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With this latest round of heightened security...we are now in an ever-increasing era of being a consumer that requires patience....
We're all going to have to learn to cool our jets (accidental pun intended) for our own safety as the waiting time on all aspects of airline travel increases. This is quite counter-intuitive for us as consumers expecting quick service and quick turn around.
Add to this a new set of frontline skills that none of us ever expected that would be required in the US: fear management.
I was in the airport flying home the day the heightened security measures went into place. I have to hand it to the airport personnel and TSA personnel. They took a challenging situation and made it go as well as it could. Not knowing what to expect, most travelers arrived at the airport HOURS in advance. And while there were literally no choices for us as consumers aside from throwing away all of our expense hair care products so we could roll your wheelie bag into the plane - there was respect, patience and understanding.
Interesting that having stripped away all of our options as consumers, we were given human kindness and understanding. The tangible and obvious services replaced with the intangible and often elusive service took its place and it did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
How is everyone else doing in their travels during this period? Are you finding people stepping up, or has 'Fear 101' management not made it to your neck of the woods?
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Comments
Like most folks, I was getting frustrated by all the changes in security rules, and the rules seemed to change at every airport, and how the rules were enterpreted seemed to change with every person enforcing them. One day, I had an idea: "Surely I'm not the only one tired of giving up property at every other airport", and I saw an opportunity. Thus was born Ship Store or Donate (www.shipstoreordonate.com). People can place their items that will not pass security checkpoints and we will ship them back to the owners for a reasonable service fee. Simply place yur items in the baggie or envelope, fill in your mailing address, enclose your payment (cash, Visa, MC, Amercian Express), and seal. The items you want to keep will be mailed to you. Its not a get rich quick scheme, and cash flow is enough to cover costs and generates a small ROI. If anything, its a public service for my fellow travellers. If you know of an airport where this service could be utilized, please contact me. I'm willing to license others to use my business model for their airport. I'd love to see many other locations offering this service to their air travelers.
Posted by: Darcy Moen | 08.20.06
Darcy:
Bravo! Now this type of ingenuity is a great idea. How do people get the baggies to ship things back to themselves? Tell us how many airports you've got this going in so people know where they can utilize your service.
Posted by: jeanne bliss | 08.21.06
I stock the drop bin with an ample supply of zip locking baggies and forms. The cleint simply grabs a baggie, fills in the form with their return address and payment information. Our folks collect the baggies from the drop bins, wrap up the goods and ship them back to their owners.
I have a few locations out there. With a few thousand airports across North America...there should be more. If anyone is interested, contact me via my web site: www.shipstoreordonate.com
Posted by: Darcy Moen | 11.29.06