I was waiting in line at McDonalds for my lunch today because I was simply too lazy and tired this morning to make my own. Anyhow, I was doing a little bit of people watching and nobody was really catching my eye except for the manager who was working behind the counter.
Every couple seconds, her routine would go something like this: Grab bag from line staff, turn around and place it on the counter, announce "Order Number 321," then when "Order Number 321" showed up to grab his bag, the manager would let him know how she felt. "Thank you, have a nice..." I'm sorry, what was that, I didn't catch the rest of the sentence after you turned your head around to face the line crew again.
"Order Number 322." Pause. "Thank you, have a..." turkey sandwich? When did McDonalds start selling McTurkey Sandwiches? That can't be right, she must have said, "Thank you, have a drink on me." Right? Really, what happened to the personality in the customer service world? Nevermind that it's your job, but when was the last time a stranger really has said anything in passing and meant it? When I meet customer service people, I don't necissarily want them to be the most genuine, "How's the wife and kids" kind of a person because then I'd be talking all day to strangers as I walk through my everyday life. But at least she can sound and act sincere about the words that are coming out of her mouth to her customers.
"Order Number 323," she calls my number. As I approach the counter, I stop to ask her, "How are you doing today?" "Thank you, have a nice..."
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I work in a golf course snack bar. Not a very large golf course, and sometimes I won't get customers for a while. I always try to be nice and considerate to them, and even ask them about their golf game that day. However, on busier days, as I usually work by myself, I don't have time to talk to every customer. But I at least try to say " Have a nice day". People need to think less about getting through that really busy patch of time in the work day, and think about getting the customers to want to come back, and finishing my sentences.
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Good points I work in customer service.(Shift Manager for Brueggers Bagels) and I hate when people act like robots!!!
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I know EXACTLY what you mean, as McDonald's is one of the places I see this type of thing regularly happen. In her defense, though, I can see where she's coming from. I am a teller at a huge bank around here, and the job just stinks. The redundancy of the job gets annoying really quickly, and I get really sick of being "fake-happy" to people. The truth is, I would rather be real and have a nice conversation with people. I enjoy meeting different personalities, but this job just doesn't have the time for that. We are forced to be short and fake with people because time is of the essence...and there are a THOUSAND other people in line. It gets pretty exhausting saying the same thing over and over again to every customer "Hello, how are you?..(run transaction) ..Thank you, have a good day." The whole process usually takes only about a minute and a half. After a while, you just stop caring... hence the "Thank you, have a---"
--Kirsch