I don't think I would object to Phil Collins's soundtrack, but flip-flops and "No problem" instead of "Yes sir" are a bit too casual and rather conflict with the other strictures imposed by the boss of Abercrombie & Fitch, as reported in The Guardian.
11 comments:
Oh I would object to Phil, I just couldn't go there without feeling officially middle aged.
Flip flops? The devil's work.
Just read that article, oh my god, that is hilarious, what a crazy crazy guy/megalomaniac he is!
Oh this gets better! They should make a movie, haha!! Enjoyed the article.
Loi
Tabitha - well, I am middle aged, so I'm fine with Phil Collins. For you chickens however, I completely understand. Mr Abercrombie & Fitch's requitrements do sound a bit daft. Is being able to save his lord and masteress a requirement too? All that beefcake doesn't necessarily a rescuer make.
Loi - perhaps given my experience in these matters I should offer to play the part of Mr A&F?
Where to begin....
Have the shareholders and board lost their collective minds? This is a publicly traded company not a grand duchy.
If you have not seen the 70 year old CEO's appearance you may find it here:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/he_one_fitch_of_boss_oiLm3A8i27z380hG5zGSIP
Yikes - there's probably not much 70 year old about his face, if indeed it is more than 50% his for that matter! I think I'd pass on the dubious honour of serving him on his flight, despite my obvious qualification in body type with the models.
We had a look inside the newly opened A&F store in Hong Kong when we were there last month. It's so dark you'd need one of the topless models to guide you through the labyrinth, at least that was my excuse, (I'm kidding). But the merchandise is pretty low quality, so maybe the low lighting helps.
"No problem" is almost the last thing I want to hear from someone in the service business. I just want to scream, "Of course it's not a problem — you're payed to make sure it's not a problem!" I put it in the same category as the waiter who said within my earshot last week, "What'll you guys have?" He was speaking to a couple of 80-year-old women.
Mark - a lot of people today think that being in the "service" industry is demeaning. There is no pride and their presence is doing you a favour, and they misunderstand casual behaviour towards a paying customer as somehow cutesy or clever. If you ever go to Japan, (or indeed a number of SE Asian countries), you can see what real service is. Japan is exceptional. There is genuine pride in doing a job properly and to the best of one's ability.
But in cases of lackadaisical service it is the management who is to blame; they need to stipulate how their employees are expected to behave, (if they want to have a job).
Dear Columnist,
I have been to Japan, and I have experienced the exceptional service of which you speak. And I give a little slack to lackadaisical servers because I realize that one can't expect great service from young people who haven't experienced it themselves.
My brother and I dine once a week and always look knowingly at each other when we hear "no problem" or "you guys." We've said to each other any number of times that there's some money to be made in the States by being a service consultant to store chains.
Mark - you are generous with your kind attitude. I think it's important for young people to learn, but I put the responsibility on others to train them, so you're right, there is an opportunity there. Some companies obviously realise the potential, and get it right from the beginning, and I think it marks them out by a mile.
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