"Can't manage it, no space and tomorrow is worse, the book is totally full", the trainee hairdresser/receptionist at the school told me, when I attempted a last minute booking for a hair treatment.
"Not to worry", I said "I'll leave it for now. A member of the administrative staff, who was nearby, looked over the girl's shoulder and peered at the book, made some suggestions and hey presto! There was a space.
I suggested making a complaint. The receptionist grabbed her folio, checked her tick boxes, excitedly looked at me and told me she needed one. "Right,I'll think of something while I am having my hair done and you remind me on my way out to complain." She beamed back at me.
Whether it was because I had offered one little soul a desired customer interaction, albeit a complaint, I am not sure, but I received a wonderful head massage at the beginning of the hair treatment and a long extra one at the end of it. "You've been well looked after", one of the tutors commented. I smugly agreed.
Afterwards, as I was completing the complaint paperwork and being effusively thanked for it, another little voice further along the reception area timidly asked, "Please, could you be a confused customer for us?"
With different instructions for completing the same form, but for similar requirements, (one person was incorrect) confusion came very easily.
14/05/08 @ 20:50