Fresh Bread and Her Workers

I cried, not because I was flogged, neither was it because a guy broke my heart nor was it for reasons of me going through pain but for the consciousness of how stupid some Nigerians could be and how much some businesses don't have value for a certain perceived level of customers.

I was too tired to step out of the house that afternoon after a hectic week and an all night but I had a friend visit and I was craving for freshly baked bread (my usual snack).

With a pair of jeans, a customized Ankara t-shirt, a pair of slippers and my natural plaited hair, I stepped out under the drizzling rain to my junction where there was a bakery.

I had to wait over thirty (30) minutes standing unattended to after paying for my bread because they were attending to two (2) agents who pay a sum to collect in bulk and complete their payments after distribution.

I got so tired I retired to seating on the chair I saw empty behind me while I waited for them to bring my loaf and four doughnuts. "Oya Oya get up from my chair" that's what I heard and I took my head up surprised at why a woman will talk to her fellow woman in such arrogant manner. My response was "Madam, even if you want me to get up, should that be the way you address me? You can use a better manner able approach" and at that point, they had brought my order, so I stood up and left her throne chair for her.

To my utmost surprise, she just continued shouting, saying she had the right over the chair because she was an agent and she could tell any staff there to get up for her to. A malet's agent joined her and it was now a collabo insult. They said things like "you be agent? How many bread you wan buy sef? One (1) bread and two (2) doughnut nain you de make mouth de speak English for here? People like this no suppose to de pass this una gate sef."

Omor! I was surprised and pained but not just at their foolishness but the bakery's management. Their staff watched as they attacked without uttering a word and their accountant who just went in refused to step out.

On a normal day, they ought to put those people in order even if they have bragging rights, but I can't blame them, it just showed their interest was in people who bought in large quantities.

As for the man and lady, they spoke like they were literally paying with their personal cash and they consumed the bread themselves, they forgot its people like me that buy the bread off their shelves and smaller business owners that buy off their hands before they can make complete payments for the stock they collected.

• This incident taught me not to look down on any client/customer because truly you ought to respect everyone and give value for every cent they spend.

• I also learnt to train my workers to politely bring to order any disrespect coming from a paying customer to an intended/minimal paying customer.

• Great people could come in small or simple packages. Don't look down on anyone.

• I personally had so talked about the bread that people who know me and how stringent I can be with what it takes to be a bread I'll come back to get have started patronizing this so-called agent's vendors from their different locations. Less interest for the bread automatically stops my marketing their product which invariably means that some vendors would not be selling the number of bread they would as fast as they used to, and demands for the bread drops by a certain percentage or old stock could make people lose interest. You see the chain?

• I had intentions of using that particular bread for outreaches. Imagine me getting a thousand (1000) loaves I am to share for free on the streets (somebody will steal this one now. Hahaha), the bakery's sales would have gone up by a thousand (1000) in one day, but they lost me with one action (by allowing other customers to downsize me without protecting my small cent interest.

• I also learnt not to blame those individuals who would have paid for both their orders and taken it to the streets to give for free just to teach them the lesson of not looking down on anyone.

• Also, a paying client should not arrogantly make you have a tainted image because they want to feel important.

• Their staff couldn't say a word because the management system of the bakery had given value to the buyers and neglected empathy on the part of their staff. Treat your workers with respect.

In all, I've learnt to treat customers better than they would even treat their selves.

Jedacox Imaginations Limited can give you that special feeling especially through your space. 

I rest my case.

My Thoughts.

Your customer service could be that self-worth healing your customer might need to no longer be suicidal.

©Ala O. Wilcox.

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