Customer Service in Atlanta (Savannah, Macon: hoa, hotel, travel)

[j-lady]

Hi everyone, I am from Detroit,MI, and the customer service here sucks!!!! It seems like when ever you get something done, there's always a problem. From the simplest thing as getting extra mayo on your burger to getting cable and the cable guy never shows up. When I travel to other places I get better service. My husbnad and I was strongly considering moving to ATL because we liked how we get treated when we are there. I know there is problems where ever you go, but I am sure the customer service here is worse than anywhere else. I would appreciate if anyone can tell me how the customer service is in ATL.

[atlantagreg30127]

Well, if you let me know where you went when you visited here and got the excellent service, I'll be sure to go there myself to find some! LOL

When I go downtown I'm usually waited on by someone who is wearing a hat crooked, and greets me with, "wassup", if I get greeted at all. When I'm back home in the burbs I usually get Malibu Barbie with the "What-e-verrrrrr" type of thing going on. Where are you finding the good service here?

In reality it's everywhere - sinking service. Atlanta is no different than any other big city, really. There are random businesses here and there that provide good service with employees who actually want a job, and then there's the growing sector of places who's owners don't give a damn. In the varied places I've gone to via work, I really don't see much of a different in one city having *overall* better or friendlier service towards customers than Atlanta. Granted, I haven't spent tons of time in Detroit, so maybe it is worse than normal.

If you go to the smaller cities like Savannah or Dahlonega or Chattanooga around the region here, you tend to find a somewhat friendlier atmosphere. A big city is a big city wherever you go - at least my opinion. Heck, some of the friendliest shop owners I ever dealt with though were in New York/Manhattan!

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Well, if you let me know where you went when you visited here and got the excellent service, I'll be sure to go there myself to find some! LOL

When I go downtown I'm usually waited on by someone who is wearing a hat crooked, and greets me with, "wassup", if I get greeted at all. When I'm back home in the burbs I usually get Malibu Barbie with the "What-e-verrrrrr" type of thing going on. Where are you finding the good service here?

In reality it's everywhere - sinking service. Atlanta is no different than any other big city, really. There are random businesses here and there that provide good service with employees who actually want a job, and then there's the growing sector of places who's owners don't give a damn. In the varied places I've gone to via work, I really don't see much of a different in one city having *overall* better or friendlier service towards customers than Atlanta. Granted, I haven't spent tons of time in Detroit, so maybe it is worse than normal.

If you go to the smaller cities like Savannah or Dahlonega or Chattanooga around the region here, you tend to find a somewhat friendlier atmosphere. A big city is a big city wherever you go - at least my opinion. Heck, some of the friendliest shop owners I ever dealt with though were in New York/Manhattan!

That's definitely true about smaller cities. Everyone is so nice in Macon, for example.

Also true about the suburban and urban teenagers...still inferior service no matter where you go in Metro Atlanta!

However, you forgot about the intown/trendy/gay/hipster poor customer service!

[cocopuffy]

funny...in general I have found most customer service people in Atlanta to be a lot nicer than where I came from (Boston). With the exception of restaurant staff (who for some reason in this city think they can deliver awful service, subpar food, and then DEMAND a big tip) I haven't had a problem with anybody.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by cocopuffy

funny...in general I have found most customer service people in Atlanta to be a lot nicer than where I came from (Boston). With the exception of restaurant staff (who for some reason in this city think they can deliver awful service, subpar food, and then DEMAND a big tip) I haven't had a problem with anybody.

I agree with the comment that a lot of wait staff these days aren't so hot... but I don't blame them for the subpar food - they don't cook it, they just bring it to the table. Still, I judge on very basic stuff like are they courteous but not TOO friendly (visit the table every 2 minutes, etc), and do I have to ask for drink refills if I'm in that kind of place, or do they stay on top of it, etc.

My favorite was when I went into a men's clothing store at Lenox once to buy a shirt for a friend for his birthday. He wears a standard size Large shirt. I'm a bigger guy at 6'1" and 220, and I usually wear 2XL cause I know I'm gonna screw it up in the drier later, so I buy a lot of my stuff in big and tall shops for higher quality than what you get in regular stores that have sections for it.

That being said, this store did not sell larger sized clothes, but this was again for someone else who is smaller than me. ** so I walked in and about on my third step in the door, the 90lb salesman throws his hand up as if to say "stop!" and goes, "Sir.. I'm sorry.. I can guarantee that we don't sell anything in your size here.. but I can tell you where there's an oversized men's shop nearby". Whoahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I just replied, "well, this was for someone else, but I'll buy elsewhere.. oh, and I can recommend an eating disorder clinic for you down the road if you like, too!". geesh! Yes, it happens to men, too.

But stuff like this can happen almost anywhere, so you just have to have a good zinger to shoot back at 'em and move on. Atlanta is retail heaven and there is always a list of other places you can take your business to.

[tallylady46]

When we (hubby and I) visited Atlanta several months ago, we stayed at a downtown hotel. The staff wasn't that great. They acted like we were a bother to them. At night, I saw alot of bums in the front of the hotel. This wasn't a dumpy place either.

Then we ventured out to Six Flags and stayed at a hotel in Douglasville. People in general seemed alot nicer out that way. We were impressed with the mall employees greeting their customers at the door and asking us if we needed any help. The hotel staff was alot nicer and the eating establishments were friendlier too.

Overall I find customer service declining all over, but I was impressed with the treatment received in Douglasville.

[JayRockTeam]

Yes, the customer service in Atlanta is horrid. The funny part is I don't think its malicious. The people seem to be pretty nice, they just don't have a clue on how to provide good service. Years ago when I was an account rep for Synovus/Total Systems (are they still a company?) we had EXTENSIVE service training same deal with New York Life.

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[atlantagreg30127]

I think one of the main cable tv providers here years ago was called Media One or something like that. I'm talking unbelievably bad customer service on the phone. It was normal to have someone chew gum on the phone or giggle with the person in the cube next to them when you called - after a one hour hold time, that is. I remember calling their HQ which at the time was in Colorado, and the gal out there said literally, "Atlanta is a thorn in our side".

Problem is, over the years varied companies have taken over the cable market here. AT&T for a while, and now Comcast, and many of those employees are still working for them. They just keep the old crew when they take over. Try calling 411 now since AT&T took over Bellsouth, too. I'm talking some mean gals on the other end, now.

[plessthanpointohfive]

I actually PREFER to talk to the automated system....

[netdragon]

Yes, I'm from CT and moved to ATL and noticed the customer service for ATL-based or Southern-based companies stinks horribly. I've noticed that in a lot of cases (A) They are rude (B) They mess up all the time or are inexperienced.