Went to see Jannick last week; would have taken Joanne as well, but she didn't seem to be available. Have had wonderful sessions with them both. They're a bit pricey, but know their stuff. Thought it was a sure thing.
Alas, just like with model railroads, I guess, there are no sure things in this hobby.
Call two hours ahead, didn't recognize the bright chirpy voice, but she assures me she's Jannick. Make appt. Arrive, buzz, they ask me to come back in a few minutes. I do. It's worth it, I figure. Anyone can run over time now and then, right?
On my return, they buzz me up. Greeted by a SP I've never seen before. She's on the phone. Hands the phone to me, confusion reigns, takes a while to figure out that it's an off site "receptionist".
It turned out that Jannick, who is the owner, had hired a new receptionist, Marie, who handles calls for appointments remotely. Marie had told me she was Jannick, which was very reassuring at the time. Except that she forgot to tell the Jannick about the appt. Not just mine. Several of appts. (Doesn't really seem like that hard a job to me, Marie.)
"We asked her not to do that," SP2 told me. But Marie says she's Jannick or Joanne anyway.
Marie had things in a royal mess. When I arrived, SP2 told me Jannick was busy for ANOTHER HOUR. Worse, there was already a guy there who had been waiting at least 30 min, while Jannick finished up in another room! He was next, not me. SP2 was leaving from frustration at having to deal with calls and two customers who understandably believed they had an appt. with Jannick.
Many telephone calls by SP2 and about 25 minutes later, I could see it was hopeless. Chaos. SP2 was very pissed at Jannick, who none of us ever saw. Would have been nice of her to come out and apologize to us all and maybe offer a discount for the next time. Not a peep though.
When it was over, I'd wasted around 1 hr 30 min. and still had my load.
There are lots of other MPs/SPs in this city who understood from day 1 that this is not the way to keep 'em coming back for more. It'll be a long, long time before I go back there again.
If you go, make sure of who you're talking to. If she sounds young and chirpy, it's Marie, and you may be on your way to blowing a couple of very strange hours.
Let us know if/when they get this straightened out. Good luck. Glans out.
Alas, just like with model railroads, I guess, there are no sure things in this hobby.
Call two hours ahead, didn't recognize the bright chirpy voice, but she assures me she's Jannick. Make appt. Arrive, buzz, they ask me to come back in a few minutes. I do. It's worth it, I figure. Anyone can run over time now and then, right?
On my return, they buzz me up. Greeted by a SP I've never seen before. She's on the phone. Hands the phone to me, confusion reigns, takes a while to figure out that it's an off site "receptionist".
It turned out that Jannick, who is the owner, had hired a new receptionist, Marie, who handles calls for appointments remotely. Marie had told me she was Jannick, which was very reassuring at the time. Except that she forgot to tell the Jannick about the appt. Not just mine. Several of appts. (Doesn't really seem like that hard a job to me, Marie.)
"We asked her not to do that," SP2 told me. But Marie says she's Jannick or Joanne anyway.
Marie had things in a royal mess. When I arrived, SP2 told me Jannick was busy for ANOTHER HOUR. Worse, there was already a guy there who had been waiting at least 30 min, while Jannick finished up in another room! He was next, not me. SP2 was leaving from frustration at having to deal with calls and two customers who understandably believed they had an appt. with Jannick.
Many telephone calls by SP2 and about 25 minutes later, I could see it was hopeless. Chaos. SP2 was very pissed at Jannick, who none of us ever saw. Would have been nice of her to come out and apologize to us all and maybe offer a discount for the next time. Not a peep though.
When it was over, I'd wasted around 1 hr 30 min. and still had my load.
There are lots of other MPs/SPs in this city who understood from day 1 that this is not the way to keep 'em coming back for more. It'll be a long, long time before I go back there again.
If you go, make sure of who you're talking to. If she sounds young and chirpy, it's Marie, and you may be on your way to blowing a couple of very strange hours.
Let us know if/when they get this straightened out. Good luck. Glans out.