why is the retail and service industry so slow in this city? (Philadelphia: appointed, school)

[BarqCider]

Can't understand why it takes so long for anything to get done in these fields. I see so many folks with a "I hate this job"look tothem.
I never had such feelings felt before on such consistent basis until I Moved here.

[TechCom]

Lot of cloudy days.
Low wages. Yeah its a low cost city, but people don't compare success based on cost of living.
Salt destroys cars quicker leading to higher vehicle expenses.

Just a few examples, but you know the grass is always greener on the other side probably fits best.

[steindle]

I always forget about how friendly and timely the service is in every restaurant in Philadelphia and New York. Must just be another problem magically unique to Pittsburgh, like slow drivers or fast drivers or bad drivers or parking chairs or provincialism!

I don't understand why you keep posting these pointless, antagonistic threads about how disappointed you are in everything about Pittsburgh.

[BarqCider]

Originally Posted by steindle

I always forget about how friendly and timely the service is in every restaurant in Philadelphia and New York. Must just be another problem magically unique to Pittsburgh, like slow drivers or fast drivers or bad drivers or parking chairs or provincialism!

I don't understand why you keep posting these pointless, antagonistic threads about how disappointed you are in everything about Pittsburgh.

I'm not. I'm just asking a question I found interesting regarding how folks here work. I find it interesting since most places I have been to aren't like this.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by BarqCider

I'm not. I'm just asking a question I found interesting regarding how folks here work. I find it interesting since most places I have been to aren't like this.

Take a ride down to Louisana and come back. Everything will seem so fast.

[BarqCider]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

Take a ride down to Louisana and come back. Everything will seem so fast.

do they act and look as if their job is beyond beneath them? or they just go on and ignore you?

at restaurants/retail here, i feel they do. they seem to want to chat with coworkers,etc than work. up until now, i never could find myself tipping them under 20%, since my family for a long time ran a business in the restaurant business. these days i try to justify to myself why the even deserve 20% tip or even my business anymore. Not saying all of them do, but a lot of them have. It has gotten to the point where when i go somewhere and i feel i get good service, i simply demand them when i return and if they aren't in, i leave.

i worked retail too and i had off days, but these guys who i often run into just keep that off day consistently.

im curious as to why is all.

[hinsey86]

Since you seem so intent on knowing "why" to an unanswerable question...... Pick one or more

1. There is a top secret slow service school that all retail/ wait staff are required to go to ..but only here. And now they will kill me for telling.

2. It is a conspiracy against folks that are prone to complain. Others get the fastest service ever except when they run into Murphy.

3. They are really soooo fast it messes with the speed of light and sound causing it to appear they are actually slow.

4. Perceptions vary from person to person and are typically swayed by the speed of light and sound or what they want to see or focus on.

5. They all see you coming.

6. It is all lights and mirrors.

7. Everybody else in the entire world is just too damn fast.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by hinsey86

5. They all see you coming.

I'll vote for this. I almost never have slow service, nor do I suffer from 99% of the things BC complains about in Pgh. And I lived in DC most of my life, where the service was -- wait for it -- exactly the same.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by jay5835

I'll vote for this. I almost never have slow service, nor do I suffer from 99% of the things BC complains about in Pgh. And I lived in DC most of my life, where the service was -- wait for it -- exactly the same.

Or worse.

[Hopes]

It's worse down South and try Vermont.

In southern Virginia, we requested back bank records for my sister's account when we were handling her estate. After a week, we inquired why we had not received them. We were told it takes time. When we told them in Pittsburgh all we have to do is walk into a bank and they print them out immediately, the response was, "I don't understand how you can live under so much pressure up North."

A week in Vermont is a test of patience. You need to get your zen on there. You'll spend endless time watching people prepare food for you when the business is empty. A sandwich that will take 5 minutes taking your time takes them 20 minutes. Lots of talking to each other and not focusing on the task at hand. They're not miserable, but they aren't the least bit interested in customer service. There's no need. Your a captive audience since there are very few places to eat within X miles of an area.

BC, you couldn't wait to move to Pittsburgh because you hated DC. Now you're complaining about Pittsburgh. It's time for some self reflection because it seems you are the type of person who isn't happy anywhere.