The irony of good customer service

They always say that the customer is king. However, good customer service rules! Having said that, I'd like to point out a KFC outlet in Toa Payoh whose staff has never failed in this department. And to top it off, this outlet is run by a crew who are deaf.

From the time your order is taken right up to the time that your food is served, the counter crew will always serve you with a smile and, through out all the times that I've eaten there never once did they get my order wrong though I'm really bad at sign language.

So what's the irony in this? Well, quite often if you were to step into any other fast food outlet you'll often be greeted by sullen, listless counter staff muttering inaudible sentences sounding very much like wookies about to die. What's more, there are times they either don't listen or they screw up the order in which I sometimes even wonder why I even bothered to patronise them.

In comparison, the deaf crew at the KFC outlet greet every customer with a smile, are fast with processing orders and they ensure that every customer has a pleasant experience. So why can't everyone, both able and disabled, have the same drive towards good customer service?

I somehow believe it's the hunger that the KFC crew possess in wanting to prove themselves to us to be accepted as part of society. However, in their drive to do so, they have also shown that many folks in the service industry have often taken the customer for granted and that it's just a job and they're in it to draw a paycheck blah blah blah! Don't get me wrong, I've experienced my fair share of good customer service from able bodied staff. However, with the government's emphasis on promoting good customer service, perhaps they should use this KFC outlet as a model case study for everyone to follow.