Manners & Customer Service
 

I have noticed a disturbing trend and I am wondering if it is just a "Canadian" thing, or if it is being noticed elsewhere.

We seem to be raising a Generation of young people who lack basic manners
and young people who are in positions of Customer service who do everything but serve the public.

I grew up in the poor side of Vancouver but my mom drilled into my head Manners. I have passed that on to my kids.
"Yes please, no thank you, I'm sorry, excuse me," asre just some of the basics that people have commented that they are known for good manners.

I am noticing a trend also in Customer service whereby people get annoyed if you ask for some service like I should consider myself blessed just to be considered for service!

A number of years ago I was on my way home from work and was "hip checked" out of the way by a 8 yr old to get in the door of a 7/11.
I exclaimed, "EXCUSE ME!" It didn't even faze him.

I liked what one said to a clerk at a store over the lack of service he was getting.
He said, "Look, you are overhead, I am profit!"

Does anyone notice a lack of basic manners that seems to be lost in society?

Or is it just me?:drawguns

I am soory if anyone is offended at this thread.;)

It's a real problem in the US too!

I hate getting my food thrown out the window of a drive through without even a thank you, come again.

It's not just you. A lot of basic things are missing anymore.

I work in customer service. That's my job. To me politeness is simply being considerate of others. Apparently a lot of people aren't teaching "consideration of others" and how you go about doing and being that any more.

you dont even want to get me started....

Is it parents to be blamed for a lack of teaching on basic manners?
Supervisors?

Or is it just a symptom of a sick society without God?

No, parents are not always the blame.

If there isn't some parents to blame, why do I see kids acting like wild animals with their parents standing by doing nothing?

Well, I don't know. But, I do know that we have taught our child manners and sometimes he acts like he has never heard of manners. Drives me nuts!!!

My kids are not little Angels either, but we have taught them the need for it.
We try to correct them if they forget them, and part of manners is to say "Sorry" when our behavior falls short of what is proper etiquette.

What I have noticed with my child is when he thinks we are not paying attention, he shows more manners i.e. holding the door open, saying thank you, etc.

When I worked at Mazzio's on Robinson Rd., in Jackson, MS, Mark Dunn (sounding familiar, anyone?) taught me to be polite and professional.

Now, in East Texas, I'm greeted with a curt, "Take yo' orduh soon as yew ready!"

BUT, when I return to fast food joints in Mississippi, I get a polite (TIC), "WhaCHEWant?!!"

:D

Ah, how time passes!

ahhh

now I want some nachos with beef and peppers...

Customer service
 

What really astounds me is when I make a bank deposit and the teller doesn't greet me, let alone say thank you. However, I believe that as a consumer, I have the right to expect to be treated with respect and courtesy. If I do not receive the expected level of friendly service, I find the nearest supervisor or manager, and in a very diplomatic way explain my experience/expectations.

As consumers, we have let businesses get away with letting their employees treat us rudely. The other reason that we experience this is because as Christians we are taught to keep out mouth shut about peoples' short-comings, and to do otherwise we are deemed negative and have a bad spirit.

I think that as a Christian we have a right to uphold the standard of service and to politely inform a manager of our expectations. If more consumers would speak up...we might see a difference.

Poor customer service is an issue with me, because I have been in middle management in that fiels for over 25 years...it starts at home with the toddler learning to say, "please", and "Thank you".

No excuse for poor service- except lack of training and accountability.

I think, though, that these are North American expectations, in general, and not applicable to many other "Western" cultures. I wouldn't know about non-Western ones.

Expectations of what? And have we moved away from those expectations, or does it not apply anymore?

I have walked into Particulary McDonalds. Walked up to the counter and the kid is standing behind the counter. Never a greeting or "can I take your order". They just stand there and look at you. I just stand there and not say a word and look at them. Finally they get the message and say. Um Can I help you.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that will stand there and look at them like they are stupid till they speak up.

