BLUES FROM MY BARBER’S SHOP.

My hair grows weekly so I visit the barbershop weekly. Because of my characteristic laziness though, it sometimes takes a fortnight and by then, my head already itches and makes me feel uncomfortable. So, I must do the visit at the latest 10 days apart.

Today was another appointment, this time on schedule. My Dad likes the place I cut my hair. I won’t mention their name since I am not their advertiser. 😝. Dad was telling my Mum about his experience: “awwww Dear, they washed my head after cutting it; they sprayed me after-shave; they massaged my head; they even gave me coffee…”. I was driving, eavesdropping… and laughing within me. I muttered to myself “see this bushman”. 🤣😂😂 (please don’t let him know this o). 😁

So back to my story; I went for an appointment today and while the session was going on, it seems everything was working against the boys today. First issue: a customer cutting on my left raised his voice “no! It is the shaving clipper I want. Don’t use this”. The barber retorted “Sir, the shaving clipper is blunt. We haven’t sharpened it. That’s why I am using this clipper”.

The problem: there are 2 clippers per customer cut; 1 for main hair cut, the other for shaving and carving the beards and mustache. The shaving clipper was blunt and the customer won’t have it.

Customer “how would you even say it is blunt? Is it meant to be blunt? Do you guys understand the implication of telling a customer that your main work tool is blunt? Is this how you run business for the owner? Did you tell the management?” (I am amazed I even remember all his questions! Wawu). The barber stuttered and kept quiet. Customer continued “I pity businesses that operate in this part of the world”. At this point, I looked up and sneered as though to say ‘e pele o, janded Nigerian’ 🤣🤣😂😂 (interpretation: sorry o, Nigerian from ‘the abroad’. 😁).

The woes did not end there!!!

Customer to my right… hair cut done. Time to wash head.. and water was not flowing from the tap. His head already layered with shampoo and soap. So his entire head white with soap and no water to wash it. I’m like WTF!!! (Close your eyes to that).. 😁. Already I’m feeling like ‘izz aal well?’

Then it is my turn.. my hair cut, my head washed, my head massaged, all on point. I didn’t mind the use of main clipper since shaving clipper is blunt. 😉 then I go to payment point. I hear “Sir, our POS paper has issues so we can only print 1 receipt. No duplicate you can go with.” I am like “okay”. I take my debit card and walk away. I cannot go and come and kill myself.

Hmmmmn. I have used this barber shop for more than a year now and frankly, today is the first time I noticed they did not get their acts together…

What could have gone wrong? What may have been amiss in their processes? Could the staff have dropped the ball? Does this mean without an enforcer, or manager, a business cannot run based on initiative of staff only? How do Nigerian business owners manage staff lethargy and compromise? What is the way to enhance top notch customer service in Nigeria where serving a customer well looks like a chore?

What? What?? What???

I can’t get today out of my mind. Hmmmn.

BUSINESS IS REALLY WAR… and YOUR STAFF IS PART OF THE WARFARE YOU ARE FIGHTING.

Do you get it now?

m a k t u b!!!

SO