Japan--Queen
of 'service'
My
best friend used to work for a pizza store. She loved the job,
particularly the thrill of pinching any toppings she desired while
the
store manager was out delivering pizzas. She hated one thing though:
the super rude customers who call up and end up verbally abusing
her. She never knew what she had done wrong, but she ALWAYS had
to apologise, because the store's golden rule was this:
1. The customer is always right.
2. If the customer is wrong, go back to rule number 1.
Having spent so many years of my life abroad, I certainly feel like
a
queen whenever I'm back here. The standard of service is beyond
expression.
You'll
love it here. Especially, if you're used to a certainly very
friendly, but not-so-dedicated-servant high school boy who takes
your pizza order over the phone.
Where else in this whole wide world, would you get a chorus of
"Irashaimase!" ("Welcome!") and "Arigatougozaimashita!"
("Thanks for coming!") in any store you enter? With all
that bowing and with such enthusiasm in their voices, you'd think
you were David Beckham. (For your info, Japan is head over heels
in love with him). And if the place happens to be an eatery, you'd
definitely get a glass of water upon arrival--without having to
ask for it, that is. Wow!
Wait a minute, though. What happens if this goes on? Like me, you'll
all begin to feel like queens and kings, princes and princesses.
Worse, you start acting like one. And thus, it's a nightmare for
those in the service industry.
Of course, customers fully deserve to get what they've paid for:
decent service and perhaps a smile or two with it. Some obviously
expect more.
The other day I was queuing at a convenience store. A middle-aged
lady in front of me was asking for a gift voucher which the store
simply didn't have. To my eyes, the girl behind the counter serving
this lady spoke politely enough. The lady was furious, perhaps embarrassed
for being told in front of others that she came to the wrong store.
'I am ALWAYS right, give me what I want! Produce it, if you don't
have it!' , she must have been thinking. The woman slapped the girl--and
folks, I was out of there. Who does she think she is? The queen,
obviously.
There'll always be the likes of her in Japan unless rule No.2 is
re-written:
1. The customer is always right.
2. If the customer is wrong, kindly let him/her know so.
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