I was pleasantly surprised by the cashier in Kroger tonight--- he was extremely courteous--compared to what I'm usually treated like at Walmart when I shop there. Most cashiers there will shove the receipt into my hand and start ringing up the next customer while rushing me to remove my bags from the turntable or whatever you call that thing they use now. I have gotten to the point that if they aren't courteous enough to help put the bags into the cart like they did BEFORE the days of those stupid things they have now-- that I will take my time about getting my bags off there and make the cashier stand there and hold items in their hands that they have rung up for the next customer.

I'll walk out a place of business if their is no sign of some professionalism. The only way to speak is with your money. Then to raise your children to be respectful.

I've worked in customer service for years in various capacities, and many companies still stress cs and will dismiss employees who are remiss. But yes, overall people are lax in their manners.


In several positions I've had they have used Nordstoms as the flagship of retail customer service and many use their standards for training.

Does anyone shop Nordstroms? We don't have one near us. The closest is the Mall of America.

Ron it's not only you and it's not a west coast problem it's an everywhere problem.There's a whole generation of youth that have grown up in a society where common curtesies have not been taught in all areas. Like someone else posted don't get me started on this subject I'll just say it's sad but its everywhere

Am I wrong that it is a pet peeve of mine?

Hey 3E, its not just the kids, its everyone.

I think everyone should be required to work behind a refund counter at Wal-Mart for about a year. It would totally change their lives!

In a former life, I managed a Sam's Club.

I had a guy walk through the doors, take the shoes from off of his feet, and demand that I exchange them.

When I stood there dumbfounded, he stated that he had only had them for six months and they were falling apart.

You know what I did?
I let him get a new pair, and threw the others in the trash.

while we are gripping here is another grip I have...her I am in a store trying to be checked out by a clerk with money in hand and wanting to pay and the phone rings..

They stop, go get the phone, and here I am already in PERSON with money in hand and they make me WAIT and help the person on the other end of the phone who isnt YET a customer

Amen! Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! Bad manners.
Everytime I go through the drive thru at any fast food joint I am usually served by some Teeny bopper who has his/her mind on their boyfriend/girlfriend and usually gets the order wrong.

Unfortunately, I politely request that they repeat back to me the order, and then I check the bag's contents.

The best way to have a pleasant experience is to be as friendly and kind to them as you would want them to be to you. Will it make every time good? NO, but you will go away many times having made someones day. I have heard it said many times, and it is true. You don't know the story behind that grumpy person. You may be the only smile they get that day.

Very true St Matt, that can go for all of our relationships as well.

I just noticed an overall trend of "Manners" becoming less important and of "Manners" going by the wayside in general.

Matt,

You bring up a good point.

In our society of microwave service, as consumers sometimes we expect things immediately too. So the manners missing isn't always from the worker, it's many times from the customer.

I think as Ron has stated manners and courteousy is missing as a whole.

I use the "nice card" many times and get treated very fair when the customer in front of me was almost ignored. It's a effort, but well worth it to be nice and may make their day.

At least give them an idea of how they "should" be acting!

Not long ago, Matt, I went thru the drive-thru at McDonald's. When they handed me my food, I thanked them and wished them a good day. The woman who was working STOPPED. Literally! With her hand in mid-air. Just STOPPED. She looked and me said to me, "Thank you! You are the first person today who has come thru here and wished ME a good day. Most just drive off when I say it to them."

I agree that customer service is becoming worse and worse. But every now and then I have to kick myself and remind me that I can't do anything about anyone else's actions or attitudes. But I do have control over my own. So I have to make an extra effort to reflect Christ in a better way. :)

I was not saying in any way to be rude in the least bit but I was just commenting on the clerk. Not talking about our own actions.

To me, I think even if the food is not good at a restaurant Its not the waitress fault and we still should tip her for her good service.

I think we need to be a good respresentitive of Jesus Christ EVERYDAY of the yr

We have gone out to eat with church folks and they have left a $2 for a family of four. That amazes me.

I think one thing is my husband waited tables years ago so he knows what it is like to work hard and just get a $2 tip from cheap folks. It really isn't fair to the waiter. Even if the waiter is having a bad day (and we all do), we could make his/her day by being nice and leaving a decent tip. The waiter/waitress would remember someone being kind to them even though they may not have deserved it.

I agree. I believe in leaving a nice tip and usually do, even if the service doesn't warrant it.