Recently a bingo fundraiser manager spoke to us about the continued increase in the number of bingo workers using cell phones and text messaging while working her bingo. It got so bad that a few bingo players actually complained about the lack of focus and inattentive behavior. The workers had become too concerned with texting and not concerned enough about customer service.

As cell phones and text messaging become a regular way of life for just about everyone, don’t make the mistake of letting it take over your bingo. Excellent customer service (not inattentive workers, too busy texting) is a reason that your bingo players will return. Make sure that your bingo workers are not texting when they should be taking care of the players. After all, would you be happy with a restaurant who’s waitstaff spent their time texting in between taking orders? Would that waitstaff be able to do their job well?

In the case of the bingo manager that talked to us, she said that at first, texting wasn’t much of a problem. However, over time it grew to be such a distraction for some of her workers that she banned texting altogether. As a result, customer service has improved. In the future, she plans on allowing some limited use (to contact family, etc.) but only when they are not working with customers.