You don’t seem to disagree with me that the treatment people get at Quest is not a good thing. And I have indeed taken some actions beyond posting to a message board. But I think even writing on a relatively obscure message board has a chance of doing SONETHING, because maybe a few others have had a similar experience.
Because I work in the travel industry I’m subject to random screening. So it’s not a one time thing. I’ll likely be back there.
And shrug
There are lots of complaints that seem petty to people until it happens to them or someone they care about. If this sort of experience becomes more commonplace, as I suspect it will, the chorus may grow.
I go to Quest quite frequently to get my thyroid hormone levels checked.
There is always someone in the waiting room standing in front of the “If you have a question, please sign in” sign, looking for someone to talk to because they don’t want to sign in since they just have a question to ask.
About a third of the time I’m there, the person who comes out to call me back for my appointment is interrupted in asking me questions, by someone who needs immediate attention because they just have a question to ask.
While I’m getting my blood drawn, it’s not uncommon to hear someone flounce out in great drama, bitterly complaining about how their time was wasted because they just had a question to ask.
I promise you: fucking everybody there knows this is going on. In fact, Quest implemented a policy to fix it: SIGN IN IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION. They’re not trying to minimize the wait time of just the people who just have a question to ask; they’re trying to minimize everyone’s wait time.
Which is why the rest of us in the waiting room are just sitting there rolling our eyes whenever the latest guy comes in to rant about the Great Injustice.
There was no flouncing or overt unpleasantness apart from the fact that this company can’t be arsed to have a human there to answer a question, and your little rant acknowledges that it happens from time to time. You’ve been inconvenienced by this happening, and you’re blaming the people asking a question?
Even supermarkets recognize the necessity of having a human around for when the automated checkouts malfunction or people would rather not use them, or heaven forbid, they want to ask a question. The deli I go to, which serves people by number at busy times, manages to treat people with a modicum of courtesy.
In fact, I can’t think of another brick and mortar business where trying to converse with a human causes “rolling of eyes” and throws a wrench into the whole works. My god, the nerve of these people who have the effrontery to want to talk to an actual person at Quest - good thing they have loyal patrons like you to ridicule those who try to buck the system!
I’m guessing you couldn’t be “arsed” to read my reply from hours ago.
Quest did have receptionists in the past. To repeat what you couldn’t be bothered to read, they were only able to answer very basic questions, such as accepted insurance and appointment confirmations.
They referred all other questions to the tech you would soon see.
“Loyal patrons”? Are you really that dense? Those of us who unfortunately go to Quest on a regular basis would rather not need their services. Some people in the waiting room are quite ill - others are shepherding family members with serious problems. Some are scared of what their testing will reveal. It is not like going to a deli!
We want to get out of there as soon as possible, without special snowflakes thinking their problems takes precedence over ours.
(and btw, pushing your way to get in front of ill people is “bucking the system”? Just how old are you?) :rolleyes:
I’ve been to Quest before and seen the receptionists then too. Now they’re gone, and I’m making the apparently controversial statement that that’s a dick move on the part of Quest. Wouldn’t be on the Dope if I wasn’t open to other viewpoints, but I have to say, I find it bizarre that there are people who think this is OK.
Some are defending a business making nobody available to speak to anyone. The employees who are there won’t / can’t / aren’t supposed to talk to anybody until after they sign in on an iPad at the counter. There was some defense of this too, on the basis of, “it speeds everything up”. Eyes are rolled at those who want to ask questions. Well, I think that’s an unpleasant way to run any kind of facility.
Suppose this model gradually becomes the norm in other businesses, which I think is conceivable. Is that really a world to look forward to? For those who think yes, are you quite certain you’ll never find yourself in a situation in which you might like to speak with a person before taking a number / signing in / scanning your card, or whatever? I can think of other negative aspects of that model, but let’s leave it there.
Oh, and Wallet - I have read your responses. I think you’ve mis-characterized what I’ve said, possibly because you’re not grasping a degree of sarcasm, possibly deliberately. I don’t recall you from other threads, but the tone and substance of your posts here make me think your opinion isn’t going to be of concern to me going forward. That’s as rude as I like to get in the Pit. Last word is yours if you’d care to have it.
Procedure: Sign in, then ask question when called.
See, this fits in with something I see a lot of. There is a simple procedure to follow, but because someone doesn’t understand, or agree with the procedure, rant vent rinse repeat.
Just follow the procedure as defined, smoothness will follow.