Whatever happened to the "thank you?"
 

So...as it starts, I was sitting at home earlier tonight with nothing to do when I got the craving for a delicious, warm meal from the golden archs (Mcdonalds). I leave my house, hop in my car and head out to the nearest one I could find. I hop into the restaurant and I'm the only customer in line. There are three employees that are all near the registers at the front of the counter, but not one asks if they may help me. I've been in banking for a few years now, since I started college, and through many harsh training programs, I've realized that making a customer happy will keep them coming back. So, eventually one of the workers decides to head to the register (about three or four minutes after I had been standing there). Now I know that he is ready to wait on me, but I wait for him to ask, or see if he will. Another minute passes by, and finally I decide to go up, because the guy isn't going to ask to help me. I get there, and he still says nothing. I give him my order, he never asks if it was for there or to go. Since he didn't ask, I didn't give an answer. So he rings up my order and tells me the total. I pull out a crisp ab from my wallet and hand it to him, as he rips the thing out of my hands. He takes it and gives me back my change...mumbling the amount I'm getting back. He never repeated my order back to me, for all he could know, I was ordering a blue elephant burger with purple wings. :) He doesn't say that he's receiving a five, and he doesn't tell me the amount I'm getting back, just a mere mumble. OOOOOOOOOOOO by now I was getting pissed. As he goes back to the other workers and they being to speak of their useless banter, I begin to look at the sign directly above my head which clearly states, "Proud to serve our customers within 90 seconds." HAHAHAH..I laugh to myself, seeing as I've been ther almost five minutes.....so..I eventually get my meal...there's no thank you.. no, your welcome, even after I still say thank you..nothing...is this what things are coming down to? People don't have the deceny to simply say "thank you?"

Maybe it's just the evilness in me ;) but I always report stuff like that to management. The other day, a friend and I were at Friday's. We sat there for 20 minutes and nobody came by to get our drink orders. I called a waitress over and my friend asked her where our server was. She said to us, "Well, I'm supposed to be in this area but I'm off now. Sorry." She walked away. I saw the manager walk past our table. I got his attention and reported the problem to him. I'm assuming that the waitress was reprimanded. I ended up with free food. yum, yum. :)

Yea..I hear ya there..I'm sure I could have done something like that..but I just don't have it in me...I can't be cruel to someone even when they are being cruel to me...maybe it's how I was raised, maybe it's just me being polite, or mayb it's me being stupid and wondering why I get screwed over all the time...hrm...lol.. I dunno.

Bad pay equals bad attitude
 

In fast food these people are making slightly above minimum wage, not much incentive to be nice or to excel in customer service.

ZTAngel, I find myself doing the same things at times. If I wait to long I'll go looking for the manager and ask him whether they want to actually Greet Me . . . and sometimes I'll leave after politely making my point.

It really pisses me off when my boyfriend and I go into a restaurant and have a waitress/waiter treat us like crap because she/he figures we're not going to tip well because we're young. Usually, they end up geting a reduced tip simply because we're treated so badly.

I've had the min. wage jobs myself and realize that its hard to be enthusiastic for $5.15/hour. But basic politeness shouldn't be contingent upon a wage. When I go to a fast food place, I don't expect fine table service. But I do expect common curtosey. And that includes more than one napkin dammit! :p

I never complain about garbage service before my meal has been cooked, who knows what surprises you'll find waiting for you. Whenever I get terrible service I don't go to that restaurant (at least for awhile) again and tell a lot of ppl about my bad experience. That's a good way to stick it to 'em.

Yeah I had to wait in line at taco bell the other day for my food for 20 minutes. Needless to say I got a couple free tacos out of it.

I had the same thing happen at a Friday's here. The waiter didn't take our orders for over an hour!! And when he finaly brought our drinks he plopped them down on the table in front of my friend and said "Diet Coke is one straw, Regular is two. Help yourselves" and then he walked off :eek: I went and talked to the manager very discreetly and she was very nice and accomodating. Then at the end of our meal (after the waiter had horrendously screwed up the checks which he told us to fix ourselves) the manager came out and asked if food vouchers would be acceptable and she was nice and gave our entire party $15 coupons!!! :cool:

I can't stand rude people in public places ! I mean, who chose that job for you, me or you ? There is no reason to be rude to people unless that specific person is rude to you...even then, in some cases, it's just better to "kill them with kindness", and make them look really small and silly by being rude without a cause ! :D

Actually . . .
 

