By Chris Cornford
Complaining rarely gets you anywhere, so why bother? These days even the people we used to rely on for good service no longer care. Regardless, most of us stick with the same old suppliers because we know the alternative will be just as bad.
Last weekend, I watched the England rugby team lose a test match to Wales. Congratulations to them, but England lost because of a dreadful first half performance by the French referee. Honestly, even he now admits it was bad, arguably even a comedic performance, if you’re Welsh. After the game, we learned that Eddie Jones, England’s manager, has previously shown this ref the red card, complaining about him to the World Rugby Board. I’m sure those complaints were in no way responsible for Saturday’s infuriating on-field decision-making by Monsieur Gauzere?
Sometimes complaints do backfire. Last March when my bank decided they could only be bothered to open 10 am – 2 pm weekdays, I complained. The result is they’re now closing the branch permanently. So that’s fixed it; so much easier for them not to bother.
What’s that old joke about workplaces being improved if only you could get rid of all the customers – perhaps that’s why our dud MP doesn’t engage with his constituents? We’ve all learned the pandemic is a dream come true for those who love making silly rules. A mate went to buy some shoes but on arrival found the shop door firmly locked; he could see the staff inside and, for a while they ignored him, eventually yelling ‘appointment only’ through the letterbox. He did need shoes, so he retreated a few yards and telephoned them. They gave him an instant appointment and within seconds he was inside. Unfortunately he wasn’t allowed to touch nor try on any shoes. So, still determined, he used his best guess on fit, went outside, tried them on in the High Street before popping back in to exchange them for a different size. After he’d made another appointment of course.
When we were permitted to eat out, our waitress poured the drinks, placed them on a tray and brought them over to our table. At that point she could no longer touch the glasses, we had to remove them ourselves. Fair enough, but moments later, she was allowed to bring our cutlery over and sling it down on the table. When the food arrived, she had no choice but to get close, but when we asked for some ketchup and mayo, again she couldn’t get near us; thankfully we were able to catch the sachets.
That big DIY shed store remains open; just don’t ask them to cut any plywood. The huge saw that’s usually provided for customers is currently unavailable. I’m not complaining; what’s the point? Normally you struggle to find a staff member willing to operate the huge in-store saw, but I doubt that has any bearing at all on their current restrictions.
A friend has two school-age children. Her boys share a bedroom and travel to school in the same car. However, when it came to their school photograph they were not permitted to pose together. Our postie told me that several worried customers ask for the mail not to be put through their letterbox; they want it left on the doorstep. He does as instructed before retreating back down the garden path. The customer opens the door, swoops up the post and takes it safely inside.
Roll on the end of lockdown.
Isle of Wight Observer