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Local Voices

The Demise of Customer Service

Can we talk about the dying institute of customer service in the retail setting? I mean, it really shouldn't be an issue, but sadly it is. I hate to be one of those people, truly, I do. I remember the way I hated to hear a customer gripe and complain about trivial stuff. But I certainly never let them know how I was feeling about it. Having worked my way through high school and college while standing behind a cash register at a big box retail store, I was programmed to remember to treat the customer in front of me as though they were the only person within a 500 mile radius of where I stood. I was expected to greet each one with a smile, say hello, make some sort of small talk with them, and simultaneously and efficiently scan each item and place it, not toss it, into a bag for them. I lived my teenage years under the threat of immediate termination from that job if I was caught failing to meet those standards. Talking to my friend at the register next to me? No way! That was one of the cardinal sins of retail! And using four-lettered words while on the sales floor, especially in front of a customer? Are you kidding me? Out of the question. And honestly, I don't think that it is too much to ask from the person behind the register, who happens to be my last encounter with an establishment, to be decent and respectful. That last encounter leaves the most lasting impression, after all.

Somewhere along the line, between my teenage years and my oh-my-god-I'm-almost-fourty! years, the customer service standard has broken down. No, let me revise that, it has crashed and burned beyond recognition. Oh, sure, you can find it here and there, most likely in a small, independent type shop. Those aren't always available, and besides, that doesn't negate the expectation of the retail market, the big boxes, the grocery store in the middle of downtown to meet at least a minimal customer service standard.

I have heard cashiers discuss their drinking exploits from the night before. I have heard a cashier talk about which cashier at the other end of the store he had "tapped." I've heard one telling another to "check out the fat a** over there in the crippled line", while I bagged my own groceries because the two employees in front of me were too busy with thier sidebar conversation. The other day, my cashier stopped talking to their neighboring cashier about how much they hated another coworker just long enough to say, "Are you (f-word) kidding me?", when the receipt paper got jammed in the register. I mean, don't get me wrong, I use that exact same expression all the time. I said it in my head right after my cashier said it aloud. But that's the thing. I know when to think it versus when to say it. It doesn't offend me to hear those words. Beleive me, I am not that delicate. But in a setting where I am your customer and your business depends on whether or not I choose to shop at your store, I expect there to be a better standard of behavior.

Once, after that "crippled line" incidnet, I got so frustrated with the lack of customer service and outright rudeness coupled with a total lack of human decency that upon arriving home, I called the store and asked for the manager. After explaining my dissastifaction and disgust with the appaling behavior, the person who identified himself as the manager said to me, after a huge sigh, "Okay." That may be okay to you, but it is certainly not okay with me. So I called that store's home office, left a message, and received no resonse. About two weeks later, I called again, left another message, and still received no response. So I emailed that store's home office customer service department and cc'd their VP. Finally, a response, but only a simple apology and a "we are looking into the matter." I expected an emphatic apology and something along the lines of "We do not tolerate this kind of behavior." But no. The same cashier is still spewing off four lettered words while dealing with customers at the same store.

Maybe it is because I was held to a higher standard that this new atmosphere of anything goes when dealing with customers is so bothersome to me. Maybe it's because, at least in my opinion, it is a direct result of a failure to instill common decency, respect for others, and at least a median level of basic manners into today's youth.

How did we, as a society, come to accept this type of behavior? How did we become the kind of people or raise the kind of people who behave in that manner? And what can we do to revitalize that dying institution of customer service that I miss so much?

Mars

4:34 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Nice post. Couldn't agree with you more. Somehow, mediocrity is not only accepted, but looked up to these days. I remember the golden rule about treating others as you'd like to be treated. Guess I'm just old fashioned. Maybe customer service disappeared with all the technology that's so prevalent. When was the last time you saw people actually walking and enjoying life without being glued to their dumb phone? Yeah, me either.

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pam ghaster

6:05 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Great post. I agree with everything you said............I remember growing up in the Nordstrom, American Express and Marriott era where they were the white glove of customer service. The only company left that actually treats you like a human being is Nordstrom and small business owners. Try asking for a supervisor on the phone..........they hang up. Most of this behavior or lack of is because we have a generation that cannot communicate from video games.

How do we fix this? Take the phones away. Communicate. Shut down the video games. Communicate. Teach respect and boundrys at an early age. Communicate. How often do you see a boy not open the door for an elderly person. The word respect is just missing. The take away...............no one cares.

-pam ghaster

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Mars

10:08 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Communicate!! It almost sounds absurd, doesn't it? Not in the days of instant communication!

Earl Elevant

7:30 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Go to a gun dealer and you'll experience bad customer service like this X 10.

It's like the guys who work there are the washouts from police psychological testing. They have HUGE chips on their shoulders and have no patience for anyone beneath them (which is pretty much everyone). Their egos keep them from coming anywhere close to being customer service oriented. They have the guns and you want the guns, so you need to bow to them. No thanks, Tackleberry.

Obviously there are some good guys out there, but for the most part, you're not likely to find them. If you do find one, stick with him.

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Castor Troy

7:39 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

It's because big corporations are all about profit. They are only looking at their next quarterly report.

Cost of *everything* goes up. But wages, hours, and training programs go down. The amount of stress on the shoulders of these part-time workers with no training is staggering.

So you will stop shopping at a certain store? No big deal. They will make up the cost by passing it onto the workers and other consumers.

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Mars

10:07 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

I will still stop shopping there. They can make it up, but karma is a bitch.

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SharEd

4:28 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

Right on Castor. My husband and I made $8 an hour over 30 years ago in service jobs when gas was 65 cents/gallon, houses $20-25K for starters, autos were $4-7K new, food cheap, and products like appliances lasted 15-20 years without service contracts. Those same jobs still pay $8 an hour or less today yet look at the corporate greed and price increases that have occurred without any wage increases. And it is common knowledge in the corporate world that training and market research departments are considered "drags" because they don't produce revenue yet they are the departments that could impact a company's bottom line the most by pleasing the consumer!

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EssBee

5:13 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

This this and more this. I've been working in retail or food service environments for a long time. I pride myself on providing the best service I can. It drives me bonkers when a co-worker tries chatting up a conversation when I'm trying to help a customer, or when people disengage with customers, but it's hard to maintain that kind of work ethic when you're making barely above minimum wage and your job doesn't respect you. The lack of respect for the employees inevitably trickles to the customers. And frankly, having been the customer servant for so long, you put up with a LOT of abuse from customers. If you're paid decently and treated decently by the company you work for, with proper support and chains of command to address when there's a problem, you feel better about your job, you treat people around you better (customers and employees included), and you can put up with the bullshit.

Hell, applying for a job as a stocker in a big box store required more than 5 different psychological assessments and an invasive drug test (I don't do drugs, but I hate having to pee in a cup) - for a job that pays 8 bucks an hour. You go into a lot of these jobs feeling almost like a criminal or shlub from the application process onward. It doesn't excuse bad behavior, but the stakes really aren't very high.

