Rest Stops

This Thanksgiving break I traveled a LOT. The longest trip in particular was to Durham, North Carolina. Stopping is my least favorite part of trips because it always adds a few minutes onto the trip, however it always seems to be necessary. I thought that being at rest stops with three other family members and myself would really slow us down, however due to the exceptional service, there was a never a lengthy line or a long wait for the food.

What I previously called exceptional service is the part I find interesting. Not one single service employee smiled at me. None of them tried to have a conversation with me. They didn't even pretend to be happy to see me....

And I loved it! This is exactly the kind of service I want at a place like this. When I am stopping at a rest stop, its most likely because I am traveling a far distance and I have become hungry. So, when I finally do find a place to pull over and get some food, I do not want to be put on a pedestal via customer service, I want my food and I WANT IT NOW! It seemed that no "service with a smile" mentality was instilled in these employees and it suited me just fine. In this case, efficiency takes precedence, and customer service needs to be put on the back burner. This is one instance where a smile did not effect whether or not I had a pleasant encounter, but making my food with speed and efficiency did.