Comments on: Construction http://www.mollybloom.com/2008/02/07/construction/ knows style Fri, 18 May 2012 11:49:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: molly http://www.mollybloom.com/2008/02/07/construction/#comment-47051 molly Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:50:55 +0000 http://www.mollybloom.com/2008/02/07/construction/#comment-47051 When Nordstrom is known as the service-focused department store you know we're in trouble. When Nordstrom is known as the service-focused department store you know we’re in trouble.

]]> By: Esme Vos http://www.mollybloom.com/2008/02/07/construction/#comment-46960 Esme Vos Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:13:07 +0000 http://www.mollybloom.com/2008/02/07/construction/#comment-46960 I am in Japan this week, shopping away in Tokyo. The Japanese do things with CARE. Even young girls who work in loud teen shops provide you with more service (even though they don't speak much English) than any shop assistant in the US. They don't chew gum. They don't talk on their cell phones to their friends. And best of all, they do provide you with very useful advice on how to put various pieces together. After you pay for your clothes, they hand you the receipt with both hands and lovingly wrap your purchase. Then, they take your bag and escort you to the door, and hand the shopping bag to you. That is service. What we call "service" in Europe and the US is such a laughable concept, you might as well not use the word at all. It's a disgrace. So in department stores, you won't find expensive dresses or coats with buttons about to fall off or threads hanging. They take it off the shop floor. Until people demand real service, nothing will happen. In fact things will get much MUCH worse. I think everyone should come to Japan to experience quality, service, care and attention. Then when they go back to the US or wherever they are from, they can help upgrade the crappy quality of just about everything. I am in Japan this week, shopping away in Tokyo. The Japanese do things with CARE. Even young girls who work in loud teen shops provide you with more service (even though they don’t speak much English) than any shop assistant in the US. They don’t chew gum. They don’t talk on their cell phones to their friends. And best of all, they do provide you with very useful advice on how to put various pieces together. After you pay for your clothes, they hand you the receipt with both hands and lovingly wrap your purchase. Then, they take your bag and escort you to the door, and hand the shopping bag to you. That is service. What we call “service” in Europe and the US is such a laughable concept, you might as well not use the word at all. It’s a disgrace.

So in department stores, you won’t find expensive dresses or coats with buttons about to fall off or threads hanging. They take it off the shop floor.

Until people demand real service, nothing will happen. In fact things will get much MUCH worse.

I think everyone should come to Japan to experience quality, service, care and attention. Then when they go back to the US or wherever they are from, they can help upgrade the crappy quality of just about everything.

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