Hey there, my YELPies! You know how passionate I am about customer service, and let me tell you, COSTCO really dropped the ball this time!
First, I want to give a big shoutout to Jimmy, Roy, Britt, Dan, Greg, and possibly Alex, along with the three front-end supervisors. On one of my many visits, I experienced some disappointing treatment from one of the front-end employees, which was especially disheartening given my long history with COSTCO and my loyalty as a member.
My son and I approached the checkout area, and I noticed that the few open lines were quite long. One of the front-end supervisors overheard me and kindly apologized, explaining that a cashier was on the way and that I could follow her once she was assigned. I appreciated that. When Britt was assigned, I followed her to the bay, but then another employee--let's call her GREEN SHIRT/Brunette--told me they were taking the next person from the adjacent line. When I tried to explain that we had just come from that long line and were instructed to follow Britt, she rolled her eyes and called someone else over.
I felt dismissed, and that's where customer service should have stepped in to apologize and clarify their process. Instead, I flagged down someone who I thought was a manager--JIMMY--who did exactly what he was supposed to do: listened, apologized, and offered to help. He explained he couldn't assist directly but would get a supervisor, which he did.
Roy then approached me, and his customer service was top-notch! He listened to my concerns and apologized, asking how they could make things right. I told him I didn't need anything except for them to improve their service. He promised to discuss it with the other managers.
Being who I am, I wanted to address the situation further. During my checkout, Britt was professional and helpful, but GREEN SHIRT/Brunette tried to engage Alex in a conversation about me, which was inappropriate and refused to box my items. I pointed out that she was indeed talking about me. Thankfully, Roy returned and helped box my items.
While GREEN SHIRT/Brunette's initial behavior could have been overlooked, the disrespect of discussing a member in front of them was unacceptable. After my transaction, I spoke with Dan and Greg, the store managers, about my experience and the young lady's behavior. They assured me they would address it with her, and I reiterated my desire for them to improve their customer service.
Typically, I'd want to stay and see if the managers followed through, but knowing COSTCO's commitment to customer service, I took their word for it. Quality does affect value.
In short, my YELPies, remember to treat everyone with respect in all that you do. Word of mouth is powerful! read more