Whatever Happened to Service With a Smile... or even just service?

We actually ventured out of Mississippi this weekend to the closest civilized area within reasonable driving distance with a toddler.

Birmingham, AL.

I jest not. Never in my life would I have considered B-ham civilization, however, I ate my words (and everything else in sight) at PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory, and Panera Bread. And I enjoyed about 14 minutes of peaceful rag mag reading at *angels singing*

Barnes and Noble.

Yes. So there you have it. And really, it wasn't bad. You can't beat a crappy crowded water park and a great hotel room NOT in Mississippi.

And even better? We stopped at the outlets on the way home. Good ones. Like BR and Nine West. And Bass. Good old Bass. I don't think Bass actually has any real stores anymore. I think they just have outlets. And really, I'm not a Bass kind of girl, but they had some great sales and the huz was in desperate need of some pants.

So, after chasing Q around the place for longer than I care to remember, he decides to try something on and heads to the dressing rooms.

Ding dong.

Hooray. The annoying sound of a bell announcing your entrance (and exit times 24 if you have a toddler) to the dressing room area. Great for letting the astute salesfolk know that we need them to come with their trusty key and let us in without having to actually go and get them.

Or so we thought.

Ding dong x 47.

Nothing.

And so, instead of flagging her down with the cute khaki pants he was hoping to try on, the huz just hops in the corner of the "area" and tries them on. No big deal. Boxers are shorts. Who cares.

And wouldn't you know that right when he gets them on and goes to check himself out in the mirror, the girl arrives. Hooray for the salesgirl with bionic hearing.

So we look at her. She looks at me, and then at the huz who is just about to explain why he is wearing the pants in the "area", make a funny joke, and then hop into the room she is about to open for us, mentally accepting her apology for not arriving sooner.

But instead of opening a dressing room door, she just opens the "Employee Only" door right next to where we are standing, weaves around us because apparently we are in her way, and disappears without saying one Southern accented word to us.

And she was gone long enough the huz to change OUT of the pants in full public eye, return them to the rack in the wrong place (ha!), and walk out, bitching about her the whole entire way.

Yep. So I guess B-ham's not as civilized as I thought. Because at least up North, they would have made a comment, given us a good eye roll, and then *gasp* opened up a fucking dressing room door.

I guess that's why she's working at a Bass outlet. In Alabama.

Comments

[Carrie T.]

Welcome to B'ham. I hope your next visit is a little better...ma'am.

[Elizabeth]

I live in Mississippi too (I ran across this site because I'm expecting in Nov. and I liked your blog), but you must live in some part that's like, WAY different from where we are. We have a Banana Republic outlet in my hometown, and everyone's nice and pretty much like people everywhere else. I go to NYC every couple years just to hang out and get my NYC fix and honestly, people are exactly the same there. Except for the accent. Have you thought about getting around the state or visiting Tuscaloosa or somewhere a little cooler? You must be north of Hattiesburg. I grew up in the southern part of Mississippi and the northern part really is weird.

[Jennifer]

Oh, wow, you guys get that too?!?! I've just about given up on our part of town here in Cali. Good old-fashioned service with a smile just doesn't exist anymore. It's all about doing it yourself and just bitch-slapping whoever decides to roll their eyes and making just one stupid comment. (teehee)

I recently had such bad service from Jamba Juice (a friggin' Jamba Juice!) that I not only complained to the manager but posted on my blog about it that I immediately received a ton of free schtuff for my troubles. How's THAT for service, eh?

[Toni-Marie]

Customer service is horrendous now adays. I work in customer service and I was made fun of when I first started my job now, because I actually smiled at people and asked how they were. But I love it, now I've got regulars and people who come in and wait for me to serve them.

[nonlineargirl]

My one trip to Birmingham was a few years ago, but I missed the outlets. Instead I went out to lunch with the woman I was interviewing at a (actually really good) soul food place in a motel (?). We ran into one of her friends, who when told my last name, asked, "(lastname)... what kind of name is that?" in a polite but to my northern sensibilities kind of pushy way. I think he might have been trying to guess my religion, but I fooled him by eating collards with pork.

[Pattie]

Barnes and Noble? Panera? Ah, yes...the meccas...
I guess there are weird, rude service people no matter where you go. I can't believe she wouldn't have opened a dressing room for you. Serves her right to have to locate the said kahki pants and place them in their proper place...

[mrsmogul]

Never been to ALabama. DO they really like watermelon there?

[Izzy]

"I guess that's why she's working at a Bass outlet. In Alabama."

lol...that's what I always say when I get helped (or rather NOT helped) by some uber-dumbass or some ill-mannered beeyotch.

