Do you say "thank you" even if the service is bad?

Freiheit

Must say I struggle. I probably should,I can be nice and polite even if standards are sometimes poor. But I don't always -feel- like it and sometimes don't. Do others?.:)

A0

No, I don't say "thank you" if the service is bad. And I make sure that people understand that they are useless or provided poor services.

Malari

Depends what kind of service. If I spend half an hour on the phone to a call centre in India to solve a problem that should only take 2 mins to answer because of the idiocy and obstinacy in following unnecessary protocol, I still say thanks. They are just doing their job although the service is poor.

starlit

Sometimes, depends on the situation and the person and service. Generally always say Thank You but would always say it if the service is good.

newmug

A0 wrote: »

No, I don't say "thank you" if the service is bad. And I make sure that people understand that they are useless or provided poor services.

Of course I say thank you! The only person being let down if you dont is yourself! And for the bit bolded above, how do you do that? Cold stares and speaking abruptly? Juvenile stuff! Could you not just helpfully suggest improvements, or just feck off elsewhere altogether?

Acoshla

newmug wrote: »

Of course I say thank you! The only person being let down if you dont is yourself! And for the bit bolded above, how do you do that? Cold stares and speaking abruptly? Juvenile stuff! Could you not just helpfully suggest improvements, or just feck off elsewhere altogether?

Why would you thank someone for bad service?? Thank you suggests you are grateful for something, nobody's grateful for bad service. I also make sure the person know they have provided bad service, not by being juvenile, but by telling them whatever was wrong (if it is food, or poor communication from a company etc) so that they can fix it and somebody else won't have to put up with it after me.

A0

newmug wrote: »

Of course I say thank you! The only person being let down if you dont is yourself! And for the bit bolded above, how do you do that? Cold stares and speaking abruptly? Juvenile stuff! Could you not just helpfully suggest improvements, or just feck off elsewhere altogether?

You sound very naive... keep going, keep thanking people for giving bad services, it's your way of doing. A little juvenile I think I'm not trying to convince you or anyone here. I was just answering the OP question.

Did I write: I don't say "thank you" and speak abruptly? No, therefore don't speculate. I speak and let people know what I think and why it's a poor/bad service (especially when money/health services are involved). There are few places where you have a "suggestion box" in Dublin. Further, I can't spend my time making suggestions regarding obvious issues which can, sometimes, be solved easily.

You may feck off elsewhere, I don't... What I do is shopping or dealing with other providers / companies (I think it's what you meant...).

daenerysstormborn3

If the service is bad I don't tip and when asked if I enjoyed whatever it was I point out what I was unhappy with. In a restaurant lets say there could be a waitress running around being rude to all of the customers and the management just may not know.

If the service is good, I tip well and thank all around me. If I've eaten in a restaurant and the meal has been top notch I pay my compliments to the chef.

It's funny that this thread has come up though. My boyfriend and I were watching Kitchen Nightmares and during the episode some customers got up to leave as they had been waiting an hour and a half for their starters (that's a common trend in the series) and as they were leaving they said thank you lol! Made me laugh!

Something that does annoy me is people who never say thank you for anything, whether it be good service in a restaurant or a stranger holding open a door. They always get a very loud and sarcastic "you're welcome!" from me when they breeze through a door treating me like their personal doorman!

I don't know if I say thank you. I could do it without realising. I will say politely if I'm not happy with something though

The Princess Bride

I think it's an automatic response,sometimes, the same with "please", I find it hard not to say either.

Having said that, if service is bad, I think it's better to point this out to the service provider.

Otherwise,surely,they'll be left with the impression that "I" have no manners and "they" are providing a great service- therefore, the next person in line will be in the same boat as me,and will (probably ) have a bad experience.

I'm a compulsive "thank you"/"sorry"-er.

Even when someone bumps into me I say sorry!

As for the people who think it's their responsibility to educate people serving you, complain if you want to complain, but there's no need to be rude. Whether it's a call centre, or waiting staff, or a shop assistant, there are appropriate ways to complain.

A0

true-or-false wrote: »

I'm a compulsive "thank you"/"sorry"-er.

Even when someone bumps into me I say sorry!

As for the people who think it's their responsibility to educate people serving you, complain if you want to complain, but there's no need to be rude. Whether it's a call centre, or waiting staff, or a shop assistant, there are appropriate ways to complain.

That's very true, it's a free country. As for people who think it's appropriate to say "thank you" when they get bad services (e.g., pay for something and receive it broken/damaged, or pay for a cleaner and get the job half done), then say "thank you" if you want to say "thank you" but there's no need to be over polite

squeakyduck

A0 wrote: »

No, I don't say "thank you" if the service is bad. And I make sure that people understand that they are useless or provided poor services.

