(no subject)
I'm reading this book about a guy's travels in russia, and he throws in a lot of interesting side info about the country. He was talking about how bad customer service is there (or was, in 1997) because during the communist era no one really cared. You were assigned your job and there was no real chance of getting fired. So when the first McDonald's opened up, the workers there were told they had to smile all the time (cuz it's their motto or whatever) and the guy said "Why? They'll think we're idiots."
That phrase perfectly sums up my entire experience working in retail, where I was constantly being told to smile. It's not that I was frowning all the time, but no one walks around with a smile on their face all the time except for fucking mental patients. Sounds like maybe the Russians understand me.
That was something that struck me when we were back in the US is how fucking ridiculously chipper everyone behind a counter was. Well hi there folks how are you today my names Amber what can I do for you gee golly rainbows and gumdrops! I mean, I don't want the person in the store to insult me and kick me in the nuts, but it's just so retarded, and it makes Americans assholes abroad. That's something I can't stand about life here is having to be around fat, red-faced white people, spittle flying from their mouths as they shout at some poor girl in a restaurant or behind a desk because their food isn't like what was in the picture or because they can't get another bar of soap. I think our sugar-coated retail industry has ruined us because we now expect everyone to break their backs serving us, THE CUSTOMER, and if they don't then something's wrong. Everything has to be perfect and if it's not it's our god-given right to complain and act like little fucking babies and rush home so we can post about it on tripadvisor.com or blog about it or whatever.
That phrase perfectly sums up my entire experience working in retail, where I was constantly being told to smile. It's not that I was frowning all the time, but no one walks around with a smile on their face all the time except for fucking mental patients. Sounds like maybe the Russians understand me.
That was something that struck me when we were back in the US is how fucking ridiculously chipper everyone behind a counter was. Well hi there folks how are you today my names Amber what can I do for you gee golly rainbows and gumdrops! I mean, I don't want the person in the store to insult me and kick me in the nuts, but it's just so retarded, and it makes Americans assholes abroad. That's something I can't stand about life here is having to be around fat, red-faced white people, spittle flying from their mouths as they shout at some poor girl in a restaurant or behind a desk because their food isn't like what was in the picture or because they can't get another bar of soap. I think our sugar-coated retail industry has ruined us because we now expect everyone to break their backs serving us, THE CUSTOMER, and if they don't then something's wrong. Everything has to be perfect and if it's not it's our god-given right to complain and act like little fucking babies and rush home so we can post about it on tripadvisor.com or blog about it or whatever.