We have finally reached the conclusion of this essay on Consumer Etiquette. I once read somewhere that the conclusion is merely the point when the writer becomes tired of thinking and merely begins to recap what he or she has written. I’ll take a different approach.
The objective of this essay has been to educate consumers on proper etiquette, in other words how to behave in a store. In addition to containing dos and don’ts, I’ve offered customers a glimpse in what it’s like being on the serving end, on the other side of the cash register.
The service industry is one of the largest employers in any country, especially of young people finding financial independence. Occupations which entail an element of customer service are everywhere you look. There are literally millions of people out there, a sizable chunk of the populace who have, do or will work in customer service at some point in their lives. Grocery stores, supermarkets, taxis, buses, trains, gas stations, restaurants, fast food chains, bars, clubs, specialty stores, cafes, to name a few places where the staff engage in customer service. This essay has also been directed at you, to show you that what you put up with at work happens to all of us who have similar jobs.
As my personal customer service working experience is limited to fast food joints, grocery stores, supermarkets and a speciality store, I also wrote this piece in an effort the hear from other people who have experienced working in the service industry. If you have any stories or experiences about working in customer service, please, share them in the comments section. Also, if you notice that I have omitted to mention something here or an incorrect on something, let me know and I’ll be sure to correct my mistakes. Everyone who’s worked in customer service should have a story or an experience with an annoying customer. I’m not too picky, nor will I only listen to one side of the story, so if you have stories of times when you’ve received horrid customer service, let us know.
It is my firm belief that everyone should work in customer service at least at some point in their lives. I’d like to say that this would make the world a better place, but I’ll settle for believing that it would make people more understanding and considerate of others. Guess that would entail a better world, huh?
Has working in customer service made you a better person in any way?
It’s really been therapeutic to write this essay, being able to vent some frustrations and offer guidance to other people, should they choose to accept it. I’ll leave you with one last wisdom, a pretty self-evident one at that too…:
Everyone is a consumer…
[<---Go To Part 9]
[See The Full Consumer Etiquette]
Part Zero: Introduction [16.08.2007]
Part One: What You Might Not Know [17.08.2007]
Part Two: Everyday People [18.08.2007]
Part Three: Under The Influence [19.08.2007]
Part Four: Children And Their Parents [20.08.2007]
Part Five: Senior Citizens [21.08.2007]
Part Six: Animals [22.08.2007]
Part Seven: Disorderly Conduct [23.08.2007]
Part Eight: Tips And Hints [24.08.2007]
Part Nine: For The Workers [25.08.2007]
Part Ten: Summary [26.08.2007]
If you have any comments, experiences or additions to this post, please leave a comment! Thank you in advance!
