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Customer Disservice

I've always had a soft spot for folks who work in customer service.  Having spent five years in high school and college doing the salesclerk thing, I know how difficult it can be to work with the general public.  For all of the nice, polite, appreciative customers out there, you can bet there are even more who are rude, pushy, and self-absorbed.  I know firsthand how much patience and fake smiling it takes to make it through, so I try to be extra respectful.  Two different salesclerks today, however, made me briefly reconsider.

Salesclerk #1 had the best of intentions.  Really, she did.  She was smiley and friendly.  As I was checking out, though, she made a big production of telling me how much money I had saved today.  No big deal, I suppose, until she followed the amount up by telling me, "good job!".  I realize that for some couponing and saving money are not just hobbies or ways of life, but art forms.  However, I was not a puppy who just tinkled on the newspaper; I just needed some socks.

Salesclerk #2 wasn't as well-meaning.  Actually, she wasn't meaning at all; she was on her cellphone clearly bored out of her mind.  Her job was to greet customers, which she did with all the enthusiasm of someone watching paint dry.  She didn't even look up from her phone when she greeted me.  Have a little courtesy, please?

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