Do you miss every day ordinary service?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Andes mints.
Lollipops at banks.

Yes, now Andes mints are sold at Dollar Tree, which is now $1.25 Tree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m temporarily living in another country where labor is cheaper. We have all of that still. I am so appreciative of it!

In reverse, perhaps in the U.S. corporations are just greedy. Corporate greed cut those jobs.

This. We don't have nice service because those jobs were cut in the name of efficiency, and supposedly lower prices (that mostly didn't materialize). There are fewer service jobs and they pay worse, which means the people working those jobs now are both lower qualified and more stressed. Don't blame them, blame their employers.

Next step is for you to get fed up with poor service and choose self service (already happening) or AI, even though that's even less service than before. It used to be difficult to find a human customer service rep, now it's difficult to even find an email address and if a series of automated prompts doesn't fix your problem you are SOL.

But wait--aren't customers constantly looking for the lowest price?
That's also a factor, and basically the trend is to transfer labor that used to be paid for indirectly to the customer. Simple as that. It really started back in the late 60s when warehouse-style grocery places started to appear.
It's also the norm for corporate America. You enroll in health insurance and 401k and select other benefits all online. My employer the last 14 years (I just retired) had not had an HR person since 2018, and he only helped onboard new hires. They had not had HR at our location otherwise since 2012.

Of course, you aren't exactly ignored. All those notifications. . . . .

[Anonymous]

I can bag my own groceries and don't need to pay (through higher grocery prices) for someone to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Customer service in the U.S is terrible, even in expensive stores and restaurants, we simply don't have a culture of respect or humility. You want to experience good customer service? Go to Asia and see what customer service is all about. Even in Europe, customer service is decent.

I just went to Japan. I was shocked at how many service people there were and how helpful they were. I came back here to be snarled at as usual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I really don’t miss any of that.

Me neither. I'm really old and stated driving before self-serve existed. I hated when the creepy guy at the gas station near my parents' house would want to talk to me while he filled my car. They checked the oil and that was not needed.

I have never liked when salespeople hover over me in a department store. I'd rather look on my own.

Definitely don't want anyone putting a napkin in my lap. However, I also find fibe dining and the whole super service thing uncomfortable.

I don't like self checkout at the market but do use it occasionally. I don't notice any difference in how friendly checkers are now than in the past.

WhatI I think I hate is having to make small talk with people like the person who would load your groceries into the car. I'd rather just do it myself.

My mom liked to be helped and always asked for help or directions first thing. Drove me crazy. I'd rather find something on my own and only ask if I'm lost or clueless after trying first.

I do find it funny how a clerk at a store in the mall will now just be on their phone and greet you and then go back to the phone. In the past they would have not done that. That seems odd to me but really, what does it matter if they will help you if you ask? They're just standing around. I remember doing that a lot when I worked retail, even after you straighten up, etc. And it's probably a minimum wage job with no future so why should they kill themselves?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I miss having my servant help me squeeze into my corset as the damnable Yankees burn the fields around my family’s huge home.

Me too! The horror!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 55. Life has changed, and not for the better.

I have fond memories of getting all of my Christmas gifts wrapped (for free!) at department stores like Leggett, Miller & Rhodes, Thalheimers, and JC Penney. Sales clerks would ask if they could help you find merchandise, start a dressing room, or bring you another size to try. Yes, lingerie departments had bra fitting ladies.
A department store is where you went as a newly engaged couple to register for gifts. A staff member would help with your selections and make recommendations. Service was given with a smile and people were polite and courteous. Stores were clean, well-stocked, and organized.

Department stores are just one example, but service was better then in all areas of life.

People were just nicer. Now, much of life has gotten to be a slog. It’s very depressing as someone who remembers how things were not so long ago. I think much is to blame - corporate greed, decline of church attendance, changing demographics (diversity really isn’t all that great and hurts communities of all races).

I feed sad for the younger generations.

