How sad. I work in one of those fields and take great pride in my work. Part of the problem is that companies refuse to adequately staff, train and pay employees properly so the result is a poor experience for the customer.
What has happened to customer service?
- Thread starter Hillbilly Deluxe
- Start date
Yesterday I went in a large Walmart and they had 1 cashier. I complained to a couple of employees but it won't do anything. I don't mind self checkout with a few things but with a basket full of groceries, I don't want to work for free. Especially being retired. Also Walmart is becoming very "woke" so I may forgo them in the future...except for motor oil.lol
Most all of us worked jobs like that at one time. If nothing else it teaches you what you don't want to do in life and motivates you to better yourself.
Napa seems hit or mis. The one near me is amazing, they even know my name when I walk in. Part of the problem is that many automotive stores need employees but alot of people don't know squat about vehicles. If you have free time and like messing with people ask if the have a valve kit for a 1984 Mazda rx-7. Most will look forever and not find one. Then politely explain rotarys don't have valves.
That's the way I was. I couldn't stand being bored and doing nothing. When I worked RR union jobs, the people around me hated me becaused I worked and they watched the clock all day. That taught me that I didn't want to work in a union or for the govt.
Part of the issue is that in some parts of the country notably Colorado among others is the cost of living has far exceeded what people make. 10-15 years ago a one spouse could make enough to support a family of 4 or 5 and make ends meet and have money to save. Now many families both parents work to bring enough home.
What's CFA?
That is slowly changing. Napa corporate is buying out franchises and working on improving retail side of things.
Chik-fil-a
Don't tell that to the old grey beards though. They'll just keep blaming younger generations. It's almost impossible now for just one parent to work and one to stay home like how it was 30 years ago.
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When I grew up, no one was telling anyone that working a retail job (other than store manager/etc) was a job that would provide for a family, other than an experience meat cutter in a good grocery store chain.
The retail workers, all of them other than store managers, were mostly part time or if they were full-time, those were secondary jobs in that household.
I grew up KNOWING that you shouldn't expect to house, clothe, feed and raise a FAMILY on the wages of an hourly retail/food service worker. Are you telling me that someone who grew up in south Alabama was taught better than most? Don't most of you look down on people who were raised in the south? Don't you consider that some backwoods state? Are you telling me that me, my friends and 99% of everyone I grew up with, around or went to school with were educated with some pristine knowledge about how we should find suitable employment for our future?
I doubt this is the case anymore. Napa might cater to small-time, low-level, low-volume shops but the more serious independent shops use wholesale parts suppliers like WorldPac.
Although NAPA is headquartered in the Atlanta metro area, Norcross specifically. I used to work a mile from the HQ. I would buy from that store at times. The service there is much better, they have better employees, but it's corporate owned and they generally have what you need because their orders are filled from the adjacent warehouse that stocks the stores.
This makes perfect sense-- you're already more committed as a customer vs "phone guy" who could call the next number down in the yellow pages.
Back in the day one of the top jobs for a high schooler to make some money was to be a box boy or bagger at the supermarket. He also helped with taking the groceries to the cars if requested. Items had to be priced. Floors swept and so on.
By being a hard worker and being helpful you also gained the respect of others and in many cases that hard work was noticed by those who could offer better jobs.
Ya just give them the part number. I did this with a neighbor whose step daughter owns a Jeep Compass. You know the ones that use copper spark plugs in 2014 still. I didn't even bother with the make or model. Just went into Advance Auto and said I needed 4 NGK 2262 please. In & out under 10 minutes. I do know if I went to Autozone and went the other way with make & model someone would have tried to upsell me on platinums which won't work.
The one Napa I had around me closed, shame too it was the better place for parts and some good conjecture depending on who was at the counter.
The one Napa I had around me closed, shame too it was the better place for parts and some good conjecture depending on who was at the counter.
This really pisses me off in the way I started from nothing in 2003 with no degree to pretty much being able to run any warehouse my company wants me to go too in 20 yrs. I bust ass and make a lot of OT(less now with the economy) for my $30.
SO ya go make $25 at Arby's please and then complain that's not enough. I feel ya.
This is why I will continue to praise ECStuning.com for any and all VW/Audi needs.
Ordered parts for the 2016 Tiguan, never used them and sat in the box for almost a year. I ask if I could return them and their response...
"No problem Mr. Heckman, as long as they are sealed & unused you will get a full refund minus the return shipping."
GON
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My youngest Son was 16 years old during the recession that started on or about 2008. He was unable to find a part time job. The area we lived in at the time was impacted hard from the recession (and the area never recovered- but that is not relevant to this thread).
Since my youngest Son could not get a paying job, he was required to work for free. He received a non-paying apprenticeship at a local independent paint store. The store was only busy on Saturdays, so my Son worked Saturdays from 7am to 5pm. All for no pay. Every Saturday was working nine hours for free, and reporting to work 15 minutes early. No sleeping in on Saturdays.
We all have different values. In our household, one is required to work and contribute to the household, community, and country. My youngest Son today is now 28 years old, and is at basic training. He broke his leg ten days into basic training last October. He was offered to be separated from basic training. He chose instead to stay at basic training until his leg healed. Two weeks ago the docs cleared him to return to training. My son called me last Sunday to share he was back to training, did rappelling and other confidence building activities since returning to training.
My Son can only have his phone once a week, on Sundays, for five minutes. At 28, being restricted from comforts and some basic freedoms we all enjoy must have been a shock to him. He could have easily quit and justified it with a broken leg. But he was raised that he owes the USA, not the other way around. He was also raised that being part of something greater than himself is a good thing.
The late JFK stated, "it is what you can do for your country, not what your country can do for you". I think that mindset extended to family, friends', community, and employer. And is a best practice if the awesome American opportunity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is available to future generations of Americans.
Since my youngest Son could not get a paying job, he was required to work for free. He received a non-paying apprenticeship at a local independent paint store. The store was only busy on Saturdays, so my Son worked Saturdays from 7am to 5pm. All for no pay. Every Saturday was working nine hours for free, and reporting to work 15 minutes early. No sleeping in on Saturdays.
We all have different values. In our household, one is required to work and contribute to the household, community, and country. My youngest Son today is now 28 years old, and is at basic training. He broke his leg ten days into basic training last October. He was offered to be separated from basic training. He chose instead to stay at basic training until his leg healed. Two weeks ago the docs cleared him to return to training. My son called me last Sunday to share he was back to training, did rappelling and other confidence building activities since returning to training.
My Son can only have his phone once a week, on Sundays, for five minutes. At 28, being restricted from comforts and some basic freedoms we all enjoy must have been a shock to him. He could have easily quit and justified it with a broken leg. But he was raised that he owes the USA, not the other way around. He was also raised that being part of something greater than himself is a good thing.
The late JFK stated, "it is what you can do for your country, not what your country can do for you". I think that mindset extended to family, friends', community, and employer. And is a best practice if the awesome American opportunity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is available to future generations of Americans.
PW, rest well knowing that you have raised your child well. He will not only be ok, but will lead his contemporaries. My 3 boys are the same way. They all now work in the IT industry as computer science engineers. From my perspective it feels really good that my wife and I parented them well.
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