TD's Personal Personnel- A Rant
By: Ryan Dunham
The world can be a cold and heartless place, especially when you’re going through everyday tasks such as shopping, banking, etc. Therefore when you get those employees who give you a friendly smile and seem a little more…personnel, it’s a nice change to the daily drawl of meaningless conversations. Many employees are encouraged to be exceptionally friendly by businesses, because if they can be the store with the “exceptionally friendly employees” you’ll likely shop there more frequently, and spend more money.
However this can be taken too far. I know, you’re thinking “how could someone be too friendly with someone they don’t even know? In most situations all that can be discussed is the weather, current events, the products that you’re purchasing, how could that go too far?” And your right, for most businesses, that’s the limit of the conversation. I used to think that’s as far as it went too until I experienced TD Canada Trust in my home town of Hanover, Ontario before coming to university. Now, as it’s a bank, of course they can learn your first name from your account and decide it’s their obligation to address you by it. That’s kinda weird since I’ve never met the guy before, but whatever, it’s fine. However then he wishes me a happy birthday because he can see on my account that it’s next week… we’re getting creepier now. And the final kicker is when he asks me what my plans are for school next year. That’s one straw too far. In his infinite knowledge of my personal life from my account, what ‘Steve’ doesn’t know is that my education is actually a very touchy topic for me, as at that time I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. So no Steve, I don't know what my plans are for school, and even if I did, you are not the person I would want to share them with!
After a number of these experiences, I ceased going to the teller and have done as much of my banking as possible online and at banking machines, and even gone as far as to get an account at CIBC. I can say I’m quite pleased with the CIBC here on campus because they’re friendly…not creepy. Now, I can’t promise this is a reflection of all TD banks, maybe the employees in my home town’s bank are just a little ‘zealous,’ however I’m not taking my chances there again.
PS. In a similar fashion, it’s equally creepy when you read an employee’s name tag and address them by first name like you know them. Don’t be one of those customers.
However this can be taken too far. I know, you’re thinking “how could someone be too friendly with someone they don’t even know? In most situations all that can be discussed is the weather, current events, the products that you’re purchasing, how could that go too far?” And your right, for most businesses, that’s the limit of the conversation. I used to think that’s as far as it went too until I experienced TD Canada Trust in my home town of Hanover, Ontario before coming to university. Now, as it’s a bank, of course they can learn your first name from your account and decide it’s their obligation to address you by it. That’s kinda weird since I’ve never met the guy before, but whatever, it’s fine. However then he wishes me a happy birthday because he can see on my account that it’s next week… we’re getting creepier now. And the final kicker is when he asks me what my plans are for school next year. That’s one straw too far. In his infinite knowledge of my personal life from my account, what ‘Steve’ doesn’t know is that my education is actually a very touchy topic for me, as at that time I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. So no Steve, I don't know what my plans are for school, and even if I did, you are not the person I would want to share them with!
After a number of these experiences, I ceased going to the teller and have done as much of my banking as possible online and at banking machines, and even gone as far as to get an account at CIBC. I can say I’m quite pleased with the CIBC here on campus because they’re friendly…not creepy. Now, I can’t promise this is a reflection of all TD banks, maybe the employees in my home town’s bank are just a little ‘zealous,’ however I’m not taking my chances there again.
PS. In a similar fashion, it’s equally creepy when you read an employee’s name tag and address them by first name like you know them. Don’t be one of those customers.