Do you have a Wesco Story to tell? We do not post all stories received, but we do forward all good stories company wide through email.
2009
Baker College Student My name is Dave. For as long as I can remember I have visited Wesco knowing that I would get what I want at a fair price.Today, Mr. Bryan Link is coming to my marketing class and will speak for my final project. I cannot say how thrilled I am that Mr. Link would be willing to spend his time for me and my fellow classmates!
Thank you Wesco! That's one heck of a reward! My family and I will be life-long customers.
Do you love WESCO this much?
This week we recieved this message, and we just had to share it with you.
Here's a video of Paige Castor. She came up with this little saying while pulling into the Wesco in Cedar Springs. We go there at least every Sunday after church for Icee's. It would probably look cuter in the car as we would pull in.
thanks Dave Castor
My son was telling me that he received the best customer service ever the other day. He had visited store 49 (Muskegon), for the first time and states that associate Tara was great!
He said she greeted him; asked him how he was doing; asked if he needed anything else; gave him his total and his change; thanked him and wished him a great rest of the day. He said Tara was just very pleasant and sincere.
I replied to him that this is how he should be treated all of the time. He stated he has never gotten poor service from any Wesco store but Tara made it a very nice experience!
I received a call from a customer with praise for our manager and staff at Store 40 in Newaygo! She states that everyone at the store is kind and courteous; the manager has done an exceptional; job hiring a great staff; and she even commended Wesco for hiring someone like Yvonne!
She had special praise for our associate Sue, stating she has great customer service skills; she goes out of her way to help people and she is just great all around. She even stated that it is worth waiting in a line for Sue!
2008
We received a nice note from a Scottville (#28) customer that says: Scottville is small and somehow you have accomplished a kind, professional crew. Linda, Bobbi, Betty, Tina and others that I don’t know their names. All the gals care about the store and about being kind to the customers. As an employer you are very fortunate to have such a crew.
We received a call from a customer telling us that she was having a really bad day and took it out on our associate Donna of store #6 in Coloma. The customer stated that she was rude but Donna never showed her anything but great service. She states that Donna has a superb attitude and ‘is just the sweetest thing’! She went on to state that she has never seen anything like the service at this store and she will be a customer for life! (she did apologize to Donna for her behavior)
2007
We received a call from a customer with some very nice comments about our store #63 in Evart! She stated that she travels a lot for her job and visits a lot of stores, Wesco and non-Wesco stores. She said that our store in Evart is by far her favorite! ALL of the associates are friendly, positive and helpful; and the store is very clean (she actually mentioned that twice!) She then stated, “It is absolutely delightful to go in this store!”
We received a call from a customer about Tillie at our store #37 in Cloverville.
He was in the store Wednesday night and his car would’t start. Tillie pulled her car up to his and gave him a jump-start. He offered her a tip but she refused, stating that she was happy to help! He states that he will continue coming to our stores because of employees like Tillie!
We received a call from a customer about Tim at our store in New Era.
We've been extraordinarily fond of our New Era Wesco for many years now for everything from gas to coffee to newspapers to snacks, but this morning an experience endeared us even more thoroughly! My sister and I drove up to get some "free air" for the Prius which was sending exclamation points to the dash indicating low tire pressure. We found a Wesco truck parked directly in front of the air hose and asked the driver if he would move the truck a few feet back. He greeted us, smiled, and immediately moved the truck. New to the nuisance of checking tire pressure, we were probably handling the new tool from the hardware store awkwardly. After a few moments, he left his work and asked if he could help us. He not only gave us a couple tips on using that tool, but added the needed air pressure to the tires. His name is Tim, and we think he needs a raise in pay! Thank you Wesco, for hiring such kind--and competent!-employees!
We just received a call from a customer about Samaria from store #2. These are his exact words: I just received the BEST service that I have ever had in my entire life! Samaria is the most delightful person that I have had wait on me – ever!
Achive
Rule for life: Keep smiling and be happy
Thursday, January 10, 2002
She is not acting like it's 5 in the morning. Which it is. Nor like it's a cold January day. Which it is. Or like it's gray and damp. Which it most definitely is.
No. Teresa Robinson is opening up the Wesco gas station and convenience store on South Division Avenue near 48th Street SE as though it were a sunny afternoon at a cabana in the tropics. There are coconuts hanging overhead, with palms swaying in the musky breeze, and a Bob Marley tune strung out in the same fine air.
Teresa Robinson is spreading sunshine one shard at a time, with her smile and kind words and the sort of gesticulations that invite you to be here -- not just at the Wesco station with its jerky and coffee and nut bars and popcorn -- but on earth.
"Pretty day," says a customer, her voice hinting sarcasm.
"Yes, indeed," says Teresa, tilting a hairdo of salt & pepper. "Every one above ground is."
Her lashes flutter, and in the next instant, there are two ladies smiling at the counter, the product of a single mother's optimism, candor, verve.
Welcome to Teresa's World, with its splendiferous offerings of tobacco, caffeine, sugar, petrol - and Teresa-isms.
She will call you "hon."
She will call you "darlin'."
She will call you "my love," as in, "What can I do for you, my love?"
Undaunted after fire
If anyone winces to hear such syrup -- but genuine -- salutations, she hasn't seen it. "If I've ever offended anybody," she says, "they've never let me know."
Five years ago, she was a single mother dragging two daughters from their burning apartment building nearly across the street from the Wesco station. The victims of an electrical fire, they fled with the clothes on their backs, losing everything in the process.
Teresa was undaunted. "I went from anger to saying, 'Well, Lord, it could have been a lot worse." In no time, she was on her feet again, and still living within walking distance of her job, thanks in part to employees and patrons at the 56 Wesco stores throughout Michigan, who rallied on her behalf and collected household goods and cash for the threesome.
You do that for the best in your midst.
Of all the employees who staff those Wesco stores statewide, Teresa, 45, has outscored virtually everyone, based on feedback provided by men and women posing as "secret shoppers" who frequent each store twice monthly.
"I believe she has the record," says Vivian Shepherd, Teresa's manager.
But formal evaluations aside, Vivian notes that Teresa imparts something to the store environment that can't be measured in quantitative ways.
"She doesn't just talk with the customers; she communicates with them," Vivian says. "I learn something from her every day. She takes time off, and I'll have 50 people asking me, 'Where's Teresa?' I'll tell you this - I couldn't do it without her."
'Heart of gold'
Getting a testimonial from one of Teresa's customers is as easy as asking the next person through the door.
"That's all right; she can call me darlin'," says Jerry Turner, who comes in three or four times a week.
"She's got a heart of gold, as far as I'm concerned," adds Denny Watkins. "She's like this every day. You can come in here in a bad mood and see her smiling and your problems just seem to go away."
"Oh Denny," she gushes, "I'm gonna have to put you on my preferred customer program," and they both laugh.
Teresa's not sure where she developed her sense of optimism, thought she credits her parents and faith. ""I was raised to treat people the way I'd like to be treated," she says. "I just try to keep smiling, and be happy."
Denny Watkins nods toward his favorite clerk. "Every store," he says, "needs one just like her."
Tom Rademacher's column runs Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. A version also airs during the morning and evening newscasts on WOOD TV-8 each Sunday. tomwriter@aol.com
