Old-fashioned customer service fading from society
By Beth Scott
beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
COSHOCTON – Th ere was a time where customers could
walk into any store on Main Street in Coshocton and
receive service with a friendly smile and a hand shake.
Th ose days are quickly becoming a thing of the past as
the internet and online sales through popular selling
sites have taken the customer service out of shopping.
While online sites promise fast and friendly service to
its customers in need of help, that will never compare
to one-on-one human interaction and personal rela-
tionships between customer and shop employees that is
formed over the years.
Greeting customers when they walk through the door
and off ering friendly and effi cient customer service is
something that Steve Murray of Carroll’s Men’s Shop
strives to achieve.
“Service is something you can’t buy,” said Murray.
“People anymore don’t care about service. Th ey buy
everything online. We are just old-fashioned people and
we care about service. Th at’s what we strive for. People
know when they come in here, they are going to be taken
care of.”
Murray started working at Carroll’s in April 1967 and
bought the store in 1984, carrying on the traditions of
original owner Tom Carroll. Carroll’s sells suits, dress
shirts, ties, and started selling sporting goods in the
1970s. Th ey also rent tuxedos.
“I learned from Tom to be kind to people and off er them
what they want,” said Murray.
Unfortunately, partly due to increased internet sales,
Contributed | Beacon
old-fashioned customer service hardly exists in the world
today.
“Th e really big thing is the internet,” said Murray. “It’s
convenient for customers to order 24/7, but there’s no
customer service. If it doesn’t fi t, you have to send it back.”
Murray said that many people in the business world
don’t dress the way they
used to. Employees and
Specializing in
managers alike always
Custom
wore a sports coat and suit
Design,
to work each day.
Etching and
“We just want to get the
Carving of
word
out that we off er great
Fine Memorials
services and if customers
have a problem, we will
try to take care of it,” said
Murray.
Another men’s clothing
store that used to be in
Coshocton was Buckeye
Clothing on Main Street.
Kenny Grier started work-
ing there in high school and
eventually, worked his way
1896
SHRIVER
2019
Proud to have served
the people of Coshocton
and our surrounding
communities since 1896!
Granite • Marble
Bronze • Mausoleums
Cemetery Lettering &
Cleaning
2-B THE BEACON
up to manger.
“Th ere were three or four stations throughout the main
fl oor and the cashier was in an elevated portion and they
had these tubes overhead like they have at the banks,”
said Grier. “All of the change was handled at those three
stations. Th at’s where you would pay for your items, and
all the money would go into these tubes and wired over to
the cashier and she would make change and send them
back.”
Buckeye Clothing off ered men’s clothing that was a
higher standard with brands like Leatherneck and Palm
Beach. Th ey also sold men’s hats in which Stetsons was a
popular brand.
“Th at was back when you had a lot of businessmen from
Shaw Barton and companies where the norm was to wear
a suit and tie,” said Grier. “You never see any hats any-
more. In the summer, men would switch from felt hats to
straw hats.”
Grier said that the one thing he enjoyed the most about
working at Buckeye Clothing was the people and the
relationship he developed with the customers. He also re-
members the large glass window in the front of the store.
“When I was the manager, all across the front Main
Street entrance was a large glass display window,” said
Grier. “We would always put in the appropriate style of
clothes for that season. One thing I enjoyed was dressing
the window displays.”
Buckeye Clothing off ered suits, hats, dress shirts, ties,
gloves, and anything else a man would need to look his
best.
“It’s changed because everything is done from home
online,” said Grier. “I remember they also had in the
1950s, whenever you bought something, they’d tear off a
tax stamp. You’d pay for an item and if it was taxed, you’d
pay eight or 10 cents. Th e merchant would have stamps
and they’d tear those off and give to you.”
Grier also remembers Main Street used to look a lot
diff erent than it does today.
“Main Street was busy,” said Grier. “Th ere was a lot of
competition in each type of store. Th ey had fi ve and dime
stores, Woolworths, JJ Newberry, and O’Neils that oc-
cupied a good portion of Main Street. Th ere were two or
three women’s hats stores that sold nothing but women’s
hats. Th ere were three or four shoe stores.”
Unfortunately, the days of old-fashioned customer ser-
vice have been replaced by online convenience.
“It’s a shame,” said Grier. “I know time marched on, but
it’s a shame now that they’ve lost personal contact with
each other. It’s very impersonal now with buying every-
thing online.”
1132 Cemetery Drive
Coshocton, Ohio 43812
www.milliganmemorialsllc.com
e-mail: millimem@clover.net
740-622-5833
FAX: 740-295-0173
TIRE SERVICE
• NO APPOINTMENT
NEEDED
• OIL CHANGE
2171 Otsego Ave,
Coshocton
Great Service in
a New Location!
• BRAKE SERVICE
• COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC
• TIRES - NEW & USED
• FLAT REPAIR
• ROTATIONS
• SERVICE WORK
740-622-6989
Hours: M-F 8-5 • Sat 8-Noon
www.coshoctonbeacontoday.com
COMPLETE ON THE FARM SERVICE
0020_092618
May 1, 2019