I went fishing last night for an hour before dark. On the way, I stopped for a cup of coffee at a gas station. No other cars were there. The cashier was out in front of the store, smoking a cigarette, and talking on her cell phone. I filled my coffee cup, and went to the register, and stood for a time, when she came in,walked behind the counter, and looked at me without speaking. I said" how much for coffee"? She pointed to the register never saying one word. I gave her a dollar, and she plopped my change on the counter, talking on her phone the entire time. Sorry, you just lost a customer. I dropped off a chainsaw chain for sharpening 4 days ago. The store called, and said it was ready. I came in, went to the service desk and got my chain. When I got to the register to pay, a middle aged guy was working. I said " hey, how are you"? No response. He did say one thing. 5.20. I gave him a 10, and he again plopped my change on the counter, not counting it back, and saying nothing. Sorry, you just lost a customer. Why is this? It takes no skill whatsoever, to greet a customer when they enter a store, and say thank you when they pay. Some big stores, namely WM, have several self checkout registers. Maybe this is the best way? That way, no one is there to greet a customer, or say thanks. It's much easier for a machine to do the job, and there's no interaction between people.And, the bigger thing is, there's no need for a person to take responsibility, and do the job they were hired for. Who cares? Nobody gives a hoot about some crusty old dude buying some new worm hooks, or some Pad Crasher frog, or a couple of bags of plastic baits from the clearance isle. It's nobody's job to care about a customer anymore. Your just Joe Shmuck, customer # 17, 486. If you don't like it, well, don't come back. We don't need your business that bad anyway. I never expect special treatment of any kind. Just a few words, and I'll be much more apt to shop here again. Not a text message, or an email. I guess that's asking too much these days. I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees this trend. I don't like it. Oh yea, I forgot to tell you, sorry, you just lost a customer.
