You won't believe what a waitress said to a customer...

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#1414576 27-Oct-2015 12:33

On the contrary, it's ever so slightly more complex than how he puts it.

Some people do better with encouragement. The best Kiwis are as successful in the universe as anyone else on the planet.

networkn

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#1414578 27-Oct-2015 12:35

I agree we aren't hard enough on ourselves or our kids. Having said that, our kids get more encouragement especially when they are younger, to help with morale and self belief.

Rikkitic

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#1414579 27-Oct-2015 12:35

MikeB4:

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

I have to agree with that one. It has to do with liability and setting standards. Always requiring the use of a calculator, regardless of how simple the calculation is, avoids all kinds of problems. Also, there are many 10% challenges that even bright people might have trouble with in a rushed and stressed environment. For example, say the bill is $237.98. Ten percent of that is $23.80. This then has to be added to the $237.98 for the total amount. Much safer to do that with a calculator.

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#1414585 27-Oct-2015 12:39

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.....

This morning I took a poster to the office demanding to know who put it up, coz it said 28 oct 2015 and it must have been left there for a whole 12 months.

networkn

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#1414587 27-Oct-2015 12:39

Rikkitic:
MikeB4:

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

I have to agree with that one. It has to do with liability and setting standards. Always requiring the use of a calculator, regardless of how simple the calculation is, avoids all kinds of problems. Also, there are many 10% challenges that even bright people might have trouble with in a rushed and stressed environment. For example, say the bill is $237.98. Ten percent of that is $23.80. This then has to be added to the $237.98 for the total amount. Much safer to do that with a calculator.

Yah ok, that probably is a reasonable comment to make.

I have changed my stance on this, however I'll never change my stance on whether people should be able to calculate simple percentages in their heads, do 12x12 tables instantly, not estimate reasonably without assistance.

In a retail environment, I guess better safe than sorry.

I did a few times recently let retail staff know they had made a mistake in my favour even when using a calculator, using my powers of estimation only. Appreciated by said staff, for those of you who wish to attempt to portray me as someone who preys on those poor hard done by opressed wait staff.

DizzyD

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#1414589 27-Oct-2015 12:41

Rikkitic:
MikeB4:

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

I have to agree with that one. It has to do with liability and setting standards. Always requiring the use of a calculator, regardless of how simple the calculation is, avoids all kinds of problems. Also, there are many 10% challenges that even bright people might have trouble with in a rushed and stressed environment. For example, say the bill is $237.98. Ten percent of that is $23.80. This then has to be added to the $237.98 for the total amount. Much safer to do that with a calculator.

Good old pencil and paper for that calculation.

Rikkitic

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#1414590 27-Oct-2015 12:42

This is all just tossing a ball back and forth, isn't it?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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#1414596 27-Oct-2015 12:47

Have asked for a high chair for my toddlers teddy bear before Not really the same but still....

Also, just the 2 of you then? Actually 2 of our friends are joining us shortly...not hard to see how that could happen.

Not sure it really requires a thread taking up internet bits and bytes...begs the question why am I replying then.....I don't know, seemed preferable to fixing my SAP FTP problem I have at the mo...

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#1414610 27-Oct-2015 12:57

gjm: Have asked for a high chair for my toddlers teddy bear before Not really the same but still....

Also, just the 2 of you then? Actually 2 of our friends are joining us shortly...not hard to see how that could happen.

Not sure it really requires a thread taking up internet bits and bytes...begs the question why am I replying then.....I don't know, seemed preferable to fixing my SAP FTP problem I have at the mo...

I didn't really imagine when I started the thread it was going to turn into this whole nonsense, I thought it might turn into a bit of light hearted fun. A few of the members made short work of ensuring that wasn't happening.

Half or more, of the threads here are equally pointless in MY opinion, however, if I don't want to participate or make those threads longer, I just don't open them.

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#1414651 27-Oct-2015 13:50

joker97:
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!

I have a German colleague. He tells his teen. "In NZ people say "well done, well done" for being average. You must not succumb into thinking you are any good. You need to measure yourself against what your teacher would say in Germany. To which his teen goes, "meh". True story.

I can believe it. Friends of mine with children used to have certificates on their fridge given to the children for turning up to school.

I had no idea it was optional - or such an achievement to do it.

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#1414662 27-Oct-2015 14:00

networkn:
Rikkitic:
MikeB4:

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

I have to agree with that one. It has to do with liability and setting standards. Always requiring the use of a calculator, regardless of how simple the calculation is, avoids all kinds of problems. Also, there are many 10% challenges that even bright people might have trouble with in a rushed and stressed environment. For example, say the bill is $237.98. Ten percent of that is $23.80. This then has to be added to the $237.98 for the total amount. Much safer to do that with a calculator.

