must pay first before trying

[Cheez]

Perhaps we can try to see things their way. If we own a shop selling musical instrument, then in come a person wearing slippers and ask for the most expensive guitar to try. A few things will go through the seller's head - 1. Is this person going to buy? 2. Will he damage it? 3. What if this is just somebody coming in to have his afternoon jam in the shop then leaves?

I'm not protecting the person who made the remark posted by the theadstarter (and I believe we need to understand the whole thing in context to be sure why he said it). The seller should have watched his words and be more sensitive. But then, people are people. Just as there are bad sales-person, there are bad customers. Although I'm sure none of the SOFTies here are bad customers, the sellers may have encountered scores of them (and maybe one just before the threadstarter stepped into the shop). So in a way, I think their wariness of customers are understandable, although it may not be justifiable.

So perhaps, we should ask ourselves how we can minimise these experiences (short of changing all the sales-persons - which is impossible since people will always be people, and will have their bad days).

1. Ask nicely.
2. Dress appropriately (not in a suit, but certainly not in slippers)
3. Others????

 

[guitarsan]

Customer service in S'pore is still a long long way to go to being "world class" (despite what the cheng hoo says or wants us to believe).

 

[optisailor2002]

Cheez: its not wrong for sales people to provide no service, but like the threadstarter mentioned, paying before you are allowed to try a piece of equipment is really too bad. and for the case of yamaha, even if you are not gonna entertain your customers, having a snobbish and arrogant attitude is still not justified.

 

[guitarsan]

Just a thought.....

If music stores are to pay their salespeople commission instead of fixed salaries, customer service will definitely improve. They can't afford to have an unfriendly or bo-chap attitude anymore. But the downside is.....lots of hard-selling or product pushing. And frequent in-fighting among sales staff as well.

 

[marlonmm]

you have to create an impression to the customers that they are welcome here whether you are buying or not-buying. treat every person that walks to your shop is a potential customer. Even if they don't buy the good service you provide will spread by word-of-mouth or in any way. don't take "bo-chap" sales assistants, it'll ruin the reputation of the shop just like what's happening to yamaha. (i hope those yamaha guys are reading this...)

One good example is ebenex. you'll have a pleasant visit there even if you just want to browse for gears they have.

 

[wyldeboon]

i've tried a few guitars in yamaha. wearing tshirt, jeans n slippers.
the 1s in their showroom. so far ok wat... no one rushed me or give me weird looks. just tat there is always a sale person standing bhind me waiting. but hell i juz ignore,its his job to stay,watch and learn (maybe). i juz kept on trying the expensive ones, 1 after another.
but nvr buy la... test test only...

i'm not backing them up... juz my side of the story. maybe i havent kena yet.

but IMO, it surely dont depend on wat u ask for... its how u ask for it.
and if the pay 1st happens to me, i sure will kol for the boss on the spot.

 

[Gr3yF0x]

balloons

that's true... it's such a shame really.. ever heard the horror service stories of people dressed up in berms, tshirt and slippers going to paragon and being treated like dirt by the sales staff there? and they have no idea these berm/tshirt/slipper guys are the really rich people who live in/around orchard road (think: very rich) therefore the "shabby" and "can't be bothered to dress up" dressing.

lol. this chinese guy came to the shop i worked in dressed in shorts, slippers and an ugly tshirt. guess what? he was actually the BMW CEO in s'pore.

 

[Resetti]

please say the shop name. so that we can be more aware of such service

 

[AzNjT]

Sales Persons SHOULD provide GOOD service no matter what.

How old can these Sales people be? Definately young punks. typical Singaporean.

then again, Maybe try the Guitars if your Really wanting to buy/looking for something.

not TRY just for the heck or it and Leave the guitars used by ur sweaty shitty greasy hands.

 

[Cavett]

lol. this chinese guy came to the shop i worked in dressed in shorts, slippers and an ugly tshirt. guess what? he was actually the BMW CEO in s'pore.

R u sure he was the CEO?

As far as I know there's only the Managing Director of BMW Asia and the guy's a German (Mr Roland Krueger)...

 

[fgl]

sometimes I really cant blame the sales ppl...coz some customers can be real arseholes ....

 

[ShredNoob]

well if i encounter such situations usually i'll just come back another day when he/she ain't around(hopefully).

 

[alexisonfire]

its not about dressing appropriately or what, u have your right to dress what u like. and IMO, they shouldnt rush custs who are testing guitars because everyone knows that "once broken considered sold" just have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesnt hit and run. and not giving comments. salesman only WORK there, u get paid salary for opening ur mouth at the right time and shutting them up when u;re not supposed to use it.