The snowplow drivers must believe that destroying mailboxes and bending paper boxes is their right and duty. We are not surprised. I guess it comes with the territory. But if there were an alternative…

I punch in my name, account number, and zip code for faster service. When I finally get a human being, I repeat all of the above. Why? If there were an alternative…

I go to the bank to deposit a check and wait while the teller types a novella. Why? Both the check and the deposit slip feature all the machine-readable numbers they could possibly need. Even a really big deposit requires only 10 keys including the decimal to punch in the amount of the deposit. Why a book? I am bewildered but resigned to waiting. But if there were an alternative…

The menu of options was so long I think I fell asleep. I had to listen a second time. Another 45 seconds. Wrong choice. I had to listen a third time. I’m sure I made the right selection but something went wrong and it took me right back to the beginning. I hung up. I gave it one more try and listened a fourth time. This time I got to the right place. Many minutes and aggravation. Did I complain to anyone? What’s the point? To whom would I complain? But if there were an alternative …

At another company, I was in search of a guy with a hyphenated last name and a nickname. I couldn’t get a live person, only a staff directory. Between his two-part last name and full first name vs. well-used nickname, I had more permutations than I cared to punch in. But with no option, I started punching. No dice. OK, enough complaining about phone systems. But if there were an alternative…

When I shop, whether at a mall or downtown, my buying decisions are affected by the size and quantity of packages I am accumulating. A large purchase in particular can derail my plans for additional shopping. My options include: lug packages, run back to the car to fill the trunk, or forego more purchases. Imagine the pleasure of an alternative…

What do your customers endure? Where is the bar so low a child couldn’t get under it? We all encounter opportunities to create a competitive edge all day long. Are you paying attention?