What is so facinating about closing time?

JJBIRISH wrote:

JALLEN4 wrote:
It would seem the question of customer service is confusing even to the often most logical posters on the Forum such as JJBIRISH. Whether someone should be in retail is measured solely on the bottom line. There are countless examples of mom and pop businesses whose customers loved them right before they went broke and mega-success stories of businesses who continuously abuse their patrons while producing huge profits. Cable companies being a prime example.

Those customers who show up at closing time and stay well past their expiration date mulling over the purchase of a pack of gum are simply rude people. They are past the point of being embarrassed and simply being told by the proprietor it is time to leave is no reflection on the customer service skills of the business involved.

The origin of the slogan "The customer is always right" is often attributed to Marshall Field, a department store owner of more than a hundred years ago. It was a catchy cliché that served to set him apart when caveat emptor was the rule of retailing. Even Mr. Field appreciated the laughable nature of the proposition but used it brilliantly to produce a healthy bottom line based on premium pricing.

My only point was if my hours are 8AM until 8PM… my door will be open at 8 for full service, you won’t wait until 8:05 or have to wait for someone to open and ready the register…. If food service the grill will be hot and the coffee ready to pour at 8…

At closing the door won’t be locked at 7:59 there will still be hot coffee and someone to cheerfully take your order and you won’t have to wait long because I didn’t turn anything off yet…

I attempted to say it in smaller form and lees words…
I have been to some that clearly post the kitchen closes at 7:30 and the doors at 8:00, and is totally appropriate… but to turn off the lights, run the vacuum, remove the table condiments while a customer is finishing their meal is worse than rude…

The confusion seems to be in what retail means… to me it means If you’re in retail, you are in service, if you’re in service, serve, that’s what you do…
If you feel the need to have a 9 to5 job to be happy and have the life you want, get a 9 to5 job and enjoy…

One poster said,” Some folks just didn't think we had anything better to do”…
if you do you don’t belong in retail… retail is in service to others…

cost and profitability is also the responsibility of the retail owner here is where the small retailer is at a deep disadvantage to the bib box, but if that is more important than service and respect for survival that’s fine, but he won’t be counting my money at the end of the day more than once…

I think cost, profitability, and respectful service are all equal partners to success or failure….

Maybe you didn’t notice, I haven’t posted in either post about the rudeness and irresponsible acts of the customer, and there are many… I have posted in many other threads the customer is always right is nothing but a myth, and that is true here to…

being in service does mean the job requires you to take the higher road but doesn’t you should just cave…

there have been several good ways suggested to usher lurkers out at closing time without being rude… if reputation has many importance I would be inclined to use them…

Therein lies the exact attitude that leads to Western's post. I have been in retail my entire life, not restaurant, and have never for the first moment felt "in service" to anyone! I have never made an attempt to imbue in my personell any sense of an "in service" attitude nor have I ever expected them to act with a deferential attitude.

Unfortunately, a certain segment of the populace, who were never in retail, is convinced those in a retail store are there to act as a personal maid or butler simply waiting around to beg alms that they may so proffer by making a purchase. The retail worker is there to be knowledgable, helpful, and respectful...not subservient. They offer a viable product or service and the exchange of those for the consumers funds is a business transaction of equals.