Patch reader

9:05 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

"So I emailed that store's home office customer service department and cc'd their VP."

I give the author a lot of credit for trying to help this pathetic company stay in business.

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Castor Troy

1:52 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

I agree with you Mars.

Short term profits shouldn't trump long term strategy of customer satisfaction. They are basically signing their own execution by doing this.

Corporations should be investing in their workforce. A strong workforce is key to long term survival in today's economy.

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Juan

4:39 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

As a person who works in retail, I can tell you that not only do we get treated poorly by the customers, we are also getting treated poorly by our managers. We don't get paid a living wage, and are yelled at, cussed out, and treated rudely by both customers and management. Most days I am afraid to ask customers if they need help finding anything as nine times out of ten I am going to be told "I can find it myself" in a rude manner only to hear that same customer yell at me 10 minutes later that they have never had such poor customer service. We have to try to talk over people on their cell phones, taking this call because it's "important" - as if we aren't. Or holding up my line while you text your friend to meet you somewhere. So the better question might be whatever happened to old fashioned manners?

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Steve Maddox

7:52 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

After reading this, and after managing a retail operation for over 15 years I think it comes down to a couple things. Company culture, hiring criteria, training and evaluation, and treating human beings that way we want to be treated. The company culture has to be one that stresses customer service and open communication amongst the staff. Also, the employee has to be empowered to deal with tough situations and given the tools to do something about it. The employee also has be be held accountable for poor customer service. Not by the VP, but by the direct manager. Role playing is a good way to work through that process. You also need to hire people that mimic the emphasis placed on customer service. You can't teach personality so you need to find people who can smile, communicate (at an above average level), and have a desire to help people. If they don't, they need to get off the bus.

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Terry

8:03 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Juan that was a very good reply to a very good article. I've seen good retail employees being rudely treated by customers. There is NO patience anymore in this FAST technical world. It's like blaming the gas station clerk for the high price of gas. I'm also familiar with the "gossiping" empoyees. Many times I've had to wait for the "story" to end before the actual check out process began. Managers NEED to manage their stores by getting out ONTO the floor and observing and listening to their customers as well as their employees. Yes, there's a lot of paperwork to be done but, managers are basically salary and the position was offered and taken with the understanding that management is supposed to be an "above the call and beyond" position.
Behavior STARTS in the environment you were raised in. Each generation seems to want to give their children that "little bit more" that we didn't have. If you have loud, rude parents and they appear to get away with it, then the kids have to assume it's OK and it's the domino affect from there. Eventually that leak turns into a flood and generates the revealing article written by Angie.

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Matt Bova

8:10 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Our society is getting further away from personable skills...and it's our own fault. We keep using the Self Checkout lanes and buying products on-line. Retail associates will soon be a thing of the past. Unfortunately along with that, a younger generation that can't say "Hello" or look you in the eye when they want to communicate. But wow can they scroll, thumb, and text their way on their devices. Sad indeed.

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Mars

11:56 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

True, especially the inability to say Hello or look you in the eye, but their fingers are flicking away on the little screens.

dharma freebird

8:27 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

As someone who has worked in customer service for years I can also point out how rude customers can be. Try getting them to answer you while they are mid cell chat. When you try to move on to the next person they then act indignent!! People who speak so softly then get ticked off when you have to ask them to please repeat what they said. People who interrupt you, while you are with someone else, and demand that you take care of or fix their little issue.

I agree that customer service has gone down hill, but there is the other side as well.

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Barbara

8:28 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Stop blaming technology for lack of politeness and blame the bad parenting skills. You treat people like you want to be treated. And yes, that goes for being a polite customer also.

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Mars

11:54 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Technology isn't an innocent babe in the woods. It's not the scapegoat, but it hasn't made anyone any nicer, either.
I remember back in the day if you had a flat tire, someone would most definitely stop and help you. Help you, for free, with nothing more than good intentions. Now, ironically, there are more vehicles on the road than ever before, yet no one will stop to help or make sure you're ok. You better have a cell phone, or you're up that stinky creek without a paddle.

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Amanda

3:28 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013

Well said Barbara... I can not believe how many parents I see being extreamly rude to their children. No one has respect for eachother anymore and it is sad to know this is how people are being raised.

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Mars

3:50 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013

I still cringe when I see a parent with his/her ear plastered to the phone, deep in conversation with someone not currently present. All the whilethe small babe is facing mom/dad in the shopping cart, trying to get their attention while mom/dad seems as off in a distant land, as if the child isn't even there.

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SharEd

4:45 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

Mars - this is off topic but related to your story about no one stopping to help fix a flat today. I lived in Jacksonville, FL, when serial killer Eileen Wournos was killing good samaritans who stopped to help her at her "broken down" car. Anyway, that being said, I need to know what to do. I saw a guy walking from his car on the highway at night with a gas can & noticed it was miles to the next exit & no gas station there as I passed it. A few days later I saw a young lady sitting on the ground on a busy highway trying to fix a flat. I felt guilty but not quite sure if it is ok to call 911? I don't have State Highway Patrol or non-emergency numbers and just a Tracfone (I'm an older female with no fancy iphone) but feel very guilty not doing anything at all. . .

Angie Schleicher

8:38 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

I understand the frustration of low pay, impossible to please managers, and extremely rude customers. I've worked in customer service jobs anywhere from retail, to hospitality, to call centers, and technical support. I've been spit on, kicked, pushed, punched in the face, cussed at, yelled at, followed to my car and harassed at the end of my shift, you name it. But the expectation was for me to be courteous at all times. Anything less would result in my termination from those jobs. Don't get me wrong, I'm not leaving total blame on the employee's side of the customer/retailer relationship. But I do expect people to do their jobs, and do them respectfully. I think the issue is much larger than this one symptom. Terry is right, behavior starts in the environment in which one is raised. My concern is that if this is the kind of behavior that we tolerate in our society today, what will we tolerate tomorrow? I'm not okay with customers spitting on store employees. And I'm not okay with customers cussing them, or yelling at them either. I'm also not okay with store employees being rude and disrespectful. It works both ways. If you want to be treated better, treat others around you better. You have to give respect in order to receive it.

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Barbara Greene

9:47 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

I try to shop at locally-owned businesses partly for that reason. They know good customer service is how to build a business. And the money stays local.

Sad to say, but a big part of the reason customer service has gotten so bad is the culture. Young people are no longer taught manners and respect for others. They think nothing of cursing freely in public and the humor is scatological. They get this message at home and in their entertainment. I sound like my mother, but Western Civilization is going to heck in a handbag.

