Name-tags
We got a puppy on Saturday. I taught College Writing this morning.
But I'm not here to talk about that.
I'm here to talk about name-tags.
The worst part about being for-sed to wear a name-tag at work is that people are constantly noticing it. I bag some guy's groceries, carry them out, drop them in his trunk, and then he hands me three dimes and says, "Thanks, Aaron."
That never ceases to freak me out.
I mean, that's just weird. I'd much rather take a single quarter over three dimes, just for convenience. After all, I can buy an enormous gum-ball out of the machine for a quarter; I can't buy anything for three dimes.
The "calling me by my name" thing is pretty weird too.
Whenever that happens, I look at the guy and ask, "How do you know my name, you strange, creepy man?"
I don't say it out loud, of course. I say it in my head. But I do say it loudly in my head.
Then I remember my name-tag. "Don't look at it!" I say - and I do say that one out loud. They often roll their windows up before they drive away.
Recently, to counteract the weirdness of strangers calling me by my name, I've taken to looking at their checkbooks or credit cards when they pay for their groceries.
"Thanks, Aaron," they say in the parking lot.
"No, problem, Henry James Pritchard, account number 4815-1623-4232-7421, exp. date 10/07. Have a good day!"
If they pay in cash, I memorize their license plate number, do a little research, and call them later that night.
It's all in the continuing name of great service.
posted by Reinman @ 12:01 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
I know it won't make you feel better about the name thing, but my name is on my apron right over my chest, so I know that people were staring to find out my name. "Thanks Kathleen." I agree that it is quite creepy.
However, my tip is usually "you can keep the penny." Gee Wiz, Thanks Mister! I'm going down to the soda shop and gettin' a Shirley Temple and a licorice rope!
Yeah, I used to hate that when I was a waitress.
I mean about the 3 dimes, of course.
The name tag thing was freaky, too.
you're hilarious.
dude, that's my real name and acoount number...I am so freaked out.
It must be a generational thing.
We purposely make the effort to look for someone's name and use it while looking you in the eye so that we can take 2 seconds out of our day to acknowledge that you, the bagger, are a human being and not a machine. I routinely try to break out of the "so how are you doing today" programmed talk on the way to the car, too. Then I try to leave a $1 tip - thanks to you, Aaron. I never tipped before.
So don't worry about the name thing - we're doing it to recognise you!
don`t look me in the eye don`t notice me I am just amachine. Mommy told me not to talk to stangers-stangers especially creppy old guys over 30
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