tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post4992170493387308907..comments2024-03-28T22:15:17.067-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/29/24: "Next guest..."Neil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-68053145614149749182013-07-19T09:57:40.314-05:002013-07-19T09:57:40.314-05:00One of my readers (I sent them hither) suggested t...One of my readers (I sent them hither) suggested that Walgreen's up the ante and begin referring to their customers as "Heroes." Perhaps, Neil, you and I should start referring to our readers as "Heroes"? Eric Zornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13198559520854637027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-90441965407571690632013-07-18T17:29:12.466-05:002013-07-18T17:29:12.466-05:00Someone mentioned to me the other day that a Jewel...Someone mentioned to me the other day that a Jewel employee practically insisted that someone accompany them to their car and help unload the groceries -- insanity.SandyKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-79431577010608560742013-07-18T16:15:12.161-05:002013-07-18T16:15:12.161-05:00If you treat me with respect then I don't care...If you treat me with respect then I don't care what you call me. And until employers are willing to respect their employees and give them decent salaries, save the "associates" malarkey for somewhere else. It reminds me of a place I worked where they told us on Monday that management highly valued all of their employees. On Thursday that same week, they cut benefits including sick days. What message do you think came through loud and clear to the employees?David P. Grafnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-76336112350831817282013-07-18T15:04:30.661-05:002013-07-18T15:04:30.661-05:00Another example of corporations giving faux servic...Another example of corporations giving faux service. Some genius in HQ passed this idea down the food chain. My pet peeve is waiting to purchase and there is only one register open. Customers are backed up to fork over money but we have to WAIT. I guess the other 9 staff working in the store have more important things to do. This used to happen every time I went to Borders, until there was no Borders to go to any longer. <br /><br />Is it just me, or does it bug you that employees at Sunset Foods scurry over to empty our grocery carts? Not that I mind the courtesy now and then but come on, I'm not an invalid. How about just being friendly.Bruce Bondyhttp://www.bondystudio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-16463257578886990072013-07-18T14:05:10.345-05:002013-07-18T14:05:10.345-05:00They can refer to me as a guest when they start tr...They can refer to me as a guest when they start treating me like family.Frank I.http://icuss.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-77987445744261934452013-07-18T13:26:49.053-05:002013-07-18T13:26:49.053-05:00Allowed? Of course. Allowed? Of course. DeJordynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-23803448892619807372013-07-18T13:22:11.155-05:002013-07-18T13:22:11.155-05:00@Lexi -- Why? For the official record? So if I fix...@Lexi -- Why? For the official record? So if I fix some typo, I should keep a little permanent footnote so... help me here? I don't see the point of that. This isn't the New York Times, thank God.Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-19393357379624167612013-07-18T13:08:02.926-05:002013-07-18T13:08:02.926-05:00Hi Neil. Another nit to pick. Normally when blogge...Hi Neil. Another nit to pick. Normally when bloggers make corrections they make note of it in the body of the original. lexinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-53276389597546316232013-07-18T13:03:38.833-05:002013-07-18T13:03:38.833-05:00They were doing the same thing with people in line...They were doing the same thing with people in line at the casket showroom, which was disturbing on any number of levels.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-64541508130908352332013-07-18T11:52:06.194-05:002013-07-18T11:52:06.194-05:00Actually, I'd prefer the term "goddess&qu...Actually, I'd prefer the term "goddess" when directed towards me.WendyChttp://twitter.com/WendyCCHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-80093554520236739612013-07-18T11:03:28.713-05:002013-07-18T11:03:28.713-05:00""High Yield"? For a savings accoun...""High Yield"? For a savings account that gives 0.35 percent interest? That's 35 cents per year on every $100 forked over to the bank so they can loan it back out at 10 times your return. That's a third of a percent away from 0.0 percent interest, a.k.a. nothing. Given that benchmark, what would a "Low Yield Money Market" look like? Is that where you pay the bank for taking your money? With bank fees, many of us already are."