Waiting in a line at Starbucks that is about 10 deep. Finally I am second in line when the person in front of me has to dig through their purse to locate her money I wait while she rummages around thinking, “did she not know that this was going to be a paid transaction? Did she think the server was going to give her the drink for free?”
Getting on the bus and the person in front of me was searching their pockets for the $1.50. Did they not think they would have to shell out change for the trip?
Answering the phone at work when customer called in asking for the address of where our office is located. I give him the information and he says, “hold on and let me get out my pen.” He phones me asking for data knowing he would need to write down and did not have a pen ready.
Standing in line at the convenient store and the clerk is being patient while the patron before them is holding up the line scavenging for the last four cents on the $2.54 transaction. He looks at me apologetically.
Here is the thing…. Be prepared! If you are in a line and know there will be a cash transaction use that time standing there to get your stuff together. Have your cash or credit card in hand. If you plan on paying with exact change keep it in a reasonably accessible location. And please do not think you are doing the clerk/server a favor by digging up that four cents…. they can make change. Likewise, if you are calling to obtain information that you know you will need to write down have a pen and paper handy before you dial the phone.
While this could seem like a petty rant, I think it is indicative of an ethos that tears at the fiber of workability in society. People do not have any time or desire to wait in line under any circumstance. I know this and therefore have my money ready in said situations and the like. I do this because I have a basic consideration for both the person next in line and the person behind the counter. The person next in line is eager to complete the transaction and get on with their day and me being ready contributes to that happening. The person behind the counter is committed to having the line move as quickly as possible and having my money ready assist them in that task. The person who answers the phone has other things to do than wait for you to get your crap together.
It is an unwritten social contract that this is how things are going to go and when someone is a clog in that flow it does not work and causes unnecessary frustration for the people involved. When someone is not prepared they are a clog in the flow. If you were behind me in line I would show you enough respect to be prepared. If I was calling your place of business I would be prepared. Please have the courtesy to do the same for others and me.
What other every day courtesies would you like to see more of? What are your thoughts on this? What other examples can you think of?
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I would REALLY like it if people would use their blinkers when they were turning so people who are waiting to enter a street can go and not sit there just to watch you finally turn right.
ReplyDeleteOr, as my friend pointed out yesterday,when they are sitting at the light when it turns green because they are not paying attention.
ReplyDeleteI wish people in line at supermarket would not talk on the phone and ignore the cashier! so freakin RUDE! No courtesy to people round ya!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Supermarkets (I call them grocery stores) what about those couples (and it is always a pair)who walk with their cart in the middle of the aisle then suddenly stop creating a traffic jam because nobody can get around them.
ReplyDeleteOr when you are at street fairs and the same scenario plays out except it is a couple with a stroller.