In today’s economic climate good customer service should be more of a priority than ever for businesses — especially those peddling things we don’t necessarily need. Case in point, I will not be renewing my gym membership — I’ve been going to the same small gym near White Rock Lake since I was a kid. Though the facilities haven’t changed a whole lot, the prices have stayed pretty much in lock step with the newer, bigger places. Still, out of loyalty (or comfortable familiarity) I’ve stuck it out.
But these days, like a lot of folks (I assume) I am rethinking how I spend my money. A woman who works the front desk treated me rudely a few months ago. Aside from her, the staff is super, so I let it slide. Then a week or two ago, I went on a Saturday with a change of clothes so I could shower after my workout and get dressed in time for a mid-morning meeting. But when I arrived. The women’s locker room was closed for repairs—on a busy Saturday. The day happened to fall right around the time my membership was up for renewal and I said to myself, for that price, I can do better.
Maybe I am not being entirely fair, who knows, but the point is this: These days, people are less willing to pay for mediocre stuff/services that that don’t really need. Self important or whatever, I’m guessing a lot of you feel the same way I do (make me happy or lose my business). Those who deal in the luxuries (gym memberships, dining out, spa services for example) should be competing intensely for our patronage. The electric and phone companies will still treat me bad, no doubt, and I will probably continue to endure the abuse much longer, because God help me, I need them. As for my personal fitness, I’ll run the trails or join a gym where the bathrooms are always open.
