David Rodeback's BlogLocal Politics and Culture, National Politics,
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Tuesday, June 13, 2006Am I the Only One Who . . .. . . is experiencing diminished customer satisfaction at certain American Fork establishments? . . . looks at the many empty, unrestocked shelves at Wal-Mart lately, at different times of the day, and remembers our now-absent, little-mourned K-Mart? I shop at Wal-Mart at least once a week. I evaluate Wal-Mart's economic effect nationwide as very positive. I even thought once, when I lived in a left-wing Ivy League town where "Stop Wal-Mart" and "Visualize World Peace" bumper stickers often adorned the same bumper, that I should create and display a "Visualize Wal-Mart" bumper sticker. But now I'm wondering if the Hands-Down Most Clueless Major Retailer title in American Fork has somehow mystically slipped from K-Mart, which has finally faded away, to Wal-Mart, which wasn't that way before. . . . wonders what bright policy-makers have made it necessary for me to present identification twice in order to purchase a reasonable quantity of legal, non-prescription allergy medicine, if it has pseudoephedrine in it? I realize that chemical can be used in making methamphetamine, but how does it help drug enforcement that I have to get my over-the-counter allergy medicine when the pharmacy is open, not just the store, and then provide proof of age later at the cash register, too? Have we found that only people under 18 cook meth? Is it only adults who suffer allergies? I'm not trying to buy a whole case of Benadryl D, just a box or two. . . . finds this scenario annoying at the local Carl's, Jr., drive-through?
I as customer would be less frustrated if that first line were either, "Welcome to Carl's, Jr. May I take your order?" or "Welcome to Carl's, Jr. I'll be with you in just a moment." I don't want to be boorish and blurt out my order before DV is ready to receive it. But how am I to know he/she/it is ready, until I'm asked for my order? Hence the awkward, prolonged silence. This happens every time, lately -- once every two or three weeks -- which has had the (probably healthy) effect of discouraging my patronage there. ("Without Carl's, Jr., some guys would . . . lose weight.")
Copyright 2006 by David Rodeback. |
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