13.12.07

90th post! LANDMARK(Shop) Attracts .. Billing counter Repells!

LANDMARK
2wentyears!


The 90th post! Today was the 20th anniversary of Landmark !
Landmark celebrated its 20th anniversary today. (Landmark since 13th Dec 1987)

"Keeping up with modern times"
They say...
"Keeping up with Customers satisfaction?"
I ask..

This morning we decided to visit the LANDMARK shop to get some books. Mom,Dad, me & my sis. It was pretty good time there. We do not visit landmark very often, but only odyssey or Higginbothams. We had been to the Landmark at Spencer plaza this time. When we saw the crowd in Landmark we were taken aback, though majority of the crowd went missing in the books section. And we did not have much time to spend in other places so we finished our browsing picked few books then came to the billing section after few hours of browsing. When I reached the billing section, I was like “ WHAAAAAAAAAAT!!! ”

The queue(s) were really long…I knew it was going to take time. So I told my dad & mom to sit somewhere (There were no chairs near the billing section for people to wait or rest). I waited… then this “loosu” boy came & asked me to split the queue & take a new one. IDIOT HE WAS!

“Why do you ask us to start a new one there? Are there anyone to bill us here? I don’t see any counter!”

And he went like “This que is growing longer …”

Me: “Yeah… Try getting them note this & be quick. What do expect us to do there? Stare at the wall? Or create more confusion?”

By this time my sis who was adjacent to me said “He is trying to create an impression like it’s not over crowded for more people to come in & queue up! Do not bother to split the queue. Let us stay where we are.” She asked “Is there a counter there?! “and gave a look to the guy that chased him off :P Hehe…I love her! :D when she does that..ERRR URF URFF!

Dad preferred to stay back & wait for me while sis took mom outside. And we waited… waited.. for a long time… long long time.. Almost 45 mins! YEAH you read it, 45 SOLID MINUTE. After 15 mins of wait & me pestering dad to take a seat, he got tired of my BLAH BLAH & went back to look into the new arrivals. Then Dad came back for me after 15 mins & just 2 people had cleared out in my queue. And Dad was like “IS THE QUE MOVING AT ALL?”

Dad went to browse more books as I told him it would take some more time. I felt these books were getting heavier after the wait. Thank goodness we had only been to the books section or I wonder how long they would have made us wait. We were probably the early ones to come to the billing counter.

By this time there were enough of.. “ Shhhh…” … “ Ufffffff “…” Oh….” And a few “ Grrrrrrrrr “ and I happened to say this aloud even without noticing am loud “ Are they using Pen & Notepads to bill ?” And the girls in front of me went like “YEAH! L Seems like that.. we have been queuing for ages! ” …

By this time these girls started to chat & we were talking. I enjoyed the chit chat with them. Poor girls, they waited to pay for “CHAK DE” & a couple of Hindi movies. The wait was too much to get just that. And time went on… Dad came back, and he saw me stand as 3rd in the queue. I wasn’t done yet. He said “Its been FORTY FIVE MINUTES! What is taking them so long!!” And in the mean time one of the supervisors recognized dad & came to him. Already fuming, Dad said he would like to meet the manager … Very inefficient… blah blah. And the man was like “very sorry sir.. This is one of the busy days. We have our anniversary being celebrated with a sale , so the crowd is pretty more. …”

And Dad was like “DO NOT TELL ME YOU DNT EXPECT A CROWD! You should have been prepared with more counters & manpower ”

Then this guy went like “Very very sorry sir! I will make sure this do not happen…Blah Blah ”

Dad did know all these were mere excuses he is making so that Dad doesn’t make it an issue & complain. By this time, we were finally THERE! I just wanted to pay the bill & get the hell out of that place. Usually I smile or say a thank you before I recieve the bag & leave. This time… MHUM!! I WAS NOT READY FOR EVEN A LOOK! When I was about to turn to leave this guy rushed to give me their souvenirs & some Chocolates. And I was couldn’t help asking him “FOR WAITING SO LONG?HUH!” . He simply smiled! I waved to those friends I made there & left. I knew Dad was pretty pissed off too.

