Yes, I have not written here in a while and it's not because nothing was happening in my life, I just didn't make the time to do it.
As I was riding back from the town today, I got an inspiration to write about some of the things that I got frustrated over during the past few weeks and to sweeten the text a little (and not to sound like a total grumpy old fart) also decided to share some little acts of kindness.
While visiting my bank couple of weeks ago (I even had to get off work early to do that) I found myself in a rather frustrating situation at which I snapped and decided not leave until I vent it out. On any other day, I would have swallowed it and moved on with my life, but that day - something snapped inside me. To make a long story short, I needed to deposit cash into my account, and the bank has a cash deposit machine that makes simple tasks fast and easy. However it was out of order AGAIN, that was my second or third visit to the bank when the machine was not working. I mean, it's right inside the bank, how hard is it to keep it operational? Ok, I swallowed that and stood in a line to the cashier cubicle. The bank has 3 cubicles, one was dealing with checks only and the other one was receiving cash. I only had 4 people in front of me, so one would think that in a matter of 10-20 minutes I would be done and out. However on that day, that was no the fact. It took entire 45 minutes to process 4 people (and 3 minutes to process my deposit). During that period, the cashier suddenly walked out of the cubicle for good 5-10 minutes (maybe she had to use the restroom or chat with her colleagues or just stretch her legs, I didn't ask). And not only there were 4 people in front of me, there were at least 5-6 people behind me in the line as well. Everyone waited patiently, India is very good country to practice and develop patience if you didn't know it.
Anyhow, when I was done with my deposit, I decided that I would not let it slide this time, so I asked one of the desk clerks to point me out to the branch managers office so that I could tell him how I feel about his bank's customer care. I waited in the manager's office for another 45-50 minutes, he didn't show up. At that point a security guard asked me what am I doing here. After explaining to him that I wanted to see the manager, he said that the bank is closing and the manager would not be coming back today. At that point I lost it! I asked to speak to the next ranking official, and was directed to operations manager. That guy was a prick! No understanding of customer care and customer satisfaction. In reply to my complaint that I had to wait 45 minutes for a simple cash deposit, he said, "why didn't you come to me and I could've fast forwarded you" (basically cut in the line). I said that I am not looking for special treatment, I just want good service for bank customers. He gave me some lame excuse that the cashiers are working all day long with no breaks and attending to all the customers. That is not my problem that the bank is trying to save money and employ fewer cashiers then necessary. It is not the customer's problem that the cash deposit machine never works. Get your s**t together and work towards happy customers! I was furious, I thought of making official complaint to the head office, got the guys name and employee ID, but to be honest - never followed through with that plan.
Upset and frustrated, my next stop was the service centre for my bike, they had the bike for over three days and called me to say that it's ready I can come and collect it. To my surprise, three quarters of the things that they were supposed to do - were not done. The excuse - we have no parts. Bloody hell, then call me and inform me that you have no parts! I told them to order the parts and I will take the bike back to them once the parts have arrived. Ok, that was simple, no? Hell no, the billing took FOREVER. Then I wanted to know how much the parts would cost me, approximately. That took another eternity. But when all was clear and time came to pay, I pull out my card (remember I went to the bank to deposit cash, so I had no cash left in hand) and the cashier says that their POS machine is broken! F**k my life! I lost it again, yelled and screamed and talked of inefficiency and what crappy service they provide. I had to run around the town looking for a functioning ATM to withdraw some cash to pay the bills. Once that was done, and it took good 30-40 minutes, the guys have the audacity, no the guys have the BALLS, to hand me a customer satisfaction form! I told them straight away, that they are not going to get any good points today. Surprisingly they have accepted it...
So, enough with the frustrations and venting, all that is long passed and I am way over it. Now for the little acts of kindness that many of us ignore or forget. Things like letting pedestrians cross (even if they are not on a zebra). Things like letting an ambulance pass, even they are not flashing the lights. Things like thanking people for job well done (or just job done). A little thank you and please never hurt anyone. A 30 second stop to let school girls cross the road is not going to make you late. This world needs more kindness and politeness. And you will see, when you are kind to people (sometimes they look at you weird and think "what's wrong with you") it comes back. Maybe not in kindness, but at least in good mood, a feeling that you have done a good deed. A feeling that you have showed some respect to people and shoved away ones pride and ego.
Today I had to go to the bank again, and the cash deposit machine was working. My visit was very swift and I was done in 5 minutes. I took the 10 seconds extra to walk up to the operations manager's desk and just thank him for fixing the cash deposit machine. I felt good. I felt that he should get some kind of recognition for doing his job.
Anyhow, this one has gotten VERY long, so I just want to say to my readers - go out of your way, be kind to people, give credit where it's due and even if it doesn't come back to you, at least you will feel better. Be a better person, start changing the world from within.