Sometimes people consider some services bad/poor if they don't get their own way, trying to return something they had clearly broken and ffing and blinding around the store driving customers away. I used to work in customer service and even if I couldn't do anything (even after spending a lot of time trying to solve the problem) it pissed me off no end to see someone walk out of the shop with no thank you or acknowledgement. We are all people. We all have feelings like.

I've had some bad customer experiences with people that were hungover, I've even given some bad customer service myself when someone showed absolutely no respect for me. After a night out getting my food, even if it takes ages I always stop to say thank you, I know how it feels to be flustered by horrible customers, and it's nice to say thank you ALWAYS. It's MEAN to make people feel tiny even when they try.

A0

squeakyduck wrote: »

Sometimes people consider some services bad/poor if they don't get their own way, trying to return something they had clearly broken and ffing and blinding around the store driving customers away. I used to work in customer service and even if I couldn't do anything (even after spending a lot of time trying to solve the problem) it pissed me off no end to see someone walk out of the shop with no thank you or acknowledgement. We are all people. We all have feelings like.

I've had some bad customer experiences with people that were hungover, I've even given some bad customer service myself when someone showed absolutely no respect for me. After a night out getting my food, even if it takes ages I always stop to say thank you, I know how it feels to be flustered by horrible customers, and it's nice to say thank you ALWAYS. It's MEAN to make people feel tiny even when they try.

You are absolutely right, having been a salesperson for 6 years, I know what I am talking about when it comes to provide good services and follow up when customers have problems... As a student I've also worked at the till in different shops... I had p r i c k s to deal with too and I know how it feels to deal with idiots.

But remember the original post was: "do you say thank you even if the service is bad". So no need to imply that people are rude to not say "thank you" when the service is bad. Service is bad: no thank you, service is good: thank you, full stop. No need to always find an excuse or whatever...

Freiheit

Yes this question could be also asked about when you don't get your own way which happens,sometimes your in the wrong,you may have made an unintentional slip up,such as lost a receipt,the voucher might be out of date etc,do you still say thank you? I don't feel like it,we all seek to get things our way but this morning when I didn't I said thanks anyway. I don't always but would like to do so more,after all shop assistants are usually not making the rules. Bad service is usually a bit different.

A few weeks ago a waitress was angry,fuming and for no apparent reason. I was afraid to ask her for salt and have avoided the venue since. Was afraid to say thanks to her.

Mars Bar

I will...sarcastically.

OakeyDokey

I've never really keep track. I know I wouldn't be happy so I'd probably just leave without saying thank you but if the sales person made a real effort then I'd thank the personally. It depends on a lot of things for me.

Azureus

I conciously dont say thank you if Im unhappy with the service-usually give a little nod of acknowledgement or something so Im not being completely dismissive.
I *always* say thank you, to everybody, so if I dont its a very concious thing for me to register my disapproval. But I am very aware its probably not even noticed because so many people dont say thank you anyway.
Dunno how else to feel justified after bad service though

LeeHoffmann

unless it was terrible service - i.e. really rude/offensive etc - I'd always say thanks. Basic manners.

Malari

LeeHoffmann wrote: »

unless it was terrible service - i.e. really rude/offensive etc - I'd always say thanks. Basic manners.

Yeah, I agree. I think there's a difference between pointing out bad service and being mannerly. It's only ever if someone is rude to me that I don't thank them.

LegacyUser

pixiebean22 wrote: »

If the service is bad I don't tip and when asked if I enjoyed whatever it was I point out what I was unhappy with. In a restaurant lets say there could be a waitress running around being rude to all of the customers and the management just may not know.

If the service is good, I tip well and thank all around me. If I've eaten in a restaurant and the meal has been top notch I pay my compliments to the chef.

I like customers like you
Of course you shouldn't pretend everything is perfect if its not. But there is no need to be rude, if somebody is making a genuine effort to give you the best service they can.
Take a look around, the place may be understaffed, or there may have been a lot of tables arriving at once which will of course back up the orders in the kitchen. Waitresses arn't standing out the back having a chat looking at your dinner going cold. Obviously I cannot say that for every waitress, but I can say that about me We (I) understand that you are spending your hard earned cash and want to enjoy your night, and I will do all I can to ensure that, but sometimes it IS easier said than done!

kerash

Why would you thank someone for bad service?

No is the answer. I'll complain. If it's met with a good response I will say thank you for taking it on board.

I will go out of my way to say thank you if the service is good as unfortunately I can name more occasions of bad service than good and so really appreciate good service. (and i'm not looking for anything special just basic good service)

harrythehat

I almost always say thank you, but will also point out flaws in the service.

