Monday, September 20, 2010

Autumn Equinox September 22nd

The leaves start changing
The air a bit crisper and cooler
School has started
Farmers are finishing up their harvest
Finishing up preparations for winter
Time of balance and reflection when the day and night are equal
This is what the Autumn Equinox or Mabon stands for me. I do not know why but this is my favorite time of the year. The colors and cool air and seeing things come to completion. For me the Wheel of time seems to slow down just before it completes its cycle and so do I, to breath and ground myself. So I encourage all to take some time during the next few days to stop, admire the beauty around us and thank what God or gods you honor.

Friday, September 17, 2010

My Restaurant Rant

So today my husband took me out for lunch today for my birthday and we decided to try a new restaurant that opened where a Shari's use to be. They have a location in another part of town so this is there second one.

The service was OK, as it took us about 15 minutes to get our food. They were not too busy and what we ordered do not take a long time. My husband got a cheeseburger, my son got corn puppies and fries and I ordered a club house.

So here is my rant. All I wanted was a simple club house sandwich with just turkey, bacon, cheese, tomato and lettuce. What they had on the menu was a deluxe that included ham and had American and Swiss cheese. I told her that I just wanted turkey and Cheddar cheese. I got my turkey club with cheddar cheese, but the cheese was SHREDDED!!! Who puts shredded cheese on a sandwich that already has a hard time staying together?!?! What kind of restaurant doesn't have sliced cheddar cheese?!?! And why didn't she say something to me when I requested cheddar??? I sat there and stared at it and she then told me that they don't have sliced cheddar and acted as if I should of known that. If I wasn't so hungry I would of sent it back.

Now I did eat the whole thing and it was good as well as the fries. What most restaurants fail to realize is that even if their food is good you can lose customers by slow and or slacking service and putting SHREDDED CHEESE on a club house!!!!

I have 20 years of experience in hospitality and one of the most important things that I learned is that humans are very emotionally attached to their food. When something is not right, or what they expect or even if a restaurant is out the reactions are all EMOTIONAL. So yes, I had an emotional response and because of that negative response that I had we will most like not return. This could of been avoided if the server just told me that they do not have sliced cheddar. I most likely would of ordered something else and would of been fine.

So if you find yourself at the new Peachtree location on Mill Plain here DO NOT ORDER A CLUB WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE!!!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Pale Blue Dot



"A mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam"
This was the 'wow' for me.  Enjoy the video!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

syphony of science



With all the arguing and religion tension that has been going on I thought this would be a nice way to look at things.  Who said scientist have no imagination?  If you haven't seen this video please take the time and enjoy and if you have seen it before, enjoy it again!  Its a refreshing way to look at the beauty around us and in us.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Has Customer Service Been Lost?

Am I the only one that noticed a decline in customer service?  I have worked in the service industry for most of my life and know what its like to be on the other side of the counter.  But one of the first things that I learned was that you do not mess with your 'bread and butter'.  By giving mediocre or bad service you drive away your customers and potential new customers.  This also includes any extra sale that could be made, there have been times when I wanted to ask a question about a product but have been cut off.  With that said, it seems that everywhere I go as a customer the level of service has declined.  And it seems to transcend in all aspects of services needed from the clerk at the grocery store to the host at a diner. 

Now, I am not looking for pampering or getting my ass kissed, but a smile with some eye contact would be nice.  I usually know what I want and am not one to hold up a line.  If its my turn and haven't decided yet I step out of line and let others go.  For example there is a national coffee chain by my house that has a very busy drive thru and it seems every time I go there the employee taking the orders is very short and cuts off people.  So I asked myself, 'what has changed and why is this happening?'

So today it hit me.  It seems that with the way the economic trends and such that employers are asking their employees to do more and be more productive. They are either not replacing employees that have moved on or laid off some to cut corners.  It seems that the employees left have found them selves doing the job of two or more people.  These employers are going to burn out their good employees by not keeping their level of staff at where they can give good service.  The 'front line' employees seem to be getting the brunt of these business decisions and after over a year into this recession these once great employees are starting to crack.  I feel that this will hurt these businesses in the long run, because of the same economic crunch not only am I going to look for the best deal, depending on what I am shopping for, but I also find myself looking for the place that is going give me good service.

Because I only treat myself to one or two coffee drinks a week I stopped going to the one by my house.  Yes, that one is more convenient, its easier to get in and out and its on my way while heading to school and work.  But, I have been looping around to a competitors stand because they not only have good coffee but also smile, make eye contact and no matter how long the line do not show stress and do not appear to rush me.

So businesses, as it has been said before, pick two when deciding about your 'front line' employees:

Quality, Quantity or Cost.

The one that is left over will be what you sacrifice.  For example if you pick Quantity or fast service and Cost at a low price you will have low Quality service and drive away your customer base and have a very hard time getting them back and attracting new customers.  Make this choice wisely and you will sustain your business during lean times as well as reap the rewards during the feast times. 

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Haiku

The can of worms is open;
Haikus are now on my mind
Share yours on my blog