It's right to complain in the right way, I can't stress than enough. My Dad is one that takes poor service personally and has no problem making the whole area within ear shot make it known. I'd say this rather upsets the patrons and embarrasses me and whoever we are out with to the point that I won't dine with him or even play golf with him anymore. Boomer aged parents take heed to this, as I know it seems that the older generation experiences the poor attitudes of todays service and are not used to it. As a 40 year old I am somewhat desensitized to poor service and unfortunately have become used to it. In fact when someone does what they are normally supposed to do I am pleasantly surprised.

There is a correct way to bring attention to poor service to the proper parties. Ask for the manager and politely let him/her know what you are not satisfied with and I guarantee that if the establishment is halfway well managed well you'll end up satisfied.

I have had anywhere from the humorous to the downright sorry service no one would deserve. Be aware that managers need to know this, they want to keep their job and attain the best numbers of their restaurant, store, dealership, whatever the case may be.

Patience is the order of the day to getting what you want. Don't take it personally, rather assume the person may be new, poorly trained, nervous or maybe even just purely not suited for the job.

Speaking of the service I've had in the past, I'll leave you with a few short stories from things that were so ridiculous I could only laugh of just leave.

On a business trip I stopped at a gas station, one of those old country stations, who knows who owned it. I gave the guy my credit card who upon taking it looked outside to look at my pump number while using my card to subconsciously clean his ear with it. Now I ask you, what am I supposed to say to that, other than thanks and do you have any handy wipes?

The other one I could only laugh at was at a Mexican food place, we ordered the usual Margarita and chips. When the drink came around we all sipped and talked a bit, the food arrived on time, no problem. After about, I'd say 10 minutes, the ice that is sometimes underneath the margarita glass fell on the table upon lifting it for another drink, again expected. But embedded in the domed shaped ice that fell on the table from the bottom of that glass was a frozen cricket. The girls freaked out, while us guys had fun with the whole thing. That was a running joke for quite a while among our circle of friends.

In any case, we made a joke of it with the waiter at the time and even though the insect was not in the drink itself we got a free round of drinks at the table. When bringing failures of service, kindness and humor counts!

Learn more about this author, Rob Purifoy.
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