Do you think it is right for women to love their children more than their husbands?

Do you think it is right for women to love their children more than their husbands?

SIR, I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN…SIR.

By Bob “Sully” Sullivan, Host of “THE COALITION” on FM NEWS & TALK – 95.7/AM600 KOGO.

SHOULD WOMEN BE ON THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE?

Women have been fighting for equal rights for many years. Yet, there is still a stigma about them being allowed to fight alongside men on the front line.

Why? Women are just as intelligent, strong and as capable as men.

A persons gender should NOT determine what they can and cannot do.

In a time when men and women now have PRETTY MUCH equal opportunities, with both men and women serving in the Armed Forces, why is it that women are still technically barred from fighting on the front line?

Women and men work together in other areas without it affecting their judgment, often in very stressful roles such as police officers and paramedics. There are guidelines in every job for personal relationships and other aspects of non-work life affecting work.

Why would it not work with soldiers?

Soldiers on the front line work very closely together and form very intense personal relationships with each other, they are relying on each other in situations of life and death where very strong emotions crop up all the time, they justifiably all want to protect each other in order to survive, if they can't work properly under pressure of strong emotions they aren’t going to survive anyway!

O.K., I’ll take the bait…

Stereotypically, women are said to be somewhat more sensitive than men, however, it has been proven that women are mentally and emotionally stronger than men.

Women do cry more, and show emotions more, but this is actually what makes them stronger  - mentally and emotionally.

SO, SHOULD WOMEN BE ON THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE?

The fairer sex’s ability to cope so easily makes them stronger in VERY stressful areas. If you can cope with emotions and stress, you're able to take on more stress.

Let’s face it, women can handle more!

Like my mom said, “Bahb-ee don’t keep your emotions inside, it’s unhealthy there Bahb.”

It Is Discriminatory to Bar Women from Combat?

No, because...

Women are just as capable as men. Women are strong, intelligent and persevere more than men anyway…

Women shouldn’t be stopped from serving their country if they wish to do so.

Although I will admit that there are some differences between the sexes, for example men are physically stronger than most women, strength isn't always a factor.

The only strength that matters is strength of mind and heart. Women can be just as fit as the men. Gender shouldn't have to be an issue.

I have heard arguments that perhaps women have an effect on the men that could cause them to risk their own lives to save a woman's.   And for the record…chivalry is not dead yet.

In my view, there isn't really much that a man can do that a woman can't.

If she has chosen to join the Armed Forces she knows what she is facing. Giddy up!

7:06 - CUSTOMER SERVICE? WHAT CUSTOMER SERVICE?!?!

IS THE CUSTOMER ALWAYS RIGHT? By Bob “Sully” Sullivan, Host of “THE COALITION” on FM NEWS & TALK – 95.7/AM600 KOGO.

Do you think OVERALL customer service has gotten worse over the years here in San Diego? In the U.S.?

Too easy, right?

I could as well have asked, do you eat?

Bad customer service really pisses me off. And not just because it’s an irritant that causes me stress, lost time and on occasion, lost money.

It pisses me off because there’s no excuse for it.

This past weekend I had 6 BAD customer service experiences.

#1 – The Apple Store in UTC

#2  - A Sushi restaurant in Del Mar

#3  - A customer service rep for the Padres

#4  - The Cinepolis Theatre in Carmel Valley

#5  - The King’s Fish House near Fashion Valley

#6 -  The Apple Store in Fashion Valley

What would YOU have done in these situations I discussed tonight on THE COALITION?!

I am appalled at the customer service industry in general and how it has deteriorated so over the last twenty years. 

It is at the point where people working in these industries just don't care anymore?

It seems they just show up looking for a pay check. 

If there is a problem to deal with, a service rep these days will always try to pass the buck or give the, "I don't know" response, or "have you tried calling..."  The majority of customer service representatives these days don't wish to take responsibility for trying to resolve customer issues from the get go. 

-GOOD customer service can help keep a customer coming back for years.  But BAD customer service can do the opposite. 

Here's a list from Inc.com of the top five phrases customers hate to hear.

#1.)  "I'm Sorry, but That's Our Policy."  It just makes you angrier and more frustrated.  And you're less likely to REMAIN a customer.  Basically, they're just trying to get rid of you, and it's obvious.

#2.)  "There's Nothing I Can Do."  It's another one that turns customers away.  Plus, it's usually not true.  At the very least, they can offer you a refund.  Or if THEY can't, their manager probably can.

#3.)  "Can You Hold for a Minute?"  Chances are, you've already BEEN on hold, so they shouldn't leave you hanging without telling you when they'll be back.

--It's much better when they get specific and say something like, "I'm putting you on hold so I can talk to my supervisor.  But I'll be back in a minute to let you know if I have an answer yet."

It appears that when customer service reps encounter a problem, there has to be some kind of computer malfunction, and they have no idea what to do next.  Most don't think anymore; they need a screen prompter to tell them what to do next.  It's sad but true, most people are not trained to keep customers, they are just trained to acquire. 

NEXT customer.

Here is my approach to customer service.  I call it the "Old School Approach to Customer Service", but if you want to keep and maintain a great customer relationship, it is a sure way to WIN and KEEP your customer for as long as you both need each other.

I can't figure out why customer service is so difficult.  But then, is it not true ... relationships that do not work is because each is on an entirely different page. 

Now that's fodder for another Blog.

·      I was always a bit uncomfortable with those overly exuberant servers who introduced themselves with a “Hi, I’m Amber…” and did everything but give you a back massage while you dipped into your french onion soup.

It was artificial. You knew it and Amber knew it. But the overall experience was pleasant so money exchanged hands and the deed was done.

At a time when money is tight, when consumers have to be more discriminating as to where they make their purchases, it would benefit most companies to take a close look at Nordstrom. Where service AFTER the sales is MORE important than the sale.

And with examples of retailers doing it right – like Nordstom, why does customer service still suck so much? Giddy up.