People Seem Friendlier During a Recession
Posted: Tuesday, August 04, 2009
by Gerry Charbonneau
http://nibblednews.typepad.com
I have just started the second day of my scheduled summer vacation break. The first two weeks in August are usually reserved for doctor appointments, automotive maintenance, dental visits, visual examinations and of course personal vacation time.
I have followed this itinerary for the past number of years and the time away from work serves me and my plans well. I also try to write more material in my blogs and related web sites during this time.
The lot attendant told me that I would have a 15-minute wait before my car would be serviced. The actual oil change itself would take another 20 minutes to complete. That worked for me.
I had earlier purchased a newspaper from a local convenience store near my residence and now crossed the dealership lot and walked over to a nearby McDonald's restaurant for a large coffee . I had my cell phone with me and told the service representative to please call me if anything major needed immediate attention and repair. There were a minimal number of people at the restaurant. That was a good thing.
As I was reading my newspaper and sipping my coffee the restaurant manager entered the premises and started his morning shift. One of the female servers told him that earlier in the day a female customer had complained about the taste of her egg McMuffin. "She said it tasted like crap." She told the manager that she offered the customer her choice of either a refund, another egg Mcmuffin, a free coffee or else a baked muffin. The woman ,she said, chose the muffin.
I finished drinking my coffee and reading my paper about 30 minutes later and prepared to leave the restaurant. As I passed the service desk on my out of the building the attending cashier blurted out to me "Have a happy day".
I thanked her and wished her the very same kind of day. Then I walked back to the dealership to retrieve my vehicle. I was hoping that nothing major needed attention at this time.
The service on my car had just been completed and the car itself was still in the service bay area of the garage undergoing last minute inspections. The cashier at the dealership rewarded my early morning promptness by lowering the amount of my bill by a whopping $5.00. That made me smile for sure.
It seems that some days progress a lot smoother than others. The customer service representatives, restaurant personnel and car dealership cashier and repair crew all tried to make the customer feel important and a valuable asset to the overall success of the business.
Tough economic times do draw people together. It also seems that these days at least the customer is always right and welcomed at businesses large and small.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)...smile... Gerry, believe it or not,I have noticed the same thing. Maybe, maybe, a tough times is good, at least it shows we need each other. It can and will make one humble also. Thanks for the article. I will do my part also.Thank you for your comment.
I agree with you. The tougher the economic times and the more stress people feel the more the need to circle the proverbial wagons and help one another . Life , at times, has an ironic way of drawing folks together. Another miracle for sure!
$5.00 for service on your car? wow I didn't think fees like that were still around. good article, thanks for sharingThanks for your comment David. Glad you liked the article.
The total cost of my service charge for the oil change was reduced by $5...and not to just $5. That would have been nice but then I would feel badly about taking unfair advantage of the automobile dealership.
It's amazing isn't it, how something as simple as someone saying "Have a happy day" can make such a difference in how your day goes? We would all do well to remember that! Thanks for an uplifting article Gerry.Thank you for your comment Brianna. Much appreciated.
Small, simple phrases mean a lot these days . A positive spin on life can make a major difference in a person's day. It made my day a whole lot better.
Have a Happy Day!
Great article. Well done.Wow. The last time I was in a McDonald's the person "cleaning" wiped the table then sneezed on it. It's a true story!Thank you Connor . I'm glad you enjoyed the article.
I visited a fast food restaurant one time. The person wiping up in the bathroom used the same "cloth" to clean some table tops. Suffice it to say I never went back to that restaurant. That's the way it was.
Have a Happy Day.
Gerry, I'm happy I didn't miss this article. It is uplifting. I have observed what you've said and have been amazed by it. A well-written article. I'm especially pleased you received this special treatment while on vacation. I pray it never ceases. *warm smile*Thank you Ms Ward for your comment.
These small miracles in our lives occur with regularity if we take the time to see them all around us. I think they are meant to make us feel better about life and ourselves in a very subtle way.
Have a Happy Day!Mr. Charbonneau (since you call me Ms. Ward), I couldn't agree with you more. I am blessed to receive and experience these little miracles each day with interaction with others because I send them out. I didn't want to sound boastful in my earlier post. I do agree it is more widespread now from others initiating the "happy days" than during more fruitful times.
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