Rant: Customer Service

"You shall judge of a man by his foes as well as by his friends." Joseph Conrad

Rudeness. Almost nothing gets to me more, especially when someone's rudeness drenches me personally. I don't really care if you hate your minimum wage job, I came in to buy something and part of my hard earned money goes toward that minimum wage you're all to happy to pocket - and for my money I dare to want in exchange more than just the things I bought (I could have gotten them anywhere and probably for less) for they are only things. I don't care if you're on your hurried way to something that you've deemed to be so much more important than extending a little common courtesy to me and everyone else around you, I'm a fellow human being on this planet with you and forget karma it's just plain wrong to treat everyone else as sub-species simply because all you can think about is you. This selfish arrogance is the sludge that makes society itch.

Instead, try an acknowledgement of my mere existence for a start. You need not through yourself at my feet, thanking me for my small percentage of contribution to your paycheck. I don't want that, save it for someone who's throwing their money around. Mine is too hard to come by. But do recognize that I'm the customer, one of many whose evidence of coming to your store makes your job possible. Come to realize that I'm on my way to somewhere too, and it may not be important to you, but since I'm doing it, it's important to me. Consider the fact that the only reason I, and other people you've come across today, haven't spit on your shoe or allowed that elevator door to slam in your face is that for whatever reason, we're not playing the same 'me' game you are.

A smile even as if to say, 'Hey, you're a human being aren't you... me too.' Giving one doesn't mean you have to let go of that 'poor me' thought going through your head, even though you might find it hard to keep that thought when you're willing to connect, even in that miniscule way, with another 'poor me', because really... you're not alone.

A reasonable 'Hello', verbalized so that I can hear it and so that I don't have to wonder if it was for me. Eye contact, though brief, is unfortunately mandatory unless you want me to think you're welcoming your ID or EGO back into full consciousness. It doesn't mean we're best friends or that you'll have to listen to my life's story, it's just a customary greeting when another human being enters your view for the first time that day. It may be because that person is desiring something to which you'll need to give at least a little time or effort to, or it might just be that that person deserves to not be invisible to you, even if just for a moment.

A 'Have a good day', or 'Thank you'. Not like you're daring me to have a good day or thanking me for finally having stopped kicking your dog. Heartfelt, at least somewhat, or faked so I wouldn't know the difference. You might secretly be hoping that I fall and trip the moment I'm off the property, but I wouldn't know it. It might be the last time you see me, and you can be nearly positive that it will be if all I get is a muffled monotone made mandatory by your manager.

A little of your better side rather than the blank rudeness, so that in some small way, you can begin to be part of the solution rather than continuing to be part of the problem.