The Customer Code of Conduct
To all the customers in the world, here is a loving code of conduct, courtesy of one who serves. The rules are few and simple, though more often than not go without following. If you wish for service with a smile, then I suggest you abide by the following rules carefully, remembering that what you are prepared to eat, drink or use, must first go through the person handing it to you.
Bearing in mind I was a Barista formerly in an independant coffee shop, and for an ill-fated two weeks in Starbucks, the rules are focused primarily on the food service realm.
Oh all important customer, take heed to what I am about to say.
1) Just because you are being served does not mean that you are superior to your server in any way. To treat the individual serving you as anything less than an equal is more than a little offensive and does not guarantee you anything other than the server’s desire to get you out of the shop as quickly as possible.
2) “May I…” means a lot, believe me. To simply demand an item proves nothing, not even your impeccable decision-making abilities, and earns you nothing more than your servers undying frustration and subsequent desire to never see you again.
3) If at a restaurant or coffee shop, read the menu or menu board carefully before jumping into a question. Don’t simply stare at your server and ask what is offered. Save everyone the time and frustration and look for what you want. It proves to your server that you are literate, and that you have some common sense.
4) When buying something in a disposable cup or plate and you plan on sitting for a while, upon your desire to leave the establishment, clear off. Disposable means you are entirely allowed to, well, dispose of it.
5) If you and a large group decide to move tables to better the social gathering, when you are ready to leave, replace the tables to their original locations. If you have the strength to move them in the first place, surely after being well fed you will be capable of putting things away.
6) If you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t make an issue of something for the sake of sounding intelligent. There are few things more annoying to a server than someone who thinks that they know how to do the job better, when in fact, they had to ask for a description of what they just ordered.
7) If there is a line, or some sort of delay, realize that this is a fact of life that cannot be avoided. To take it out on your server is going to get you no further, and in fact, will delay you even more.
8) If you see that an establishment is within ten minutes of closing, don’t come in. The odds are high that equipment has been cleaned and cash is in the process of being counted. Believe it or not, the people working have lives as well, and do not wish to languish in the workplace any longer than they have to.
9) Finally, “please” “thank you” and a genuine smile are more than greatly appreciated. If you want service with a smile, be polite. It’s really not that hard.
These are the basic rules. Based entirely on common sense, if you abide by them, you’ll find all of your service experiences to be far more enjoyable. I don’t ask for much.
