Customer Service Academy at Imperial Valley College

elchrist

Every year the staff at the quickie mart I work at have a work-related retreat where we get to unwind a bit, reflect back on our accomplishments and build a stronger team of clerks. It's something I look forward to because we usually get to eat for free on the dime of the convenience store owner and end up drinking unlimited refillable fountain drinks and even snack on all the sweets that are located in the candy aisle.

This year we did a little something different. Our boss, Akhmed, brought in a lady from the Imperial Valley College's Customer Service Academy to provide us with a course on customer appreciation. At first, I was a little disappointment because I felt I knew all about customer service and there was absolutely nothing they could teach me. For Christ's sake, I've been employee of the year three times in a row and the customers never complained about my service. I guess it helps to be a prick, but I still felt this was going to be a waste of time.

It turned out not to really be. Most of the information was common sense, but it was a great refresher that made me realize I hadn't been the best I could be and with this help I could lock in my fourth year as #1 employee again.

After the course, I asked how much IVC charged for the Customer Service Academy. "Nothing" was the answer. I was like WTF?

It turns out that IVC will begin to advertise the academy soon and is hoping to change the image of the Imperial Valley. One that is in desperate need of change, customer service-wise. IVC's CSA will even go to your business and teach your employees there, still at no cost.

So if you are having problems with a local business who's customer service simply sucks, tell them to go back to school and learn something. Encourage it and straight out tell them they suck. Who knows? They might thank you for it later on.

I'm getting a little hungry now and am thinking about eating some Chinese.

realneo · Posted: 29 Jun 2005 03:32 PM Post subject:

stay off the crack

Venue Magazine · Posted: 05 Jul 2005 12:37 AM Post subject:

I 2nd that crack kills and your on the way there

spic-ole · Posted: 05 Jul 2005 09:29 AM Post subject:

I think this is a great service to the community. The only problem is the community. I wonder how many business' will actually take advantage of this service. Business' here tend to not know a good thing when they see it. No matter how much it could benefit them.

I hope that in this case, business' do see the potential benefits.

elchrist · Posted: 05 Jul 2005 10:53 AM Post subject:

realneo · Posted: 05 Jul 2005 02:41 PM Post subject: