Is it just me or has the fast food industry had too big of an influence on society? Okay, I know this sounds silly, but there are some interesting parallels . . .

Fast Food Chains to Chain Stores

Depersonalization! That's right, think about it. When was the last time you went into a big chain store or fast food chain and felt like the people there gave two hoots in hell whether or not you bought anything or were happy about your visit?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not getting liberal, big business has its place, but so does small business! Capitalism and The American Dream depend on small businesses as well.

It seems to me that the big chains (you know the ones, X-Mart and MacDingles) are getting a little more pie than they deserve while Mom and Pop's General Store is suffering.

The Difference

Does it matter where you buy what ever you buy? It seems that America has gotten to the point that they will take whatever they can get -- and pay their hard earned money for it. This is where I draw the line. When a business becomes indifferent.

For example, have you ever went into an "X-Mart" and ask for help? Let's say you have something in mind, you're unsure of which may best suite your needs or you may even be unsure of what you need -- God forbid that what you're looking for isn't there . . .

What response do you get? Take your pick:

1. "This isn't my department." (No other assistance offered)
2. "Here's what we have." (No other help offered)
3. "What we have is on the shelves; if it's not there we don't have anymore." (You know that this is usually a blatant lie from someone who doesn't want to take the time to help you; most every store has a stock room.)
4. Misc. ambiguous remark.

But have you ever noticed when you go into a local small business, and pose the same question that you get a much different response? . . .

For example:

1. The person assisting you asks for more information to better meet your needs.
2. The person assisting you takes you to exactly what you are looking for.
3. If what you want isn't on the shelf, they go into the stockroom and get it for you.
4. If what you want isn't on the shelf, they offer to order it for you or even suggest another business that may have it.

The difference here is that the smaller business actually wants to make you happy because they realize that the customer IS their business and without you they cannot function--the old law of supply and demand. The problem is that now no one really demands the "old fashioned, personal service" for their supplies that has made Capitalism the once strong foundation of our economy.

What does this mean? Well, it means that the "everyone has the chance for a piece of the pie" idea is on its way to hell on a greased rail with no hand brake to speak of.

Are you worried yet? Well, if not, I might mention that recent customer service 'models' are sighting "MacDingles" as an ideal example to follow.

How does this all fit together?

It doesn't. That's my point and it may have all started with fast food chains to snowball into this mess we have now.

Fast food chains came up with this idea of cutting jobs and sacrificing customer service to generate more profit. No waiter or waitress to pay when they found that they could sucker the customer into going to a counter to order and being content to settle for what ever mass produced-pre packaged-frozen-from-a-box-quick-fix-product that was placed in front of them. They also found that they could do without the wait-staff (this cuts how many jobs?) who came by to check to see if the customer needed anything or was happy because nobody realized that since they were paying for the meal, they should be pleased with the whole visit.

They found that they could cut even more jobs because folks would even bus their own tables!

Sure, this mentality has its place if one needs something fast, cheap and of a quality that matters little on occasion but should fast, cheap and questionable quality become a way of life at the cost of customer service and countless jobs?

This is one reason why (not just your politician) the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow.

We need both big and small business to keep the economy strong; so, if you are in a hurry and anything fast and cheap will do -- visit the big businesses, but if you want quality and folks who will try their best to make you happy, visit a local small business

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