The subject of poor and ineffective ‘service' given by retailers in New Zealand continues to concern me.

I don't think it's solely a Tauranga thing, but nonetheless there seems to be a distinct lack of giving (or seen to) a rats proverbial about the people - you and me! - who want to give these people money to keep there business afloat, feed the family, mortgage etc.

I find myself more and more buying online, not only because of price, but also the ‘written' care which will be taken if something goes wrong.

More worrying for me, as a person who would have preferred to shop locally and support local business, is I now prefer to go offshore for many purchases.

The main reason is - assuming you know what you are and expect to receive - that not only is it cheaper, but there seems to be a real expectation of ‘customer satisfaction' among the traders who serve the world.

If an issue arises, I almost always get a swift email reply and proposed solution, mainly to a satisfactory conclusion - and I will buy from them again.

Here in NZ you will be lucky to receive an email reply at all, even if it is the supplier of the goods or service at all! And if you do, I will almost guarantee an overseas seller has already reacted and resolved the problem.

A week to get something paid for overnight from Auckland? More than a working day to write a line in an email in reply to resolve an issue from a local Tauranga retailer?

I really think we have a nationwide issue with any ‘quality' service. Remember, when people actually cared?

Let alone the ones you want to give your hard-earned cash too.

And after well over 40 years in the service industry myself, I certainly notice a substantial deterioration in quality and efficiency, let alone the price you're expected to pay to not receive an expected standard.

With the understanding that standards in many things are falling rapidly, would it maybe be time to even at a local level, show NZ's best country and can provide A++ service for locals and tourists alike?

P Huxham, Tauranga City.