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Judy Divoky

9:50 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

How about when you ask if they carry a product, the reply is, "I don't THINK so, or I've never seen it or I'm not sure?" We were taught to FIND OUT FOR THEM. The next frustration is picking up product after product with no price and no shelf tag indiciating same and finding somewhere to scan it or, if lucky, an employee who also is clueless. There are the few gems who stop what they're doing and lead you to the answer. They are the best.

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Mars

11:49 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

All to often. I've learned not to even ask because no, they don't know where it is.

John A. Eldred

10:05 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Good management should correct poor manners - the best thing a shopper can do is go elsewhere.

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Mars

11:51 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Then there is the issue of management and how hard it is to find "good management".

Papa Dave

11:09 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Judging by the discourse, it seems that you have hit the nail on the head, Angie. Well done!
The lack of love for each other is a sad statement in our world. Empathy is almost a lost art. It should be an integral part of our lives. Most of the time, "Me Me Me" Is the overriding policy when we relate with each other. Just imagine "You You You" as the norm. Wow! When you see this behavior it is contagious. I love the commercials showing one good deed leads to another.
I remember buying a bunch of roses at Sam's club. I noticed the checkout person was not having a good day. She was under the weather and probably couldn't afford to take a sick day, but doing what she had to do to live from paycheck to paycheck and keep her families head above water. This is the time to care about each other. We are feeling the pinch and many are frightened by what they face on a minute to minute basis.
I wonder how far the feelings went - a simple act. The cashier took a single rose home, cut the stem, put it in a glass of water and told her husband and children how someone took the time to say "thank you". The feelings shared was contagious. She didn't feel quite so worthless and smiled. The customers and cashier warmly smiled in my line and the lines next to us. The air glowed with warmth. When I see others taking the time to help those struggling, it makes my day.

How difficult it is to hate. How easy it is to love!
Thank you, Angie

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Murphy-Solon

12:02 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

I managed retail for 32 years. I saw the evolution of poor customer service and customer behavior. Younger employees do lack people skills. Training is a corporate talking point that's rarely carried out. You couldn't help but notice that the decrease in retail pay and benefits led to a lower quality of employee that doesn't risk losing anything they can't be hired to do down the road.
Funny story: This past fall my friends and myself went to Golic's in the warehouse district before a Browns game. The bar was so crowded that beer stations were set up around the room. We walked up to a girl sitting before a barrel of beer and inquired about pricing. She was not pleased but managed to spit out the answer. We asked for our brand of beer at which time she pointed to the barrel for us to pick it out ourselves. We looked at each other thinking the same thing. Then upon paying she said "What, no tip?". My friend responded, "For what?, you didn't do anything". It was one of those "you had to be there moments".

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Earl Elevant

12:11 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

With all the bad companies out there, you'll seemingly never get bad service at Chik-fil-a. They always seem genuinely happy to see you and treat you accordingly.

That's the way it should be. Grab food there if you haven't and you'll see that they know customer service.

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Mars

8:22 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013

Unless you happen to be gay.

Castor Troy

12:16 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Wow. What a great collection of well thought out, positive discussions.

People are so quick to throw stones at each other these days. It's nice to see people coming together. I don't know that it's fair to simply blame the problems in our culture on bad parenting. A parent after all has little control over their children's young adult life 18-22. A parent also has little control over their child's peers.

One needs only look at our political culture. Our politicians can't even work together. I'm sure they had good parents, but nevertheless they take full advantage of our culture of division.

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Sharon Barrett

12:16 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

As someone who deals in customer service daily I am often surprised how often I am told "It's so nice to see a smile", "I love to see your happy face every morning" and "Thank you for being so friendly". I imagine these folks do not see this very much or I would not hear it. I also feel we "reap what we sow" and get a lot of happy smiling faces back at me. I must agree that technology sometimes gets in the way especially cell phones which are often a third player in interactions with my customers. I feel I am a role model for the young people where I work often reminding them that that "grumpy old guy" pays their paycheck, that friendly service will bring people back and that their smile may be the only smile that person sees all day!

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C Clay

1:19 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

So many issues- I think we all agree with each other. I think large companies DO have service standards, they DONT give their manager's training on how to fully implement them, and both the managers and the front line staff are usually SQUEEZED and doing more with less. I shopped at Walgreen's where a young kid had a spike in his ear that ran vertical and peirced about three different areas- it was crusty with blood and still bleeding a little (this was in a drug store.) I called the 800 number because I expressly wanted to go above the manager and have, with one call, everyone in the chain of comment see my comments. The manager called me back and asked me about 6 times..."Did we provide good service though?" He seemed oblivious to my concern that in a drug store- dripping blood on his face was disgusting-- it's not like it was medical device he was wearing. He wanted to shut down the issue (because I don't think he knew or possibily agreed with their uniform policy)- but he was very adament on how the employee performed at customer service. The manager did some things well, some things he should have done differently. It's all in the training. I suspect the day he called- he had a plate full, was understaffed, and possibly running the front of the store alone (based on the time he called).

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C Clay

1:29 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

As a side not- someone mentioned that (particularly, though not always) kids need to put down the phone and get to work. There is an opportunity here- if you own a small business or manage a shift- hopefully your policy is that the phones shouldn't be brought to work or left in the breakroom. If you see someone using their phone on the clock- text them links to customer service articles and youtube tips on job skills when they are not at work. If they want to take up your business time using their phone-- take up their personal time at home with your business of training them on customer service and basic job skills!

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Linda Rogers

3:10 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

"The other day, my cashier stopped talking to their neighboring cashier about how much they hated another coworker just long enough to say, "Are you (f-word) kidding me?", when the receipt paper got jammed in the register. I mean, don't get me wrong, I use that exact same expression all the time. I said it in my head right after my cashier said it aloud."
I'm not making light of this at all. I happen to agree with you. But I must say, this bit made me laugh out loud! Great blog post.

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Carole Kane

4:17 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Angie's post produced so many comments that it's obvious many readers have similar experiences and feelings about this matter. I have had three positive experiences I'll share. After my knee surgery a bagger at Stow Acme always walked me to my car and loaded my grocery bags into my trunk. I shared his good deeds with the manager. Last night a young clerk in cosmetics at Discount Drug Mart (Stow) went out of her way to help me find a skin cleanser, commiserated with me about a painful facial treatment I was enduring, and offered to Google other products that might help. How kind! My grandson works the deli at Giant Eagle in Streetsboro and they are trained in courtesy and periodically a staff person shops "undercover" (for want of another word), grades the clerks and rewards those who do well...rewarding them both verbally and with a prize. Great idea for managers to implement. My pet peeve is clerks who don't look at me and don't say hello or thank you...they are too busy chatting with another young employee during my entire transaction. They don't even respond when I say "thank you" when I depart.

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deb kmiec

12:44 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

I've worked in retail many years and genuinly like most people. I have fun with my customers. the sad fact is when a customer tells a manager something good about an employee, or gives a compliment, that person rarely hears about it. many times i've found out from the customer the next time they visit. will that stop me from having fun or being nice? no. but it lowers my respect level for management.

