# Service industry "attitude" in the States **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-industry-attitude-in-the-states/96693 "2001-12-03T20:49:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RickQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@RickQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickQ)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-industry-attitude-in-the-states/96693/21 "2001-12-06T00:05:28Z")
I think people have hit the nail on the head, especially **Coldfire**. People who don’t like their job or are under paid will not be willing to help if they are treated like crap. I worked in a call centre for a year and a half and I got all sorts of abuse from people for mistakes they had made which caused them to incur charges. I was perfectly willing to explore alternatives and help people, unless they were abusive. At this point, I would tell them what the problem was and leave it up to them to sort it out. I would not be rude, we weren’t allowed to be rude (as much as I felt like it sometimes) A related problem is when people who are working in these industries have one crap customer, they wil be cranky for the rest of the morning/day etc. I think this is wrong, but it happens, it is just how some people are. Customer service varies so much between two different places in the same town. It is difficult to say one country is better or worse. IMHO, the most important factors in deciding what the service is like are how much the person likes thier job and how customers treat them. Rick ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-industry-attitude-in-the-states/96693/22 "2001-12-06T00:49:33Z")
Never been to the States, but I was under the impression that service was _relatively_ good there simply because American customers are not shy about complaining if the service is no good. **American** : Dammit, I paid good money for that (whatever it was), and it tastes like a bat has puked in it. That cook needs to be put straight! I’m going to complain to the manager. **Australian** : Dammit, I paid good money for that (whatever it was), and it tastes like a bat has puked in it. That cook needs to be put straight! I’m going to complain to the manager…umm…actually, if I complain, the cook might get in serious trouble, or even lose his job, and he’s probably really busy and stressed, and making crappy money. I mean really, it was only $7.95 for that dish. It’s not the end of the world. I’ll just not come here next time. At least, that’s my impression. The Americans might care to differ. I like the service attitude in Thailand. Their _sawasdee_ may be just as fake as our _Have a nice day!_, but if it is, then the Thais are good fakers. I also like the concept of the New York don’t-waste-precious-seconds-with-fake-politeness way of transacting business. I found Hong Kong a bit like that. It’s unnerving at first, but I ended up really appreciating it. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-industry-attitude-in-the-states/96693/23 "2001-12-06T06:25:01Z")
As a retail employee and frequent buyer-of-things, I can tell you that at least in North America the quality of service has much to do with how you initially approach the employee. Even when I have been in a bad mood from another customer, someone who pleasantly approaches me and asks for whatever they need can quickly make me forget about it. Also, if an employee obviously goes out of their way for you (like I often stay beyond my shift to do last-minute things for people who want their stuff done NOW), saying Thank You is much appreciated. On the other hand, please do not call young female employees sweety, sugar, or say things like “You’re a doll,” unless you are a very old man or woman with white hair and a wallet full of pictures of your grandkids. Anyone else is just creepy. I swear one of these days some slimy 40 y.o. is going to say “thank you sugar,” and I’m going to say “you’re welcome, asshole.” :mad: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-industry-attitude-in-the-states/96693.md?page=1)