Lindsey’s Daily Deal: Customer Service On Hold, Crunching and An Ode To My One True Love

By Lindsey Campbell, Captains of Industry

Hey Captains’ Readers,

Here’s your Wednesday Deal:

1. Can I put you on hold?

While everything else in the business world is getting more social, customer service seems to be getting less involved. Just the other day, I was happily engrossed in the bickering mess that was The Real Housewives of New York City reunion special when my cable froze, and the reason why Jill has been heinous to Bethenny the entire season was lost. Just like that. Rather than stewing, I decided to be proactive and call Comcast. Multiple times. They didn’t pick up. So, I tried going online and chatting with a Comcast employee about my reality television woes. No dice. I was the 784th person in line to speak with someone. Obviously they were having some sort of glitch in their system, and I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy. But the thing is, I’m still not. They never sent me an email, called or gave me a letter explaining what happened, or even to apologize.

According to Christine Whittermore of MarketingProfs, this kind of thing happens all the time. She explains that when companies don’t provide a social media-based customer service venue, they’re basically pushing their consumers to start talking to someone who WILL listen. And now that everyone with a Facebook account has the opportunity to be more vocal, it behooves organizations to consider making their customer service capabilities available in the places that people are congregating the most, social networking sites. But it’s also important to remember that customer loyalty, brand fervor and word-of-mouth endorsements only come from happy and respected customers. Not ones that missed the girl fight of the century.

2. Crunch

Are you a fan of loud foods? Carrots, candy, chips? Me too. In fact, there are so many of us that Kettle Potato Chips created the Loud Food Club. A haven where we no longer have to shield ourselves from the annoyed stares of soft-food-eating cube mates at the office, and where we can chew as loudly as our teeth and jaws will allow. In fact, you can download the membership kit, which includes an interoffice disclaimer email, pictographic crunch courtesy instructions, an LFC pencil flag and loud food crunch caution signage. There’s also a $1-off coupon and a sweepstakes entry for the chance to win free Kettle chips for one year. That’s a lot of potatoes. So if you’re a fan of loud foods, or just like free stuff, join the club. Let the chomping commence!

3. An Ode to Salt

I’m not just in love with salt. I have a mad lust that pepper alone just can’t extinguish. It goes on everything I eat. Pasta, salad, any and every meat product, even watermelon. And the look of pure disgust on my dad’s face as I shake a tsunami’s worth of salt on a fresh piece of corn on the cob only seals the deal. However, like any addict, I’m beginning to grow tired of the constant lectures that come along with my dependency. I’ve heard it all. It’s bad for your heart. It’s bad for your skin. Even my own mother pulled out the big guns and told me it would make me fat (low blow, Mom). Yet, the thought of an extra pound or two hasn’t curbed my craving for that seductively grainy, white compound. Which was why I was surprised to find that there are others out there just like me. Craving salt. Collecting takeout salt packets. Fantasizing about salt licks for humans.  And now I can be at one with my own kind thanks to John Hayes, Ph.D.

CNN reported that Hayes recently conducted a study that showed that people who love salt might actually be “supertasters”— those who experience flavors more intensely than others do. Hayes explains that we dynamic taste-bud-wielding folk crave salt because we’re more sensitive to taste than other regular-tongued people. Apparently, the taste of salt helps cancel out bitterness, making the foods we love taste better to our palette. So if I’m forced to eat something like broccoli, I’ll be more likely to pour on the salt because it will take away some of the bite. But even though Hayes might have cracked the code on taste, results from any health report you can get your hands on shows that excess sodium isn’t great for your body in the long run. Bummer. It looks like salt and I might have to start seeing other people. Oregano, basil, garlic, dill? They just don’t sound as appealing. Unfortunately for me, the taste buds want what they want. Sigh.

Until tomorrow,

Captain Salty