Cat Givens

5:57 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Great discussion! I applaud the responses, as well.
Here is an idea, just like Barbara Greene suggested, SHOP LOCAL! When you shop at other than the big box stores, you are spending your money in the neighborhood, and the customer service is outstanding.
Big box stores do NOT pay their employees a living wage. Why should they care?

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EssBee

5:28 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

I would add, if you shop local, research where you're shopping. Local doesn't always mean they treat their employees or customers better. I worked recently at a shop where I absolutely loved the products, my co-workers, and the customers, but the boss was a real piece of work (and still, months later, actively seeks out ways to "punish" her former employees). We were paid well below industry standard and constantly subjected to her crazy mental breakdowns, and if a mistake was ever made or something went wrong (usually due to lack of communication from her or something stupid being done by an individual who wasn't even on payroll but hung around all the time), we hourly employees were always to blame. Ironically, the boss was the worst person at customer service - half the time she'd hide in the "office" or stockroom, or she'd just sit and stare at customers coming through the door without greeting them at all.

I've always been a big advocate for shopping locally and supporting your community, but the experience put a really bad taste in my mouth, and now I'm more careful about where my money goes, whenever possible - just because someone has the money to open a business doesn't mean they know how to effectively run it and treat their employees well.

Kay

1:49 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013

On the other hand, I hate it when customers are too busy on their cell phones to greet the cashier or even give them a thank you. I say to these people go to self checkouts.
I worked retail for 8 years at a couple of different box stores.....I have a very outgoing personality and always gave the customer my total attention.......it's just like everything else today....people show no respect, it's all about "me" Most young people and I am not saying all...but, I have noticed that they "show up" for the pay check at the end of the week.
Thanks for allowing me to vent :)

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Castor Troy

2:47 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013

I hate to be the one to play devils advocate here but I have to simply disagree with the notion that not shopping at large retailers will help anything. As I have already stated, the corporate guys at the very top are going to get their money regardless. By using every cost cutting technique in the book. They have no problems trashing the book on ethics, and sometimes crossing the line into downright illegal practices.

The work force at large retailers might be getting a significantly smaller piece of the pie than at a small local store, but they are still getting something. That workforce is absolutely local, and you are only hurting them more by not shopping where they work.

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Mars

4:08 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013

I have high standards for myself for things under my control. Crossing the line I've drawn on ethics and other practices isn't acceptable. If I thought child labor was cool I would still be sporting Hanes, but I don't happen to approve of cheap clothes by means of abuse, so I opted for what I hope are more ethical tighty whiteys. And luckily I clean with baking soda and vinegar as every time I see something from Dow, all I can think is Bhopal, India. And if soda was my thing, Coca-cola products wouldn't be on my list either because if I buy their product, I am saying I support their unbelievable labor violations.

And of course the workforce is local. I can shop all day at wal-mart, but the girl behind the register, the guy in the back lugging stock, is not going to see a single extra penny in their paycheck from it. The gang calling the shots at the top could up and fire them. The higher ups aren't local.

Castor Troy

4:34 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013

I commend you for standing up for something Mars. That attitude seems to be lacking these days. I'm not going to tell you what you should or shouldn't do.

I would only ask you take another look at your position, in light of the fact I am about to present. The type of corporations we are talking about give out workforce hours in direct relation to the amount of sales. Either by store, or by region. So the cashier or stock clerk will certainly see a little extra.

Wal-mart would be the one anomaly of the retail world. There will be one on every corner of the world soon enough, except for Germany. Where they can't compete with Aldi

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Mars

9:13 am on Friday, March 15, 2013

If I got to a restaurant and the waitress is kind yet the food is inedible, I will not return. This may affect the jobs of everyone working at the restaurant. Such is life.

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Mars

8:31 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013

Wal-mart is unfortunately not the anomaly. As the largest employer you would think we'd expect the employees to be treated better. Everyone is always hemming and hawing about jobs and being unemployed. It isn't much better to be employed yet unable to eek out a decent existence. People talk about jobs. Wal-mart has jobs, but you won't keep your house if you work one there.

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Mars

10:38 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013

And you're mistaken. The CEO's and heads of corporations give themselves raises in direct relation to sales. The wee little worker making $8.15 an hour with no benefits isn't getting a raise. That poor soul has been making less than $10 an hour for years, and will for many more to come.
Have you worked at a big box retailer before? I've called a few of them home in my day, and raises aren't something you become accustomed in that line of work. Groveling? Yes. Sporadic hours that change weekly? Yes. Raises and benefits worth talking about? No. Paid sick days? No. Getting compensated extra when you work holidays? No.
Your local Wal-Mart and Target are not your old mom and pop stores. The money you're spending doesn't really stay local. It's all so sad.

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EssBee

5:33 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

"Everyone is always hemming and hawing about jobs and being unemployed. It isn't much better to be employed yet unable to eek out a decent existence. People talk about jobs. Wal-mart has jobs, but you won't keep your house if you work one there."

Hoooooly crap, no kidding.

I've gotten my fair share of crap for not scooping up and pouncing on the job offers I've had - one job (that I did take for a week before I realized it was just wrong for me) that paid 9.50 an hour, but I drove 30 miles to get there and was miserable every second of it. Another that paid 8 bucks an hour and still a bit of a drive. Etc., etc. Folks like to say that if you're unemployed, you should just suck it up and take the minimum wage - but then you're drowning your work experience in bad jobs that work against you in finding better work (currently dealing with that), you're not making enough money to pay your debts, and you're now dealing with a schedule that's sporadic and makes it difficult to find new jobs. Oh, and you're unhappy because you're stuck in a bad place.

I just got excited to see someone else speak some truth about these wonderful economic times.

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Mars

7:06 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

EssBee, it's nice to be agreed with. It doesn't happen often.

Angie Schleicher

8:05 am on Friday, March 15, 2013

On a side note: I'd just like to point out that the "crippled line" incident and the "are you *f-word* kidding me) incident both happened at a local grocery store. Yeah, it's a chain, but it's a rather small, locally owned and operated chain. I make a conscious effort to not shop at the big box stores, if for no other reason than not wanting to contribute to a system that creates this atmosphere of low wages for employees while the corporate office is raking in record profits. Sometimes I do go in one, I'm not completely boycotting them, but I do make an extra effort to avoid them on most occasions.

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pam ghaster

7:53 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013

Support the privately owned business. Life has changed and not for the better. I often say my grandmother would be so disappointed with people today.

The next time you are in line at the grocery and the woman in front of you is using food stamps and is putting food back hand

her a few bucks . Open the door for someone. Smile. Put the darn phone down! Doing something small will make you feel wonderful.

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Mars

8:24 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013

Smile. Something so simple, so easy to do, is often the most overlooked.

