Commitment to customer service

It's a tough business world out there. Businesses have to use various techniques to stay competitive and make sure their customers are satisfied. Those involved in the service end of it ( gas stations, restaurants, fast food places, etc. ) have to stay extra committed to the customer service aspect of it to ensure customers will be coming back to them and not the competitor across the road. The question I pose today is "Is there such a thing as too much effort to try to please a customer?"

Recently, I was invited to attend a birthday get together for a friend of mine. I work with this person and although we are fairly good acquaintances within work setting we have never really hung out outside work, thus I was not sure of his personal preferences in terms of what present he would appreciate. At the same time I did not want to attend empty handed.

So, I decided that perhaps a gift card from a restaurant or gas place ( considering current gas prices I know I would appreciate getting a gas card to help me out ) would be appropriate.
On my way to my friend's place I stopped at a gas station to pick up the above mentioned gift card. Once inside I have asked the service attendant where I would be able to find gift cards and he directed me in the right direction. Once at the isle where I could find such item I noticed that the only denominations available were $25, $50, and $100. None of these amounts really fit my needs , so I decided to find out if perhaps a different denomination could be issued.

Me: "Excuse me. Do you carry any other denominations of gifts cards except those available on display?" ( Notice that I asked if they 'carry' them and not if they are 'available')

Service Attendant: "Yes."

Me: "Where would I be able to find those?"

Service Attendant: "We never order those amounts and never bring them in, but you are more than welcome to take a look around the store and see if you can find any others."

Me: "But you just said that you never order any others. In either case, if on the odd chance that you did order other denominations by mistake where would they be placed?"

Service Attendant: "I don't know. They would be somewhere within the store."

Me [thinking to myself]: [Good call on the fact that they would be placed within the store.]

Me: "So, is there really a point for me to walk around the store and look for them on the odd chance that you may have them somewhere?"

Service Attendant: "No, because we don't have any others since we never order them."

I understand that the service attendant really wanted to please me as the customer. Anyway, at this point I was not sure how to respond as I still was not sure if he is genuinely trying to 'serve' me to the best of his abilities or he just trying to mess with my head as I am sure he was bored to death to be there by himself. Or perhaps other things 'start' to happen with your thinking when you spent that much time by yourself. No wonder a person can go insane when he/she is placed by himself/herself in an asylum.
So, on my way out of the store ...

Me: "Well, Thanks for your help and you have a good night."

Service Attendant: "Not if all these people keep coming for gas."

Me [thinking to myself]: [Hence it being a gas station.]

First Post or Interesting observation # 1

First post.
By the way, I forgot to mention in the disclaimer that English is not my first language and my spelling is not the best sometimes. So, if you find mistakes ... it does not really matter to me. :)

Let's start with an interesting observation #1.

I recently went on a trip to North Dakota. I was walking by an optometry store, you know one of those that sells frames and lenses for prescription glasses as well as offers eye exams. Anyway, there was a sign posted outside that store that baffled me, but at the same time made me laugh.
( Baffled ... hhmmm is that a real word ..... ....... I think it is ... will have to take a look in the dictionary )
Anyway, this sign stated the following:

"If you can't read this come on in and see us"

Is it just me or is it actually possible that a person that can't read that sign won't be coming into the store since they will have no idea what the sign said?

Disclaimer

I do not mean to offend any people by postings in this blog. For such purpose I cannot mention any places where these events take place or any names. If any posting personally offends you please e-mail me at molodoi[AT]shaw.ca , so I can remove it as soon as possible. ( Note: I am assuming you'll know that you have to replace [AT] with @ ) .