When Air Canada meets the Walmart Greeter
It occured to me sitting in a packed Air Canada Air Bus awaiting
a recent midnight take off from Pearson International in Toronto,
that Air Canada is guilty of either shooting itself in the foot
in an attempt at suicide, or simply - it's employees - just
don't care - are told not to care - can't care - won't care - or
are so busy doing other things - they don't have time to care...
I don't think it's the latter.
Okay - let's start from the assumption that an airline's primary
function is to get you and your luggage from your starting point
to your destination in a timely fashion.
I have not always been able to say that Air Canada's been much
good at that...but I have to admit that on this particular journey
they achieved a passing grade...low expectations were a factor but
I will resist the temptation to go off in another direction.
On this particular occasion I overlook the issues of leaving late
twice in a four departure equation. I also choose to overlook the
fact that the flight attendant was too busy to ( or didn't care
enough to - or chose not to ....) reset my inflight
movie after it jammed - I had to ask her twice - twenty minutes
between requests - consequently missing the final few minutes of
the movie which is in itself a royal pain in the behind.
No, I overlook all that...but let me pose a scenario to you.
What would the future entail for the Walmart Greeter who cornered
you as you entered the store with .." Hi...My name is Bert.
I'm your greeter today...Our entire staff is here to make your
shopping experience one which is rich, memorable, and fullfilling.
In a few minutes I will corner you again and go through an entire
list of safety rules - God help us if we ever need them - but
that can all wait until you're actively involved in something
other than just getting comfortable." Sixty - ninety seconds later
as you guide your cart up the first isle of interest, Bert accosts
you again..." By the way - our manager today is Harry...his assistant
is Bernice and they both hope your shopping experience is rich,
memorable and fullfilling. ( Rich, memorable and fullfilling are
words chosen by some expensive consultant hired by head office to
ensure that Walmart is both different and better than its
competition....yawn. )By the way, you will be shopping today at an
elevation of 648 feet above sea level...thanks for shopping at
Walmart." No sooner do you lose sight of Bert when the Walmart PA
system comes on..." Hi shoppers...this is your manager Harry...
My assistant, Bernice and I , and infact our entire staff is here
to ensure that your shopping experience - sorry but I have to say
this - is rich , memorable and fullfilling...You're shopping today
at 648 feet above sea level...thanks for choosing Walmart."
Suddenly out of nowhere - there's Bert - right back in your face -
and he repeats word for word what Harry just said , but in French.
Funny - nothing in your cart but you're starting to experience
an irritation just south of your tailbone.
You get a break for a minute or two and then Bert comes back with his
safety message - he disappears for 30 seconds or so and then
comes back and does safety enfrancais and then just before you
complete the second isle of your buying trip - Bert comes back
to tell you if you like he will fleece you for a sandwich or drink
and he'd really like it if you had the correct change...and then
he does it again - en francais.
The headlines would all read - " Another Walmart greeter mysteriously
crushed in shopping cart mishap."
I've been in Walmart twice that I can remember...neither time was
anything more than aware of the existence of a greeter.
Until they can come up with a somewhat more entertaining routine
and I somehow think that's a stretch, I would recommend Air Canada
give some serious thought regarding the way in which they deliver
all the required information they choose share. I would recommend
a brief burst as soon as all are seated - another quick burst just
prior to taxiing out to the runway - and if needed anything else
as soon as they are in the air.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't care who the Captain
is much less his co-pilot, don't care what the flight attendants
names are, don't care how high or how fast we fly...
Air Canada needs to focus on some details...how can they make
the time their customers are imprisoned as pleasant as possible ?
PA chatter is annoying at the best of times. Needless PA chatter
is needlessly annoying. Needless PA chatter and other needless
distractions that force your attention from reading, TV, music,
movies, or just some much desired sleep do little to enhance the
flying experience. Air Canada this message is for you.
Big trade in the NHL today...the Leafs acquired defenseman Dion
Phaneuf from Calgary, and former Moosehead JS Giguere from
Anaheim...Sorry..it's not enough.
The golf season has started...no Tiger...is anyone watching ?
Check out the music page at the website...atlanticgolfradio.com.
lot's of fun stuff happening there...hope you enjoy it.