Castor Troy

11:49 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013

I will not give out any of my personal information on this site Mars. Made that mistake before, and I will not repeat. Trust that I have some insight into this discussion.

You certainly raise fair points. I would say if the big box store workers are in a Union than they have some benefits. Obviously Wal-Mart is not Unionized. Union workers get paid holidays, yearly cost of living raises and usually a pretty decent health care package. Of course Unions aren't perfect and they bend to the corporations often, but they do provide something.

I think one only needs to look at Costco as a shining example of how to run a corporation right. They pay their workers well and maintain record profits.

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Nunov Yorbisnis

12:12 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

UFCW has done nothing for the grocery workers but take their money and bargin away their rights and benefits. Years ago I worked for a local chain grocer, the store was open from 9-6 closed on Sundays and holidays. 1st tier workers topped out at $16/hr. Back then (about 20 years ago) that was a great wage. We had all holidays paid, and had a great pension and zero contribution health care. I was 3rd tier, so I topped out at $10. That's why it was not a career for me. They have lost even more since then. The wage has creeped up a bit, but has not kept pace with inflation. Benefits are not as good either. Check out the contract for yourself. ts not a lot better than Walmart. http://www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/cba/private/cbrp_2323_pri.PDF

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Murphy-Solon

2:26 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

As a result of downward wage pressures within the workforce, in general, unions find themselves in a weakened state. The UFCW can't bargain hard in such a weakened state. The rise in health premiums and non-union shops like Wal-Mart have weakened the unions position. High unemployment doesn't help either. With the exception of the Strongsville teachers, you don't hear of many unions going on strike. The UFCW is doing it's best to survive in the current labor market. I believe your criticisms to be unjust given the current labor environment.

Castor Troy

3:25 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

I agree the criticism vs Unions is unjust.

Just ask yourself where the UFCW workers would be without the Union. Top tier workers would of been canned long ago for not being "economically viable". No health care package at all.

If you don't intend to move up the ladder, than it's not a career period. Sure times are hard right now. It shouldn't stop you from working hard, and playing politics until it becomes an absolutely viable career option.

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Murphy-Solon

5:19 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

Human behavior is cyclical in nature. These companies reaping record profits will go too far and society will revolt. There's a natural ebb and flow to life.

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Murphy-Solon

5:47 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013

Excellent points EssBee. I think our economy has two problems coming down the road. The first has to do with the suppressed wages. In the 60's and 70's workers wages increased and they could afford to buy the new cars and refrigerators and the economy grew as a result. Now the opposite seems to be happening. The middle class is shrinking and wages are stagnant. Corporate America might be reaping record profits in the short run but in the long run we'll have an economy that won't be able to get out of it's own way. Second, previous generations of seniors had significant wealth to spend and stimulate the economy. The seniors of the next 20 years will be the first group of seniors without traditional pensions. Rather, they have underfunded 401k's. Carnival Cruise Lines think they have problems now?

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Shannon Campbell

11:39 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013

When I was growing up and working in service I was paid minimum wage. Like Angie, it was engrained in me that fantastic service was not optional. Since when is customer service considered higher skill than a minimum wage position? It does not take tremendous skill to ring up groceries or say hello with sincerity - I know, I did the job. It takes a sense of pride in yourself, and the appreciation to HAVE a job. That role should be paid minimum wage, and good service should be expected in it.
Even if you are ‘only’ being paid $8/hr to give good service, you ARE being paid that $8 to DO that job. No one gets a salary just for being alive. It is the wage you are being paid to do a certain job, and you should be expected to do it well.

The problem is people want more than they can afford and buy more than they should. Then they want to blame the economy and the businesses for not supporting overzealous lifestyles. What were extras (cable, cell phones, big screen TVs, etc) are now requirements. Your employer does not owe you luxuries, and it certainly doesn't give the right to say "because they don't pay me as much as I want to make, I shouldn't have to work hard or do the job well."
Poor service is not a result of minimum wage, in my opinion. Good service starts with a sense of appreciation. Professional working and interpersonal skills need to start with being taught at home in youth, and reinforced in schools and all environments throughout the community.

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Earl Elevant

12:53 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

""because they don't pay me as much as I want to make, I shouldn't have to work hard or do the job well." "

"Good service starts with a sense of appreciation."

Putting these two points next to each other, I would say, shows that bad service *is* a product of the minimum wage. People who work for minimum wage simply don't feel appreciated because they're at the bottom of the pay scale.

With that said, however, they're paid enough. The workers in and around their early-20s have been raised to believe that they deserve to be given whatever they want and at *that* point they will do what's expected of them. Them first, then they give back. They don't understand it works the other way--they put out first, then receive what they deserve.

Another part of the problem is, companies that actually had training people got rid of them long ago to save money. Now they simply have another experienced (and probably disgruntled) worker show them the ropes. They never get the customer service training.

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Earl Elevant

12:59 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

One other point I didn't make previously is this:

It's also the fault of some of the customers that we're getting horrible customer service.

I've seen faaaaaar too many instances where people will go somewhere (Red Lobster was a huge example of this), eat their entire meal--lots and lots of food with many people in their party, and then complain to the manager when the bill comes that it was the absolute worst meal they had ever consumed and they simply refused to pay the bill.

So, with this in mind, anytime a legitimate issue comes up, the businesses are looking at the person complaining and wondering if they're simply one of these scammers trying to get something for free. With this, real problems are sometimes glossed over and not handled properly.

Murphy-Solon

5:36 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

The current Federal Minimum Wage is $7.25. In 1968 the rate was $1.60. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has calculated that if you adjust for inflation since 1968, the current minimum wage would have to be $10.56 to have the purchasing power it had in 1968. It's hard to hire a decent person to work retail when they can flip burgers for a better starting wage.

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Carl S

7:23 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

$7.25 an hour X 40hrs= $290. lets say $60 is held back(tax) = $230. Gasoline cost the same for big shots as it does those, "little people". $3.75 gal. $3.75 X 25gal = $94. $230 -$94=$136. Subtract Obamacare from that. Minumum wage doesnt have health care. Not a bad wage if you dont eat,car doesnt break down,shop for used clothing,dont have auto insurance,your license plate never expires,bathe in the local creek,and dont use toilet paper. Anymore, its not just High School kids working those types of jobs. Hang on to what you have. The unemployment line may be coming to a town near you.....

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Shannon Campbell

7:58 am on Monday, March 18, 2013

So do you feel the solution is for businesses to start paying $11 for minimum wage roles? Sandwich makers, baggers, stockers... all unskilled workers who have no requirements but friendly interactions get a raise?

To give the public the instant gratification and high level of service we demand (and yes, we all do demand it) and be open the hours the public demands, businesses have to have employees -- sometimes a lot of employees. To pay them all minimum wage alone is a struggle for most small businesses. Now you want them to be paid $10 / hr for unskilled work that requires not much out of the worker than a smile and polite attitude just because their car might break down? That can only end with:
1. Business fold because they can't afford the added expense (oh that works... if you can't spend money anywhere you don't have to worry about not having any)
2. Businesses stay open, but prices sky rocket in order to compensate for wages (wait... won't that make $10/hr LESS effective since that just drove the price of milk up to $6 a gallon??)