Yah ok, that probably is a reasonable comment to make.

I have changed my stance on this, however I'll never change my stance on whether people should be able to calculate simple percentages in their heads, do 12x12 tables instantly, not estimate reasonably without assistance.

In a retail environment, I guess better safe than sorry.

I did a few times recently let retail staff know they had made a mistake in my favour even when using a calculator, using my powers of estimation only. Appreciated by said staff, for those of you who wish to attempt to portray me as someone who preys on those poor hard done by opressed wait staff.

I'd be better at maths than average, but I'm not sure I could do all 12x12 tables instantly, that said it would never take me more than a couple of seconds for the ones I forget (7x8 always takes me a couple of seconds). Back in primary school we only did up to 10x10.

Like yourself, I will often calculate something in my head when a retailer uses a calculator or pen and paper. Although, as you and others have conceded, many of these will be times where they are simply being careful (rather than not being able to do it in their heads). However, I do recall recently requesting to split a $30 bill two ways; and I admit to being somewhat surprised when I saw the calculator come out.

Mark

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#1414670 27-Oct-2015 14:04

Geektastic:

I can believe it. Friends of mine with children used to have certificates on their fridge given to the children for turning up to school.

I had no idea it was optional - or such an achievement to do it.

I assume you have no kids ? Younger kids LOOOVVVVVEEEE getting certificates from teachers, they'll babble on about it for days and every time they see something that might look like a certificate. So the teachers do make stuff up for the kids to get certificates, it makes the kids happy and generates interest in the classroom, then the kids take it home and want it on display so it'll end up on the fridge until it is superseded by "An Even Betterer Certificate!!"

Alternatively we could go with the miserable b'stard schooling techniques and just beat the children until they understand everything!

mdooher

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#1414677 27-Oct-2015 14:09

I consider myself pretty good at maths; however when I'm building something I always use a calculator to do even the simple things like divide a measurement by two to find the centre point.

I don't mind if someone else does it in their head, or laughs at me but at least I don't cut stuff 100mm too short. Well not all that often.

However if I had my mother working for me in a retail type situation I would certainly not tell her to use a calculator, she is both faster and more accurate than most people that have a calculator.

Matthew

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#1414678 27-Oct-2015 14:09

Mark:
Geektastic:

I can believe it. Friends of mine with children used to have certificates on their fridge given to the children for turning up to school.

I had no idea it was optional - or such an achievement to do it.

I assume you have no kids ? Younger kids LOOOVVVVVEEEE getting certificates from teachers, they'll babble on about it for days and every time they see something that might look like a certificate. So the teachers do make stuff up for the kids to get certificates, it makes the kids happy and generates interest in the classroom, then the kids take it home and want it on display so it'll end up on the fridge until it is superseded by "An Even Betterer Certificate!!"

Alternatively we could go with the miserable b'stard schooling techniques and just beat the children until they understand everything!

Yes I agree with this. It's a great motivator for kids. My son has got all sorts of awards and I must admit his school doesn't do it for silly reasons. He has gotten awards for being a good helper, something which made him an even better helper, a great friend, he now has twice as many friends, being top acheiever in math, he bugs us day and night to
do mathletics with him etc..

I am not a namby pamby parent (just about my wifes whole family things I am too hard on my kids) and I agree with Geektastic in some regards, but until I was a parent, I didn't fully appreciate the benefit of it.

I consider my parenting a success if I have Happy, Innocent, friendly and balanced kids!

DizzyD

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#1414686 27-Oct-2015 14:19

Mark:
Geektastic:

I can believe it. Friends of mine with children used to have certificates on their fridge given to the children for turning up to school.

I had no idea it was optional - or such an achievement to do it.

I assume you have no kids ? Younger kids LOOOVVVVVEEEE getting certificates from teachers, they'll babble on about it for days and every time they see something that might look like a certificate. So the teachers do make stuff up for the kids to get certificates, it makes the kids happy and generates interest in the classroom, then the kids take it home and want it on display so it'll end up on the fridge until it is superseded by "An Even Betterer Certificate!!"

Alternatively we could go with the miserable b'stard schooling techniques and just beat the children until they understand everything!

The "rewards system" has its place. But its not discipline.

Here boy, here is a certificate for NOT running in front of that bus this afternoon. Well done Boy. Try and do it tomorrow again! Shame on the others who did not get the certificate.

Yes I'm a father of two! ;-)

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