The converse should also be true, if you get really premium service you should say something in praise to a manager. I regret that I don't think I have ever really done that. Although I tip pretty well having worked for tips myself.

Well I would just like to say pleases and thank-yous are alive and well in Texas. It really doesn’t matter where I am or how old the person behind the counter is I always start out with “Yes Sir can I please get…” It’s just the way I was raised and I expect the same type of consideration regardless of where it is or how much they’re getting paid. I’m not saying people aren’t rude here but I think it has a lot to do how you treat them. I always think it’s a bit weird when I go out of state (up north) and get funny looks for being polite. I even had a waitress request that I not call her mam.

Wow, nothing excuses that kind of behavior. I absolutely hate when people cannot say thank you. I worked in a grocery store for 3 years (kill me), and some customers were so rude. I hated it. It won't kill you to say thank you. Since I've dealt with horrible customers in the past, I try to be the perfect customer now. I try to be accomodating to whomever is helping me with whatever. A smile, a thank you, and a good attitude are musts.

Re: Bad pay equals bad attitude
 

I want to start this out by saying that I work at McDonald's and I do so 6 mornings out of 7 at 5am before I have to go to class for the day. I understand that these people are not getting paid much, however, there is an important point which I would like to make.
This is that, when you are friendly and courteous to your customers, they will be friendly and courteous to you back. There are always a few bad apples, but in general people appreciate a smiling cheerful McDonald's employee(especially at 6am when no sane person is cheerful.
It goes back to the golden rule that we all learned about when we were in kindergarten-we all need to treat other people the way that we want to be treated and this applies to work as well as play. You may not get paid much, but if you are nice to people, they will be nicer to you as well and it makes your job so much easier that sometimes you can even forget that you're only getting paid 5.15.

Something to consider:

I've been a hostess three different restaurants within the last year. I've seen it all. I'll say 95% of bad service at restaurants are unintentional. Majority of time, when we keep guests waiting we are TOTALLY unaware that you guys are even there. Everytime I work I always forget at least one party waiting to be seated.
Also, on the servers part, many times they don't even know that they have been sat for numerous reasons. Another thing, just because you see empty tables it dosen't mean that they are open to guests. When or if you guys complain to the management, please be aware that you may get innocent people fired.

Lets see.....I have been in the restaurant business for 8 years, as a hostess, bartender, server, corporate trainer, and a manager, and sorry, but if you had been one of MY hostess, you would have been fired. Your sole job is to take care of the guests, and if a restaurant employee can't do something that simple, well, you shouldnt be working there. I admit, OCCASIONALLY you may get busy with another party, but there is NO reason to immediatly stop by the guest and say "Give me just a moment and I will be right back" It isnt a hard job, and I absolutly hate it when I go to a restuarant and get horrible service. And I have no problem mentioning it, because I do know how it works. You should NEVER tell a guest no, but explain why they have to wait, or can't have that certain table. About 90% of people will understand and won't get mad and end up complaining. Its all called "Guest Service" and it really isnt hard to do. And if you are having a bad day or whatever, don't take it out on the guest, cause that is who is paying you!!! As long as you are helpful and courteous, they will respond in the same.

I agree with ya'

Oh yes, I know better, to NEVER say no to a guest, always explain why they are waiting (though it always do not help), and the most important NEVER EVER use wit, sarcasm, or humor towards a guest!
I mean, unless you want to find another job.

You're right being a hostess or any other restaurant worker, which requires multi-tasking and attention to detail, is a definate mismatch for me and lots of my co-workers. But, I can't afford to quit this time of the year.

I hope some day my School newspaper or a clothing store will hire me.

