Working in the field of customer service can be extremely frustrating. We take the brunt of people's emotions without even knowing why they're upset. I understand that you never know what's going on in someones life, so being understanding is a trait you need to have. That being said, I can't seem to grasp why it's difficult for customers to treat us like human beings. We wake up at a ridiculous hour to make sure you have your coffee, bright and early. We keep a genuine smile on our faces even when you're being ridiculous and asking us to bend over backwards for you. All we ask in return is for you to treat us with respect, just as we've done for you. While every customer is different, there are a few ways for you to be a better customer and help us help you.
When you approach the register and the person standing there greets you with a cheery upbeat, "Hello, how are you," don't ignore them and immediately shout out what you'd like to order today. What many people may not know is that when we ask you how you are doing, we want to engage in a conversation with you. Personally, I want to do my small part in making your day a little brighter. So if you're having a bad day, or a great one, tell us! At the very least, acknowledge the fact that we're actually asking you how you're doing opposed to simply asking for your order.
After you've made friends with the cashier, patiently wait for your drink, or name, to be called. There is nothing more frustrating than having a customer approach the hand-off counter and ask, "Is this mine?" Not only are you being impatient, you're missing the obvious fact that the person who is responsible for making your drink is not the same person who took your order. You have to remember that the person making drinks doesn't know who you are and doesn't know which drink is yours. When customers approach me and ask, "Is this mine," I always remind them that I don't know what they ordered. I'm not a mind reader! If you're that impatient and need to know where your drink is, tell the barista what you've ordered before demanding an answer.
On the subject of impatience, if you had to wait in line for more than two minutes, don't leave the register and immediately walk over to the hand-off counter wondering where your drink is. It's quite simple; if there were 10 people in front of you in line, then there are 10 drinks in front of yours. Also, keep in mind that a person can punch in your order on the register and write your cup much faster than the barista can make your latte. Once the frustration has passed, it's actually quite funny watching customers get all worked up because they have to wait an extra two minutes for their beverage.
One of the most aggravating things a customer can do, is get upset with the employees for how high the prices are. Try to remember that we are not the ones who set the prices, we just follow the rules! Something that I wish I could tell these customers is that if they don't like our prices, they can certainly enjoy the cheaper coffee that McDonald's has to offer!
The main idea we want our customers to take away is that we just want you to be nice to us! Everyone will have a much more pleasant experience if you do your best to keep an upbeat attitude. We're here to make your coffee and brighten up your day, give us a little bit of cheer as well!