"yeah...well that's why she/he works at (insert name of crappy establishment here)"

[Mom101]

Heh, so funny!

I had the opposite experience shopping down south. First time I was in Atlanta, a salesclerk followed me everywhere, right on my heels. Finally I turned to her and was like, "yes?" She smiled absolutely wholeheartedly and I realized she was just super attentive.

Hell, I'm from New York. I assumed she thought I was shoplifting.

[mothergoosemouse]

Dude. When I spent three months in Mississippi, guess where I went every weekend? To the outlets in Alabama.

More corroboration of your assertion that there is NOTHING ELSE TO DO DOWN THERE.

[mamatulip]

I'd complain about her. Bitch.

[KC]

Can you blame her? Working at a Bass outlet? She was probably just going to get her prozac.

[Lisa B]

I have a friend who does project management for Panera. Here they call their stores St. Louis Bread Company. And we LOVE them! Also love Cheesecake Factory too. (I think I gained 3 pounds just reading about all of the yummy food you ate!)

[Melissa]

That was SO rude. I used to live in the south and I had my share of strange, backhandedly (that can't be a word) rude service. A special kind of twangy/smiley southern rudeness.

Of course now I'm back in California and people are just rude directly to my face. :)

Your story had me laughing, though!

[Christina]

I guess customer service is dying out everywhere. Don't worry, I'm sure the salesgirl will be out of a job soon as they replace in-person salespeople with reps in India.

[allie]

How Rude! Bad service pisses me off!!

[Melissa]

Ohhhh, did you go to a Starbucks too?

I love Panera. I do think that people who work at all outlet malls could care less. I don't think it is just that one.

[juliness]

I think you just brought back some nightmares I thought I'd resolved. When I lived in NC, driving nearly 3 hours to Raleigh for Real Food (like Changs) was a make-up worthy event. And you know that says a lot.

Sorry you had such crappy service. Or was it non-service?

[Stephanie A.]

I hate bad service. Why is it so unreasonable of us to expect it when the person is being paid for taking care of your needs? Phooey!

[s@bd]

y'all come back now, ya heyar?
ahem. yeah.

[Divine Calm]

It's so good to hear good customer service is dying everywhere, even in the south. grrrrr.

[Kestrel]

Bad service is horrible for two reasons 1) it's bad service and 2)it makes you cranky, which makes it more likely that you'll be cranky with someone else which leads to 1) more bad service.

But Barnes and Noble is heaven. Especially on a hot afternoon. :)

[sherry]

I loathe bad service. Urgh.

[carrie]

I hate bad service too.

[Jerri Ann]

I love me some honey chicken or shrimp at Changs....lordy lordy...wanna hear something even funnier than your bad service...we like to go to Tupelo for entertainment on short weekends when we've nothing else to do, bahahaha! You did hit the good part of town anyway....at least you were able to get in and around in that area. Did I understand you correctly that you guys did the waterpark this weekend too?

[Jenny]

Ugh. Keyed dressing rooms. I hate keyed dressing rooms.

[Chase]

Yeah, yeah...but the important thing is...did you buy me anything at Cheesecake Factory? Should I be waiting on the package to arrive anyday now? Is it cheesecake? I hope it's cheesecake.

[Dee Dee]

Yikes! Crappy service is everywhere. PF Changs is yummy! My fav is the Monolian Beef and the kids LOVE the double pan fried noodles. Glad you got to experience some good 'ole chains this weekend.

[Mommy off the Record]

Shoot! That IS shitty service!

Not to rub it in or anything, but I went to Old Navy today (in CA) and they now let you take in as many items as you want. There wasn't even a wait. I was floored and quite pleased with their customer service.

[Maddmomma]

The ham isn't a terribly bad place to live. I grew up here, and I'll probably be here the rest of my life. I figure any place with more than a fair share of Starbucks can't be all bad. Sounds like you guys stopped at the Summit on 280. That's one of our more "civilized" areas. ;) Anywhere else, and you're more likely to find a ratty gas station and a Cracker Barrel.

[Lady M]

It's tough feeling so isolated. Keep up the great writing and the sense of humor. You've got us friends on the Internet to keep you company!

[Michelle]

That's really funny! The south can be so weird at times. We are currently living in kentucky, and since we are native New Yorkers, everything seems weird to us. Especially our strange old-lady neighbor across the street who peeks out from behind the shed in her backyard to watch me and my son getting in and our of the car. Weird ! You definitely won't find anyone like that in good ole New York.