<br /><br />What are your thoughts as to when the inevitable two or three hundred basis point lift in interest rates occurs and the banks start taking a bath on all of these 3.5% thirty years and the borrowers are laughing? Do you know what a bank P&L looks like?<br /><br />There is a simple path to avoiding most service fees: Don't bounce checks. Don't go over your credit card limit. Don't make late mortgage or bill payments payments. Don't make phone payments when they charge a fee. Read your contract and understand your obligations. Etc.<br />Michael Neubauerhttp://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=118127024&goback=.nmp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1&trk=spm_picnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-59201976774917421822013-07-18T10:55:16.055-05:002013-07-18T10:55:16.055-05:00I used to have a "Blow up Customer" butt...I used to have a "Blow up Customer" button on my phone at a job I had many years ago. The button was nonfunctional and didn't actually do anything, but it sure was satisfying to press it when a "customer" was being "rude"(to be polite). I could think of a lot of euphemisms for "customer" but "guest" was not one of them I'd use. MOPerinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-52454579154316754792013-07-18T10:55:11.018-05:002013-07-18T10:55:11.018-05:00I'm not as bothered by the use of the term &qu...I'm not as bothered by the use of the term "guest". It's a big company and as DeJordy says, they are trying to emphasize to both the employees and customers that they are trying to create an atmosphere where it's not simply a series of business transactions. They're using language to send a message that they provide better service. Just like they use architecture and interior design to create a more welcoming atmosphere. EdJeffriesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-36879173253463872742013-07-18T10:22:51.751-05:002013-07-18T10:22:51.751-05:00@DeJordy -- Why not just value employees and custo...@DeJordy -- Why not just value employees and customers? Then you don't have to apply special terms to them. "Worked up" is another word for "thinking," and I think we're allowed to think about what corporate America does, and react. Don't you? Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-37093363711808111222013-07-18T09:58:54.876-05:002013-07-18T09:58:54.876-05:00This is happening at hospitals, we do not have pat...This is happening at hospitals, we do not have patients but 'clients' or 'customers'. I can only imagine 'guest' is next as most hospital waiting rooms look like hotel lobbies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-13692704370020517432013-07-18T09:43:37.605-05:002013-07-18T09:43:37.605-05:00Whether it is this or calling employees "asso...Whether it is this or calling employees "associates," I don't see why people get so worked up over it, except that people like to get worked up.Of course it is a bit cheesy. But there is a purpose: to extend and reinforce the notion among both employees and customers that customers are valued, and with "associates" to extend some notion of respect and value to employees. It might be a bit superficial, but they probably think it will contribute to better service and make an impression on customers. It's not like they are scamming you into thinking you're going to sit down to dinner with them.DeJordynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-44261993314092772092013-07-18T09:41:38.154-05:002013-07-18T09:41:38.154-05:00Disney also calls some of its writers and creative...Disney also calls some of its writers and creative people Imagineers. I think you should call yourself an Imagineer from now on.EdJeffriesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-60549441414124375772013-07-18T08:16:16.709-05:002013-07-18T08:16:16.709-05:00Not at all. We cherish accuracy. Fixed now. And th...Not at all. We cherish accuracy. Fixed now. And thanks. Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-50580003014519570292013-07-18T08:12:53.502-05:002013-07-18T08:12:53.502-05:00Nitpick: Walgreens is headquartered in the leafy s...Nitpick: Walgreens is headquartered in the leafy suburban paradise of Deerfield, not the leafy suburban paradise of Northbrook.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-74269150069195758862013-07-18T02:39:33.828-05:002013-07-18T02:39:33.828-05:00Soooooo glad to finally see corroboration of my co...Soooooo glad to finally see corroboration of my continuing annoyance at the " guest" designation at a growing number of retailers. They have been doing it at Macys for years. It has always annoyed me with its fraudulent exaggeration of the relationship between retailer and customer- or, rather, the artificial pretension that there IS some relationship other than the momentary exchsnge of money for product. So, Im not the pnly one to find it offensive.C'est Moihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14526426197353140468noreply@blogger.com