It doesn't matter if you are a high school kid or 40 years old. You get a job to support your life, or you make sure you life fits within your means or earning. If you can't get a higher paying job, look at what you have to offer instead of what you're not being given! Shoot, if you are going to start paying $11/hr just for someone to be poilte while we push someone's eggs down the belt, I just might change professions.

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Mars

7:27 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Shannon, shame.
"unskilled work that requires not much out of the worker than a smile and polite attitude"
Honey, if all I had to do was smile and have a polite attitude, I'd have become a mannequin in a window a long time ago.

What does "unskilled" worker really mean? My parents couldn't afford it. I had to get a job to help out with the bills we already had after my dad fell ill (hello heart trouble). So I didn't get the opportunity to attend college. No degree that says I jumped through thier magical hoops, but I have much experience in many fields. I'm not unskilled by any means. I'll do serious car work, do needed repairs around the house (electric, too), tend the garden and cook and preserve from it, and still get to work.

I alway hear all this crap about people being equal, especially when they are in the womb, but once they're out, all bets are off? If you're "unskilled", you don't deserve to make enough money to pay your bills? The same bills everyone has. Water bill. Electric/heat/gas bill. Rent. Covering the cost of food, even if it's ramen with some shredded carrot. Thankfully I don't have to pay to breathe the air, but I'm assuming they'll figure that one out, too. Have a car you'll have to not only maintain it, but pay insurance on it and fill up the tank. Not to mention when crap hits the fan and medical care is needed.
Unskilled. Almost as dirty a word as "normal".

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Shannon Campbell

7:49 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

@Mars, Please note I did not say unskilled WORKER. I said unskilled WORK. Meaning work that does not require a specific or special skill to perform. I never said any specific worker does not deserve a specific wage - what I said was certain work; that is roles a worker performs, that does not take any special skill to perform should not call for a high wage. If you can work on cars, I would be inclined to say that is a skill, and last time I had my car fixed, that worker certainly earned more than minimum wage to do that repair! However, the young lady that rang my groceries last night did not have to get a college education or do anything special other than be polite. A non skilled role is open and available to anyone, regardless of most backgrounds. And just for the record, I did not get a college degree or have anything handed to me or have special circumstances. Like many, I just worked hard and was deteremined. I just want to be clear that I never implied people who are without resources or high education, or just had a rough go in life don't deserve to make a fair wage. What I said was if all you have to do is smile and put bread in a bag, I shouldn't have to pay you as much as I would need to pay someone who can, say, fix my car.

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Mars

8:05 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Or, say, tend the crops and pick the produce that nourishes your body. Apparently performing back breaking labor day in and day out is unskilled and not worth a living wage.
I wouldn't call Acme or Giant Eagle a small business.

"Like many, I just worked hard and was deteremined"

Besides the typo, you were also, LUCKY. Many people work hard and are determined but still aren't able to scrape their way out of the red. Ever spend your days digging holes to plant trees for a tiny nursery trying to assert itself in the big world? It's hard. Not many are willing to do it. It's unskilled. It doesn't pay well. And it's unforgiving. Bloody blisters on your hands? Suck it up or lose your job. Unskilled = unforgiving. Although I did pick up a fair bit of Spanish.

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Mars

9:48 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Everyone is different. Some of us also have disabilities. Some of us overcome great hardships to even communicate with our fellow man on a daily basis. It isn't easy being such a diverse lot. Unskilled work is still work that someone has to do and it has value. Cleaning a toilet and cleaning in general is an "unskilled" job/profession yet it's still in demand none the less. Those employed to do the job no one else wants to do deserve to get paid enough to make a decent living. Deciding that the heat can't get turned on today or that we're going to seek a meal at social services shouldn't be America's dream.

dougmoore

8:41 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

"IF YOU LIKE MY BUSINESS TELL OTHERS..IF YOU DONT TELL ME!" Its really that simple..from Walmart to Lion n Blue..up & down every Main Street..especially on Detroit or Madison! The formula is something like..it cost $10 retain a customer & $100 to get a new one. Every business has customers..the challenge is to get enough of them..hold-on to them so hopefully theyll tell other the good things! Like just about everything its a "top-down-proposition". If you like a business & its goods or services why would you let a "disinterested" party (employee) ruin your relationship..if management doesnt care..why do you go? I approach a business fom the bottom up..I treat everyone like a local business..get to know point-of-contact people by name, respect them & they cant do enough..if not Ill cross the street. As Ive said in other posts, "I like competition!". The bottom-line is..what is your definition of VALUE?! Mine is..when "top-down" meets "bottom-up"!

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Castor Troy

9:48 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

Nothing annoys me more than reading comments that contain the phrase. "When I was growing up". What happened when you were growing up 30 years ago is irrelevant. Plus it's a completely subjective opinion anyway.

A cashier is not paid to be your friend. They are not paid to smile and they are not paid on the basis of "appreciation". They are paid to ring up your groceries, bag them and send you on your way. If that isn't enough for you, who is really the one not being appreciative?

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Earl Elevant

4:24 am on Monday, March 18, 2013

Uh oh. Castor Troy is annoyed.

When I was young, we didn't get annoyed nearly as fast as you do.

I hope you can appreciate this.

In all seriousness, what happened 30 years ago set people's expectations of how things should be. They are now watching those expectations decline at a sharp angle because employees where they shop don't feel the need to do anything but send you on your way after taking your money.

Sounds like you and your feelings are a huge part of what's wrong with America today.

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Shannon Campbell

7:37 am on Monday, March 18, 2013

This was 10 years ago, not 30.
And the point was that in my household I was taught the value of a dollar, how to earn what you have, and how to accept that if you can't afford something, you just might not get to have it. The point is also that I had to work a job bagging groceries and serving plates, made minimum wage (and on slow days LESS), and didn't act like I was owed any of it. I was grateful for the opportunity and worked hard to get a better job and make more money.

By the way, I am now a business owner... employees absolutely ARE paid to be your friend. If my employee ever said "you don't pay me to be nice to your customers" they would be in the unemployment line faster than you could blink. When they apply for a job at my business it is stressed in absolution that they are paid to make my customers feel like royalty when they come in.

The whole direction of this blog was to point out how customers don't feel appreciated or cared for because of a lack of customer service. Businesses struggle unbelievably hard to instill the necessity of good service in their employees which is hard to do when that behavior is not reinforced earlier in life.

The attitude that being paid to do a job should not include to do it in a friendly way is exactly why customer service is absolute crap now.

