He said,”What the Deal?”
Yesterday, I went to Popeye’s to get something to eat and it wasn’t crowdwed. I was so excited to finally be able to go in and get out without waiting 15-20 minutes just to order. When I got to the counter, the 16-18 year old young man at the register said, “What the deal?” I thought I misunderstood him so I said,”Excuse me?” My mind started running fast and I wondered was he asking me what ‘deal meal’ did I want, but it didn’t sound like that. It sounded like we were boys from the hood and he was asking me what I had been up to? My response must have suprised him.
He then said,”You never heard that before?” Maybe I should have been insulted because I’m not that old, but I was shocked. I replied, “I have never heard that term used in customer service.”
He responded like I snapped him out of a trance because he looked me in the eyes with a smile and said, “Welcome to Popeye’s. Can I help you?” The lady at the register next to me started laughing, but I didn’t see anything funny. He was just going through the motions like most kids these days.
Sometimes we (the older generation) have to wake them up because you can’t treat everyone like they are on the street corner. I know it was just Popeye’s, but I expect to be treated a certain way when I’m paying my money regardless of how much it is.
We have to teach respect and demand respect when we don’t get it from younger people. We can’t blame them if they don’t know better, but we can only blame ourselves if we tolerate it and accept it.
Thoughts?
May 14th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
I have been tempted to respond to a lack of customer service on many occasions, but did not. As a woman of color, I’m usually NOt greeted by fellow women of color with any pleasantries, i.e. “Good morning,” “Thank you,” “come again.” But I have witnessed the same black women gushing these same customer-service related remarks to white patrons.
I have been given my change with attitude and some bruskness. I had attributed to my amazing good looks — you know, some female jealousy;-) But you’re absolutely correct. Our money is just as green and should command the same amount of respect.