Hello, Benjamin from Brother’s Campfire here!
My Beloved should be coming home on January 4th, 2021 and folks have really come together to help my family. I am so overwhelmed with love.
Now, a short story about yesterday.
While not always the most observant, I have my moments. Working in a prison, I am a paid trained observer of sorts, so I have a knack.
Today, I went to Lowes to pick up two grab bars and mounts for the shower. I am not much of a shopper and this is a little tough for me.
Fortunately, my friend James L. was gracious enough to send me some pictures of what I was looking for and offered to install them today. Thanks James L.!
So, after looking very hard, I found a store associate that was looking to be of assistance. (Or I caught her slipping and she was obligated to)
She pointed me in the right direction but did not move very far from her coffee. Coffee is important.
A short, older man with grey hair and a large middle aged employee were in the department and they slipped off to places unknown.
I looked at the strange items on the shelf, bewildered.
There were so many options to choose from. The world was unfamiliar and there was a jumble of letters and numbers everywhere.
Clearing the static for clarity if a process for me. I looked up and down the aisle eliminating those things I was not looking for while trying not to get distracted by things I may have been looking for before.
The short grey-haired man was around the corner on his phone. I ignored him and went back to looking. Occasionally, he would look in my direction and then resume looking at his phone.
I found the wall mounts. Then I had to find the part numbers to make sure they were the right brand and model number. After a lengthy effort, I found them!
I started browsing the aisle for all the other distracions. My turn had come!
“Hello sir! Can I help you find something?”
It was the short, older man with the grey hair.
“No sir, if you had asked me ten minutes ago while you were on your cell phone, I might have. Thanks though.”
I smiled cheerfully. (or sarcastically, not sure)
Displaying empathy has been something I have been working on. Perhaps my smile needs a little work.
He looked disgusted, which confused me a little. I walked away with my purchases.
While waiting my turn at the self check out, I looked at the news on my phone, but I felt watched. Looking around, it was the older man with the grey hair arms crossed and glaring at me.
I smiled and waved. He did not smile back.
Perhaps I need to work on my empathy, but he may need to work on his customer service.
All is well though. I knew I would get a negative reaction for confronting his behavior. What is important is that I have an install. Thanks James L. !
Author: Benjamin
Benjamin Thiel is a community leader, urban farmer, and author of The Ongoing Tale at Brothers Campfire. He might know a guy...
Shop assistants in some stores are specifically trained in the ancient art of avoiding eye contact with customers. It’s what makes shopping in their stores such a delight!
I never thought of it this way! I love when I learn new things! I am now looking forward to my next evasion detection so I can try and engage! 🤠🔥🌶🌶
Be warned, some of them are very skilled!
I wonder…. Are there tiers of work evaders?
Oh yes! The top tier are almost totally impossible to engage with.
Like a fifth degree blck belt in the discipline would be a nightmare to get assistance from. !!!!
You have clearly met them! 😂
Ha ha! 🤠🔥👻
Haha! He’ll get over it. 🤣😂 Sometimes the smart alick just slips out when you’ve been under stress, Ben. Its happened to me too. I’m glad you got the grab bars put in place. Here’s praying for a great homecoming. 🙏🙏🙏
I hope he does. Poor guy. Popping Bubbles or whatever was important to him. I should have respected that, 😆.
I am excited for her return for sure!
🤣😂🤣😂 It’s sure tough to get good help these days. I can just see the hugs and kisses from the kiddos as soon as you and she come through your front door. 💖💐🌹
It’s gonna be big! 🤠🔥🎊🎀✨🎁🧨
Absolutely! 💯
I wonder what the deal is. The second I saw the word “Lowe’s” I had a general idea of where your post was going. Maybe the older guy was having an off day but it seems strange that everyone at every Lowe’s I’ve been to is also having an off day 🤔
That’s pretty much every storeeverywhere
I was taking to Hobbo, the blogger and I may start seeking out those types and being very sociable while asking for help at the same time! 🤠🔥😏🌶
You should 😁
I’d like to argue against that stance but I really can’t. You’re right; it’s everywhere.
Don’t get me wrong there are a lot of friendly clerks but customer service these days is greatly lacking.
I agree. I like to be a good customer as well! 🤠🔥
Ha ha! Thanks for the affirmation! A couple months back, I asked for plaster and they said it was unavailable. I downloaded the application and found it myself in the same store on the same day. Crazy.
I think 2020 may have killed customer service. 🤠🔥😂😏
On the whole, probably. There’s some diamonds in the rough out there! 🙃
🤠🔥😏
Who knows maybe prior to you he approached someone having a bad day that may have said “Do I look like I need help?!” All the same, the fact he glanced in your direction more than once tells me he knew you needed help but decided his phone was far more important.
I think he knew I needed help. His arrival time was impeccable.🤠🔥👻
Your wife coming back home January 4th 2022 , so you must arrange home some 🌸
flowers and arrange bed and a coffee table , so she can rest in room and happily 👍🏻
Your mom or her mom come stay few days with her means nice 👍🏻 She slowly recover
by her medicines ,physio and by her willpower she will be normal life in few weeks 👏❤️
New Year Greetings and prayers 🌷🙏♥️🌷
Will do! Thank you for the advice! 🤠🔥🎆🎁🎇🎀✨🎊🙏🏼
Thank you so much for this lovely message and
all will be ok in few weeks 🌷👌👍🏻😊🙏
America is well known for its great customer service. My personal experience also supports that. Your recent experience, to me, feels like an outlier.
I sometimes forget that I have an audience that transcends my little worldview. I think you are probably right to from a global perspective! 🤠🔥🌶
😀
That James L. is a good egg!
Sometimes small medical supply stores are a better option…?
I wish. Colorado Springs is a markup animal, and a lot of times mom and pop will rip you off. I know that is not a popular opinion, but I have seen it more often than not in this military/tourist town. 🤠🔥
Well should not be on his phone then, he’s at work – good for you calling him out!!
Cell phones have totally corrupted people!! There is time and place and he had a job to do.
Let him glare – he was rude one… he definitely need to work on his customer service skills
I do the hiring at my job and I tell you it is difficult!!! Not the quality or effort there used to be with people – I do find amazing – but is few and far between!!!
In my business THEY MUST have empathy and compassion as well as good work ethic!! I don’t put up with slackers lol 😘✌️
But my business… we only get ONE shot … you can not redo someone’s funeral… so I am tough lol ✌️
Wow, that is a powerful statement. No, I suppose you cannot undo a funeral.
I would have to relearn how to think to work in your industry. Hats off to you. 🤠🔥
Yeah they get one shot to get it right – no exceptions.
Lol … is a job that a person actually has to “want” and they have to be on it
There is ALOT that goes on behind scenes that we take care of…
Definitely not an easy
They have to get right the first time period!! It’s not so bad when you are used to it- it’s like second nature now
Empathetic and type A’s do very well
Is caring for people who passed, giving them dignity even when is just the body vessel – and making sure their family is ok …because it’s the family who needs the closure and who is left behind
That’s why so much pressure lol – have to go quickly without mistakes and as long as you have strong communication with family, goes ok.
There is no Do-overs in my job – one and done 😮lol
Lol thank you 😊
https://wp.me/p4emz5-1Lm%23comment-14208
Hahaha lol 😄
I was hoping you would appreciate it! Now if he does a post on it…. You will be famous!
That’s hilarious
He would be quite talented if he can 😄✌️I’ll give props
🤠☕