Recently I was waiting in a, appropriately named, "Waiting Room", for a dentist in a foreign country to fix my aching tooth. How much worse can things be than needing a dentist whilst overseas?

You all know that I'm a Customer Service Fanatic - I'm also a realist so I don't expect Customer Service Excellence everywhere that I go. Images of a messy, oily haired dentist with a hand drill raced through my mind.

My spirits lifted when I saw that the receptionist was wearing a Plantronics wireless headset similar to the ones that we sell in the US. Then I noticed that every time she moved from her desk she took the headset off - rather defeating the purpose of having a wireless headset, I thought.

Images of pain and blood filled my mind again!

The moment of truth came -
The receptionist took off her wireless headset and walked over to tell me that it was my turn. Then she ran back to answer a call because she had left her headset on the desk.

I entered the Demon's Den to be greet by a smiling face and an American accent (not from the US, US trained though) and "What can I do to make you feel better today?"

He was cheerful, friendly and laughing as he set the chair, made me comfortable, gave me a choice of ipods with fresh new ear buds and a range of music, then adjusted the ceiling mirror so that my pain would drift away with the reflection of sailing ships on the adjacent harbor.

Soon my mind was anywhere other than with my tooth. Quickly, professionally and painlessly my filling was done. He complimented me on being a great Customer and then gave me his home phone number "just in case" - "call me anytime. Day or Night".

I, of course, complimented him on fantastic Customer Service.

It even turned out that his headset wielding receptionist was a temp who had no idea what a wireless headset was - although she did make a great cup of coffee. His regular receptionist, who had insisted on a wireless headset, would be back later that afternoon.

All in all, I loved the experience and the Customer Service Fanatic in me was heartened to see that Customers are important EVERYWHERE and that Customer Service Excellence knows no borders.