The world is full of nincompoops and incompetent people, but I think the airline/travel industry has the most of them. Either that or they just don't want to live up to their "service industry" tag. The service they are providing is to themselves in filling up their pockets.
You try buying air tickets on the net and don't realise the amount of hidden "service" charges or taxes you end up paying. Most websites have hiked up their service charges to a minimum of Rs.500 per person. That's a lot considering that you are doing all the searching and planning and paying. The cancellation charges are exorbitant to say the least and most websites don't even disclose the charges when you book the tickets. They just say that some airline cancellation charges apply. They may run into several thousand rupees plus "service charge".
At a travel agent's desk the situation is worse. They make you wait for ages while they chat away with their boyfriends/girlfriends or file their nails or something (this actually happened to me today). If you are only buying one ticket they are not even interested in you. If you are doing a bulk booking they might offer you a glass of water, nothing more.
Restaurants apply service charges too these days to compensate for people not tipping. You can distinguish such restaurants by their really bad service. The waiters know that you are being forced to tip anyway so why put in any efforts for it.
Stores like Big Bazaar have attendants who stand around chatting. They glare at you or are flippant with their replies if you ask for help. They are gonna get paid their salary anyway as long as they are generally present at the scene of work. No actual "work" need be done. Only the ones at perfume counters are proactive because they probably work on commission.
Why is it that we don't want to work any more for the salary we are paid unless we are given a commission or a tip or a service charge over and above that?
6 comments:
I wish I could answer that, I really wish.
And there are nincompoops or whatever like us too, who actually work and are freaking good at it and whatever pittance we make goes into paying these tips :)
i think the origin of this word baksheesh was the emotion that one gets when paying a dolllar - buck, sheesh!
Chris has a point, we got to trace the etymological root of baksheesh. for all we know it is another one of them western influences.
We taught the West whatever there is in the world... whether it's good or bad.
Twas so, that in the land of Arabia,
With his entourage was the Prince of Persia,
They drank wine and smoked hashish,
Thats when they overpaid,
And it got called baksheesh.
Bucks on Hasheesh.
Ok very bad.
@Zap: Wah wah!
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