I hear a lot of talk about the lack of customer service in the customer service business and I know how true that can be–but is it really the whole story?I’ve been known to shop a lot and I still one of those shoppers who prefers to go into a store to touch and try things on, see and compare my options and maybe get a 2nd opinion from a salesperson or two. When entering almost every store an associate will ask me “what brings you in today?” Or “May I help you?” Although I’m not excited about either of those greetings my natural response is “I’m just looking”; sometimes with a shrug of my shoulders added to add emphasis to the fact that I truly don’t know what I’m looking for. Most sales associates still don’t know how to respond to this phrase (no matter how many ways you’ve tried to train them) and will mutter something about calling them over if you need them. Is that bad customer service?How about walking into the same store and being ignored by all of the sales associates, or worse, not being able to find a sales associate when you want one–isn’t that bad customer service?How about walking into a store and giving the sales associate a hard time because you received a gift from online and it doesn’t fit so now you had to drive to the store to exchange it only to find out the store is out of that item in your size? And even though the sales associate is trying to assist you but can’t seem to locate the item you want right then and there, you’re frustrated, your time is precious, and you don’t want to spend another minute in this store; after all, you are not getting the customer service you want.Would you rather call or chat with an online associate who’s face you will never see and try to determine if their size 8 shoe is comfortable enough for you to walk in for 8 hours? Or have them explain why the item they shipped you took 2 weeks longer than they said it would? Or better yet, after wearing it for 2 weeks stones are falling out and you want a refund?Customer service is hard work. Customer service requires you to be nice, even when the customer is not. Customer service can be uncomfortable as evidenced by all of the just lookers out there and the customers who are really hard to please, and the other customers who can never make a decision because there are too many options out there…and how about the customers with the unrealistic expectations of what you can and you can’t reasonably do to please them? Customer service requires a commitment to show up each day with a smile on your face and love in your heart to please your customers to the best of your abilities.Customer service is NOT ignoring you when you enter our stores. Customer service is NOT dismissing your requests or demands, even if they’re difficult, unusual, or will require more effort on our part. Customer service requires customers too. Customer service is an exchange of goods or services between buyers and sellers–doing what they say or living up to their promises. Customer service also requires a bit from the customer as well. As a customer I will not shop stores or companies who do not train their staff that customer service is a priority. If there is customer service to be had I will be a good customer–I will be respectful of the work you do, the value you provide and/or the services you give me. I will not be unrealistic in my expectations of your products–if I am, please educate me and let me know why this product or service has fallen below my expectations. If you are honest with me I will believe you. If you, my sales associate, are unkind or disrespectful to me, I will not shop there. If you ignore or dismiss my requests, I will not shop there. If you lie or cheat me, I will never shop there again (and probably blog about it too). It is time to respect customer service again–on both sides of the counter.That’s what #frankisays. I welcome your comments.