What, for example, is the point in being rude to a waitress if the kitchen sent the food cold? Or if a shop is out of stock of what you want?

If someone serving me has pointedly been rude, then naturally I will not thank them, but for even mediocre service I will say thank you because it is manners.

For anyone that thinks being rude to workers will make them buck up their act for the next person, it won't, they will be a bigger asshole because you put them in a bad mood.

A0

kerash wrote: »

Why would you thank someone for bad service?

No is the answer. I'll complain. If it's met with a good response I will say thank you for taking it on board.

I will go out of my way to say thank you if the service is good as unfortunately I can name more occasions of bad service than good and so really appreciate good service. (and i'm not looking for anything special just basic good service)

At last someone who has the eyes opened. I am exactly the same. That's funny, people think you have no manner when you don't say "thank you" in the case of a bad service (and I'm not talking about Restaurants, waiters, etc.). I am talking mainly about customer services (e.g., salesperson attention and professionalism towards their clients or company providing professional follow up when they make a mistake and send you the wrong part you ordered or just a salesperson being able to advice you on the right product matching your need, etc.).

A0

harrythehat wrote: »

I almost always say thank you, but will also point out flaws in the service.

What, for example, is the point in being rude to a waitress if the kitchen sent the food cold? Or if a shop is out of stock of what you want?

If someone serving me has pointedly been rude, then naturally I will not thank them, but for even mediocre service I will say thank you because it is manners.

For anyone that thinks being rude to workers will make them buck up their act for the next person, it won't, they will be a bigger asshole because you put them in a bad mood.

Hilarious...
I agree that people must not be rude but implying it's bad manners to not say thank you in the case of a bad service is just a little silly. Would be interesting to see if you really do that (e.g., you receive a broken DVD you ordered, ring the company and say "oh thank you for the broken DVD" haha!)

Malari

A0 wrote: »

Hilarious...
I agree that people must not be rude but implying it's bad manners to not say thank you in the case of a bad service is just a little silly. Would be interesting to see if you really do that (e.g., you receive a broken DVD you ordered, ring the company and say "oh thank you for the broken DVD" haha!)

But if you receive a perfect DVD you don't normally ring and say thanks. At the time of ordering if you deal with a person you normally thank them. If it's broken on receipt you ring and complain but you can still be polite!

I think the term 'bad service' in this thread is too broad. I'm not sure what the OP had in mind, but most people are talking cross-purposes.

A0

But if you receive a perfect DVD you don't normally ring and say thanks. At the time of ordering if you deal with a person you normally thank them. If it's broken on receipt you ring and complain but you can still be polite!

It was just an example... Ah, always trying to find an excuse... Anyway feel free to thank people when you get bad services and bend over. I work with UK and Irish suppliers, I'm certainly not going to start to thank people when I get a bad service. Similarly, from a customer point of view, when I shop for myself, I say thank you once I made the deal and I am sure there won't be any problem.
Where on earth have I mentioned I (wouldn't) am not (be) polite? "Straightforwardness", "saying what you think" and "rudness" are slightly different, aren't they?

I think the term 'bad service' in this thread is too broad. I'm not sure what the OP had in mind, but most people are talking cross-purposes.

You are right. But I gave examples of what I considered as "services" in my previous posts

Malari

A0 wrote: »

It was just an example... Ah, always trying to find an excuse... Anyway feel free to thank people when you get bad services and bend over. I work with UK and Irish suppliers, I'm certainly not going to start to thank people when I get a bad service. Similarly, from a customer point of view, when I shop for myself, I say thank you once I made the deal and I am sure there won't be any problem.
Where on earth have I mentioned I (wouldn't) am not (be) polite? "Straightforwardness", "saying what you think" and "rudness" are slightly different, aren't they?


You are right. But I gave examples of what I considered as "services" in my previous posts

I'm not finding excuses, just refuting an example you gave yourself!?

I also work with UK and Irish suppliers and still maintain you can point out sub-standard service while thanking for the actual service given.

A0

Malari wrote: »

I'm not finding excuses, just refuting an example you gave yourself!?

I also work with UK and Irish suppliers and still maintain you can point out sub-standard service while thanking for the actual service given.

Good... it's getting better, but still thanking the actual (bad in our case) service given? I don't, if it's bad I say it and then, if it has improved and I got the service I needed / paid for, I thank people (i.e., acknowledging they made an effort and solved the problem)

Giselle

I say thank you, but I'll reflect on the service level in the tip.

I'm mainly thinking of restaurant service here, and I've heard too many horror stories of things happening to a complaining customers food to complain or be complacent before I'm finished eating.