into time about 15 years
4. Martha Stewart

Anyhow, Kmart is the only place that did Western Union that was close to where I would be this morning. I've picked up money there before without to many problems. Today, I walk in at 8:13 am. I'm the only customer in sight. I walk up to the customer service counter where a Kmart Kustomer Service worker is busy counting some Kash. I politely say hello and grab a Western Union money pickup form to start filling out. She ignored me and kept counting money. I started filling out the form and all of the sudden she looks up at me starts searching around for something and pulls a sign out from under the counter. Without saying a word she sets a sign on the counter that says:

"Western Union Closed: Hours - 8:30am - 6:30pm."

I looked at her waiting for her to laugh and insert her punch line. Then she just kept counting money. So I said "ok, then - I'll come back in SEVENTEEN minutes!" As I'm walking out the door she says "you can fill out a form now so you don't have to when you come back." Thanks, lady.

So, I finished up my other couple of errands and went back to Kmart at 8:45. I walked in and there was a guy being helped at the service counter, so I got in line behind him. The same customer service lady finished helping the guy in front of me and he left. I walked up to the counter and rather than helping me right away she took about 30 seconds to clean some things off the counter and organize a few things. After everything was neat and tidy she came back to the counter and I gave her my filled out Western Union form and ID. She started processing it and then stopped to check out some old folks who were in line behind me.

"I'm just going to help them while this processes."

Ok - apparently they use dial-up at Kmart still. So, she finishes checking out the old folks (apparently Kmart doesn't have checkout lanes open in the morning? Just the customer service counter for checkouts?). She comes back to me, fumbles around with things on the computer a bit more shaking her head and mumbling to herself. Then she hands back my form and ID and says:

"You'll have to come back at 10:30. My password is expired and the ONLY person who can reset it doesn't come in until 10:30."

AHHHHHH!!! At this point I was pretty hot. I just said "OK" as politely as I could and walked off pretty irritated. As I'm walking out the door I hear her yell after me:

"Or you could go to the one downtown!"

Thanks Kmart, for giving me a reason to never go to your store again. I unintentionally avoided your store before, now I'll intentionally avoid it.

Reason 5. Poor and incompetent kustomer service

11 comments:

Katie said...

My sentiments exactly - about WalMart.

jodi said...

Wow - poor Aaron.
Do you feel better now?
I always feel better after venting a bit.
Once when I was at K-Mart (this was probably 2 years ago - I used to think it was convenient because it is right on my way home from work) I picked up 4 or 5 things that I needed and proceeded to wait in line for 5 minutes.......with no end in sight to waiting because there was only one checkout line open. I became so frustrated that I simply set down my items and left.
Hello Target.

Anonymous said...

I would read your blog every day with comedy like this...

Libby Design said...

I had a similar experience there a while back trying to exchange a baby gift we'd gotten at a shower. I'm pretty sure one of the requirements to work there is that you severely lack people skills...and brain cells.

Sorry to that one competent Kmart employee – sorry you work there and sorry I just called you stupid.

I'm with the Flavins – lovin' Target...and Walmart for dirt cheap diapers, but only the "high class" one in Maple Grove. :)

Thompson's said...

I'm with Gary- I'll check your blog even more with great comedy inserted. Really, though, I've avoided Kmart for years and really am surprised they still exist...you were probably one of two customers there all morning!

Becky said...

Love the sentiments here! And, I love your humor, too, Aaron!

Jen @ Paisley Print Boutique said...

well at least your crappy morning payed you back with some chocolate covered strawberries from the tenant.

Katie said...

jen, you spelled "crappy" wrong. it should be "krappy."

Grandma Lynn said...

I agree with Katie about Walmart! Our Walmart in Eden Prairie has to be the worse one in the USA. Yeah Target!! Haven't been in a K-Mart for years and years, and guess I won't step foot in one again! Ha!

The Dixons said...

I hate Kmart, too. We used to call it Kame-apart--cuz everything you buy there comes apart!
Tracey

The Dixons said...

I hate Kmart, too. We used to call it Kame-apart--cuz everything you buy there comes apart!
Tracey