What To Do When The Service Desk is Empty: A Helpful Quiz
I have noticed that many of you are filled with trepidation about ringing the bell beside the sign that says “ring bell for service.” I understand, it feels weird and maybe kinda rude to get attention with a bell like a nineteenth-century Englishman summoning a butler to appear out of the shadows who then murmurs “Very good, sir” when directed to replace Aunt Araminta’s decor with slightly smaller versions in the hopes that she will feel uncomfortable yet be unable to understand why and finally leave your house where she has been vacationing for six long weeks.
To that end, I have prepared this helpful quiz so you can determine whether pressing that button is really warranted!
1) Can you see someone behind the service desk?
IF YES > talk to them. Say “hi” or “excuse me” if they haven’t noticed your presence
IF NO > go to next question
2) Is there a sign that says something to the effect of “create a noise and someone will assist you”?
IF YES > make noise as directed
IF NO > look around for someone who looks like they know what’s going on. Ask people nearby if they know what’s going on.
IF YES BUT MAKING THE NOISE INTIMIDATES YOU > go to next question
3) Will understanding the purpose of the noise make you feel better?
IF YES > the reason you have been directed to make that specific noise is because the employees understand that for varied reasons, they cannot pay full attention to that desk right now. To make sure you are not standing around awkwardly wishing you weren’t standing around getting annoyed, they have developed a tool to alert an employee when you need help. Like a bell. If they hear the bell, they will think, “ah, I need to go to that desk.”. They are not paying attention to people standing in front of the desk otherwise. They might not even see you. They want you to make the noise if you need assistance. It is not rude.
IF NO > sometimes we have to do things that we don’t like, sorry. Please rest assured that I assume, upon hearing the bell, that someone wants to check out dry-erase markers and do not associate you with Lady Featherstonehaugh’s haughty command for the maids to clean up the disappointing afternoon tea because she found the scones too crumbly.
BONUS) Were you standing around because you somehow missed the sign that says “ring bell” and now you feel kinda silly?
YES I FEEL SILLY > one time I walked around a small square store smaller than a Taco Bell, which had advertised a shawarma place inside, couldn’t see food anywhere and asked at the front counter, only to be pointed to the back left corner that I had directly faced at least twice as I walked the aisles looking for food. There was a counter and a big menu on the wall. I came within 10 feet of it. I did not see it. It was not hidden. I died inside, but more importantly, I bought shawarma and it was delicious and now I know for next time.
NO I DO NOT FEEL SILLY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT TO ERR IS HUMAN AND THIS IS A PRETTY MINOR THING PLUS I WILL KNOW TO LOOK FOR A SIGN NEXT TIME I AM IN A SIMILAR SITUATION > good job
