WHERE'S MY BLOODY GUN?!

[Karan]:  I'm living the dream baby!  This is it, this is what all the hard work was for.  Having opened the kitchen showroom to the public over the weekend and safely ensconced the children into school and nursery, I was finally able to settle down in my new showroom office and work.  It's true to say that I took a moment, and then smiled - I was here.  I'd made it.

There I was enjoying the novelty of being able to think a whole thought, all the way through without a barrage of interruptions, and then it began.  I had a planned and fully scheduled meeting with our Stationery Guru, Sheila from Knights & Hyde, which was fun and informative but after Sheila, I experienced an unending stream of impromptu "opportunities", and it was frustrating, to say the least.  I need to get me some extra strength Sales Rep repellent, because I can't go on like that.  I'm all for learning about new products, services & opportnities, but please make an appointment first - I'm not sitting here filing my nails you know, I'm trying to grow and market a business, whilst also ensuring a first rate, earth shattering customer service service.

I once saw a notice in my local Chemist that read: "I shoot every third Sales Rep. The second has just left" and I thought blimey, how unfriendly, but now I understand.  In lieu of an actual gun though, I may just purchase such a sign myself.

STOP THE SABOTAGE!

[Karan]:  Oh good grief, it shouldn't be this hard!  Here I am trying very hard to give my money away, and the shocking lack of customer service I'm experiencing is stopping me from doing so?  Is everyone out there so wealthy and inundated with work and sales that they have no need for my enquiry?  Well that's what it feels like!

The problems I am encountering range from 874 automated phone options, to the phone not being picked up at all, to voicemail messages not being returned, to my details being lost, to overt price gouging and, my all time favourite this morning, having to wait two working days for a quote that really could be given to me here and now - it's not brain science people!

What the businesses I've dealt with this morning are failing to realise is this: if they lose my details, or are incapable or unwilling to return my calls etc, what confidence am I going to have in them fulfilling my sales or service requirement?  None!  They really have got to instil my confidence in them from the very beginning, otherwise I'm going to go to someone who will.  This is how businesses fail surely - they are shooting themselves in the foot by being crap - and they should stop the sabotage before it's too late.

Bad customer service drives me crazy - as those who know me well will testify - because there is no excuse for it.  Why are you in business if you are not going to treat your customers like supreme beings?  It makes no sense to me. 

So, here I go, once more into the breach dear friends, trying to give some money to anyone prepared to answer my call or call me back, retain my details and treat me like a supreme being; is it really too much to ask?  I really don't think it is too much to ask.  I have received brilliant service from BT, Lloyds TSB and even Virgin Media in the past week, so it can be done - and obviously in respect of customer service at IKD, you will always get more than you bargained for.  And that's a promise!