Ok I’ll admit it; there are some days when I crave a Big Mac. I have to scarf it down fast before my brain kicks in and tells me this isn’t the best expenditure of my nutritional calories. However, on those occasions when the drive-in calls to me I queue up, place my order, proceed to the first window to pay and then to the second window to pick up. It’s at window number two where 95% of the time I want to scream. I don’t because my yen for a Big Mac at that moment usually overrides my abhorrence of bad manners but still, it bugs me no end.
I don’t want to single out McDonald’s because it is ubiquitous out there in retail world, it’s just that this is where I landed today. Call it a pet peeve but it drives me nuts when the clerk hands me my bag of food and because I was raised right, I say thank you and the reply from the window is invariably, no problem.
No problem? Hmm… I didn’t come here expecting a problem. I came here to purchase food, not looking to stir up trouble. Granted I don’t expect the clerk to genuflect when I give her $10.87 but I don’t need a no problem. If you were anticipating that this job would be problematic for you, how about you don’t take this job?
At its core this is a transactional trade agreement. I give McDonald’s something of value and they give me back something of equal value, and everyone walks away happy. However no problem implies an inequity in that trade. As if the second party is making out better than the first party by dint of party number one imparting some special favor on the other party, which is clearly not the case, unless of course I short change McDonald’s. I don’t think McDonald’s Inc. is in the business of giving out freebies so can we please dispense with the no problem and just agree that the selling and buying of hamburgers is not a problem to overcome.
I’m thinking of adding I didn’t THINK it was a problemto my list of verbal retorts. Though when I say list, I really have only one other line entry. Those times when I encounter sullen cashiers who hand me back my change with nary a thank you, if I’m in a mood I walk away without looking at them and say snarkily, you’re welcome. I’m generally not an in-your-face sort of person so it comes out a little weak, like I’m about to cry. I’m working on my delivery.
Today I take my bag of food and drive over to my retail business. We hired a high school kid for summer help and I’m training him to break down boxes, take the trash to the dumpster, clean up and answer the phone that rings nonstop. Naturally today I walk in and I hear new Junior telling a customer on the phone, no problem. I would have gone ballistic but he’s just a kid and I don’t want to traumatize him. He just needs proper customer service training which includes ixnay of the no problem reply.
I write out a script for him to use when answering the phone. He reads it over while I start eating my big Mac. As luck would have it, I waited too long and I could only get half of it down, so I toss the remainder into the big trash barrel in the back room.
“Hey,” I yell over to Junior, “do me a favor and empty this barrel, would ‘ya?”
“Sure no prob……”
Aw kid, you’re killing me. Or maybe I’m just getting too damn old.
Be well and be kind.
Susan
You hit upon a huge pet peeve of mine. I know a few adults who could use some retraining.
Yes I am too damn old but I’ll try to be kind.
You hit upon a huge pet peeve of mine. I know a few adults who could use some retraining.
View lessYes I am too damn old but I’ll try to be kind.
This has become the standard response instead of “your welcome” . Not sure how it came about but it is so pervasive now I don’t think it can be changed. Maybe you could ask your kids ( or grandkids) , ( who probably do it too) or your new worker – why do they say it? where did it come from? Is it shorthand for – it was no problem for me to do it? Obviously old too – but it DOES drive me
View moreThis has become the standard response instead of “your welcome” . Not sure how it came about but it is so pervasive now I don’t think it can be changed. Maybe you could ask your kids ( or grandkids) , ( who probably do it too) or your new worker – why do they say it? where did it come from? Is it shorthand for – it was no problem for me to do it? Obviously old too – but it DOES drive me crazy.
View less