I called up my local bank branch.
I needed a special withdrawal.
I asked that they have it waiting for me.
I was told it wasn’t policy.
I realized that.
I asked that they do it
as a favor to me,
a frequent and long term customer.
I was told no.
She repeated that it wasn’t policy.
My loyalty to that branch
decreased beyond zero.
I now am working on
having the management there changed.
Favor is one of those magic words.
It is a relationship changer.
Most people don’t use it lightly
(I certainly don’t).
When you hear it,
think long and hard
about saying no.
If your customer service policy
doesn’t allow the granting of ‘favors’,
you may want to revisit it.