Rants, Raves, and General Observations

Rant! Ok not really going postal, but rant at the post office!

DeskDemon

Today’s piece is an rant! I would like to say it is very annoying when you go to the bank, or the post office and someone waits until he/she/they get to the counter to do all their paper work. I went to both today and I watched the people in front of me do just that. They waited to do their paperwork in front of the teller/postal worker. I personally wish the teller/postal worker would have sent these people to a different counter but the  workers  let them fill out the paperwork. One person at the post office must have taken a full five minutes filling out forms! This is really inconsiderate of others. I had three forms to fill out, all were done prior to getting in line! (as it should be in my eyes!)

While I was at the post office watching this person fill out forms, I thought, “I wonder if they are all the same spot and if  labels would have helped speed her process up?” Well I have no idea if she did, but I know labels are great and we should remember to use them. You can use them to save time on return addresses, if you go to a tradeshow or a conference where you may have to write your name on a form at each booth, bring labels with your information. That tip alone will save your hand from getting tired! If you send packages to the same company, take labels with you.  I cant think of how labels would save time at the bank, but hopefully you finish any deposit slips before you get in line! Rant done for today and if you went to the bank or the post office today, waited to fill out your forms at the counter, and someone was giving an evil eye… that could have been me. (Not really I don’t give an evil eye to anyone!) Until next time!

Going the extra step for someone .. NOT!

Ok my first rant!  I always say it is easier to complain about things then express what is going well.   My first Rant is on the MGM Signature Suites in Las Vegas.     Let me start at the beginning, I knew I was going to Las Vegas for the APC Conference months ago.   My trip was planned and paid for in full  last June.   Now, when I go to these conferences I go alone, and don’t usually enjoy all the great locations have to offer other outside a walk around the area and spoil myself to one good dinner.   Because I know I am going to spend down time in my room, my way to splurge is get a nice room.   So I was booked at the MGM Signature Suites!   The hot tub and flat screen TV looked so inviting on the website.    Too bad I never got to see it.

Now let me flash back a week before the conference, I have a daughter who wanted to go to the movies with a friend and I was light on cash.  So I said "take a $20 out of the ATM," and it was at that point, the beginning of my troubles started and when my beautiful daughter lost my credit card.   First thing I did was call the bank and ask for a new card. I had hoped it would come in before I left, but of course it came in the mail about 3 hours after I left the airport!    I never thought it would turn into such a problem.    Back to the conference, I get to the MGM Signature Suites and go to check in (remember pre paid) and can’t check me in because I don’t have a credit card.  I had anticipated they would needed some type of deposit for room incidentals so I brought enough cash for a least and extra two nights, or if needed for an emergency.  Well the MGM Signature Suites won’t take cash as a deposit.   I called home and voila I found out my credit card came in the mail!  (Murphy's law, of course it did).  So I offer to give them the new number, the 3 digit code in the back, my address,  zip, everything that could use.. say if the strip was demagnetized, but no.. they still needed THE card.   

So here I am, prepaid and of course they won’t give me my prepaid money to find a new hotel, finally my temper starting to flair, which by the way takes a lot.  I am a very even tempered person.  I started feeling stranded in Las Vegas and the person on the other side of the desk, didn’t care a bit.  She had a “no credit card, oh well, I guess it sucks to be you” type of attitude.  I asked for the manager, that was just one more, step in going  nowhere.   At this point, I was tired and frustrated and I guess I didn’t push it any farther because I do understand it is "their policy."  Though even now I tend to think I HAD a valid credit card and number and they should have stepped out of their little box and even if I just felt someone cared to help try, I would not feel so .... mad!  Not the  "no credit card, can’t help you" attitude.   

Well I have to admit I feel better ranting about this experience, but I do have a point as well. It was the MGM Signature Suites’ not willing to try and help that upset me, it was black and white issue. There can be gray, if they would have taken the time to listen to me maybe work with me to find alternate solutions (faxing of the credit card, fed ex it over night, trying to punch in the numbers as if the strip was demagnetized so it can be done) I would have felt better. It was the lack of any effort. Sometimes we can’t change a situation, but giving it your best effort is all anyone could ask for and if someone sees you are going the extra step they will appreciated the work you do, and if the outcome isn’t what you want, at least you know everything that could have been done was tried.

Tomorrow will be a more positive entry on the conference. I guess that will be a mix of Rave and the general observations you can find in-between!