2008 Woodie Awards
The Art of Agitation: It's nice not caring
A. Matthew Deal
Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: Opinions
There's always a slight moment of tension every time I encounter folks that have the pleasure of ringing me up at the EUC. One of the great regrets I have about owning a debit card is that I must spend any more time than necessary with whatever apathetic dolt that I've decided to grace with my presence. Forget about any issue with the food, my complaint is with the people.
Maybe it's me. Perhaps I'm the only one who has a problem being ignored for a few minutes, until finally someone drags over to me and in monotone asks me what I want on my sandwich. Or the zombie-like cashiers that barely acknowledge your presence, even after you've greeted them. If you don't believe me, the next time you are checking out, insert the most vulgar word you can in the place of your normal "Hello". They won't even look up.
My family has traditionally been involved with the restaurant industry in one way or another for a few generations back. Thus, I grew up understanding an experience dining from people who worked in a restaurant daily. There's a reason that waitresses who depend on tips to live are the same ones give the biggest tips when they go out.
It is from this same experience of working as a cashier that in same ways I empathize with some of the people I see in the Elliot University Center (EUC). It's a boring and thankless job in which, unless you're busy, time simply drags on. During my cashier experience however, I always attempted to maintain a positive personality with people, be friendly, make them feel like their business is wanted.
Most businesses don't have an option other than treating people with respect. Competition is cut-throat, and a bad business experience will keep a customer away. Students on campus don't have the option of taking their business somewhere else; there's no fear of losing customers from bad customer service.
"I think it depends on who is checking you out. Most of the guys in the EUC are really friendly. Most of the women down there won't even talk to you or look at you," said UNCG student Amanda Miller. Quite simply, there are too many people who just don't give a damn.
Fortunately this isn't always the case, and some people do have the right mindset about serving students.
"Customer service is really important. If you treat people right, they will keep coming back," said Trudy Simpson, Manager of Charlie's Coffee Shop. Simpson even commented that she called people out on bad customer service when she goes out to eat. "I'll tell them that if they don't like their jobs, they don't need to be here," said Simpson.
While people like Trudy Simpson are an exception, the fact still remains that people like her are an exception rather than the rule. I can handle occasional rudeness, but all the time... get real. There are too many options off campus for someone who's not chained down by a declining balance.
Maybe it's me. Perhaps I'm the only one who has a problem being ignored for a few minutes, until finally someone drags over to me and in monotone asks me what I want on my sandwich. Or the zombie-like cashiers that barely acknowledge your presence, even after you've greeted them. If you don't believe me, the next time you are checking out, insert the most vulgar word you can in the place of your normal "Hello". They won't even look up.
My family has traditionally been involved with the restaurant industry in one way or another for a few generations back. Thus, I grew up understanding an experience dining from people who worked in a restaurant daily. There's a reason that waitresses who depend on tips to live are the same ones give the biggest tips when they go out.
It is from this same experience of working as a cashier that in same ways I empathize with some of the people I see in the Elliot University Center (EUC). It's a boring and thankless job in which, unless you're busy, time simply drags on. During my cashier experience however, I always attempted to maintain a positive personality with people, be friendly, make them feel like their business is wanted.
Most businesses don't have an option other than treating people with respect. Competition is cut-throat, and a bad business experience will keep a customer away. Students on campus don't have the option of taking their business somewhere else; there's no fear of losing customers from bad customer service.
"I think it depends on who is checking you out. Most of the guys in the EUC are really friendly. Most of the women down there won't even talk to you or look at you," said UNCG student Amanda Miller. Quite simply, there are too many people who just don't give a damn.
Fortunately this isn't always the case, and some people do have the right mindset about serving students.
"Customer service is really important. If you treat people right, they will keep coming back," said Trudy Simpson, Manager of Charlie's Coffee Shop. Simpson even commented that she called people out on bad customer service when she goes out to eat. "I'll tell them that if they don't like their jobs, they don't need to be here," said Simpson.
While people like Trudy Simpson are an exception, the fact still remains that people like her are an exception rather than the rule. I can handle occasional rudeness, but all the time... get real. There are too many options off campus for someone who's not chained down by a declining balance.
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