Then we came to have something… yeah we were tired after 4 SOLID hours. It was nice that time . Eating what we like with whom we love . OI! MY MOM, MY DAD, MY SIS :P

Only the Billing time was HELL, rest of the day was really enjoyable.

# Why have only few counters (was it 4? I don’t exactly remember the number) on a busy day- special day – UR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION SALE DAY? I would say they just did not bother about keeping the people happy.

# Probably because you know we come to billing after deciding what we want & after spending so much time & picking the books or whatever. Dad told me something after 45 mins when I was the third one “Lets put them back & go home! That should DO!” Hearing this, some people who were far far far behind us in the queue :P DID DO IT!

Well next time I see a shop where people work at this speed (Speed? The very word cannot be used here. It would be an insult to the word speed!) I will throw the things back & SIMPLY LEAVE. The wait was too much. Imagine how those girls should have felt. They were waiting to pay for only2 or 3 DVD’s. It’s not worth the wait. The offer was just some 20%!

# When you have a shop that has a larger space for accommodating more people – with some math you should also have more number of billing counters to accommodate the people to wait in the QUEUE without any grudge or irritation. (And necessarily not have a “loosu” boy asking people to take a new line to avoid their embarrassment.)

# If you are not CAPABLE to HANDLE THE CROWD … then why concentrate too much in publicizing or advertising about your shop. Then try not to get noticed!

# Before announcing a sale, you should also equip yourself (Man power & the goods) prepare to face double than what you expect.

I wonder how it would have been after 6 in that place. That’s the time office goers and most of the crowd would land up.

# I don’t know what great business books tell you to be successful. But as a customer, I can tell you that you need to have people LEAVE YOUR PLACE with a happy face if you want them to come back. One irritating occasion is enough to stop them coming back, at least for the sensitive few this is RULE.1. They won’t give you excuse , for there are many others like you to sell their goods.

# Do not pay all your attention in making people pick the goods ( Sir..idhu vangikonga.. idhu nalla irukum… You will love this once you use it.) but also in making sure they are comfortable through out the stay till they step out.

# I remember the places where the shop may not look very HIFI but people work dedicatedly, provide you good that you like & want, and who do not compromise in quality. They will have better profit than what we can imagine.

Landmark did have good books & also a decent place (?) but the billing section, such a small place had spoiled all the Joy in visiting the shop. TALENTED!

PS: Yesterday in spencers I have managed to do something I have never(wanted to) done in my ENTIRE LIFE. Had it not been appa to hold my hand and say..”Come on! Climb on…its real simple. You Have to dear! … It’s JUST AN ESCALATOR!” YES!

YEAH LAUGH! :P I HATE these machines, that creep up like worms & to climb on one of those and creep on…YIKES! I HATE IT!
I have always managed to use the lift & avoid these creepers through out my life. YESTERDAY! I made it…I finally used it!

But when we came back down – I insisted this time they let me come ONLY BY AN ELEVATOR & NOT AN ESCALATOR. We all used an elevator ( Why call it just an ELEVATOR/LIFT when it also helps u come down? NOW THAT IS A QUESTION YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT. Hahahaa :D )

And hey, I do not propaganda negatively about landmark. DO visit the shop , may be that day was their worst day too. It must have been hell for them handling such huge crowd.

DO visit the place , they do have good books & if you see a VERY LONG Queue then these guys haven’t learnt their lesson. You kindly put the books back & leave the place. Come home blog about it :P & let me know you have a post! :)

ADIOS!
~Maruthu

77 comments:

Jeevan said...

That's cool about Landmark!

நாகை சிவா said...

//"Keeping up with modern times"
They say...
Keeping up with Customers satisfaction?
I ask..//

:)

CVR said...

Birthday-va??
Wish you many more happy returns!! :-)

Dreamzz said...

//The 90th post!//
Congrats!

Dreamzz said...

