Why do I no longer want to live in the UK?

[Hamlet]

Occasionally I need to travel back to the England and each time I do I think about why I have grown to like Turkey more than the UK?

Education: during my visit in April I decided to splash out and purchased some lottery tickets.
When I returned again last week I called into the local branch of a chain of stores (lets just say they are owned by their members)  and got the young male (18/20ish) behind the counter to check for winners.

After greeting me with what now seems to be the customary "you alright mate?" ......... Instead of how can I help you? he ran the tickets through the machine and as he did so called out £3, £30, £10, £10, £3.

He then got his iPhone out and started to add up using the calculator app, I immediately said "that's £56", he carried on with the calculator, just then his supervisor came along and asked what he was doing?
The lad said "I'm really rubbish at adding up.......... Really!!!, I politely thought!
Don't do it like that, she said, "use the till, it's easier".
It's £56, I said again, both looked at me and the supervisor carried on adding up on the till.
The lad then looked up and in shock said to me, that's £56, ...... you said that didn't you?

Me: yep, and without using a calculator!! perhaps your employers should set you all a maths test before they employ you!

Customer service: onwards then to a national computer store, whilst standing, reading the details of an item I hear a young female voice say " are you alright there sir?" Being in a genial mood and instead of giving my usual response of "well I do have a pain in my shoulder/leg, or do I look ill then? etc, etc", I said yes I'm fine thanks, how are you today? That stumped her!

I asked a salesman at a gents outfitters a few years ago why they don't now ask if they can help the customer instead of asking "are you alright there?"
The reply was"we aren't allowed to ask that anymore!" Why?

Ended the day at a Tex-Mex Resturant where from the very first greeting through to my paying the bill, my 'server' insisted on calling me "Boss" (remember when we used to call the people that brought the food, waiters?).

I think I've answered my own question here!     :

[jackstee]

BOSS - " bucket of sh-t"

[jackstee]

Sorry , thats what we thought BOSS stands for

[John H]

I am responding to this post on an iPad bought today in the Apple Store in Glasgow,UK. The young man who dealt with me was very impressive. The shop was busy but I was attended to very quickly and despite buying the basic model I felt that I was a valued customer. The young salesman took a lot of trouble to set up the iPad for me and make sure that I understood everything. His knowledge of modern technology was way beyond mine and I really appreciated his help. He was polite,showed respect and knew his job.
So I would hope that some bad experiences with youngsters would not let us condemn a generation or our country.

[Colwyn]

I am constantly being surprised (short term memory loss I guess) by the high quality and friendliness that are the standard service in shops these days. The occasional bad experience stands out starkly from the norm. This is a transformation from the sullen truculence often encountered 30 to 40 years ago. The pinnacle of this unpleasant service was our local Gateway store that recruited miserable disunterested youths and trained them in obnoxiousness and sloth.

[Marggie]

Your post made me chuckle Colwyn.  How does one train anybody in sloth?

[angela]

I think the article in the press lately about the young lady in a supermarket, who refused to serve a customer while she was on her phone also shows,  no it's not all bad, but given that we are driven to comment (with some surprise) on good service,  it's far from being all good either. I have to say I quite admire her attitude, I wouldn't expect to "deal" with a client while they carry out a phone conversation either.

[Bluwise]

In a clothes shop, three assistants (one after the other) asked "are you alright there?" and I did respond to the third with
"You are the third to ask me. Do I not look well?"
It is damned annoying to say the least.
On the subject of mobile calls, I cannot carry on a conversation on the phone and deal with someone else so one would have to be ignored.......I find the phrase, 'I'll call you back" really useful.   
I also find the Turkish custom of following you around the shop as though you may 'pocket' something equally annoying.  I buy very little here as I can't browse in peace.

[angela]

Oh I agree, nothing has me out of a shop faster than someone stalking me, and they even do it in the Duty Free!

[littlereddevil]

I think the article in the press lately about the young lady in a supermarket, who refused to serve a customer while she was on her phone also shows,  no it's not all bad, but given that we are driven to comment (with some surprise) on good service,  it's far from being all good either. I have to say I quite admire her attitude, I wouldn't expect to "deal" with a client while they carry out a phone conversation either.

The lady sued the shop though and got money!