# Does Service Become More Important as You Get Older? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2006, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681 "2006-10-24T05:36:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/21 "2006-10-25T23:12:24Z")
Service is important, but it depends on where I am. If I am at Wal-Mart I don’t expect much in the way of service since their prices are so low (and they purposely don’t restock items for 6-8 weeks at a time to force you to buy up their other products, but that is another story.) If I am at a specialty store or a restaurant I expect better service since I am paying more for their product. If I get fantastic service I always make sure to tell a supervisor how wonderful their employee has been. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/22 "2006-10-26T02:40:42Z")
I was at a convenience store the other day, just buying a coke and some chips. The clerk was on her cellphone when I came up to pay. She never stopped her conversation, never looked up at me at all while taking my money and giving me my change, didn’t say thank you. " **Service**" like that is no service at all. That is the problem. It doesn’t have anything to do with how old I am. ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/23 "2006-10-26T03:20:34Z")
There are two convenience stores that are located almost equidistant from where I live. One is a larger franchise while the other is a locally owned store. The franchise gets more business and has a larger selection. No matter how many times I go to the larger store the clerks never seem to remember me. At the smaller one the clerks normally greet me with a “Hey, man, how’s it goin’?”. I like the personal treatment even if I am just buying a soda or milk. I’ll only go to the larger store if it’s absolutely more convenient. This is taken to the extreme, however at the Credit Union where I am a member. Every time I walk into the branch I most often visit everyone in the damn place knows me by name and absolutely descends upon me as I walk in the door especially if it’s not very busy (i.e. Friday afternoon). It’s almost embarassing. It’s not like I’m wealthy, in fact I’m probably there to take care of an overdraft fer chrissake. I have placed more emphasis on customer service as I’ve aged. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2006, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/24 "2006-10-26T13:58:46Z")
I think not only age, but the corresponding increase in personal wealth/discretionary income affects one’s expectations regarding service. Either fairly or not, I generally expect service to be either poor or nonexistent in nearly all retail establishments. I am generally pleased with the service if the help does not hassle me, or through incompetence interfere with me making an efficient transaction. If a salesperson actually has any familiarity with his stock, I’m generally thrilled. What I consider good service is if I walk in and ask, “Do you carry x? Where is it located?”, they give me directions and let me go on my own. Or if I ask “Would you help me” they do. The few stores that give me good service certainly receive my repeat business. We have a local hardware store that is GREAT in helping us out with little nickle and dime doohickeys. So when we needed to buy a dishwasher yesterday, we were happy to go to them - even if we could have saved a couple of bucks at Best Buy. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/25 "2006-10-27T01:51:11Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] The few stores that give me good service certainly receive my repeat business. We have a local hardware store that is GREAT in helping us out with little nickle and dime doohickeys. So when we needed to buy a dishwasher yesterday, we were happy to go to them - even if we could have saved a couple of bucks at Best Buy. [/QUOTE] Absolutely. Myt favorite store is my local hardware store. I love that I can go in there, show them a screw & buy 6 for a dime apiece. I love it so much I regularly buy big stuff there, ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/26 "2006-10-27T02:50:35Z")
I’d say that it does. When I was younger, I could (and did) put up with pretty much anything. Now that I’m older, not so much. There are a lot of examples I could talk about–coffee shops, newsstands, convenience stores, and the like–but what I think is really telling is in modes of transportation. Having been a young student and young adult, who endured coach/tourist class on trains, planes, ferryboats, and buses, over hundreds of thousands of miles, I now find myself trying (where possible) to find a place in business or first class. Similarly, a place like a Comfort Inn (or their bare-bones equivalent, Sleep Inn) is fine for when I’m driving long distances and need a clean, reputable, and quiet place to spend the night. But for a couple of days or more in a city, and I’d rather find the Delta, the Fairmont, the Sheraton, or the Hilton. It’s not always possible for various reasons, and I certainly have no complaints if my first choice of class or accomodations is unavailable or unaffordable. I can still put up with pretty much anything. But I must say that I do like being greeted by name, being treated as if my business mattered, and to be assured that if a problem does occur (for example, a misplaced reservation), that the company will do its best to make things right. Maybe the wish for increased level of service is indeed a part of growing older. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/27 "2006-10-27T09:47:36Z")
We’re about to paint our living room, and we were going to go the same old route and buy the paint at Home Depot. But on a whim, we stopped in a local Benjamin Moore shop and were shocked and pleased to find: 1. Courteous, helpful service. 2. They knew what the hell they were talking about. 3. The man behind the counter was not a mouth-breathing, dull-eyed teenager, but an older, articulate gentleman. We’re willing to pay a couple of bucks extra at this place, because we know if something goes wrong with the color or we need painting advice, they’re there to help. And yes, we are getting older. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2006, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/28 "2006-10-27T13:08:30Z")
[QUOTE=Crotalus] I’m 52 and this has happened to me over the past ten years or so. In my case, I think that there are two reasons for this. Maybe these apply to others as well. First, over the past few years, my income has actually exceeded my needs for the first time in my life. Paying off my mortgage was the primary cause for this. The extra income has put me in the position of being much more selective about where I buy. I still shop at places like Wal-mart and Lowes, in cases where service has no impact at all on my shopping experience, but I now have some freedom to choose to spend a little more if it seems worth it to me. I also find myself in the position of already having nearly everything I need. My life is pretty settled. When I buy something, it’s usually because I want to, not because I need to. For purchases like this, I tend to shop where I will have the best experience, not at the closest or cheapest place. [/QUOTE] Very well said. Same for me. Also, I’m at a point where I Just Won’t Put Up With That Shit any more. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/29 "2006-10-28T02:22:08Z")
yes and no. Yes, if I’m paying good money, don’t waste my time. That’s my number one priorty. Don’t fucking try to upsell me either. I don’t mind if you give me the 30 second teaser/pitch, but if I wanted to be sold to I’d just stay at work. I’ll let you know if I want to know more. And I find the quick pitch value added as long as you back off when i politely ask you to. Either know your stuff or don’t try to fake it. If I’m in a specialty shop, I do expect value added knowledge, honest admission you don’t know much about x, or go get someone that does. No, being that if it’s your basic service, attempting not to be surly is good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681/30 "2006-10-29T13:42:21Z")
I’m not sure if it has anything to do with wanting better service. But I have learned to assert my self when I get bad service. I think it’s the least I can do for the company. Case in point. I called a car tire place to ask if they had some specific tires (these are tires that they had recommended to me about 2 weeks before). They did not. The guy I talked to thought they would come in next week and if I came on Tuesday at 7:30 I might be able to have the tires requested. That is if they have them, and nobody beat me too them. No, I could not reserve the tires or order them just for me. Or make an appointment. And unfortunately, this is the only company that sells this brand of snow tires where I live. WTF? I called back and talked to a manager. She is going to specifically order the tires for me and tell me when they get in. I mean really, the other guy just wanted me to show up as early as possible with the hope that they have the tires. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-service-become-more-important-as-you-get-older/377681.md?page=1)