We've all experienced customer service at some point in our lives. Some of it good, some of it bad, all of it service. At times it seems like these businesses hire the most retarded people they can find and put them in the positions they're least qualified for.
For example, we've all had a bad cashier. But have you ever met a cashier who can't count. How do you get a job as a cashier when you CAN'T COUNT? That is just confounding. What was the hiring manager thinking when they made that decision. He probably said, "Oh, so you can't count? You'll be a fine cashier." WTF?
Then, of course, you have the cashier who talks down to you. They might say something like, "The is expensive," like you can't afford the item. At that point, this writer is does everything in his power to keep from saying, "I knew how much it was when I got it off the shelf. Shut up and ring it up."
Sadly, a lot of bad customer service comes from those identified as Black. They give you weird stares, like you're bothering them. This writer remembers going into a McDonalds where there were a bunch of Blacks "working". They all pretended this writer wasn't there. Eventually, this writer did get service...from the one White person working there. Yeah...
Things get pushed to the next level when Black women make a sad attempt to give you service. And good lord almighty, if you see two or more Black women at the service counter, turn around and leave. The only thing you'll get is shitty service and a headache. One day this writer went to a Subway and two Black women were at the counter. It went as well as you would expect. All this writer can say is, "never again."
One thing supermarkets do right that other business don't do yet is give you an alternative; shelf check-outs. You just ring up your order, pay, and go. The machine knows how to count. The machine won't at like a smart ass. The machine won't be talking to co-workers on be on a cellphone while you're waiting. It's all business. Obviously, there are some things machines will never be able to do that only a human can do. One thing machines can do is give you consistent service, especially as a cashier, which is a concept that escapes some humans.
It can be baffling how some businesses put people in positions they obviously can't handle. In spite of you you've read, the answer is not to bring in more machines. The problem can be solved simply by hiring people who actually give a crap. Hiring people who don't go out of their way to be assholes. If an asshole does slip through the crack (no pun intended) weed them out or at least put them in positions where they don't have to deal with customers. In the words of pro-wrestler Triple H, "It's what's best for business."
Until next time...