//"Keeping up with modern times"
They say...
Keeping up with Customers satisfaction?
I ask..//
LOL!

U said...

90th post on 20th anniversay.. hayo hayo... ennaku ennamo not only on busy days. take any weekend after 6 it is like that only

U said...

By this time there were enough of.. “ Shhhh…” … “ Ufffffff “…” Oh….” And a few “ Grrrrrrrrr “


uff. oh . grrr LOL.. i can see u literally there..

U said...

//ts put them back & go home! That should DO!” Hearing this, some people who were far far far behind us in the queue :P DID DO IT! ///

ROTFL...

U said...

//They were waiting to pay for only2 or 3 DVD’s. It’s not worth the wait. The offer was just some 20%//

not worth the wait. hey appo nee enna avalo vanguna. payankaramana purchase pola...

U said...

//Yesterday in spencers I have managed to do something I have never(wanted to) done in my ENTIRE LIFE. //

ennada ethu. i dont want to generalise. but almost all girls i know. they hate the word escalaltor and they never use it.. appadi enna gaandu athu mela ellorukum...

U said...

//I wonder how it would have been after 6 in that place. That’s the time office goers and most of the crowd would land up.// :O

oh appo nee ponnathu day timela.. sutham...

U said...

//Why call it just an ELEVATOR/LIFT when it also helps u come down?/


MUDILA... saaaaaabaaaaaa

Sudha said...

Why call it just an ELEVATOR/LIFT when it also helps u come down? NOW THAT IS A QUESTION YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT
-nice thinking.

Sudha said...

The shop must equip itself With counters.You are right .Manpower strength has to be increased.Many a company do not do that.

Sudha said...

Hey i have tagged u!!!!Check details.

Compassion Unlimitted said...

Dhool..90 posts already..just 10 short of the magic figure (great discovery from me !!)Keep it up
Landmark, yes will achieve it..lol
TC
CU

Naveen said...

Oh...,,, I Seeee..!!....:)

Marutham said...

@Adiya

:>

Marutham said...

@Jeevan,

:) Well it was pretty annoying too jeevan .. QUEUE was too long!

Marutham said...

@Nagai Siva,
Vanakkam Boss! :) Welcome here

Marutham said...

@CVR,

Meendum ennai kuzhapum oru comment from the great CVR :P
Naanum indha vaati read the post again after seeing your comment ..But confuse panra mari edhum ilaye :(

Ennachu CVR en blog varapo matum edhum ........;) thooka kalakam?

Idhu 2nd/3rd time u have confused me.
Adutha post...
" Why does Cvr get confused when i write very clearly ?" :P

Marutham said...

@Dreamz,

Ippo LOL :P anaal appo GR>>>LOLLL LOLL :P BARK panadha korai

Marutham said...

@Jagan,
//90th post on 20th anniversay.. hayo hayo... ennaku ennamo not only on busy days. take any weekend after 6 it is like that only//

Nandri :P oh.. apdiya.. we were pretty early. Apdina after 6? :O

//uff. oh . grrr LOL.. i can see u literally there..//
:P Well did u also see the POGAI from my KAADHU :P
//oh appo nee ponnathu day timela.. sutham...//

VERY CLEAN ;)

//MUDILA... saaaaaabaaaaaa//
:D HEHEHE!

Marutham said...

@Jagan,
//ennada ethu. i dont want to generalise. but almost all girls i know. they hate the word escalaltor and they never use it.. appadi enna gaandu athu mela ellorukum...//
ETHANA PONNUNGA SIR? :P
Anubava saali dhan neenga! :P
NOTED! :P

U said...

//ETHANA PONNUNGA SIR? :P
Anubava saali dhan neenga!/
:P //

adinga.. udane kelambiduvingalee...
neraya landmarkla pathu eruken..so sonnen..

udane... en ene

Marutham said...

@Jagan,

Amaam amaam ilaya pinna neenga landmark poitu velila vandha udane.. adhavadhu vara vazhila dhan...oru 10/15 ponnunga quela ninnu bayandhanga :P i know i know

U said...

