ubergeeknz: I wish GZ had an "ignore thread" function

networkn:

ubergeeknz: I wish GZ had an "ignore thread" function

I bet you complain about the TV too, all the time holding the remote whilst watching it!

ubergeeknz:

networkn:

ubergeeknz: I wish GZ had an "ignore thread" function

I bet you complain about the TV too, all the time holding the remote whilst watching it!

Yep that's me, always complaining about the most pointless things.

jonathan18:

joker97: If they can communicate with perfect linguistics they won't be waitressing.

Geektastic: This also happened.

Waitress at checkout "That will be $75 please."

My client " Thanks - add 10% for a tip please."

Waitress reaches for calculator....

Two examples, along with the original post, of an unreasonably superior attitude...

Why on earth would you assume that everyone should be capable of adding a 10 percent tip in their heads? This may be easy for you or me to do, and I'm sure you'll judge poorly anyone who couldn't do this, but in reality there'll be many who can't do this and for a multitude of possible reasons.

I experienced something similar a few months back, when I asked the (young) woman serving us at a Subway outlet to divide a sub into thirds; she was apologetic and said she didn't know what this meant, so I just explained to her it was just cutting it into three equally sized pieces. Perhaps that's just the ex-teacher in me, but I really don't think it's necessary to use these kinds of situations to prove one's "superiority".

I've no issue in holding people in service industries to account for poor service, but to me that's about rudeness, (meaningful) incompetence, slackness etc - not about whether they can perform mental arithmetic or ask obvious questions.


 

networkn: I can't believe some people think it's reasonable for a retail staff member not to be able to add 10% to a bill in their head. I'd be pretty damn embarrassed.

One thing a customer said to me recently that really stuck with me, is that the new generation of students appear to have lost their ability to "estimate". They seem to do less and less of this type of stuff in school.

"Roughly how much should this be" type stuff. It's so important, I believe.

I am pretty concerned about the increasingly low standards we set in terms of expectations for people (and especially our youngest generation). 

I do take note of the fact, that if someone gets it wrong, the ramifications are potentially worse for said wait person, in terms of customer reaction, but holy moly!

kiwifidget: This thread has turned out to be a total disappointment.
I was hoping people would contribute other dumb things they have heard people say and we could all have a jolly good giggle at the expense of strangers.
Instead.....

MikeB4:

networkn: I can't believe some people think it's reasonable for a retail staff member not to be able to add 10% to a bill in their head. I'd be pretty damn embarrassed.

One thing a customer said to me recently that really stuck with me, is that the new generation of students appear to have lost their ability to "estimate". They seem to do less and less of this type of stuff in school.

"Roughly how much should this be" type stuff. It's so important, I believe.

I am pretty concerned about the increasingly low standards we set in terms of expectations for people (and especially our youngest generation). 

I do take note of the fact, that if someone gets it wrong, the ramifications are potentially worse for said wait person, in terms of customer reaction, but holy moly!

If I owned a retail establishment I would expect my staff to use a calculator or like for all calculations.

networkn:

MikeB4:

networkn: I can't believe some people think it's reasonable for a retail staff member not to be able to add 10% to a bill in their head. I'd be pretty damn embarrassed.

One thing a customer said to me recently that really stuck with me, is that the new generation of students appear to have lost their ability to "estimate". They seem to do less and less of this type of stuff in school.

"Roughly how much should this be" type stuff. It's so important, I believe.

I am pretty concerned about the increasingly low standards we set in terms of expectations for people (and especially our youngest generation). 

I do take note of the fact, that if someone gets it wrong, the ramifications are potentially worse for said wait person, in terms of customer reaction, but holy moly!

If I owned a retail establishment I would expect my staff to use a calculator or like for all calculations.

I have the most complex and capable calculator built in :) It's called a brain. I expect to need to use it or lose it. 

I do agree however, that a calculator is a good fail safe, but that doesn't excuse someone not being able to do the math regardless, nor does the presence of a calculator mean one should not engage ones brain.

Whenever we get a bill or see an opportunity, we always encourage my son (in fact both my young children) to TRY and work it out first. 

It is worth noting that I do understand said waitress MIGHT have known the answer, it was more the other comments I have an issue with, suggesting it's ok if you can't add 10% to a bill in your head.

networkn: I can't believe some people think it's reasonable for a retail staff member not to be able to add 10% to a bill in their head. I'd be pretty damn embarrassed.

One thing a customer said to me recently that really stuck with me, is that the new generation of students appear to have lost their ability to "estimate". They seem to do less and less of this type of stuff in school.

"Roughly how much should this be" type stuff. It's so important, I believe.

I am pretty concerned about the increasingly low standards we set in terms of expectations for people (and especially our youngest generation). 

I do take note of the fact, that if someone gets it wrong, the ramifications are potentially worse for said wait person, in terms of customer reaction, but holy moly!