Is it too much to ask that a shop assistant talk to you just a little throughout your 100 dollar plus, food shopping transaction? I’m not asking for inane chit chat, but how about ‘good morning/afterning/evening’ for a good start, or here’s a new one….’thank you’.  Since when has it become the norm to ignore the customer?  I for one have decided to wage a one person war on this ‘non-customer service’.  When I go into a store I would like a little notice taken of me (P’raps not possible in the really big stores…but hey a couple of extras working the floor could at least smile a little) and I don’t mean a big he-man security guard type following you around either.

The other day I filled my car with gasoline – from empty – so we’re talking a sizable transaction here, not a pack of gum.  As well as the car, I bought water, bread and candy.  The conversation (or mono-sation)went kinda like this;

ME – Good morning

Attendant – silence (a strained look out of the window to find the number of the pump I used)

ME – Number 4, and ALL these items too, the bread’s so good here isn’t it?

Attendant – silence (but tapping buttons wildly half on a calculator and half on the cash register….why must it take so long…isn’t technology to speed things up?)

ME – silence (I refuse to read the till in order to know the amount due)

Attendant – silence (again the strained look out of the window)

ME – how much is it? (I’m gonna force him to speak)

Attendant - silence (he swings the price display around to face me)

ME – I pay and leave, with a smile and thank you (I can’t believe I did that either)

There are so many similar instances to this, that it would take all week to list them individually, but the sad thing is, those with manners and common courtesy like us are in the minority….AND get this, the wrong doers!!! The petrol attendant guy thought I was weird!

A friend of mine the other day went into a sports store to look for some gym clothes, which just happened to be way at the back of the store where the door to the big storage room was located.  As she approached the back of the store (needless to say there was no ‘good morning/afternoon’ etc, or ‘what the hell you looking at’ upon entrance) she heard loud laughing, screaming and cursing going on.  After about 4 minutes of gazing at an impossibly high shelf containing merchandise that COULD have been suitable, if only an attendant had been attentive and spotted this sales opportunity!!! (do they even care these days) out tumble 4, yes, FOUR sales attendants from the storage room at back, who clearly were having a riot back there, oblivious to the REAL WORK they should have been doing IN the store.  What’s more surprising it was my friend who felt in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This is what is happening to us decent folk, we are again looked at as strange for wanting decency and manners.

I leave you remembering what I said earlier about a one person war.  We should all insist on courtesy and customer service where possible.  I would even prefer a phoney if slightly insincere greeting, to none at all, so that’s it from me….’Have a nice day’ and ‘Thank you for reading’.