Customer Service
We had company last week. One of the days they were in town, they wanted to go shopping. I am not a shopper, so they gave me a couple of errands to run and went on their shopping extravaganza.
My first errand was to stop at a jewelry store. My wife, somehow, squished her ring while doing something and needed it unsquished. I’m guessing she got her finger caught in something and the ring protected her hand from getting hurt. However, it was not in a circular shape and needed rectifying.
The jeweler we have done business with over the past 25 years started about that time in a small store in White Lakes Mall (when it still had a few businesses left in it). I think I needed a watch battery at the time and their shop was very convenient to where I worked. That morphed into a multi-year project of them creating, one segment at a time, a unique piece of jewelry. Because of that, the store owners, who are brothers, have been our friends for years. They always go out of their way to treat us special anytime they see us.
But back to the story…I walked into the (much bigger) store they moved to and inquired about straightening out my wife’s ring. The young man took the ring to the back to restore it. Again, I’m not the shopping kind, so I found a seat and sat down to wait. As an introvert, I enjoy watching other people’s interactions.
I saw a guy contemplate the purchase of some diamond earrings for, I assume, his wife for Christmas. I saw another guy pick up a watch he was having repaired, only to find out it really wasn’t repairable and consider getting a new watch. All this happened in 5 minutes or so.
I saw one of the owners in the far office working with someone (I assume a unique jewelry creation) and didn’t see the other owner. Anyway, the owner I saw finished with his consultation and moved to the main sales floor. He was making sure everyone in the store had been taken care of. He eventually saw me and greeted me warmly and made sure I was being taken care of. I think my customer status shot up among the sales staff, who, for the most part, I didn’t know.
Eventually, the young man came out with my wife’s ring and returned it to me. He wouldn’t let me give them anything for the repair and I’m sure he didn’t know the owners knew me. About the time I was leaving, the other owner came out from the back and saw me and greeted me warmly.
“and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” - John 2:10-11 ESV
“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” -
Hebrews 13:1-5
Today, I was waiting to be called for a doctor appointment and a more mature woman pushed her rolling walker up next to my chair and started adjusting her stuff. We smiled at each other and I offered her my seat. She told me that once she got her stuff organized, her walker became her seat. About this time, I got called back and I wished her a Merry Christmas and she wished me one also. Both of us were smiling.
Customer service is important for almost every business (government entities excluded). In fact, I’d say people in general appreciate it when they are made to feel special in any interaction. Does it surprise you that the Bible tells us to do just that?
