Recently started a new job delivering to a medium sized chain of shops - the managers at these places seem to think they are something really special. They’re usually running to fat, a couple of chins and a paunch squeezed into a long-sleeved shirt and as soon as you drop the tail-lift without even saying “hello” or smiling, they say “Did you get lost?” (In my defence I was only 4 hours late…nah - I’d just stopped for a 15 break after going to the previous shop and the previous shop bloke had phoned ahead) - there’s absolutely no attempt to be a human being. At other stores I get out and smile at them and say hello and they just look at you blankly - as if “Why is this driver attempting to communicate with his master”?. Now I just ignore them as much as I can.
And despite the fact that they are all brutally ugly, paunchy and charisma-free, they have tremendous self-confidence - whether it’s real confidence of the fake insecure type I’m not sure. Jeez they are annoying.
If you acted like that where I come from the local crack dealers would’ve taken you out a long time ago.
Happily retired now, but I often used to find that staff (and forklift trucks, pallet trucks and sack trucks) could all become invisible when I backed up to their premises. Whatever staff could be found had mysteriously forgotten how to speak English. The magic cure was to start dumping their goods off the trailer into the yard - wonder of wonders, all re-appear, speaking at least passable English and more than willing to avoid having to pick everything up themselves.
There could be a common theme running here if you find this to be a typical reaction.
Had almost none of this when i worked for Kwik Save (hardly an elitist store), just normal people getting on with their work, but maybe grateful to have someone turn up who didn’t expect to depart before he’d arrived and who makes a decent pot of tea for whoever was involved whilst they cleared some room for the load.
There’s a way you approach people and go about your day that gets cooperation and goodwill, a stamped SAE will see some considered advice by return
Juddian:
There could be a common theme running here if you find this to be a typical reaction.
Had almost none of this when i worked for Kwik Save (hardly an elitist store), just normal people getting on with their work, but maybe grateful to have someone turn up who didn’t expect to depart before he’d arrived and who makes a decent pot of tea for whoever was involved whilst they cleared some room for the load.
There’s a way you approach people and go about your day that gets cooperation and goodwill, a stamped SAE will see some considered advice by return
Never met any of em before. I smile and say hello they say nothing and don’t smile. And it’s not because I’m late - they do it regardless.
I used to like turning them off the trailer, when they started pulling cages off two at a time in a tearing hurry, because they were wearing pointy shoes and not safety boots.
