COMMENT: Customer Service

CUSTOMER service is vital in making sure diners get the best possible experience - and the more memorable the occasion, the more likely they are to return to spend their hard-earned.

Which is why I find being badly let down TWICE by local restaurants in a matter of weeks so disturbing.

On the first occasion, I had arranged for a special delivery of a single-stem flower for an 18th birthday celebration.

I had not been able to be there but just wanted the recipient to feel special.

The florists did their bit and delivered earlier that evening.

The restaurant 'forgot' and had the cheek to ring the birthday girl while she was on her way home in a taxi to tell her to call and pick it up another day!

What?

The second shameful episode came when I actually went into a second restaurant and paid for wine for friends I was not going to be able to join the next night due to being double booked.

They took my money - but my friends got no wine.

It was meant to be a surprise.

Any apology is useless as the moment is gone.

In fact, had I not made a polite inquiry as to how the wine went down all would have been none the wiser and the restaurant pocketed the cash!

I compare these two to being on the other end of a surprise just before Christmas when out with six close friends at a top-class Rochdale hotel.

We arrived, got seated in the lounge and before we could even order drinks out came a bottle of champagne and glasses - courtesy of a fellow 'Friday night Gang' member who wasn't able to be with us.

A great start - a few tears and texts followed - and a memorable night had lift-off - and the hotel were even being paid for the champers that added the magic!

We'll be back there - which is more than can be said for the other two.

Say goodbye to my custom. I won't name them but at least I know they know who they are!

Not up to scratch and plenty of other places to choose from, I say.

Have you had good or bad customer service experiences. Send your comments in the box below