Well, that is becuase in Switzerland and other European countries wait staff get paid a living wage and the service is included in the price of the meal. It is totally foreign to most European's that American wait staffs get paid as little as one dollar an hour and that management has shifted the cost of there help on to the consumer. That is why most Europeans do not tip. In Europe the cost of the service is included in the cost of the meal.

I have to say that It is refreshing to me when I go to an establishment (most often in NY or NJ where one runs across a "professional wait staff of adults that are career servers". They are professionals, that make their living as a server. They understand how to make a living that way and "generally" provide excellent service.

 

We don't like waiting all that much. If possible we make a dinner reservation, (even in small local places) or we avoid the chains that are known for long waits.

I know I have to wait at the doctor's office and I bring a book. I don't mind a reasonable wait, but if/when they are 1/2 hour past my appontment time, I start to get impatient and have walked out without keeping my appointment.

We avoid grocery shopping on weekends, and I try to do whatever errands I can on my lunch hour or after work to avoid the Saturday traffic and crowds.

I use the ATM and on line banking for a good part of our banking needs to avoid waiting in line at the bank.

Emergency rooms waits are unavoidable. Our local hospital is serving way more people than they are geared for. They are currently under renovation/expansion.

I had MANY ER waits with my Dad before he passed away. It was generally a four to six hour period from the time we would get there until they would either decide to admit him or send him home. Not much you can do about the ER waiting.

 

I'm waiting for Jerry to stop doing this: . I'm sure that instead of the gas problem you've professed, you actually have a terrible headache and/or possible brain damage from so much of this: It would be nice to see more of this and this: and this: , some of this would be nice: and perhaps even a little of this: and this: That being said, have some of this: and chill out. {{taps foot, looks at watch, waits patiently, picks up book, begins to read and continues to patiently wait for Jerry's retort}}

 

Currently, I am 20 years old. I am planning for the future, though. I am waiting to be rich, and I hope my investing will help that happen when it is time for me to retire. I am waiting to graduate, and studying in the meantime. I am waiting to get an s2000, but unfortunately, I need a larger income to support myself, my insurance, and my car. I basically deal with things that I have to wait for the only way I can - by being patient with them and doing what I can in the meantime to remedy whatever displeasure I get from having to wait.

 

^^I use all of these a lot. You must not read all of my posts, sweetie

 

It's nice to hear a mature attitude from a younger member of this community!

Maybe the older members will take your hint

 

Now Jerry, play nice with the others!

 

Apparently not. I have seen a lot of this: though.

 

Thanks, paS2k... that's one of the reasons I like lurking around the Vintage forum. It seems that a lot of (phychologically) mature people hang out here

 

[quote name='paS2K' date='Jan 31 2005, 07:15 PM']