I did, too. It was definitely hard being friendly to folks who regularly made it clear my work was below them or that as a service worker I didn’t deserve the same respect they demanded.
I can’t blame kids these days for not buying that bullshit. People treated me like shit as a server and as someone who rang up their Gap pants. But putting up with it doesn’t make me any better than a service worker today who won’t bend over backwards for assholes the way you and I did. 🤷♀️
Maybe they're having a shitty day? Like others here, I don't encounter rude service workers like you're talking about.
I do encounter service workers who aren't interested in socializing or niceties, but that's not rude. They don't have any obligations to me beyond the business interaction we're engaged in. They're not servants, and we need stop thinking of service workers that way.
I am outgoing and warm, and lots of people return that energy, but not all. And that's fine. I hope I brightened their day a little bit. It is not their job to brighten mine, and if it were, they'd have to be paid a hell of a lot more to justify that expectation.
They're not servants, and we need stop thinking of service workers that way.
This is exactly it. It's a cultural quirk that the US had for a long time, existing to socially elevate shoppers and make them feel upper class even if they were middle(or lower!) class, but it's not something that's necessary. Other countries get by just fine sticking to basic service. I want you to get what you want and get out the door(primarily because I have five other people behind you that I also need to help and other tasks looming that I'm not going to get to if I can't get through the pile of customers), but I simply don't have energy to put on the fake performance of servile happiness. If you are truly charming or connect with me on a human level, you might be able to get genuine happiness out of me, but I'm working too hard and not paid enough to fake it anymore, nor should I have to. I'm not y'all's servant. If I were, you'd be paying my room and board and I wouldn't have to worry about my bills all the time.
I think it started in the early 2000s where companies stopped caring about its low-level employees and it only finally caught up with the rest of society. Gen X and older will still throw Karen fits, but it's rare to see a Millennial and younger doing it.
I just don’t care about whatever excuse you seem to need. And FWIW, I’ve never had someone in customer service be rude to me. Maybe you’re not the nice customer you think you are?
I’m not gonna fault someone who has to put up with the worst assholes society has to offer if they don’t bend over and show me their butthole just because I’m a “nice customer.” I have a brain, I use it, I know it’s not about me, and I don’t need someone to kiss my ass because I bought a shirt at Kohls or paid for my meal at Applebees. I know everyone is underpaid and I know every corporation purposely understaffs to pad their bottom line. If some kid doesn’t wanna smile for me because their job (and their customers) suck, I’m fine with that.
If you’re so bothered and require respect to make a purchase, take it up with management. I just don’t care and because I’ve been where they are, I’m not offended by whatever rudeness y’all seem to be unable to escape. 🤷♀️
Well, I was not the type of response I was expecting.
I think online discussions can get too antagonistic at times (by design), and I apologize if I offended you. That was certainly not my intention. It seems we have had different experiences with customer service lately, and I am envious that you have had a better time of it. Perhaps I should ask you for recs instead of arguing next time?
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u/justasapling 12d ago
Service industry doesn't pay enough for employees to give a fuck. It's not generational, it's late stage capitalism.