tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254679.post113377317879982578..comments2023-09-03T00:36:01.266+12:00Comments on South America Bidsta: No sugar thanks, and hold the "sir"Simon Bidwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08669045345877026955noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254679.post-1135730182020263612005-12-28T13:36:00.000+13:002005-12-28T13:36:00.000+13:00I don’t mind ‘Sir’ and I’m getting to the age wher...I don’t mind ‘Sir’ and I’m getting to the age where I hear it more. What does get me, as you point out, is the insincerity. The first-name approach Kevin H. outlines above also annoys me: I don’t know this person and I ain’t his or her best friend. Both cases, however, are preferable to ‘Mister’, oft-seen in old American TV series.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18013696218856088709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254679.post-1133901841982161532005-12-07T09:44:00.000+13:002005-12-07T09:44:00.000+13:00Yes,I went through some "training" at a large depa...Yes,I went through some "training" at a large department store in CHCH where the customer was described as "the prospect" ("...the prospect enters the store, greet him or her within 5 seconds..."). It was scary and so totally wrong.<BR/>In my years selling CDs I managed to ace the highest sales competition (NZ-wide) one year at Christmas without even trying. I think this was because I stayed behind the counter unless people looked really lost and I KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRODUCT.<BR/>I am one of the people who worked in retail and genuinely did find other people's weekends/opinions on sport etc really quite interesting as it helps make a monotonous job easier, so some of those people out there may be genuine.<BR/>Having said that, I think the most genuinely good customer service in Christchurch is probably at the library, which I imagine is directly related to the fact that they are not selling anything.<BR/>By the way I never called anyone sir, which in NZs rather informal society I think sounds really sucky, except a rather bizzare theatre director who quite liked it and requested it of the staff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254679.post-1133857775819611412005-12-06T21:29:00.000+13:002005-12-06T21:29:00.000+13:00Hmmm, maybe they should read my blog.Hmmm, maybe they should read my blog.Simon Bidwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08669045345877026955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254679.post-1133855109395758442005-12-06T20:45:00.000+13:002005-12-06T20:45:00.000+13:00Well, I find it irritating too especially when it ...Well, I find it irritating too especially when it doesn't come with a smile and is obviously insincere. On the other hand, I can tell you it is a lot better than the surly, disobliging culture that used to exist in New <BR/>Zealand in times past. But what do you say to get your point across that they are on the wrong track? Do you grunt ungraciously? say "fine thanks" and try not to grit your teeth, or what? It's something I have never solved No doubt it would be considered to be heavy and uncool to suggest they tell <BR/>their supervisor that most people can't stand being asked how their day's going. Anyway it seems really mean to take it out on young, low-paid service workers -they probably dislike having to say it. Any useful ideas <BR/>about how to convey one's feelings so that the message gets through <BR/>politely? Please let me know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254679.post-1133814924497088862005-12-06T09:35:00.000+13:002005-12-06T09:35:00.000+13:00The truly bizarre thing is that there are managers...The truly bizarre thing is that there are managers/trainers out there who seem to genuinely think that is how customers want to be treated; that the patronising patter will make us feel good and want to use their services more. Where do these people get these ideas from? They live in another world I'm sure (probably Auckland).<BR/><BR/>Personally, I find the familiar use by strangers of my first name rather irritating, e.g. by bank staff, police, call centre staff, anyone who has access to my details and thinks its appropriate to call me by my first name in that irritating conversational tone, like we're personally acquainted.<BR/><BR/>Overall, it's the insincerity of the patter and questions from customer service staff that really grates. Like asking how I am today while looking away, completely disinterested. Or the inane question from the service station attendant at 7.00am when I pop in to buy a newspaper - "How's your day been?" Excuse me? It's 7.00 in the morning dumb ass.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps my biggest pet hate is the way that answering the telephone seems to take preference over serving a waiting customer; like, I'm waiting to be served or even in the middle of being served, and the staff member dumps me like a hot potato to answer the phone. Hang on a minute - I was here first!<BR/><BR/>So yes I do empathise Simon, and this is one reason I try to avoid shopping. And I wave away the service station attendant, and pump my own gas.<BR/><BR/>While I recognise that many service staff are low paid, I wish they could at least try to be genuinely helpful and sincere in their comments. Once again this golden rule is appropriate: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'.<BR/><BR/>And your experience working in the gas station Simon is similar to mine when I was driving nights for Super Shuttle while studying. I just wanted to tell everyone that this was just a parttime job while studying economics and public policy at Victoria. There seems to be something a little snobby and elitist going on there, but never mind.<BR/><BR/>So Sir, how's your day been?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com