TERRIBLE SERVICE AT TICKET BOOTH NO 1

<p> </p> <p>Today was supposed to be a memorable day out with my family, instead it ended in embarassment and disappointment!!! My family and I went through to uShaka marine world today to celebrate my birthday. We had lunch at Spur and then went through to the closest ticket booth to purchase tickets for the aquarium as my husband, son and I had never been there before. We walked up (6 adults and a baby) with a pram, baby bag and small take away container with half a garlic roll as the contents. We saw the 2 workers standing at the entrance (Nomvula and Anele)... we also saw and read the sign at the front which said beverages, picnic baskets, food hampers, balloons, etc were not allowed. So my sister went up to ask the the lady if there was any where we could leave the food or could we put it into the bag as we don't have anything else on us and definitely understood that we could not eat in the area. My sister even took the container to her, opened it to show her as well... This is when we were embarassed by Nomvula... She put her hand up in front of my sister's face and says with such arrogance "please don't start, you are not allowed to take the food in".. And just after that, another guy and his son carrying 2 half drunk bottles of cooldrink were allowed to enter! When we asked why, we were met with more rudeness and arrogance and sarcastic questions like, "do you have cooldrink?? no. you don't. you have food. it is not allowed. we don't make the rules. you are upset because we can't change the rules". That is when I really got upset and told Nomvula and Anele exactly what needed to be said!</p> <p> </p> <p>Firstly.. This is a HUGE operation.. But it doesn't mean that customer service goes out the window.. We know that our +/- R700 is a drop in the ocean compared to what turnover is made in a day.. however.. we work really hard for our money.. and where we choose to spend that money means alot to us, especially if it's on entertainment which is not a necessity.. but we CHOSE to spend it at THIS facility..and if that important sentiment cannot be understood and respected by your staff.. I feel very sad to think about your company's future. No company can survive if their customer service is not world class. Nor can it survive with people like Anele and Nomvula. I am not someone to complain about people.. I work in the customer service industry.. I appeal to you.. go back and review the camera tape above that ticket queue.. Their body language, their language, their behaviour, their demeanour.. It was insulting and embarassing for my family.. especially when people started staring.. however, we had to stand up for ourselves! There was still no apology from those 2 workers, even when we asked for their names, they said no problem and started pulling at their badges to show it to us. I spoke to a gentleman by the name of Bethel (a supervisor) who apologised and explained that it is a rule that if people have cooldrink bottles which are already opened, then they are allowed to go in.</p> <p>Secondly, I do not understand why people with cooldrink are allowed to go in? They are more likely to open the bottle and take a sip than others would be to open their takeaway container and start eating their garlic roll in the aquarium.....? Our car was parked so far away as well.. so walking there and back would have been ridiculous!</p> <p>I would like to really appeal to the larger management at uShaka marine world to find a way to help your customers when it comes to this rule.. like a parcel counter/locker etc? Most importantly, I implore that you really take notice of who you have interacting with customers..we would have understood, had it been communicated respectfully..if you do not sort this out and soon.. your doors will be shut sooner than you know..</p>