Today I had lunch in one of those pubs where they virtually pay you to eat a burger – you know the sort.  I don’t think you ever get great service at these places and in our local one, you often get treated with disdain, which I find really funny.  I think there’s a general attitude that goes something like, “you should be grateful that the food and beer is so cheap, don’t expect service or courtesy too!”. 

Today though, was the final straw; my gourmet(!) burger arrived and I realised that I had no ketchup.  I asked a passing bartender/chef/cleaner/doorman for some and he pointed me to the opposite side of the pub.  So I had to walk all the way to the other side to get it myself.  It’s not that I’m that lazy, but I really felt that it would have cost nothing for the guy to say “sorry sir, I shall get you some now”.  The moral of the story is this;  yes, I really am this grumpy and no, good service doesn’t cost a penny.

I don’t want to get all deep and meaningful here, but can’t we learn some good lessons about business from everyday mundane episodes?

Advertisement