I am at starbucks yesterday and this woman comes in just as angry as anything. I didnt know who to feel worse for, the employee about to get it, or the woman for whatever caused her mood. So I observed the following:
Lady: " I came through the drive throught about 10 minutes ago. I ordered a warmed croissant roll and I took 3 bites of it and the thing is FROZEN still"
Counter Girl: " Oh, my apololgies. Would you like me to warm it again for you?"
Lady: " Well I surely can't eat it like that now can I? Yes warm it up"
So the counter girl proceeds to the toaster oven and this woman is pacing back and forth in front of everyone like hers is the only day with anything to do in it. After about 2 minutes the counter girl handed it back to the lady and once again apologized. The woman grabbed it from the counter girl and looked at her with this expression as if to say Is that it? Your not gonna refund this? which rather surprised me. The girl behind the counter actually handled the situation better than I probably would have- even though I am probably 15 years her elder. So as I am sipping my latte I got to thinking. Why did the woman automatically EXPECT to be refunded? Did this employee not toast her bun properly the first time just to cause this whole thing to happen to them both in this particular day? Oooooooh, I bet she was plotting something all along and chose this lucky woman out of the hat? My point is this- the situation, however momentarily inconvenient, was corrected. I can almost 1000% guarantee it was NOT done with intent either.
Why wasn't that enough? Why did this woman have a momentary feeling of self entitlement? We are all humans, are we not? We can only work the machines they give us to the best of the machines ability. And unfortunatly sometimes it is NOT perfection in the end. Ok- it was a mistake made and corrected. Not only corrected, but corrected with both an apology and a smile. Why isnt that enough?
In this world we live in, why do we always expect everyone else to pay for something that simply happens? Why should starbucks lose out on the full sale of the womans 4.00 coffe and the 2.00 bun for the sake of an honest mistake made actually by a machine. Everyones got their hands out and no one wants to own up to their mistakes and I for one and really REALLY tired of it. What is the point, really, for people to walk around like that? I just don't get it.......
I get it at work all the time. People make all sorts of mistakes but they expect ME and my compnay to accept the brunt of them yelling at us becasue they feel stupid once they realize what they did. People really cant read one anothers minds. People make mistakes.
To this I must quote a good old song from my high school days. I leave you with some Depeche Mode:
So were different colours
And were different creeds
And different people
Have different needs
Its obvious you hate me
Though Ive done nothing wrong
Ive never even met you
So what could I have done
I cant understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
People are people
So why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
People are people
So why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
Help me understand
Help me understand
Now youre punching
And youre kicking
And youre shouting at me
And Im relying on your common decency
So far it hasnt surfaced
But Im sure it exists
It just takes a while to travel
From your head to your fist (head to your fists)
I cant understand what makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
People are people
So why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
People are people
So why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
really people- use your brains for the good of someone else. Its tiresome always having to be on the SEARCH for another HUMAN BEING.
til next time
XoXo
-M
