The Magic Fire Department Jacket Of Excellent Customer Service

One great way to get good customer service is to wear fire department gear. Usually my relationship with local merchants is pretty neutral. I give them money, they give me goods and services, and we both go on our ways without too much in the way of exchanging of pleasantries. But recently my EMT buddy gave me a super-comfortable official FDNY sweatjacket (it’s got a zipper, my name on the pocket, a FDNY badge on the left shoulder, an (empty) station badge on the left breast and FDNY stitched in outline on the back) for my birthday and when I wore it to get breakfast, both the bagel guy and the coffee guy were much friendlier than they’ve ever been. I do not in any way condone impersonating emergency workers or law enforcement personnel, I just thought it was interesting to see in person the difference in how stores treated me just based on the jacket I wore. Though, I couldn’t help thinking about wearing it and going back to Commerce Bank and see if they’ve changed their mind about waiving that account inactivity fee…

Comments

  1. strathmeyer says:

    Hey! We give this service to hot chicks, too!

  2. nsv says:

    I stopped at a store for food after a fire once. I was dirty, smelled of smoke, and wearing bunker pants and a sweaty FD t-shirt, but I was absolutely starving. I ran in, made a surgical strike to the sandwiches, and ran to the register.

    The old man behind me made a point of turning up his nose and sniffing, then dramatically stepping back to get away from my stench. The cashier looked at me like I was begging for a handout. (Yes, I had my wallet in hand, expecting to pay.)

    I hope they never need my services.