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James Thomas

1:36 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Mr. Castor Troy,
just playing devil's advocate here; if the phrase "When I was growing up" bothers you, what about the concept of "History"? "When I was growing up" has every relevance in light of the concept of "History".

Patch reader

10:32 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

@ SharEd-"A few days later I saw a young lady sitting on the ground on a busy highway trying to fix a flat. I felt guilty but not quite sure if it is ok to call 911? I don't have State Highway Patrol or non-emergency numbers and just a Tracfone (I'm an older female with no fancy iphone) but feel very guilty not doing anything at all. . ."

You can still call 911 from your Tracfone and it won't cost anything. In the US and Canada, wireless phone operators are required by law to connect all calls to 911 services, whether the customer account is active, past due or even canceled.

http://brokensecrets.com/2010/05/25/inactiv-phones-can-still-call-911/

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Castor Troy

10:52 am on Monday, March 18, 2013

lol I get annoyed easily. That is true. Than again I'm not the one concerned about whether or not my cashier pretends to be my friend. Don't take it personally I'm just playing devils advocate. Someone has to do it.

Let's talk about expectations for a minute since it was brought up. Some sociologists say that expectations are directly linked to self fulfilling prophecy. The more you expect, the more you will be crushed by disappointment when those expectations aren't met. This is a potential dangerous line of thinking.

But what about the expectations of young adults today. Is there any doubt they had certain high expectations when they landed their first job, only to be disappointed? These young workers are having the exact same emotional response some of you have when your customer service expectations aren't met. It's a huge blow to their self confidence.

I don't see how I'm the problem. I perfectly understand the frustration a lot of these young workers are feeling. What I don't understand is the consumer sense of entitlement.

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Shannon Campbell

12:18 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Castor you make an excellent point. Many young people come into the work force with large expectations of being able to afford a nice car and a job with lots of freedom and plenty of cash in their pockets. I think that's what I have been trying to convey is the largest root of the problem. I think kids have these unreasonable expectations of what they are "due" in life. I never had the expectation of a nice first car, lots of money in my pocket, or freedom in a job. I knew I was going to have a car that barely ran and have to bust my butt to pay for it. I also knew my freedom would be less than ever because my job would take up all of my spare time. I imagine it is frustrating and a rude awakening to find out that the world does not treat you as softly as mom and dad did, or that things are not given to you just because you exist -- or even when you deserve them for that matter. I think it's a shame, but I also think people have to "man up" and get the fact that life isn't handed to you -- you have to work for it, and that means being at the bottom rung sometimes.

On another note, if I sell a widget for .14 and the guy down the street sells the same widget for .14, but is much nicer to the customer than I am, I imagine I will not be able to sell very many widgets. I imagine the customer should feel entitled to a smile and a sincere "thank you" when they are keeping me in business and helping me live out my part of the old American dream :-)

Murphy-Solon

11:49 am on Monday, March 18, 2013

Shannon, wages are relative to purchasing power. If you adjust for inflation since 1968, the $1.60 minimum wage would equate to $10.56 today. Are you saying the the the $1.60 minimum wage in 1968 was too much to pay for unskilled labor. This is a chicken or egg argument. Prices of good and services are going to rise significantly in the future regardless of the minimum wage rate. With the amount of dollars the Fed is printing to prop up the banks, inflation is already baked in. Keep wages constant in the face of that and you'll be waving good bye to a significant chunk of the middle class. Bottom line: A dollar is worth significantly less then it was 10 years ago.

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Shannon Campbell

12:04 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Whether or not the minimum wage is enough to live comfortably on should not be part of the discussion as to how people should service their customers. The fact is, if you agree to take on a job in which the demand is for minimal skill but pleasant attitude, you should be expected to perform the job as defined because you applied and accepted it. If you feel that you are worth a higher wage, get a job that will pay you more. If you cannot find a job that will pay you more, it's very possible you may be overestimating the wage value of your particular set of skills. There are plenty of people who make minimum wage and although they can't afford luxuries, they are glad to have a job, take pride in their work, and do the job well. Hiring someone to bag groceries should not cost $10/hr unless you want to pay $6/gallon for milk, that's all I'm saying.

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Earl Elevant

1:26 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

"A dollar is worth significantly less then it was 10 years ago."

It doesn't appear so:
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774473.html

Regardless, minimum wage is worth significantly more than it was 10 years ago.

Cause meets effect.

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Murphy-Solon

8:02 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

A simple Google could have confirmed that for you Elevant. Below is a link to a chart that uses the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to chart the declining dollar over the past 10 years. Though, common sense should have told you that a dollar doesn't buy as much today as 10 years ago.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001519.html#.UUmhuFpAMhQ.mailto

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Earl Elevant

1:03 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

It's good to see you've moved on to yet *ANOTHER* point without fully discussing your previous points.

Some people just can't comprehend things...typical for you, though.

Murphy-Solon

12:10 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Shannon, most people who earn minimum wage qualify for food stamps and Medicaid. The Wal-Marts of this country earn billions in profits and leave it to the taxpayer to fill the gap between minimum wage and basic essentials of life. It's corporate welfare. Also, labor is like any other commodity. You get what you pay for. If you pay them a minimum wage that has 30% less purchasing power than it had in 1968, then you'll be fishing at the bottom of the barrel. That's just the nature of things,

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Shannon Campbell

4:01 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

I mean no offense by this statement, so please take it with a grain of salt -- but I am guessing you are not a business owner? The mom and pop shops of the country have to pay employees too. We are not making billions, we usually barely break even. Worse, we have to compete with the Wal-Marts of America. Guess what? The only way to compete with those prices is to give outstanding service. Your stance is that we should have to pay $10/hr to get someone to give that service, well we can't survive doing that. Your point is well received that people who make minimum wage struggle, but so domost business owners. I am not for or against minimum wage. I think what someone is paid should be an open dialogue between employer and employee. But I also believe it is unfair to blame the small business owner for not being able to afford to pay $10/hr base role employee as justification for poor service and a bad attitude. Swearing in front of customers and being rude when you are being paid ANY money to be there is just unacceptable.

Castor Troy

1:01 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Personally I had to work for about 4 years just to have the income and credit necessary to buy what I consider a pretty nice car. Than I worked for another 5 years to pay off the loan. When I first started at my current job I made 5.75 an hour, and you can bet your life I earned every single penny.

I stuck with it. I dealt with the frustrations of being an expendable worker, dealt with the frustrations of working with managers who sit around and drink coffee all day. I accomplished many of my goals, but it would be ignorant of me to expect others to be as strong willed.

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Earl Elevant

1:20 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Seems like you're expecting the customers to be strong willed when they're unhappy about getting bad service, but the people giving them bad service get a pass for being unhappy about having to give service at all.

The consumers doing the paying need to be catered to more.
The employees getting paid need to be a more humble.

One of these groups can exist without the other. Guess which one it is...