:))

yeah u were the 12 in the queue right :P

Marutham said...

@ Jagan

:P Enaku billing queue pathadhume QUEUE apdingra word allergy :P
idhulayum queue'aaaaaaaaa :((
MUDILA...
Adhu nana irukaadhu :P

Marutham said...

@Jagan,
Ekka chekama sight adicha apdi dhaan vision problems varumaam :P
It was not me :P

Marutham said...

@Sudhakar,
//-nice thinking..//
Thanku . But ANS? ;)

//The shop must equip itself With counters.You are right .Manpower strength has to be increased.Many a company do not do that.//
Very true & they are the ones who close down in very short period after opening their outlet.

//Hey i have tagged u!!!!Check details.//
Sure boss! :) Will see it...

Marutham said...

@CU,
//Dhool..90 posts already..just 10 short of the magic figure (great discovery from me !!)Keep it up
Landmark, yes will achieve it..lol
TC
CU//

Nandri for the math :P

& Landmark... :) Hope they do.. THEY BETTER DO :P

Marutham said...

@Naveen,
//Oh...,,, I Seeee..!!....:)//

:P oh yeah.. u better do

KIDDING :)

U said...

allergy queue pathu ella. escalator pathu :P

U said...

ennaku vision problem erukara mathiri nan sollave ellaya.. :P

Marutham said...

@Jagan,
:P enaku ippo Queue'na allergy dhaan jagan.

Oru one month thaangum ipo create aana irritation..

And vision problem :P IS A JOKE!

Anonymous said...

lovely reading...so you are having an wonderful festive season!

U said...

//Oru one month thaangum ipo create aana irritation../

oh appram thirupi poi queuela nipiya :P

Gopalan Ramasubbu said...

Landmark and Higginbothams are the only two reasons why I had to pay my visit to Chennai in my every trip to India. btw Isai kuyil, If I were you, I would have read some 50 odd page book in that 45 min wait time and returned it back to them saying "I changed my mind" :D :P

//We all used an elevator ( Why call it just an ELEVATOR/LIFT when it also helps u come down? [Photo] NOW THAT IS A QUESTION YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT. Hahahaa :D )//

That's a good one..btw,entha book la ithai padicha? :P.. and how's u r throat? got u r voice back? :)

Priya said...

Congrats on ur 90th post.

Movie Mazaa said...

....and ofcourse a very merry xmas and an extremely wonderful new year to u! do hv a blast!
:)

Sreejith Panickar said...

Hei little marutham!!!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

J said...

Landmark - I had been there when I was in India for vacation. good place.

eppadi iruka? Hope you are enjoying the holidays :-)

Arunkumar said...

45 mts billing time.. uh?
i wonder why no one started a tea shop near the billing counter :P

Arunkumar said...

stopping by @ ur blog after a long time.. have a heavy Q of posts to read hehe :P

Arunkumar said...

Wish you and your family members,a very Happy,Successful and Prosperous New year 2008

Anonymous said...

What's the music playing on your page? I love it! How can I get it? I live in New York City...
Thanks!

Raghavan alias Saravanan M said...

Hello Marutham,

#. Perhaps this is my 1st comment though i had passed by your blog sometimes back.

#. Well narrated experiences with a proper mixture which keeps the readers intact.

#. Sorry for all the impediments you have faced. As you said, 'No way! those people would remain as such'.

Advice thaan konjam thookkal but it deserves! :(

#. I recollect the same situation which happens in 'Big Bazaaaaaar' in Bangalore wherein it takes 3 to 4 hours to pay the bill in the counter for the things we might have taken in 5 minutes!

Enjoyed reading ur post.
Congrats on 90th Post :)

#. The welcoming song 'Ottraikkanale' from the film 'Vel' was too good :)

Marutham said...

@Kalyan,

Thank you :)Wish you a great new year !

Marutham said...

