Intimidating first impressions...

I stepped into the crowded room looking for the unfamiliar face of the hair stylist I didn't know but held on to his name as I looked around asking anyone who looked at me "please can you lead me to Mark?" They told told me to walk straight ahead that I would soon reach him. I got to another room and with a smile I asked a very unfriendly guy, " hello, please are you Mark?" He looked at me with that sort of look that simply said " yesss! and who are you?" Well , I introduced myself and told him that a colleague of his recommended him to me, he asked what I wanted to do to my hair, I told him, he looked at another guy who he nodded at, and the guy offered me a seat and started to do my hair. I was irritated by his gesture.

So Mark's assistant or apprentice started doing my hair, he was the most pleasant person. He listened to every instruction that I gave him and did everything just as I told him I wanted it done. I concluded that Fred was sent to me by God because I didn't think Mark would have been able to dance to my tune like that.

Now, this is where I would add that first impressions really matters as we tend to judge a book by its cover all the time. Just like when we see a dress that looks very decent only to wear it and it appears to be a tempting and seductive attire. That was the case of Mark the Stylist and I

Anyway back to Mark. At the end of the day Mark wasn't as bad as he portrayed himself, in fact by the time I was leaving he gave me his number and told me that I could always call him when next I needed my hair done. But trust me to have quickly built a nice relationship with Fred, he even helped me with my salon bag to my car. I gave him a little tip.

By the time I went back to style my hair the following day, I was glad that I had met Fred and given him that tip the day before. His customer service was exceptional, he got me a nice seat and even offered me a drink while I waited my turn. In my days of going to the salon I cannot remember ever meeting a stylist as nice, well except for my dear friend Abbey who is more like family now( I would write a post about Abbey my fantastic stylist soon).

Okay, to conclude my story, guess who ended up styling my hair? Yes! Fred! When he started styling my hair I was seriously keeping my fingers and even my toes crossed. "I hope I wouldn't get into an argument with this guy" I thought. It was very surprising when he started styling my hair in a nice way and listened to every instruction I gave (well not every, but almost every instruction). He did my hair very very well, I couldn't even ask for more. When he finished and I thanked him, he promised that next time he'd even be more prepared for me.

Here was I smiling and giving a guy who I thought his attitude really sucked a generous tip. I mean, this guy used alot of his energy to make sure my hair turned out good. I left the salon smiling and my hair looking beautiful, couldn't wait to show it off :) But why did he react in such a negative manner when he first met me?

First impressions really matter, have you been put off by first impressions? did you wait to see if it would have a happy ending?

Do you have a customer service experience or a review you would like to share? If so, Contact me by sending a message to spynaija@gmail.com

Sky Lounge....The good life!

Today I lay on my bed dreaming about Sky Lounge. My dreaming session started when my friend called my phone at 8pm and told me she was sipping on a cold glass of Kir royale (Kir Royale is a French cocktail created by mixing champagne with blackcurrant liqueur ‘Crème de Cassis’). As she spoke to me, I felt my mouth watering and could almost taste the Kir Royale she was sipping on at the other end of the phone. It took me back to the memory of my last visit to Sky for drinks…

My last visit to Sky Lounge

We arrived at Sky that evening excited as usual knowing that we couldn’t leave without having a good time. In the elevator after pressing the button that leads to the penthouse, my eyes were fixed on the little screen that displayed the floor numbers. The door opened and we walked out of the lift into the ever so wonderful and beautiful ambiance where a well trained waitress was waiting to receive us. With the piano playing and the street lights reflecting through the windows of the restaurant and lounge, there was definitely nowhere else I did rather be that very night than Sky Lounge (well, after crossing out hanging out with my dearest of course :) )


We chose our sit and sat by the bar. The bar man said hello and placed the menu and little servings of nuts in front of us as he took our orders. A few minutes later he had performed magic and the most lovely Mojito was staring at us.

The Mojito at Sky lounge is actually the best I have had in Nigeria. Wonderfully made, I suck on the straw until no liquid can flow through it, tasting the remains of the brown sugar that sits obediently beneath the glass refusing to dissolve, I sometimes make so much noise with my straw I don't even pay attention to who might be watching. While still struggling to get the last bit of sugar from the bottoms of my glass, I realised Michael Jackson’s "speechless" had been playing on the piano, total bliss!I needed a tap (as usual)to remind me that I was still in Lagos.

The customer service at Sky Lounge is always superb! No unnecessary interruptions from the waiter or bar attendant but somehow they seem to know when to ask “would you like another one of that?" As if it were free. Lol! Drinks at Sky are usually the beginning or the end of a wonderful night out and I am not talking about being drunk. It’s a lovely place anyone who likes sophistication and calmness must visit and don't forget to try the Mojito.

PS: Sky Lounge can be a bit pricey, be sure to look at the menu carefully and of course your wallet before placing your order :)

Situated at Eko Hotel & Suites Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria


Do you have a customer service experience or a review you would like to share? If so, Contact me by sending a message to spynaija@gmail.com

My Experience At A Bank: Can I Just Get A Welcoming Smile, woman?

I’d like to apologise to women first before I continue writing. I have nothing against women, my mum is a wonderful woman, and I have amazing sisters, friends, cousins, aunties, etc. Oh by the way I am a woman :) phwee Ok here I go:

When it comes to working environment, women are not my favourite people. There is this aggression that some of us posess that make me wonder how others cope with us at home.

I made a phone call today to a bank branch manager, she answered nicely until I told her it had to do with a service her bank provided then her voice changed (not in a nice way). I walked into her office and she looked at me with a “not welcoming” look. Though I was very well dressed and knew that my Ferragamo perfume could make anyone try to get my number or follow me home, but not this woman, it didn't make her even fake a smile, I was surprised she offered me a seat.

She took me to another lady who she said would sort me out. I don't know who was worse, whether it was the bank’s branch manager or the customer service woman. No eye contact, no smile, nothing. She was just there pretending to be attending to me when in fact she was doing something else (I saw her holding a receipt with somebody else's name). She stood up several times without even saying “excuse me” or, “I will be with you shortly”, little words make a difference sometimes especially if you are a customer service representative. Her note pad fell beside me (by the way not my fault at all) I picked it up for her and this lady couldn't even open her mouth to say thank you. At that time I could already sense her aggression and I knew for sure that my ferragammo perfume would not make her nicer if anything it would make her get more aggressive. So, I decided not to expect much from her in order not to get further disappointed, like always I made a very good decision.

She put a book infront of me to sign, and said " here, your name, signature and date, where is your ID?" What kind of a human being is this? I laughed in my head. lol!

No manners whatsoever! I couldn't blame her she obviously didn’t have that much of a person to look up to. She dropped my ID back on the table, thank God I saw it when she did, would have lost it there and I would trust her to give me great attitude if I returned to ask her for it.

She finally sorted me out. I can't remember if she accepted my thanks or not. I didn't really care. I only felt sorry for their bank and her future as a customer service manager.

Have you ever had an experience like mine with women? or are women overly percieved as aggressive at work? what are you thoughts on this?

Do you have a customer service experience or a review you would like to share? If so, Contact me by sending a message to spynaija@gmail.com