Posted on 12/11/2013 5:33:33 PM PST by nickcarraway
The owners of a café in the south of France have struck a blow for good old-fashioned French politeness, with a sign charging extra for customers who forget their manners while ordering their coffee.
The French are well-known for their love of everyday formalities. While much of the Western world can sometimes seem to get through the day with grunts and nods, the French insist on sprinkling their exchanges with a “Madame” here and a “C’est trop gentil” there.
Baguette purchases must be preceded by a mandatory “Bonjour”, and it’s de rigeur to wish complete strangers a good afternoon, even when leaving an elevator.
So what happens if these standards drop, as can happen from time to time?
Well, for the owners of one café in the south of France, the solution is clear – hit your rudest clients in their pockets, or at least threaten to do so.
The Petite Syrah café in the Riviera city of Nice, has implemented a new pricing scheme, as seen in the picture below.
“A coffee” will set you back €7, according to the sign, while “a coffee please” is a little more affordable, at €4.25.
If you want keep your expenses down, and stay friends with your local barista, however, the best option is “Hello, a coffee please,” which will only cost you €1.40.
Manager of the Petite Syrah, Fabrice Pepino, told The Local: "It started as a joke because at lunchtime people would come in very stressed and were sometimes rude to us when they ordered a coffee.
“It's our way of saying 'keep calm and carry on,'” he added.
"I know people say that French service can be rude but it's also true that customers can be rude when they’re busy.”
Although Pepino admits he’s never actually had to enforce the price scheme, he says he has noticed a difference in his customers’ behaviour.
“Most of my customers are regulars and they just see the funny side and exaggerate their politeness,” he said, adding “They started calling me 'your greatness' when they saw the sign."
“But people are more relaxed now, and they’re smiling more. That's the most important thing."
I have been to French restaurants, and let me tell you, the rudeness of the staff there comes free.
The only exception was the little place in Normandy when I had 6 francs and a ticket home. They treated me like I was a king!
How much does not tipping cost?
No soup for you...6 months!!!
Yeah they are rude LOL!
I do remember Trimpuh the dog
I do remember Star Wars nerds skit one
Mon Dieu, and we thought it was the French garçons who were rude! (Note the proper spelling, thank you.)
The only exception was the little place in Normandy when I had 6 francs and a ticket home.
>>for good old-fashioned French politeness<<
Wait, what?
Good for this cafe owner. One of the joys of being self employed is that there is rarely a compelling reason to continue engaging with a customer who insists on being a jerk.
The customer is always... what?
I can tell you after many years in customer service that that is B.S. With me the customer was always... until they went over the line and then they were someone elses problem. My prime rule was that my employees were never rude to a customer, I always told them when a customer crosses the line I will deal with them, I required the same courtesy for my people from the customer as I required my people to give the customer. That’s the major reason I left customer service, too many A holes in the world.
Unless, of course you're in the United States of paradise and the customer happens to be 'gay', and the courts happen to have been taken over by students of 'critical law theory'.
>>I do remember Star Wars nerds skit one<<
When he told the pregnant woman’s belly “this is the last time you will see a woman’s v—na” I damn near died laughing...
That’s Mr Spock impersonater flipping off Star War fan LOL!
The rudest people I’ve ever met were restaurant staff in French Canadian Quebec....
The frogs don’t like gringos!
No, but it was early in June. I studied French in high school and spanish in college, the Army sent me to Germany, where I served with the 3rd Armored Division.
I would take weekends and head off to France where I could communicate with the locals better. I walked the roads of Normandy and Belgium, with various books of history in my pocket. My Bn was at Vielsalm in Belgium during the Bulge, but I served long afterwards during the Carter Administration.
I was once asked by a troop of boy scouts if I knew where we were. I asked to see their map, and pulled out a blade of grass, to point to the very exact place where we were, and then pointed out the terrain features that made it so.
The corporal with me laughed. I knew the ground better than people who grew up within a few miles of the place.
Infantry is a lot about knowing the wiggles in the ground, and how to use them. That and keeping warm.
I’m from Haliburton, Ontario.....
I like it.
What?
The French have formalized rude.
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