Officemax. There's not much to say about Officemax. I can't really surprise you in this review. THEY HAVE PENS! I KNOW, RIGHT?!? CRAZY!
So it wasn't their selection or products that blew me away. But I was sitting in my car, thinking back at all the times I've been to this OfficeMax, and because I'm related to many office supply junkies, it's been more times than I can count on my fingers and toes.
I've always been asked if I need help while wandering around the store, which in and of itself is amazing, but that's seems standard to most shoppers. Nine times out of ten, I pull the instinctive 'just browsing' or 'I'm fine' but a few times I have genuinely needed assistance because sometimes I don't even know what I need. Here's where the magic happens. I explain what I'm trying to do, they let me ramble for a good three minutes or so, they direct me to where I need to go. Fantastic.
Staff on the floor are good for more than directions, though. My last trip to Officemax I got pen reviews. Yes, they person working gave me suggestions on which pens to buy. These pens are smoother and will make your writing look better, but these pens are more comfortable to use, and will work better if you'll be writing for extended periods of time. Who knew (Everyone but me) pens were so complicated? The associate at Officemax did.
Also, if I do voice my helplessness traversing the vast ocean of office supplies, and someone swoops in to set me on my way, I know I'm not sailing alone. If I run into someone who has directed me to some nook and cranny of the store to find a brand new cash register (I've never bought a cash register, but have always wanted to) they ask me if I'm finding everything ok.
Now, we've gathered our booty, it's time to leave this fine establishment. Time to check out. The cashier's of Officemax have always been some of the friendliest I've dealt with. I was waiting in between lines like the dastardly noncommittal rogue I am, twiddling my moustache, waiting for someone to finish up their check out, when hark! the right register opened! However in that time, a floor employee and a woman swooped back in, and the cashier explained to me 'I'm so sorry, sir. I was actually in the middle of helping this woman, but we needed to go make sure we grabbed the right toner. I'm going to finishing ringing her up really fast, and I'll be right with you." Well the OTHER register opened and I checked out my stuff, and the we chatted about the weather, the sweet pens I was buying, and I was complimented on my glorious (read: unkempt) beard.
Next up on the corporate checklist "Are you a subscriber to our corporate mailing list? Would you like to set up an account? Did you know you could save 16¢ a year? Would you like to hear me explain in great length about our consumer loyalty program?"
I get none of that here. It's "Hey, do you have an Officemax card?" I say nope and that's it. A couple of time I've gotten jokes like "Your loss" or have been told "You know it could save you some money?" but I've never felt pressured. The situation has always seemed "I have tools to save you money, would you like me to use them"
Consistency and quality. Having been in a service position, I can tell you always is hard. 100% is very hard. When it comes to consistency of food, I always say Chipotle takes the cake. Of the many many times I've gotten food from Chipolte, they've only messed up once, slightly. But that's still a 99% positive rating.
Officemax's business model isn't unique. Macy's has employee's that ask me if I need help finding something. Lots of places have friendly cashiers. But how many times have you been in Macy's and you haven't been asked if you need assistance, or needed assistance and it's taken a while for someone to help you.
Officemax has on the other hand achieved something that I truly respect. They've achieved always. Every single time have I been asked if I need help finding something. Every single time I've felt like I was talking to people who honestly cared about helping me have the best office supply shopping experience I could possibly have. A lot of stores in a lot of industries would be a lot better if they were a little more like Officemax. read more