I don't mind humor, but sarcasm or rudeness I don't find acceptable. And honey, watch the grammar! I know I can be a stickler, but "though it always do not help" nearly drove me over the edge. My boyfriend says I put him through grammar boot camp, but it's a pet peeve of mine!

I am a naturally sarcastic person anyway, but the guest will never find it acceptable. Which meant I really had to tone it down. Of course now I work in an office and don't have to deal with guest except on occasion.

People have mispercieved my sense of humor as sarcasm on the job, in the past. Now, as soon as I clock in, I throw my wit out the window.

I got fired at my last restaurant job for doing that, hell I thought the guys were flirting with me! I found out quickly that they weren't, when they complained to my manager.

I'm glad to see the other side presented as well. I worked during college at Steak and Ale, Gallagher's and the Foundry. Some of the creeps that we had to serve were nothing short of animals-and poorly trained ones at that!

I tip 20%, I talk to management about great service, I've called fast food headquarters simply because someone spoke CLEARLY on the other end of McDonald's intercom. On the other hand, if someone is grossly underperforming, I will mention that as well.
Lil-G is right though...WAIT till AFTER you get your food!

OMG, YES!!!! I've worked in a few restaurants and if there is one solid piece of advice above all others that I would like to impress on everyone it is this one!

You NEVER want to p**s off someone who has access to something you're going to be ingesting. Never, Never, Never!!! :eek:

So, I'm getting some fax machine calling my room over and over. No one is ever on the other end - just "beep....beep"

I called telecommunications, who directed me to reslife. I talked to them Tuesday, after getting 11 calls from that thing that day. They said they'd call me back in 15 minutes.

Well this morning I finally called THEM back. The receptionist was incomprehensibly rude. I told her my situation and she said "WE don't trace calls, we can't do that" I replied (and I know my voice was a bit terse, but I'm in the middle of finals and my phone is ringing constantly with this thing) "if you would please let me finish, whomever I spoke to on Tuesday said they would see what could be.." And she cut me off in mid sentence and said "HOLD ON" and just put me on hold.

When I got another person, she was a bit nicer. I explained that her receptionist was quite rude she said "well, you told her to let you finish what you were saying." Okay, so asking someone in CUSTOMER SERVICE to let you finish explaining your plight is a cause for cutting them off.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

Why can't people have manners anymore? How hard is it to grin and bear it?

I'm starting to believe that all the sterotypes of Louisiana portrayed in the movies are true. 99% of the people here ARE that ignorant :(

How in the hell did she keep her job?

If the food is so so but the service is good I tip good!:)
If the food is great and the service is bad, I will not tip but damn little and never go back!:mad:

I told a Mob Guy ( YES ), that the waitress was from S*^&% and would not ever come back in as I left!:mad:

His reaction, Tom COME BACK, she will be gone!:cool:

Wonder what ever happened to her:confused:

Yes there are JERK OFFS out there but smile and give the best you can, It will come back to you!:)

Hmmm...why switching jobs so often?

Three times in the last year?

Three possibilities:

1. The restaurants closed/went bankrupt/burned down.

2. Your lovely sunshiney nature, innate attention to detail, and supreme courteousness towards mankind showed in your work.

3. The extreme pressure of locating people who were standing at the front of a restaurant and directing them to chairs was too much to handle for your delicate nerves.

Hmmm...I wonder...:rolleyes:

A little background info...

More likely, because I had no idea what the hell went on around me. If you had severe drops in blood sugar(hypoglycemia) and took meds (for the "nerves" :rolleyes: ) that made you sleep 14-16 hrs. a day, I'm pretty sure you would be little dazed and confused. Not just at work, but at school and socially. Not to mention that I just found out about the hypoglycemia, so 99% of my life I didn't know what was wrong with me.

If you don't know what that is, it's a condition when your blood sugar drops, that can cause physical symptoms like trembling, cold sweats, dizziness, nausea, weakness, and extreme cases fainting and coma. It can also cause psychological sx, like inattention, confusion, moodswings, anxiety, forgetfulness, and in extreme cases delusions and psychosis. Adding too much sugar to the diet can make the drops even more dramatic.

Consider someone's background, before you jump to conclusions.

