CUSTOMER SERVICE IS ALIVE AND WELL!

By Shirley M. Carolan, ATM-G

Gas stations are not exactly known for their outstanding customer service especially if you’re not a regular customer. Imagine, my surprise to find an exception. Driving down Hwy. 5 to a recent doctor’s appointment from Oceanside, CA I saw a red light flash on my dashboard panel – OIL!

H’m this could be truly dangerous if I overlooked it or waited until I got back to Oceanside from Encinitas. Much as I hated to stop at any gas station I didn’t normally patronize I knew I must. So I pulled into the first gas station I could see as I exited the freeway in Encinitas– O’Brien Station at 310 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas.

We’ve all heard stories about little old ladies (and I’m 77) being sold the Brooklyn Bridge by unscrupulous folks and I was dreading they’d tell me I needed a new engine, main gasket, etc. I tried to hide my fears as I walked inside the gas station for help and my tale of woe. I was warmly greeted by one of the O’Brien brothers and told him I needed gas and someone to check my oil. His brother came out to help me fill up my tank after I handed over my credit card. There are two O’Brien brothers, Bo and Devon, both 6 footers and quite handsome. Whichever one served me was unaware that my walker and oxygen tank where strewn across my backseat. (I didn’t want to look like a total victim after all).

He filled my tank to the amount I suggested not a penny more and told me to drive around the back and either Tony or Edgar would help me. When I got to the back of the gas station I was surprised to see so many women customers, all ages, there. One was getting a smog inspection, another some engine work, and another was just leaving after some work was completed.

All the inside pits were taken up so I parked along the side wall. While waiting, one of the O’Brien brothers called through from the front of the station to ask me if I was being helped. I said “Yes, Edgar is going to take me next.” Tony was still busy with another woman customer.

Edgar heard my tale of woe and opened the hood, checked the oil and said I needed a quart of oil. I said “How much is that?” waiting for the other shoe to drop. He said about $5.00. Whereupon I promptly told him to put it in. While finishing this he checked my water and brake fluid. Then I asked him if my tires were low and he checked them and put air in all of them! I asked him how much his service would be and he said there was no charge whereupon I gave him a nice tip.

While Edgar was tending to my car, Tony came over to say hello and regaled me with stories of England and my home town, London. He travelled there for over 9 years with an electronics company and was once stranded at Heathrow airport on Christmas Eve and said that no planes could take off after midnight. Hence, he and some other travelers bused it over to a nearby pub and celebrated Christmas!

I went to the front of the station to pay my bill. The full amount was less than $20 for gas and the quart of oil was only $4.33. I just couldn’t believe my good fortune to receive such excellent and joyful service from a gas station I had never visited before.

You can bet I will return whenever I am in the area. I feel like I’ve found some new friends and would like everyone, especially women, to know about the O’Brien station crew. Do me a favor and try them and let me know how you were treated.

Yes, folks, customer service is alive and well at the O’Brien Gas Station!

Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Writer ● Speaker ● Artist
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com

Copyright© 2010 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you