Murphy-Solon

1:47 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Ah, Mr. Elevant, it seems you're having a hard time interpreting your own link. The chart on your link clearly shows that in 1968 the minimum wage of $1.60 expressed in constant dollars was worth $7.21 while in 2012 the minimum wage expressed in constant dollars is only worth $4.97. Thank you for supporting my claims.

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Earl Elevant

2:40 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Maybe you should read your last sentence:
"Bottom line: A dollar is worth significantly less then it was 10 years ago."

Unless you're trying to bury the facts with an outrageous story like usual.

You don't even know what you're trying to say. Maybe you should concentrate on that before failing to correct others.

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Murphy-Solon

8:08 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

You're typical Elevant. This is why it is said that the Republican Party is not a fact-based party. I majored in accounting and numbers are right in my wheelhouse. The numbers clearly show, to any reasonably educated person, that the minimum wage has lost significant purchasing power. You're own link bore out those same facts. When your argument falls apart you resort to name calling. That might work on others but it fails in my case. Stick to the statistics, refute the statistics pal.

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Earl Elevant

7:52 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

I'm only typical in the way I throw out facts and keep you backpedaling.

Of course, that's not hard.

And, when outed with incorrect "facts" the only thing you have left is changing the subject, ignoring what you said in the first place, and hoping that no one will notice.

Like the name-calling. Where is that, exactly? It doesn't exist.

Too bad words and logic aren't in your wheelhouse.

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Murphy-Solon

9:02 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

I'm not back peddling from squat. I said that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that, if adjusted for inflation, the 1968 minimum wage of $1.60 would be worth $10.56 today. That's a fact. Your own link supported that fact. You offer only a biased opinion and not statistical fact. You ignore facts when they don't fit your preconceived political opinion. You are why Republicans lose elections. You're entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. If we believed the "Elevant Principle" then pay raises on all economic levels are unnecessary because prices stay static. BRILLIANT !!!! You debate the un-debatable. Keep on rock in' in the free world.....LOL

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Earl Elevant

1:16 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Murphy-Solon
11:49 am on Monday, March 18, 2013
"Bottom line: A dollar is worth significantly less then it was 10 years ago."

As stated before, you can't even stand behind your own statements.

Speak to the above, not something else when you find yourself trapped in a corner by your own BS remarks.

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Murphy-Solon
8:08 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
"When your argument falls apart you resort to name calling."

Again, speak to the above.

You haven't shown any name calling on my part.

Where is it? (Psst...it's just made-up BS you're hoping no one calls you on. Heh.)

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Murphy-Solon
8:08 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
"That might work on others but it fails in my case. Stick to the statistics, refute the statistics pal."

You can't stay on topic for the statements *YOU* made.

The statistics posted (by me) show that you're wrong about your 10 year "fact."

Murphy-Solon

4:04 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Shannon, I'm not suggesting that good service is solely dependent on wages but people need to earn a living wage.

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Castor Troy

10:30 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Really Earl? It takes a strong will to handle a cashier not smiling at you, or not giving you complete attention? Come on now, I'm having trouble taking your logic seriously.

Bad service is having your groceries crushed, bags ripping from the bottom, or someone spitting in your food. Bad service doesn't = not smiling or pretending to be your friend.

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Earl Elevant

2:43 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Like I said:
Mediocre service counts as good these days.

Seems you agree. As long as they're not stepping on puppies, you're good with that.

"Good service" used to mean so much more.

ncoast

10:44 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

Dont want to be flippant or shallow' but the conversation seems to to dominated by the premise that employees seem to have the right to say, "the bigger the paycheck..the bigger the smile!" WOW...I know the system is far from perfect, but this blog was supposed to be about decent interaction during a consumer transaction. If some of you are saying its class warfare because of the Walmarts or local Scrooges attitudes toward decent employees then clean-up the unions. Its long over due for the rank and file to recapture one of human kinds most noble endevors...collectively support the masses with integrity!

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Castor Troy

11:52 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

I don't know that anyone has made it out to sound that simple. In fact some of the most miserable people I have ever met in my life, made the most money of anyone around them. See my comment below where I mention how the blame game isn't going to get us anywhere.

There is simple causality at play here. I think that is the main point some of us are trying to drive home.

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Earl Elevant

2:47 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

You're dead-on with "the bigger the paycheck..the bigger the smile" summary. It really *is* that simple.

Most kids these days feel they're owed before they do anything. Somehow they got it in their heads that they're supposed to be given *first* and return what they feel is necessary in terms of customer service, respect, or whatever else, Of course, it's not just kids anymore. Many adults act this way, too.

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Murphy-Solon

8:14 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Unions only comprise 6% of the private sector workforce. The vast majority of retail outlets are nonunion, but, it's all the union's fault. Don't you get tired blaming all the country's ills on unions?

Castor Troy

10:44 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

To James Thomas.

I have to apologize if this seems out of place, for some reason I can't seem to reply to a reply. If you want to give me a history lesson, I'm all for learning from the past.

Perhaps I should of been more descriptive in my statement about the relevance of personal experiences. It's perfectly relevant if you are giving an objective opinion, the comments that annoy me are simply laced with an air of subjective arrogance.

People make it sound like there is something wrong with young adults today. Which I fundamentally disagree with. Young adults today were in fact raised by the older generation, who were raised by another older generation. So the blame game in that regard gets us nowhere.

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Mars

11:27 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

I recall a day and age where boob was bad and all baby formula trumped what came from the human breast - aka the formula for life. Just a piece of the puzzle. But a piece non the less. Boobs rule! Always and forever! We'd give our children cow/goat milk over our own? Only a weak and wholly ignorant species would adhere to that!!! Boobs rule!! Literally!

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James Thomas

10:10 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Mr. Troy,
by definition, personal experience is objective history, IT Happened and is true. How is that truth arrogance?

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James Thomas

10:13 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Ms. Mars,
you am right in all particalurs. Boobs rule the formula of life. My kids were fortunate to have a mom that agreed with you.

Castor Troy

10:26 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Subjectivity - a subject's personal perspective, feelings, beliefs, desires or discovery, as opposed to those made from an independent, objective, point of view.

Objectivity - objectivity means the state or quality of being true even outside of a subject's individual feelings, imaginings, or interpretations.

I think you have your definitions mixed up. The whole point is one persons experience of how they were taught to be the bulwark of customer service excellence is not a statement independent of their own mind and beliefs. You can't assume because you were taught such things, that everyone was also taught that. It's a huge logical fallacy, and people know better. I don't care what generation we are talking about, there were always miserable a-holes who hated their job and treated customers like dirt.

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James Thomas

10:33 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Mr. Troy,
History. What happened and to whom it happened.

Murphy-Solon

4:25 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Elevant, your very first question in your last post asked of me to justify my claim (again) that the value of the dollar decreased over the past 10 years and that's what I did. I don't comprehend? You're a fool who wastes my time. GO AWAY !!!!!!

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