The Service Paradox

There is a bit of a contradiction with the way we do things here. We go to an expensive glasses dispensary and don't mind waiting a while as long as we get awesome service. At the same time, if we got to a cheapo place, we expect to get in and get out, but still receive the same service, because that's transferrable. But... longer wait time = service? What are Asians all complaining about, then?

If you go to an Asian restaurant, you expect "Asian service," which is fast, efficient and rude. If you go to a more... Gentile? establishment, the service is supposed to be awesome. Cuz Asian waiters suck, so you expect Asian service. But if you go to a place like... oh I don't know, Le Pain Quotidien, you expect superb service. You just have to wait 10 minutes for your check. But wait, isn't waiting more than a minute for anything at an Asian restaurant indicative of bad service? So, what's the problem?

Because of all the associations we have become conditioned to, we associate a certain type of place with the certain type of service we expect to receive. Then we tip accordingly. But, isn't good service supposed to be good service regardless of the establishment? Why do crappy servers at expensive elite restaurants still get tipped a minimum of 20% just because they are at an elite restaurant? The game is the same. Even if you are the best server ever, most people at Asian establishments won't tip more than 13%. Because that is just the standard. Try doing that at BJs or Pascal and the waiter will definitely remember your face, you undertipping skink.

So, what's the point of providing "good" service if no one gives a shit anyway? Because they don't care how good you are. They only care about their expectation about how you should behave in their eyes, and if you don't meet them, you suck.

Wonderful.