Walk to 7th Floor

In my quest to find suppliers, I found out that the guy who used to supply to me was no longer importing handbags so I got contacts from a few other people.

I contacted a number of them but my encounter with one lady stood out for all the wrong reasons.
I dialed her number twice but no one answered so I decided to leave a message indicating my reason for calling so that she could call back later.

4 hours later, I still had not received any communication from the supplier and since I was the one in need, I decided to call again. I was so happy that my call had gone through this time around until I heard: “Ni nani?” (“Who is it?”) I went ahead and introduced myself, told her who had referred me to her and why I was calling.
I asked for her exact location so that I could go view the bags and all she said she was in Nairobi. I repeated my question again but she still said she was in Nairobi. So I went ahead and asked her where exactly in Nairobi and that was when I got the exact location. 

I gave her the exact time I would visit the shop and I ended the call.

About 15 minutes to going to the shop, I called again and informed her that I was on my way to her warehouse. And I began my journey; walking from Hazina Towers to Sonalux building then slowly took the stairs to the seventh floor (I have a phobia for lifts; years back I got stuck in a lift for about 7 minutes due to blackout) only to find the place locked.

My initial mission had not been accomplished but I had walked 12,083 steps so, either way, all was not lost- I had exercised. 😅 😅 
When I called again, she said she had gone to make deliveries along Mombasa road and this time around she was ‘courteous’ enough to ask when I could come back. I told her the next day but honestly, I was done with her. I immediately made a few other calls and went elsewhere to sample from other suppliers. I later found out that the lady was employed, the owner was very friendly and welcoming.

My experience would have been so different if the lady had:

Phone etiquette skills; to receive the call in a better way and return calls. It is a business phone so calls ought to be handled professionally.

Communication skills; to inform me that she was about to leave and give me another date.

Customer service skills; to lure me do business with them by being more friendly, engaging and helpful.

Listening skills; I knew she was in Nairobi; all I wanted was the exact location, she would have known I was on my way and either wait for me or politely ask me to postpone my visit.