I recently read an article called "Why Nice People Shouldn't Work in Customer Service." The author said, "Employers love to put nice people in customer service positions. Especially if they’re authentically nice people -- I’m talking about the kind of person it’s impossible to get mad at because they’re just naturally so dang polite and pleasant." But he goes on to say that these are the exact wrong people because, "the arrangement is stressful and trying and leads to major job dissatisfaction," and explains, "Customers are loud, abrasive and impatient. They’re rude." He says that there are exceptions, of course, but what kind of world do we live in that the average customer is described as "loud, abrasive, and impatient"? As a college student working odd end jobs, I have experienced and heard my fair share of horror stories and know that there is some scary truth behind these words in the world of working a service job.
Below are listed nine easy ways to become a better customer:
1. Tipping your waitress/waiter is not an option
Tips are how waitresses and waiters get paid in America. For most waiters and waitresses, it is the bulk of their income. In no circumstance is that person's time, attempt at supporting themselves and/or others and effort not worth 20 percent of the cost of your meal. The fundamental idea of tipping can be argued, but while tipping is still socially and economically integrated into our society which is has been since 1926, it is important and unarguably mandatory.
2. Write a receipt note
If your waitress or waiter does a great job, be the first to jump on giving positive feedback. Perhaps the smile they had while serving your table was masking tears after being yelled at by a jerk at a different table. Examples of this would be:
"Thanks for the wonderful service!"
"You have wonderful people skills! Thank you for the great experience!"
"You are exceptional at your job. We appreciated your friendly smile!"
3. Bag your own groceries
If you are at the check out and cashier is scanning, bagging, and working the computer all at the same time, just a simple smile and a "Don't worry, I'll get it bagged" could be all the encouragement they need to push through the last two hours of work.
4. Put the cart away
Not only does it keep costs low and keep stores from hiring more staff, it's easy and it's a gesture that takes no more than 4 minutes.
5. Believe it or not, your doctor is hurrying
Waiting in a doctor's office is a part of life. Part of the job is varying lengths of times of appointments due to varying needs of patients. I will never ask my doctor to hurry my appointment when my health is on the line, so why would I wish it upon other people? Practice patience, and instead of making conversation with the person next to you about how long you have been sitting there, instead speak on behalf of how well your doctor has treated you in the past or perhaps how you got recommended to them. A small favor really in exchange for your health and wellness in which the doctor has taken the time to invest in.
6. Put it back where you got it
Retail is a hard business. It takes no more than five minutes to either refold that shirt you wrinkled or to hang up that dress you decided against, but it could take an employee hours to figure out why one item is on the wrong hanger or to sort through 100 items of clothing haphazardly thrown all over 20 dressing rooms. We're adults. We are very capable of putting things back where they came from, and besides that, it's a nice gesture.
7. Replace your consent words with encouraging words
Try these two simple replacements:
When an employee says, "One moment please."
Replace "OK" with "Of course"
When an employee says, "I'm sorry about that."
Replace "It's OK" with: "Don't worry about it, thanks for helping me" perhaps even a "No problem, it could happen to anyone."
8. Don't hang up on cold callers
It's rude to hang up on anyone. Instead, just wait until they finish their pitch (it should be no more than 15 seconds), then if a cold caller asks how your day is going, take 10 seconds to ask how theirs is, then you can politely say "You know, I'm not interested in buying _______, but I appreciate the friendliness that's apparent in your voice. Thanks for calling. Have a good rest of your day!" I can assure you, that would be the best 25 seconds of their entire day of making cold calls. It takes 25 seconds.
Hint: hanging up just puts you back on the list. If you want to be taken off the solicit list, ask nicely for that agent to kindly take you off the list and they will decide whether or not to show mercy
9. Say, "Thank You"
Don't forget: service is the highest honor we can do for one another. Say thank you to the people who need it most, those serving.
Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
