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From: genji@ucbopal.CC.Berkeley.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: McDonald's counter people
Message-ID: <134@ucbopal.CC.Berkeley.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 22-Dec-83 20:37:10 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbopal.134
Posted: Thu Dec 22 20:37:10 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Dec-83 06:07:17 EST
References: <413@pucc-h>
Organization: Univ. of Calif., Berkeley CA USA
Lines: 38

<<	Counterperson: Would you like fries with that?
<<	Customer: No, I would *not*.
<<	Counterperson: Would you like an apple or cherry pie?
<<	Customer: I don't recall ordering one...
<<
<<	Now, I'm pretty certain that counterfolk are instructed to do this by
<<	management, in an attempt to boost sales.  I find this insulting, and 
<<	usually respond with my nastiest if-looks-could-kill-you'd-be-vaporized
<<	stare and most sarcastic voice; I'm hoping to discourage this.  Perhaps
<<	other netnews readers are also infuriated by this...

Have you ever worked behind a counter and had to be pleasant toward
a hundred or so people per day, regardless of their treatment of you?
The MacDonald counter people also must be pleasant toward their managers,
who obviously have ordered them to work the customers in this obnoxious
manner.  But I'm not suggesting you redirect killing looks and sarcasm
toward the management either.  Consider what would make their manipulation
unprofitable-- profit is close to Big Mac's heart.  For example, since time
is money at fast food places, you could answer every question with another
question:
	Counterperson:	Would you like an apple or cherry pie?
	Customer:	Hmm, Let me think. ....(think sowly).....
			Do you have any other kind of pie?
	Counterperson:	All we have is apple and cherry.
	Customer:	Do you ever have other flavors?
			I mean are you just out of others for today?
	Counterperson:	We never have other flavors.  Which would you like?
	Customer:	What flavors were those again?
	Counterperson:	Apple and cherry.
	Customer:	Let me discuss it with the manager, please.
			(If the manager comes, greet him pleasantly and tell
			him all about your ideas for new pie flavors.)
			:
			:
	Customer, finally: No, thank you.  I won't have any pie.
Of course, the folks behind you in line may get impatient but the MacDonald
people will be most sensitive to the delay and likely cut short the sales pitch.
					--Genji