@Jagan,
//oh appram thirupi poi queuela nipiya :P//
this lollu is never the less! :P
INDHA LOLLUKU ONNUM KORACHAL ILA !

Marutham said...

@Gopalan,
//returned it back to them saying "I changed my mind" :D :P..//
Adhaye dhaan appa sonanga potruken :)

//That's a good one..btw,entha book la ithai padicha? :P.. and how's u r throat? got u r voice back? :)//
Nakkala... elaam thana thonradhu dhaan... SUYA PUTHI :P
Voice... hmm ... Getting better! :)

Marutham said...

@Priya,

Thank you very much :)

Marutham said...

@MM<

THANK YOU :D Wish you a very very Happy new year!

Marutham said...

@Sreejith,

:D Thank you PUDHU MAAPLAI!

Wish you & your miss a very very happy new year!

Marutham said...

@J,

:D hehe... edho unga puniyathula nalla iruken akka! ;)

How are u? Happy new year wishes to you.

Marutham said...

@Arunkumar,

Yaruppa ange? :P

Marutham said...

@Arunkumar,
:) Jokes apart... welcome back & thank you.
Wishes to you & ur family for a prosperous NEW YEAR!

Marutham said...

@Micro,
Thank you friend. I hope ur not YET ANOTHER SPAM GENERATOR.
well in any case.. the sogn that you hear is from a tamil movie calle "VEL" Try googling to download the song. :)

Marutham said...

@Raaghs,
Nandri & Welcome here Ragavan :)

//3 to 4 hours to pay the bill in the counter for the things we might have taken in 5 minutes!//
DNT TELL ME U WAITED!!!!!!!!

//#. Sorry for all the impediments you have faced.// That is nice of u... but neenga enna panuveenga ! :)

Thank you :) for the analysis... yes konjam adhiga advice dhaan ..but t wait was too LONG! So mudila ;)

Marutham said...

@ All,
Thank you all friends & sorry for the delay in responding to the comments. WISH YOU ALL A VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Raghavan alias Saravanan M said...

Hello Marudham,

neengalum htaan thookka kalakkuthala irukkeenga pola..

spelling mistakes :(.. "Raaghs" oru 'a' extra.. 'Ragavan' , 'h' vittuteenga! :((. its okay.. just kidding..

yes madam. I did wait and have experienced many times. thats why i said, "enjoyed reading ur post" and i meant it!

//That is nice of u... but neenga enna panuveenga ! :) //

ipdi orutharukku oruthar aaruthal sollika vendiyaathu thaan! :P

//Thank you :) for the analysis... //
analysis? me? eppo enga?

//yes konjam adhiga advice dhaan ..but t wait was too LONG! So mudila ;)//

karikkitta sonnenga...

next meet pandrean..

Compassion Unlimitted said...

Hi
Wish you a very happy new year
TC
CU

Ramakrishnan said...

hi
first time here. from jagan's.

and yes. queues are an irritating experience. more when someone behind you in queue is served. At the petrol bunk or hotel. all the worse, if you dont know the local language to argue or fight.

U said...

@ramak

remember our college times. at KG we have stood for hours for tickets.. :))

கைப்புள்ள said...

டேக் ஒன்னு உங்க பேருல இருக்கு...ப்ளீஸ் வந்து தொடரனும்...கவலை பட வேணாம். நீங்க ரசிக்கிற ஒரு விஷயம் தான். நன்றி.

http://kaipullai.blogspot.com/2008/01/blog-post_11.html

Balaji S Rajan said...

I had been a regular Landmark customer in those days. Honestly speaking I do not like nowadays when I visit them. Probably it could be due to so many reasons. Sorry no more comments to add about it. Hey... you are rocking with your new blog... Photos... are super.

dangiankit said...

Higginbothams, and Spencer Plaza! Hmm... these are those places where I used to hang around at Chennai earlier. I believe, they are close to that LIC building on Mount Road, if I'm not wrong!

And yeah, I didn't want to blog for sometime, and was into 'some' shell, but now I'm back! Take good care. ;-)

Marutham said...

