Jane Heller

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

  • About
    • Bio
    • FAQ
  • Publications
    • Books
      • Romantic Comedies
      • Caregiving
      • Baseball
      • TV Tie-In
    • Articles
  • Blogs
    • Mainly Jane
    • Confessions of a She-Fan
  • Media
    • Videos
    • Audio
    • Press
    • Press Materials/Three Blonde Mice
  • Speaking
  • Contact

Total Frustration

June 17, 2011

Has anybody ever had a period of time when nothing went right?

I’m not talking about anything serious. Just the silly day-to-day stuff of life.

Like my manicure. I made an appointment for 4 0’clock yesterday. I got to the salon and discovered that Alice, my “nail technician,” was busy giving a neck massage to a small boy.

“You’ll be done in a few minutes, right?” I said.

“Yes,” she said, “but I’m doing a mani-pedi for another lady.”

“I have an appointment with you now,” I said.

She stopped what she was doing and pulled out her scheduling book, then shook her head. “Your name isn’t here.”

“I don’t care if it’s there or not,” I said, trying to keep my voice down. “I called and made an appointment. I spoke to you on the phone. Don’t you remember?”

She appeared to be in deep contemplation, then: “I remember, but your name isn’t here. Sorry.”

We went back and forth a few more times, but she was booked for the rest of the day so I went home.

The next culprit? Lululemon.

I had gone to their store the previous week to buy some yoga pants. I got two pair but they both needed to be hemmed. I was told they’d be ready yesterday. When I called to check, I got this response: “Oh. There’s been a mistake.”

“What kind of mistake?”

“You wanted us to keep the drawstring in the hems, right?”

“Right.”

“Well, they were removed by mistake. It’ll be another few days to re-do them. Sorry.”

That was my second person to say “sorry” in two days.

Which brings me to Ellie, the seamstress in town who was supposed to be taking in the pants I planned to wear Sunday afternoon when I speak on a panel at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. She said they’d be ready to pick up today. When I got to her shop, the door was locked and the sign said “Closed.” I was fuming.

She didn’t say “sorry” because she wasn’t even there, but I’m sure she’ll say it on Monday when I show up and express my displeasure.

Is it really so hard to deliver decent customer service? Is it?

 

 

Filed Under: Fashion, Lifestyle, Mainly Jane Tagged With: customer service, frustration, Lululemon, Santa Barbara Writers Conference

Search

Archives

Food and recipes

  • Epicurious
  • Food Network
  • Seriously Simple

Hollywood

  • Company Town
  • Deadline Hollywood
  • The Bold and the Beautiful
  • The Envelope
  • The Film Geek Confidential
  • The Vulture Pages
  • The Wrap

My California Writing Buddies

  • Ciji Ware
  • Deborah Hutchison
  • Gayle Lynds
  • Jenna McCarthy
  • Laurie Burrows Grad
  • Margo Candela
  • Melodie Johnson Howe
  • Starshine Roshell

My New Connecticut Writing Buddies

  • Lauren Lipton
  • Marie Bostwick

News, politics, pop culture

  • The Daily Beast
  • The Huffington Post

Writing and publishing

  • eBookNewser
  • GalleyCat
  • Gawker
  • Publishers Lunch
  • Publishers Weekly

Follow Me!

  • Jane Heller on Goodreads
  • Jane Heller on Pinterest
  • Jane Heller on Facebook
  • Jane Heller on Twitter

Get in touch!

I’d love to hear from you! Contact me!

About Jane Heller

Jane Heller is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her fourteen breezy, witty novels of romantic comedy and suspense are now entertaining millions of readers around the world, along with her two books of nonfiction.

Copyright © 2021 Jane Heller