It got me thinking....

[weasy71]

I read someone's thread about GREAT customer service and it got me thinking...lord knows there are enough stories on here about poor service..cashiers who treat couponers like dirt on their shoes; worse yet CSMs and store Managers who proliferate that attitude by the way THEY themselves treat customers...While I whole heartedly agree with a phone call or a letter to their head office, I can't help but think the "little guy" aka couponer, customer gets lost in the shuffle...I started to wonder how many members or users this site really has and how we could use those numbers to try and effect change...

My background...I am a fairly new couponer. I am also a bank manager by trade. I can tell you that customer service is paramount in my industry and my branch especially when the market is so competitive...I need a competitive edge that makes me different from my competition because I'm really not selling anything different than any other bank is...Customer feedback is king!!The more the better.....so what if we had a thread where you could report really good customer service...If you agreed with that thread, you would vote positively. We could then send a letter to that chain, something to the effect of this:

Dear Store:

We are part of an online community of people who engage in smart shopping. We represent customers across Canada. Your company has been identified by some of our members as providing excellent customer service. Here is what some of our members have said about service in your stores:

- list verbatim some of the positive comments.


This information is available on the Smart Canucks website for anyone to view who is a member, so we expect that companies who's ratings are most favorable will receive increased business from our members. We know that excellent customer service isn't something acheived by accident but rather it is driven by management. Thank you for encouraging your store associates to make customer service excellence a priority.

Signed, Smart Canucks.

Likewise you can see how effective this could be if it was a letter identifying a store as being a very poor service provider....

Just a thought......sometimes I have too many...lol

[melissaandrews]

I absoltlyu love this idea! Im game

[grannyg]

I'm in this is excellent

[hollyquaiscer]

You could give it a try, but frankly, I have spoken with many store managers I have frequented for years, and most of them are saying the same things: Customers tearing open packages to get coupons that are inside, thus destroying the item rendering it unsellable, people who try to use coupons on products that they are not for and then get angry when we refuse them, people ruining displays and entire coupon pads disappearing within an hour of being put up, and the list goes on. I agree with you 100% but as couponers we need to mind our manners and use a little tact and ettiquete. You can't only blame the stores, we are all responsable for our own actions......and that's just my 2 cents worth

[tinambulance]

I agree with you stating that customer service is what sets a business apart. However, it's always the rotten apples that spoil the barrel. People are not going to change unless something drastic happens to them ie shoplifting charges or destruction of property. How disrespectful to ruin a product just for a coupon!

[walkonby]

I do like the idea of positive reinforcement.
How many of us have scolded our kids for misbehaving, but then sometimes we forget to " catch them doing something right ? "
If there were enough compliments forwarded to a store for the service their employees provide to us, I can only see that as being a good thing. Whether or not it actually changes anything in the coupon world would remain to be seen.

[weasy71]

Well I think it works both ways..If you have a negative experience you tend to always remember it and pass it along to others. I don't imagine its any different for stores..but by rewarding or recognizing the positive, it often has a ripple effect the other way as well.

[jubsies]

I think its a good idea. We should let management know when an employee has gone above n beyond and not just complain about the bad ones but I don't think they care if we (couponners) support their store. Unfortunately, we r small apples and the big fish in the game are those paying full price. We r fighting for our rights to coupon out there. Lololol. I agree with others and if ppl were more honest we might not be as picked on(ie boxes destroyed for ppl taking coupons etc) seen it first hand. My nofrills all the pamper boxes r broken and NO booklets inside. Very bad. But then again some ppl who pay full price are stealing.

I don't think 1 thing will change the effects of customer service but a lot of little things have a chance. So my 2cents. Go for. Can't hurt.

[weasy71]

well that leads to another interesting concept...what about a code of conduct for couponers? We can't make everyone do what we would do...but we have to rely on others who hold the same moral code we do..I refuse to believe until someone proves it to me, that couponers in general are destroying merchandise to get coupons...I believe for the majority of people on this site, they are rule abiding, do no harm consumers....there will alway be those who will side step the rules....but they are the minority....the way you weed them out is by becoming part of a larger collective...governed by a code of conduct..with the clout to voice the opinion of the collective...and hopefully make change....

[jandbby]

well that leads to another interesting concept...what about a code of conduct for couponers? We can't make everyone do what we would do...but we have to rely on others who hold the same moral code we do..I refuse to believe until someone proves it to me, that couponers in general are destroying merchandise to get coupons...I believe for the majority of people on this site, they are rule abiding, do no harm consumers....there will alway be those who will side step the rules....but they are the minority....the way you weed them out is by becoming part of a larger collective...governed by a code of conduct..with the clout to voice the opinion of the collective...and hopefully make change....

You went there! Put on your flame suit and wait for it.
-coupon police; -be nice; -be positive; -see no evil

[weasy71]

lol jand......

[MillieH]

A few things that I see.. if we get good customer service with one person we can get terrible service with another, in the same store, heck even in the same day. The service is definitely not consistent. I wouldn't commend a bank if only random cashiers gave even adequate service. Everyone needs to be on the same page.

As for the behavior of other couponers, I can in no way be responsible for their behaivor anymore than I would be for someone paying full price. I treat the staff respectfully, I don't damage property, I make sure my coupons are for the items specified, Canadian, and not expired. I provide the coupons as I slide the items up so they don't have to search through my bags after. Even when they are rude and impatient, I stay quiet and polite. However, I will ask to speak to a manager if it appears that they don't understand policy .

We are all adults, the people who abuse the system will continue to do so, no matter what a few get together and decide is appropriate. We lead by our actions not by our words or attempts to force others to do it our way.