R-E-S-P-E-C-T Here is what it means to me. R-E-S-P-E-C-T Sit down! This is what it means to me! Sock it to me!! Yeah!
This paraphrase of Aretha Franklin's song, Respect, holds a lot of meaning to me, most of which is lost to a lot of people out there in the world today, young and old alike. We can't blame the young of today for their lack of respect towards anyone, they are just mimicking their own parent's actions towards others. It's the adults I blame mostly, and there are many out there who will agree with me on this.
Take, for instance, when you go into any fast food place, how you treat the person taking your order. I know of those counter people, as they are called, try their best to be friendly and helpful, but not all have been there for weeks, months or years, some have been there only a few short hours and are just learning the system. Also, sometimes, the cashiers have been there for well over eight hours and are tired, they are trying their hardest to be as nice as possible to you until the manager comes along and lets them do their cleaning duties before leaving. And if its busy, I think you may be getting the point by now. Being friendly to them and respectful, even if you are in a hurry to get your food and leave, helps them out a lot.
I know it seems we play the 20 questions game just to get one order out, but we're not mind readers. We need to know how you like your food to be prepared, if you'd like to try one of our new species, or if you'd like to have a drink when you only ordered only a single sandwich. Now, I know mistakes happen when the store is in the middle of a lunch or dinner rush, or caught when they are changing from breakfast to lunch, but griping at the cashier or manager doesn't do much good. Being nice to these people and explaining in a nice tone of voice what is wrong, or that something was forgotten in your order gets it done all the faster, and it makes our day go all that much better.
I'm sure you know the saying, the customer is always right, but that should not apply no matter what the case might be. Mostly for the fact, the customer does not know what is going on behind the scenes of any restaurant unless they have or are working at a restaurant. They don't know of there is a full crew, or if who hasn't shown up for their shift. Who is new, who has been there for a long time. Who is being cross trained in a new section or who might have hurt themselves just a few minutes before you came in and placed your order. Some people even work with existing injuries so getting your order may take longer, but we'll try our best to get it to you as quickly as possible. So the saying for customers should be, the customer always comes first. It's your satisfaction we strive for, and every single one of you has a different view of what satisfaction is when it comes to their food.
There is another thing. Some food items on the menus are very popular, they run out quickly no matter how much is made, but only a certain amount can be made so you get only the freshest possible product. If we run out during a rush, we can't make any more until it slows down enough to get all the ingredients together and make more. Some items can't be sold as soon as they are ready, they have to sit and thaw for a while. If you come in at around the same everyday and we can't give you your order because we're out, or its not ready to be sold, griping won't get it to you any faster. Being sarcastic when there is actually some ready is just being plain mean and could make getting your order slow or worse. You can't blame the order taker for it, only those that come in before you and buy up all of the one item before you get there.
Sometimes, the machine that makes the shakes and ice cream everyone so loves is broken down. That, no one can help and we try to offer something else in place, or in some cases, we can direct you to another store whose ice cream machine hasn't broken down. It's all a part of our service. Also, just to remind some of you, not all food items are available all the time. Some can only be bought at certain times of the year or during specific promotions, things which we have no control over.
Another thing people, not all stores do the same promotion, or are owned by the same person. YOU should pay attention to the commercials you see and read that tiny print they show that says Available only at participating stores. So, when you order, ask if that promotion is being done in that store or region. Just because you saw it on local TV doesn't mean it's going to be at that store, so throwing a fit won't do any good. It just makes you look like the child in front of your own children and everyone else's too. Remember, all kids watch every adult, whether it looks like it or not.
So, if you ever wonder why young adults and teenagers act the way they do most of the time, think back on your behavior over the years in front of them. You could be the one at fault since it is you that they are watching. I have a child in school now, and he is a sweet little boy and respectful to his elders, most of the time, because I and my husband have set the example for him. I know a lot of this from my experiences from working in the food business since I was 16. A long time yes, but it's because of you, the rude customer, that makes it hard to go to work everyday and enjoy myself.
Now, here's a question for you to ponder while ordering your next meal at a restaurant of any kind. If the roles were reversed, would you want these people to act just like you and demand things they can't have or want it three seconds from now? No, I don't think so. And in many cases, these roles can be easily reversed, so always remember, be nice to us, the food service people, and we'll be nice to you. It's as easy as that. Just plane, simple respect. And if you need a reminder, buy or down load a copy of Aretha Franklin's Respect and listen to it for a while. You'll soon understand.