You know, some of us who grew up in communities like you fondly remember were suffocating and couldn't wait to get out. (I actually thought the world's major religions were Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, and Catholic until maybe junior high).
I understand that there is something to be said to be able to feel like everyone around you understands you and you understand them. Even in college, sometimes I missed the familiarity of language (not English, but regional English where I grew up) and culture. But there are profound disadvantages as well.

There's an argument that diversity destabilizes cultures and even countries. But for at least 5000 years there have been both insular and cosmopolitan places. The latter enabled the exchange of goods and, more importantly, ideas.
The "problems" come when different groups become insistently hostile towards each other, keeping in mind that the group with the most power is able to exert systematic power while the weaker groups may be subservient for a long time but eventually rebel. More equality of power is probably the best scenario)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I really don’t miss any of that.

Me neither. I'm really old and stated driving before self-serve existed. I hated when the creepy guy at the gas station near my parents' house would want to talk to me while he filled my car. They checked the oil and that was not needed.

I have never liked when salespeople hover over me in a department store. I'd rather look on my own.

Definitely don't want anyone putting a napkin in my lap. However, I also find fibe dining and the whole super service thing uncomfortable.

I don't like self checkout at the market but do use it occasionally. I don't notice any difference in how friendly checkers are now than in the past.

WhatI I think I hate is having to make small talk with people like the person who would load your groceries into the car. I'd rather just do it myself.

My mom liked to be helped and always asked for help or directions first thing. Drove me crazy. I'd rather find something on my own and only ask if I'm lost or clueless after trying first.

I do find it funny how a clerk at a store in the mall will now just be on their phone and greet you and then go back to the phone. In the past they would have not done that. That seems odd to me but really, what does it matter if they will help you if you ask? They're just standing around. I remember doing that a lot when I worked retail, even after you straighten up, etc. And it's probably a minimum wage job with no future so why should they kill themselves?

Assuming the phone call is another customer and they were already on the phone, you wait. It's harder when the call comes after you but the employee is stuck in a tough position. If it's management they ought to be able to let management know thy have a customer. If it's personal, they should hang up unless it is a bona fide emergency.

[Anonymous]

I honestly cannot believe this thread exists. Try living outside of the USA for 5 minutes. You will come running home and embrace the thousands of times better "service industry".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have become more tolerant of rudeness in general.

I went to a job interview at the HQ of a government agency last week. I needed to check in with the receptionist. She glared at me silently. When I told her I was there for a job interview, she responded with "So what?".

I don't know why this is acceptable.

It’s a government agency. That explains a lot. You’re lucky you got any acknowledgement

[Anonymous]

I miss travel agents because for some reason, I’m horrible at planning trips.

Otherwise, the other stuff, kind of relieved, not have to deal with people all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have become more tolerant of rudeness in general.

I went to a job interview at the HQ of a government agency last week. I needed to check in with the receptionist. She glared at me silently. When I told her I was there for a job interview, she responded with "So what?".

I don't know why this is acceptable.

It’s a government agency. That explains a lot. You’re lucky you got any acknowledgement

My guess is that it wasn’t a receptionist, and they assumed it was a receptionist because it was a woman sitting at a desk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have become more tolerant of rudeness in general.

I went to a job interview at the HQ of a government agency last week. I needed to check in with the receptionist. She glared at me silently. When I told her I was there for a job interview, she responded with "So what?".

I don't know why this is acceptable.

It’s a government agency. That explains a lot. You’re lucky you got any acknowledgement

My guess is that it wasn’t a receptionist, and they assumed it was a receptionist because it was a woman sitting at a desk.

A security guard at the metal detector pointed to where she was sitting and said "you need to check in over there."

[Anonymous]

The Giant in Vienna VA had baggers and someone offering to push your cart of groceries to your car for you, as late as 2012 - and they refused tips

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I miss travel agents because for some reason, I’m horrible at planning trips.

Otherwise, the other stuff, kind of relieved, not have to deal with people all the time.

The hotel and other travel
Perks you get because there is no travel agent. When you use a travel site - like Expedia they get the extras.