@Raghavan,
//"enjoyed reading ur post" and i meant it!//
;) Sari nambinom

//ipdi orutharukku oruthar aaruthal sollika vendiyaathu thaan! :P//
:) ROMBA NALLA MANASU UNGALUKU. Nandri

Marutham said...

@CU,
:D Pongal mudinju new year wish'ku thank you solradhu mosam dhan ...Irundhalum...
THANK YOU :) Wish you a great year ahead

Marutham said...

@Rama Krishnan,
First time here :) ...

WELCOME ABOARD!
//queues are an irritating experience. more when someone behind you in queue is served//
Very true...
But one thing on this note :) when it happens again.. DO NOT FEEL BAD TO MAKE A SARCASTIC COMMENT :) - it had happened in my college once.
:P It may sound ODD but trust me this happened.. the girls in the canteen counter( who are aged 20+) are always DISINTERESTED when girls go to buy token :D So one such occassion while i was handing the money & the silly boy behind me also handed the money. WHAT SHOULD HAVE SHE DONE... " Follow the queue !" I was hoping for this..but :(

SHE IGNORED ME :(( & got the money from the boy and flirted " Ennapa venum? "
Namakku kaadhula elaam orey pogai.
Summa pona singathuku asingam so..
"Nama elaam epo dhaan indha ponungaluku VISIBLE'a irupomo... next time que'la irukra payan kitaye kuduthralaam.Seekram proccess agum." to my friend.

Kadupayruppa... Badhil pesavum mudiyadhu... pesinalum nama summa irukka matom. ;) Amaidhiya poradhu vida idhu oru chinna soiodu vecha mariyavdhu irukum. AND IF YOU FIND THE SAME PERSON DO IT AGAIN>.. Summa vidadheenga...
( Missing those days :) - Those were the days that taught us more than what the 19 years of life had not taught till then )

//if you dont know the local language to argue or fight.// Konjam kashtam dhaan.. on such occassions - you keep saying something with a long face & a irritating look :D That should help to let the idiot know YOU ARE PROBABLY agingama thitting HIM/HER :P in your language

Marutham said...

@Jagan,
//
remember our college times. at KG we have stood for hours for tickets.. :))//
Enakennavo :P some instinct tells me ITS A THEATRE :D
Idhu sarina.. JAGAN U OWE ME A TREAT FOR MY PUTHISALITHANAM :D

Marutham said...

@Kaipulla,
Vaanga vaanga.. :)
Welcome here ...

Thank you :) i will definitely see that tag & post it soon

U said...

//Enakennavo :P some instinct tells me ITS A THEATRE :D
Idhu sarina.. JAGAN U OWE ME A TREAT FOR MY PUTHISALITHANAM :D//

chanceee ellla.. even a kid who knows me would have guess that ,,, i am talking about a theatere....

gapla treat vangalllumnu pakkuriya.. chance ella..

U said...

and hey the reply to ramak u have made. i dont get it fullu. i think u have misplaced some he and she in between .read it again.

Marutham said...

@Balaji,
//Honestly speaking I do not like nowadays when I visit them. Probably it could be due to so many reasons. Sorry no more comments to add about it. //

Is it some cultural reason? :) Probably yes.. I have heard my Dad say the same with regard to few other places in the city.

//Hey... you are rocking with your new blog... Photos... are super.//
Thank you very much Balaji :)

Marutham said...

@Jagan,
Idhu nalla iruke... :P
Naan correct'a guess panten. :D Treat unduuuu :P


ADHU EVLO PERIYA COMMENT :P
Iruklaam thapu panirukkalaam...AVLO TENSION andha incident :P

Marutham said...

@Ankit,
:) Welcome back to the blog world
Yeah You are correct! :)
Higginbothams is good...no question about that.
//And yeah, I didn't want to blog for sometime, and was into 'some' shell, but now I'm back!//

Haha.. SOME shell ?? ;)

Marutham said...

@Jagan,
Btw .. :o U NO SLEEP?