Our Server Rights!

Do I have the Server Rights?

Have you ever encounter a terrible service when you patronize a FnB outlet, retail shop or Customer relation counter and etc? What are your feelings when you don't get the things that you want or being served in a horrible manner? Angry? Frustrated?  Upset? Then here comes the customer right. For 5 years working as part-timer in the service industry, customer always feel that they are always right. They want the service to be good, the food to be served  fast, they want to have a seat, they want this and they want that. The demands are endless. I know that the customer paid the service charge and GST taxes. They should get what they deserved. However, have you ever put yourself in the service personal's shoe and think how tough it is to serve customer that are demanding as ever?

For a good example, I am currently working at Starbucks. And let me tell you, the customers there are more demanding than my previous job. Let say, if you are the customer and you would like to have a seat. You saw the table full with plastic cups and tissues. The first thing that you will do is to clear the rubbish and throw it at the bin available at the condiment bar, isn't it? But, some of the Starbucks customer will go to the counter there and ask the staff to clear the table for them. Come on, it just plastic cups. You can throw it yourself or if there are any mugs or plates on the table, you can bring it to the counter there and pass it to the staff there. Is it that difficult? There isn't any service charge added to your bill. Why must we go to the extend to stop whatever we are doing and go to your table just to clear plastic cup? It will effect the operation. There wont be anyone clearing the queue or not enough people making the drinks. Do you know that there is once I went to their table to help them clear it away since they ask me to. And do you know what? There are only 2 plastic cup. I was damn mad. Why can't you just move your ass and clear it by yourself? Instead of wasting your energy to come to the counter and ask me clear your table, why can't you carry those two cups by your own and throw it at the bin. I really can't understand this type of people.

I am not saying that you can't ask the server for help in order to make your time there comfortable. Places like Macdonald, Starbucks or Uniqlo or any other store that does not have any server to serve you the whole time you are there, do not expect them to do things for you. Yes, they should make you drinks or food, guide you along the way. But, stop demanding them to clear your shit for you. When I say shit, I mean literally those kind of shit thing that you left behind. Like when you had tried the clothes and it doesn't fit you, you don't just leave it in the changing room and expect the staff to take it for you. You should take the unwanted clothes and pass it to the counter at the entrance of the changing room and apologies for troubling them to fold it again and put it back for you. Or, if you went to the Chinese wedding dinner and the server spilled the hot tea while pouring it for you, don't you just give a grumpy face or scold them off. Because the porcelain tea pot is damn hot and thus burn your finger. How do I know? Cause it happen to me before.

 As a customer, you must understand that in FnB or Retail industry, we work long hours. We are not like office workers sitting on the chair and face the computer for 8 hrs straight. No. Our server task are not like that in any particular. We are expected to stand the whole 10 -12 hrs and be in ready mode to serve people. Don't you know how tiring it is? And, we too are human beings. We tend to do mistakes. But why people keep scolding us as a server when we make a slight mistake as if we had done a something that could destroy the whole nation. From harsh words to complaint. Don't they know that we too have feelings? We will feel extremely sad when the customers don't appreciate us. Do you know that each and every complaint people send to the management about our outlet, that can destroy the career of the server. If people can claim their customer's rights. What about our server's rights.

When comparing the Singaporeans to the Western customers, I feel that the Westerners are much more friendlier and understandable. They smile every time when they are ordering even if we do mistakes. That's why i like to serve them. But, why there always a certain percentage of us are grumpy and always so picky. That is something we must change.

I hope one day, more and more Singaporean become a better customer and make the job for the server much more easier.  Try to not to be too picky. You must understand the situation of the customer. If the server serve you badly and it shouldn't be that way, then the customer rights comes in. Lastly, customers should be considerate when you patronizing a a particular place so that you make the server job easier. Try not to be too demanding. And for server, if there is customer rights, there should be server rights. Don't be weak and stand up for yourself. If you don't, it will allow an open door of opportunity for the customers to bring you down. Anyway, as a server, it is important that we should take pride and serve customer in the rightful manner. Cause, who won't be angry if you serve them in a horrible manner? Lets hope for a better society in SINGAPORE!