As I was riding back from the town today, I got an inspiration to write about some of the things that I got frustrated over during the past few weeks and to sweeten the text a little (and not to sound like a total grumpy old fart) also decided to share some little acts of kindness.
While visiting my bank couple of weeks ago (I even had to get off work early to do that) I found myself in a rather frustrating situation at which I snapped and decided not leave until I vent it out. On any other day, I would have swallowed it and moved on with my life, but that day - something snapped inside me. To make a long story short, I needed to deposit cash into my account, and the bank has a cash deposit machine that makes simple tasks fast and easy. However it was out of order AGAIN, that was my second or third visit to the bank when the machine was not working. I mean, it's right inside the bank, how hard is it to keep it operational? Ok, I swallowed that and stood in a line to the cashier cubicle. The bank has 3 cubicles, one was dealing with checks only and the other one was receiving cash. I only had 4 people in front of me, so one would think that in a matter of 10-20 minutes I would be done and out. However on that day, that was no the fact. It took entire 45 minutes to process 4 people (and 3 minutes to process my deposit). During that period, the cashier suddenly walked out of the cubicle for good 5-10 minutes (maybe she had to use the restroom or chat with her colleagues or just stretch her legs, I didn't ask). And not only there were 4 people in front of me, there were at least 5-6 people behind me in the line as well. Everyone waited patiently, India is very good country to practice and develop patience if you didn't know it.
Anyhow, when I was done with my deposit, I decided that I would not let it slide this time, so I asked one of the desk clerks to point me out to the branch managers office so that I could tell him how I feel about his bank's customer care. I waited in the manager's office for another 45-50 minutes, he didn't show up. At that point a security guard asked me what am I doing here. After explaining to him that I wanted to see the manager, he said that the bank is closing and the manager would not be coming back today. At that point I lost it! I asked to speak to the next ranking official, and was directed to operations manager. That guy was a prick! No understanding of customer care and customer satisfaction. In reply to my complaint that I had to wait 45 minutes for a simple cash deposit, he said, "why didn't you come to me and I could've fast forwarded you" (basically cut in the line). I said that I am not looking for special treatment, I just want good service for bank customers. He gave me some lame excuse that the cashiers are working all day long with no breaks and attending to all the customers. That is not my problem that the bank is trying to save money and employ fewer cashiers then necessary. It is not the customer's problem that the cash deposit machine never works. Get your s**t together and work towards happy customers! I was furious, I thought of making official complaint to the head office, got the guys name and employee ID, but to be honest - never followed through with that plan.Upset and frustrated, my next stop was the service centre for my bike, they had the bike for over three days and called me to say that it's ready I can come and collect it. To my surprise, three quarters of the things that they were supposed to do - were not done. The excuse - we have no parts. Bloody hell, then call me and inform me that you have no parts! I told them to order the parts and I will take the bike back to them once the parts have arrived. Ok, that was simple, no? Hell no, the billing took FOREVER. Then I wanted to know how much the parts would cost me, approximately. That took another eternity. But when all was clear and time came to pay, I pull out my card (remember I went to the bank to deposit cash, so I had no cash left in hand) and the cashier says that their POS machine is broken! F**k my life! I lost it again, yelled and screamed and talked of inefficiency and what crappy service they provide. I had to run around the town looking for a functioning ATM to withdraw some cash to pay the bills. Once that was done, and it took good 30-40 minutes, the guys have the audacity, no the guys have the BALLS, to hand me a customer satisfaction form! I told them straight away, that they are not going to get any good points today. Surprisingly they have accepted it...
So, enough with the frustrations and venting, all that is long passed and I am way over it. Now for the little acts of kindness that many of us ignore or forget. Things like letting pedestrians cross (even if they are not on a zebra). Things like letting an ambulance pass, even they are not flashing the lights. Things like thanking people for job well done (or just job done). A little thank you and please never hurt anyone. A 30 second stop to let school girls cross the road is not going to make you late. This world needs more kindness and politeness. And you will see, when you are kind to people (sometimes they look at you weird and think "what's wrong with you") it comes back. Maybe not in kindness, but at least in good mood, a feeling that you have done a good deed. A feeling that you have showed some respect to people and shoved away ones pride and ego.
Today I had to go to the bank again, and the cash deposit machine was working. My visit was very swift and I was done in 5 minutes. I took the 10 seconds extra to walk up to the operations manager's desk and just thank him for fixing the cash deposit machine. I felt good. I felt that he should get some kind of recognition for doing his job.Anyhow, this one has gotten VERY long, so I just want to say to my readers - go out of your way, be kind to people, give credit where it's due and even if it doesn't come back to you, at least you will feel better. Be a better person, start changing the world from within.