The Two-Sided Coin Of Retail

Ladies & Gentlemen,
In this economic climate it is important for us all to try to be frugal.
When I consult my good friends at Webster the definition of "frugal" comes up as:

fru.gal  adj :characterized by, or reflecting economy in the use of resources

Nowhere in that brief description are the words cheap, rude, obtuse, obnoxious, insulting or impatient to the people who are serving you behind a counter in the retail establishment of your choice.

Everyone nowadays is trying to save a buck.  It's a given. But those folks who are lucky enough to have employment in these tough times - especially in retail - have GOT to remember that the people who come out to the stores PAY YOUR SALARY and, even if you are not working on commission, there is no excuse to be rude, obtuse, obnoxious, insulting, impatient or, least of all, avoiding your customers.

And there you have it, friends....that two-sided coin I mentioned.

Being in any service industry is always a double edged sword but now it has become a sharper, more dangerous sword to say the very least.

It really boils down to that pesky Golden Rule and for those of you, dear readers, that need a refresher:

Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You

A pithy but crucial statement that never gets old in my book, though so many people forget its meaning or to abide by it. It's not in the most up to date language so let me rephrase in a few ways that might have more current meaning for you:

• Don't piss off your waiter. They are the last person to touch your food before you eat it.

• The person behind the counter is not your personal slave. Appreciate them for what they do for you and remember that this isn't a "big box store" and the service that they supply is not our right. It's a perk that the store provides for you.

• Alternately, every customer who asks for your help as a service-based employee is not the biggest idiot left on earth and not (necessarily) there to annoy you, take up time that you think would be better used by texting or chatting with a colleague and ignoring them completely. There are relationships to be made with customers who might come back again, ask for you personally, and make your job easier and more fulfilling.

• LOOK for whatever you're shopping for before you go up to someone to ask them to do something you are perfectly capable of doing yourself.

• PLEASE don't accost me at the door with a bright and cheery - and most often insincere - greeting asking if you can help me. It feels like an attack and puts the customer on their guard rather than making them feel welcome and in the mood to spend time and money.

• PLEASE keep an eye out for me when I DO need help rather than avoiding my gaze so that you don't have to get involved. This is especially annoying with waitpeople. If there's something needed at a table, wouldn't you think that it would behoove you to take care of it rather than breezing past the table without casting even the briefest glance?

• Be as polite with your salesperson/waitperson/concierge/postal employee/cashier/babysitter/doorman/dry cleaner/pharmacist/receptionist/etcetera as you would be if that person was your mother/sister/brother/son/daughter because, one day, they might just BE one of those people.

• Be as polite to your customer as you might be to a loved one and see how much better your life at work becomes.

• Save your complaining for the person that can actually help you with that particular problem. Ask to speak to a manager - in the nicest way possible - only if it's necessary. NOT just because you think it's going to make someone "hop to it" and treat you better. A manager has a job to do. That job is to facilitate the smooth running of the establishment and to oversee the people who are actually serving the customers needs. "May I speak to your manager?" is a last resort, not a club with which to beat someone who you think is beneath serving you.

• Save your complaining for your manager. NEVER argue with a patron no matter how much you think them to be foolish and in need of an education. Your job is to do what is necessary to satisfy the customer. Your satisfaction comes in second to theirs. Granted, the customer is not REALLY always right but their needs DO take priority.

• There are a great many people out there in the world who would LOVE to have your business. If the ones to whom you give that business are treated with respect and appreciation that should guarantee you the kind of service and attention that you will deserve by treating them well.

• There are a great many people out there in the world who would LOVE to have your job. If you take the extra time and effort to treat your customers with respect and appreciation that should guarantee you the return patronage to keep you in that position and grow the following that you deserve from doing your job well.

It's continually boggling to me that people, not just in retail, but in seemingly every area of professional life take so little pride in doing their job well these days. Yes, I know it makes me sound like the oldest man in the world, sitting toothless and angry on his front porch, complaining to anyone who will listen about, "Kids today...". But think about it for a minute.
THERE's an incentive for getting on the stick and getting your job done efficiently and well, right?
So, here's the deal, folks...you all try a little harder to be nice to your customers and you customers try a little harder to the person behind the counter and, together, we can all shut ME the hell up!
I know. Shocking, huh? And not just because I ended my sentence with a preposition either.
We all do our jobs and appreciate others for the jobs they're doing and the world gets to become a better place...Whaddaya say?

As always, dear readers, I welcome your opinions, comments and suggestions as I remain your humble - OKAY, not THAT humble, servant,

-SSG