Is it just me or have you guys noticed that high gas prices are killing customer service? I have been noticing a trend especially in fast food places. They still ask you if you want fries with that, but forget ketchup or sauce. You are lucky to get a napkin and a straw, which I am surprised you don’t have to pay extra for and by all means, don’t ask for extra sauce, and whatever you do don’t ask for a drink holder...

Today when I was at the drive through I asked for a drink holder and the girl said, “No, you only have one drink, I am not allowed.” I was in my truck with nowhere to set a drink. Still in shock, I offered to buy one and she didn’t know how to answer that other than just hand me one.

Look around next time you go inside to eat and see just how many salt and pepper shakers are out, as well as, ketchup packets. They are cutting cost by cutting convince to the consumer.

I don’t mean to sound like Mel Gibson in the movie Conspiracy Theory, but really something is going on. Did you know that they count cups in their trash? Yeah, scary.

I would love to hear about your last interesting customer service experience just so I know I am not crazy. Hey, everyone please me do me a favor...next time you eat fast food ask for a handful of ketchup, more napkins, extra sauce, and of course a drink holder and watch the expression on their face. Better yet if you are ordering food for your little ones ask to swap the toy because they already have it. Let me know how all that works out...LOL

Thanks,
Hooper

Welcome to England!!!





No only kidding, but there is alot of cost counting spreading right across the board.
I used to be a manager of a certain fast food chain back in the early 90's and everything then had a yield and a target, even down to ketchup.
But the worst was how the staff had their wages calculated, some bright spark had divided a minuite not by 60 seconds but by a 100! this safed the company a small fortune, it really was a case of screwing every last penny from you!
And that was then!

Actually, gas prices are on a downward trend right now. I just filled up for 3.49 and a local station was offering a 2.89 (you read that right) promo over two days. Funny, though, when I bought LadyHawk one year ago, gas was 2.59; I have documented every tankful and all monies spent on the car.

What I think is happening is that people are developing an aversion to serving others. For the past 12 years, the service industries have been growing by leaps and bounds. Now that's beginning to taper off. What it means is that all the qualified (read good service) staff have been promoted and now the ones left are the "can't do's". It spells the death knell to the industry.

Among professional ranks, it is a similar situation. What was once our Real Estate Services division (manages the facilities and the contractors) is now described as a "Corporate function". In my opinion, it's just too bad it's the bowel movement! But trying to get any service at all from those people is like pulling teeth - they've developed an aversion to customer service because they are no longer accountable to "the customer". Instead, all they have to do is impress one or two bigwigs that control the purse strings. These individuals lead a live sheltered from the rank-and-file, so they are completely out-of-touch with what goes on at ground level. Complaining about the situation, even with hard documentation, gets you branded as a troublemaker, so an undesireable situation is made worse and allowed to fester. It's a prosperity thing - "I've got mine and now I don't need to help you get yours anymore!"

Okay, rant-mode off. But I do not believe it is only the gas prices causing it. What might begin as a cost-saving initiative can easily blossom into a profit opportunity, i.e. pay for that drink holder and extra honey-mustard sauce!

Gas prices...that's the only word you have to say...and you hear a gasp in the crowd.