- 5/19/2013 Shepard designs dream room
- 5/19/2013 Sue Jolly Award will honor student Mock Trial Team member
- 5/19/2013 Anglican Church to host homeless meeting
- 5/19/2013 North Augusta bookings
- 5/19/2013 Suspect sought in theft of Walmart cell phones
- 5/19/2013 STEMfest exposes students to principles of science, technology
- 5/19/2013 North Augusta crime blotter
- 5/19/2013 North Augusta High School hosts 309 student runners
- 5/19/2013 Predators fall to Knights in walk-off fashion
- 5/12/2013 Predators stumble against Knights, face uphill battle
- 5/12/2013 Lady Predators have to win to stay in
- 5/12/2013 Phil Schaefer reflects on North Augusta history
- 5/12/2013 North Augusta golf team’s season ends in Sumter
- 5/12/2013 NAHS grad named SEC Men’s Golf Freshman of the Year
- 5/12/2013 World’s No. 1 disc golfer pays a visit to Hippodrome
- 5/5/2013 Lady Jackets bow out of playoffs following extra-innings loss
- 5/19/2013 Column: Downtown developments: Vacations less and less important
- 5/19/2013 Wrinkles: Recognizing mothers and angels
- 5/19/2013 Phragments from Phyllis: A mother’s a mother for the rest of her life
- 5/19/2013 Letter: Bring the troops home from Afghanistan
- 5/19/2013 Column: New PASS exams intended to benefit student performance
- 5/19/2013 Chaplain's corner: In his hand
- 5/12/2013 Column: The best of both borders
- 5/12/2013 Chaplain’s Corner: A mother’s joy
- 5/12/2013 Downtown developments: Bad customer service, part two
- 5/12/2013 Letter: Riverkeeper is a benefit to North Augustans
WRINKLES: Where has customer service gone?
Service (verb): helping or doing work for another or for a community; assistance or benefit given.
What happened to service? I am glad I have memories of someone putting gas in my car, checking my oil and tires, and cleaning the windshield, all with a smile and expecting no tip. I remember going to the check-out counter at grocery stores, the young men who would come quickly to put your groceries on the counter and then take them and put them in the trunk of your car.
On Wednesday, which is Senior Citizens Day at the grocery store, you would think at least some consideration would be given to helping. But, when I check out, the strong young men stand at the end of the counter looking as you struggle to reach over, lift out heavy items and put them on the counter to the waiting cashier. There is not one thought of helping, and the store that earns so much from these senior citizens do not train their employees to help.
How tragic it is that the world and our community have come to only look for the profit. When I find the bananas out are old and dark, I search for someone to get some fresh ones. Then, I wait and wait for them to bring the fresh bananas out.
I am the one who says, "Thank you," and usually there is no reply.
This week, I had the misfortune of having a heater problem. It was amazing how many times the receptionist told me she would call back when she didn't. One time, she said it would be 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, I called again as I had to leave, and she didn't even apologize for her delay. She never returned my calls.
Service and truth: where did it go?
Service is gone because we do not demand it. Everyone is so complacent about not causing problems that sometimes they are the source of the problems.
We are doing a disservice to our young people when we do not teach them responsibility, and it is a growing problem.
Society now is made up of more "takers" than "givers." I am a firm believer in feeding anyone who is hungry and in need. If they can work, then help them get a job.
To erase any embarrassment for using food stamps, the government produced EBT cards which look like a credit card. And now, they are finding that these cards are being used in salons, liquor stores, girly bars and in casinos. What happened to the America that produced young workers who were polite and helpful? Are we enabling a nation of moochers? How many households are without fathers to help raise those young people? Why are the courts not making these "men" take the responsibility of raising these children?
Questions, but no answers.
Is there a "hero" out there somewhere for our children? I am sure there are many, but the media promotes those who (sing) shout the loudest, uses the foulest language, who dress the raunchiest and "burn out" before their time.
Service. Let's begin to demand service for our hard-earned dollar. And just maybe, we can return to a civilized society that American once had.
"Life has to be lived for the future ... but can only be understood by searching the past."
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