The Magic Words

limestonekid · December 2006

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the large majority of the people who work in the service industry in this neighborhood have long forgotten the "magic" words of quality customer service?

You know - "Excuse me", "Please", "Thank you" and "You're welcome".

They seem to be as lost to the everyday language of people in customer service positions as the Mayan language used by Mel Gibson in Apocolypto.

boygabriel · December 2006

which establishments?

b/c I mean yeah, the cashiers at Associated just don't say "you're welcome" like they used to!

queencallipygos · December 2006

Subject: Re: The Magic Words

LimestoneKid wrote: Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the large majority of the people who work in the service industry in this neighborhood have long forgotten the "magic" words of quality customer service?

You know - "Excuse me", "Please", "Thank you" and "You're welcome".

I hadn't noticed that, because I've been distracted by those words' absence among the customers.

fishblimp · December 2006

you realize that you live in New York, don't you? If you want a scripted robot, maybe the suburbs are more appropriate for you? better yet, the self-check-out line might be more your speed. Omitting these magic words doesn't mean someone is rude. Being rude means they're being rude.
Maybe i'm being a little rude. But seriously, is it THAT big of a deal that magic words weren't used? The last time I checked, there aren't that many service industry jobs that are commission-earning jobs out there. If there were, I'm sure that you'd find a few more thank you's.

Thank you for reading.

anonymous · December 2006

Yeah! And what's with kids today and their long hair and rock and roll?

nathan · December 2006

I'd be happy if the guy behind the counter at my corner deli would stop talking on the phone while I'm standing there. Ya know, maybe acknowledge my existence with a glance?

escap · December 2006

I agree that Fort Greene service is pretty much awful. Not always rude, even, but just plain incompetent, from the boutique trendy restaurants to the nightmarish pits of chaos known as Pathmark and Target. That being said, having grown up in the nabe I'm pretty much used to it and don't really get upset about it; it's annoying but almost amusing at times, frankly. It's like you might wish you were 50 pounds lighter, but you're not, and you've learned to live with that.

Oh, and in addition I would add that I agree with the post above that said that the only people as rude or ruder than the servers in this area are the customers. Definitely true.

limestonekid · December 2006

fishblimp wrote: you realize that you live in New York, don't you? If you want a scripted robot, maybe the suburbs are more appropriate for you? better yet, the self-check-out line might be more your speed. Omitting these magic words doesn't mean someone is rude. Being rude means they're being rude.
Maybe i'm being a little rude. But seriously, is it THAT big of a deal that magic words weren't used? The last time I checked, there aren't that many service industry jobs that are commission-earning jobs out there. If there were, I'm sure that you'd find a few more thank you's.

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for responding. Of course I realize that we live in New York but that doesn't mean we have to accept rude and unprofessional behavior.

Personally I consider a teller at the bank sucking on her teeth while she's serving you incredibly unprofessional. I suppose if I didn't want to deal with that I could use the ATm all the time but there are still some transactions where you need to go to the teller. I would think that the bank would want to do some monitoring of its employees every once in a while.

As for the fella who would be happy if the guy behind the counter at his corner deli would stop talking on the phone while he's standing there - my suggestion would be to simply find another corner deli. It's not like there in short supply.

queencallipygos · December 2006

LimestoneKid wrote: Personally I consider a teller at the bank sucking on her teeth while she's serving you incredibly unprofessional.

...That's....it?

Sorry, but from the sound of your initial complaint it seemed as though you had been subjected to a score of folks who'd cussed you out throughout the course of a week, but one person who had something stuck in her teeth just seems...well, if that's the worst thing you've seen, you're fortunate indeed.

young hovacraft · December 2006

I've gotta say I prefer the more passive aggressive hostility that I encounter in Fort Greene to--for example--the brazen, surly hipster attitude one would encounter in Williamsburg. It's a different spin on that same old Brooklyn "Fuck you!" At least in Fort Greene the odds are slightly higher that it's coming fom a native New Yorker.

escap · December 2006

Agreed on that one.

kevin_on_putnam · December 2006

That's why I shop at Fresh Direct (I love those delivery guys) bank online and clothes shop on the internet. Now if I could only work from home....

nathan · December 2006

LimstoneKid said,

"my suggestion would be to simply find another corner deli. It's not like there in short supply."

There's actually about six delis on a three block stretch of Myrtle near me. About a month ago, I actually poked my head into each one as I walked home. There was only one where the guy WASN'T on the phone.

I'm not actually losing sleep over this. It's just a pet peeve.

bolletje · December 2006

Hm, I've honestly never noticed people being rude at stores in Clinton Hill.
I don't really eat at the restaurants around here too much because I prefer my own cooking, but the folks at the Associated and the deli and Bubbleworks are nice and pretty chill.
I'm glad that the deli guys have friends and family to talk to on the phone and don't feel compelled to give me their undivided attention when I buy a 79 cent roll of toilet paper. <shrug>

I also think that cashiers should not be required to stand, they should have swivelling seats behind the register. It is wack that people have to be on their feet unnecessarily for so many hours just so that customers can feel "served"--obviously they are going to take your money, give you change and bag up your purchases whether they are sitting or standing. It pisses me off, especially when I see a visibly pregnant woman forced to stand all day.

boygabriel · December 2006

On the subject of deli workers' attitudes, of the two delis on my corner, I do prefer the one run by the nice couple, as opposed to the one run by a bunch of shady-looking dudes who always act like I'm inconveniencing them by trying to purchase something.

Also the surly deli's shelves are always half-stocked. It always weirds me out when a deli is like that. Why aren't their shelves stocked? Did they forget to order from the wholesale distributor again? Are they a front front for something else?

Shady dealings at that deli.

I always try to go to the friendly one across the street.

limestonekid · December 2006

queencallipygos wrote: [quote=LimestoneKid]Personally I consider a teller at the bank sucking on her teeth while she's serving you incredibly unprofessional.

...That's....it?

Sorry, but from the sound of your initial complaint it seemed as though you had been subjected to a score of folks who'd cussed you out throughout the course of a week, but one person who had something stuck in her teeth just seems...well, if that's the worst thing you've seen, you're fortunate indeed.

That was just one example. It simply pains me that people we're providing money to for goods and/or services seem to care so little about making a positive impression on their customers.

Everyone doesn't have to have the false sincerity of an Applebee's server but there's definitely a greater likelihood of me returning to a restaurant if the server says "thank you" after we've paid the bill and we're on our way out.

As for delis.....try A-Rod's. They've always been pleasant to my wife and I.

anonymous · December 2006

I agree... this is New York. We are not known for our friendliness. I was in the South for an extended period of time & I noticed that while people say things like thank you they don't mean it! Matter of fact their whole demeanor says FUCK YOU, but thank you comes out of their mouths. I prefer NY where at least the people are real!
Ps. BUBBLEWORKS is the absolute worst & I like rude people so if I refuse to ever step foot in there again you can be assured that they have horrible service!

bolletje · December 2006

hm, I think the people who work at bubbleworks are lackadaisical and inattentive, but not really rude per se. So maybe bad service, but they do a great job on my laundry--it comes back really clean.

Did they do something specific to offend you? I'm just curious, not disagreeing with you.

The Magic Words

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