PS one of the restaurants I worked at actually DID burn down.

I know what hypoglycemia is. I used to work for a Dr and I had a friend with that problem.

As far as considering someone's background before jumping to conclusions, while it is true that I do not know you personally, I have seen what you have added to the GC community.

I base any opinion I have of you on your comments here. Since you have been such a model of reason, civility and courtesy, how could I ever find any fault with you? :rolleyes:

You can find fault with me because I often joke around and tend not to sugar coat things. See when you don't know people, that can very easily be percieved as insult or inconsideration.

I admit, today this guy made a comment to me, I didn't know what to make of it, because I didn't know him. I indeed, from now on, will see him in a negative light, whether he meant to be an ass, a joker, or just being real, or not. Every time that I will see him in the future I will associate him with that comment that he made.

It kind of made me question if I have done that to anyone that I came into contact with at work, school, associates, friends, online, distant family, etc. Recently, I am starting to find parallels between some past experiences to some current experiences that I am having. Be an ass to people and get f*cked up. Be nice to people and get f*cked up. Be quiet and get f*cked up. Be outspoken and get f*cked up. Be boring and get f*cked up. Be exciting and get f*cked up. Tell the truth and get f*cked up. Tell a lie and get f*cked up. Be myself and get f*cked up. Be someone else and get f*cked up. Call attention to myself and get f*cked up. Call no attentin to myself and get f*cked up. Hell, not matter what I do, I WILL GET F*CKED UP. D*mn if I do, d*mn if I don't.
It's lose-lose situation. The middle ground, yet to be discovered, if it even exists. Peace.

Curious-I think we all go through periods when we feel like that-"Damned if I do, damned if I don't". This may sound esoteric, but it can be a catalyst to help turn things around-
Life is energy. It has rythm and a charge. The charge is either negative or positive. Now, consider the people you come in contact with have this same enegy. Like will attract like. IF you put good thoughts in your head and if you muster up good feeling for others, you will soon find that is what you attract. You can see results in one day. As an experiment, when you go out today look at yourself in the mirror. Smile and really LIKE what you see. LIKE who you are and LIKE all the people you will touch. BELIEVE today is the day EVERYTHING starts to change in your life. When you see a stranger and your eyes meet-SMILE and say Merry Christmas! You will see they return the same POSITIVE energy. This is a great time to do this because people are more open. Keep doing it ALL day. Tell me how it goes. It's the quickest way to prove to yourself the "Magic of Blieving"-which happens to be a little red, paperback book that can help anyone change their outlook on life.

Maybe you should change you username to confuss, because that's what you are.

I have been observing Greek Chat for several months. I think you have a compulsion to impress people and the disease to please. It is backfiring on you. First of all, you need to please yourself.
Second of all, you need to test the waters before you dive in head first. I am sorry if I am overstepping my boundaries as a new member.

You get a thank you when you do something nice or do a good job!:p

Doo Not expect anymore than that! If you cannot do a good job then get out and find a cave to live in!

There is very little etiquit these days, it is give me because I am here! BS!!!!!!

Why should I be nice to some one who does not do their J O B but wants to get money!:mad: I deal with a crippled gentleman every day who buys 1 pack of cigarettes, when he could buy a carton and save money! But for the Grace of a God go I! I just figure it gets him out a little, while my Father cant!

Cry me a damn river if you do not get tips! Do not look at the CHEAP SKATES , But at yourself!:rolleyes:

OH, treat people like you want to be treated!:)

One more thing.

I am not trying to be funny. Are you on drugs?
Judging from your writings, it appears that you may have something more than hypoglycemia (spelling?). You're all over the place girl.

Ahh, you're the third person on GC who asked me that. The answer is a capital N-O! No drinking, no drugs, no sex. I mean, with an exception of caffiene (can't function without it :p) and several prescription drugs, from Allegra to Paxil to Prevacid within the last seven years. :eek:

I always say thank you, ALWAYS!!!!

It's just polite. Now, I love Dallas...but people aren't as nice here as they were back home in Kansas. I say thank you and confuse people all the time ;)