Happy Trials....
a recent midnight take off from Pearson International in Toronto,
that Air Canada is guilty of either shooting itself in the foot
in an attempt at suicide, or simply - it's employees - just
don't care - are told not to care - can't care - won't care - or
are so busy doing other things - they don't have time to care...
I don't think it's the latter.
Okay - let's start from the assumption that an airline's primary
function is to get you and your luggage from your starting point
to your destination in a timely fashion.
I have not always been able to say that Air Canada's been much
good at that...but I have to admit that on this particular journey
they achieved a passing grade...low expectations were a factor but
I will resist the temptation to go off in another direction.
On this particular occasion I overlook the issues of leaving late
twice in a four departure equation. I also choose to overlook the
fact that the flight attendant was too busy to ( or didn't care
enough to - or chose not to ....) reset my inflight
movie after it jammed - I had to ask her twice - twenty minutes
between requests - consequently missing the final few minutes of
the movie which is in itself a royal pain in the behind.
No, I overlook all that...but let me pose a scenario to you.
What would the future entail for the Walmart Greeter who cornered
you as you entered the store with .." Hi...My name is Bert.
I'm your greeter today...Our entire staff is here to make your
shopping experience one which is rich, memorable, and fullfilling.
In a few minutes I will corner you again and go through an entire
list of safety rules - God help us if we ever need them - but
that can all wait until you're actively involved in something
other than just getting comfortable." Sixty - ninety seconds later
as you guide your cart up the first isle of interest, Bert accosts
you again..." By the way - our manager today is Harry...his assistant
is Bernice and they both hope your shopping experience is rich,
memorable and fullfilling. ( Rich, memorable and fullfilling are
words chosen by some expensive consultant hired by head office to
ensure that Walmart is both different and better than its
competition....yawn. )By the way, you will be shopping today at an
elevation of 648 feet above sea level...thanks for shopping at
Walmart." No sooner do you lose sight of Bert when the Walmart PA
system comes on..." Hi shoppers...this is your manager Harry...
My assistant, Bernice and I , and infact our entire staff is here
to ensure that your shopping experience - sorry but I have to say
this - is rich , memorable and fullfilling...You're shopping today
at 648 feet above sea level...thanks for choosing Walmart."
Suddenly out of nowhere - there's Bert - right back in your face -
and he repeats word for word what Harry just said , but in French.
Funny - nothing in your cart but you're starting to experience
an irritation just south of your tailbone.
You get a break for a minute or two and then Bert comes back with his
safety message - he disappears for 30 seconds or so and then
comes back and does safety enfrancais and then just before you
complete the second isle of your buying trip - Bert comes back
to tell you if you like he will fleece you for a sandwich or drink
and he'd really like it if you had the correct change...and then
he does it again - en francais.
The headlines would all read - " Another Walmart greeter mysteriously
crushed in shopping cart mishap."
I've been in Walmart twice that I can remember...neither time was
anything more than aware of the existence of a greeter.
Until they can come up with a somewhat more entertaining routine
and I somehow think that's a stretch, I would recommend Air Canada
give some serious thought regarding the way in which they deliver
all the required information they choose share. I would recommend
a brief burst as soon as all are seated - another quick burst just
prior to taxiing out to the runway - and if needed anything else
as soon as they are in the air.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't care who the Captain
is much less his co-pilot, don't care what the flight attendants
names are, don't care how high or how fast we fly...
Air Canada needs to focus on some details...how can they make
the time their customers are imprisoned as pleasant as possible ?
PA chatter is annoying at the best of times. Needless PA chatter
is needlessly annoying. Needless PA chatter and other needless
distractions that force your attention from reading, TV, music,
movies, or just some much desired sleep do little to enhance the
flying experience. Air Canada this message is for you.
Big trade in the NHL today...the Leafs acquired defenseman Dion
Phaneuf from Calgary, and former Moosehead JS Giguere from
Anaheim...Sorry..it's not enough.
The golf season has started...no Tiger...is anyone watching ?
Check out the music page at the website...atlanticgolfradio.com.
lot's of fun stuff happening there...hope you enjoy it.
Happy Trials....
posted by Don Grose at 6:52 AM
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