Who Says the Customer is the Boss?
Back when I worked in customer service, I was taught that the customer was always right. It didn’t matter if they were actually wrong, they were still right. For the last few years, I’ve solely been on the customer side of these interactions, and I can see that things have changed considerably.
I certainly appreciate when a waiter tells me that they personally think lamb chops are actually far superior to the lamb skewer that I happen to be ordering. However, I’d appreciate if they gave me the tip at the time of ordering, rather than choosing to surprise me with a serving of lamb chops 45 minutes later. I can concede that this would not be surprising at a fast food restaurant where, I’m presuming, little time is spent training staff on how to please customers. However, when this happens at a gourmet steakhouse, I can’t help but wonder why the waiter brought me menu in the first place.
It’s not just people in the food service industry that like to give ‘suggestions’. Taxi drivers also like to add their input. Not too long ago I had the pleasure of encountering a taxi driver who decided he didn’t like my choice of destination and wanted to drop me off at a metro station about 2 kilometres away. When I protested, he proceeded to inform me that I was mistaken about what was more convenient. It’s no wonder I appear indecisive when I actually have the opportunity for choice.
Wow I shouldn’t be astonished but I am! The world is different. I moved to a new city five years ago and I noticed changes much like you’re describing but I thought it was the city – not all around us. People think they’re helping but when I ask you for a ride and give you a destination it wasn’t a suggestion, its what I was paying for!
A lovely piece of understatement: “Taxi drivers also like to add their input.” I’ve yet to meet one that doesn’t, in some form or other
I once had a sommelier refus to hand me the wine list until he knew what I had ordered to eat. I might add his eventual recommendation (which I ignored) was rubbish.
I love cabbies. I’ve had that whole “you don’t know what you’re talking about” attitude before, when it comes to directions. No, I do know what I’m talking about and know you’re trying to rip me off.