example: Yesterday was a day of errands before arriving at work, you know that place where you have to go and perform so you get money to pay your bills. That work. I had to return a suit I purchased online at JC Penney in the Manhattan Mall on 34th St. Done! As I was exiting I was thinking how sad I was that the reading glasses I bought from Duane Reade, which I loved, broke. The nose guard came off. If it happens to you don’t put your glasses on, that little stub causes great pain. So as I was leaving I noticed one of those kiosks selling fashion sunglasses. You know the kind you think are $75, but really turn out to cost $150. (I can’t ever imagine spending $150 on sunglasses). I stepped up to the pretty girl & asked if she can do repairs, I’d glad pay the fee, and as she blinked her baby browns, she said there was a Lens Crafter directly above on the 2nd floor. So I headed up.
Upon entering Lens Crafter, the guy by the door said hello, the Arabish looking girl on the phone, pulled the phone from her ear and said hello (it must have been a personal call) and the girl on the end said hello.
I said (I always am guilty of offering too much information), these reading glasses were from Duane Reade, but I have purchased glasses before from Lens Crafter though my union (white lie, it was Cohen Fashion Optical) and these Duane Reade glasses lost the nose guard, which I took out of my shirt pocket and presented to them. I asked if they could fix it I would gladly pay whatever the fee charged was. The young girl took the glasses and politely motioned for me to have a seat.
After a short wait she walked over to me with my glasses in her hand, wait what was she doing, she was cleaning & polishing them with a cleaning cloth… I didn’t ask her to do that. Common sense, she thought on her own (or Lens Crafter trains their employees very well) and handed my sparkling glasses back to me with the nose guard fixed. Ah! I was so happy I wanted to hug her! Thank you, thank you I said! As we walked to the counter I took out my wallet and asked her how much. She smiled and said “No charge.” Wait, was I hearing correctly? In this down trodden economy, in a franchised chain store, this woman was saying no charge for fixing my glasses?! I had taken up 5 minutes of her labor, and she supplied one of Lens Crafters screws. And there was no fee involved? YES! Oh my! I had come across a truly warm individual, not a press 3 for English type of gal. But a gal I was able to interact with and who showed common sense and good public relations on behalf of Lens Crafters.
Still in a little shock, I asked her what her name was & extened my hand, “Iris” she said, as she extended hers. “I’m Jeff, thank you so much. I will pay this deed forward to someone else.” I left the store feeling like a million bucks and it really didn’t cost Lens Crafters more than the price of screw for eyeglasses. Kudos to you Lens Crafters for training/employing this young gal, who made my day!
I haven’t done my good deed yet (although I really do good deeds all day long, everyday… or I try to anyway.) But next Monday when I pass by, I am going to drop off a couple of NYS lottery tickets to Iris and just say “Thank you, you made my day.”
In a world where technology and automation has taken over the actual human interaction we have with each other, please let someone know that they made you happy. Even if it’s the supermarket checkout girl who smiles at you when giving you your change. I can bet any amount of money that store did not train her to smile. Have a wonderful day!
From Jeff in NYC.
Don’t they know meat loaf is juicy and soft.
(not so random acts of reality) 