Is this a poke in the eye?

Question

Just read a story about a NY cabbie who, after considerable effort, tracked down a woman who left a bag with 31 diamond (!) rings in the trunk. She gave him a $100 tip- which he accepted as compensation for the fares he lost while tracking her down. Evidently she gave him all of a 30 cent tip on her $11 cab ride.

While the driver was evidently just pleased to return the bag, how would you feel if, on top of an insulting 30 cent tip your considerable effort to return what must have been at least 30 grand worth of diamond rings negligently left by someone in your cab you receive a "reward" that essentially just covers your expenses? How likely would you be to do a "good deed" in the future, and are people like this woman responsible for the current state of "customer service" in the U.S.?

I do agree that it's not truly a "good deed" if you're doing it with the expectation of a "reward". But in this instance, like the 30 cent "tip", I would consider a $100 "reward" after losing a similar amount in lost revenues just compensation- and would feel insulted if it was presented as a "reward". Next time, as one writer suggested, I'd turn the bag over to my supervisor and let the lady actually put in a little effort herself.

Answer 1

I think it's a good thing that there are people like this cabbie in the world, who do a good deed for a good deed's sake. There are a lot of people who wouldn't.

As for me, I would probably really have to do some soul-searching to decide if I should return the diamonds or not, especially after such a lousy tip. Obviously, the standard 15% tip ($1.60) wouldn't have broken the woman. (She's a jeweler--they're not poor people by any stretch of the imagination!) I more than likely would have returned the diamonds--I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night if I were to keep them. The guilt of being dishonest would eat me alive. But that's me; I was raised to be honest and forthright. There are lots of people out there that were raised with the "finders keepers, losers weepers" mentality.

I do feel that people like this woman are very responsible for the low quality of customer service here in the US. People get burned out very easily and there is little incentive to stay friendly. The paycheck is given regardless of the quality of their job performance. Extra incentives, such as a kind word, a smile, idle chit-chat, a pat on the shoulder and even some extra monetary compensation does wonders for morale.

I am often shocked by the way people treat employees that deal in serving the public. Low tips, barely recognizing them, speaking to them rudely...no wonder some people give poor service! The thing that shocks me even more is that the majority of rude customers are wealthy. You'd think that with all that money, they could afford to buy some manners!

Answer 2

No matter what that woman was like I hope the man continues to do the right thing. She will get what is coming to her one day and so will he. I would hate it if I stopped doing the right thing because someone didn't appreciate it and then turned around and did the wrong thing to someone that would have really appreciated it. The problem with customer service does have to do with people like her, but it also has to do with the people that stop doing the right thing because of people like her. She may never realize what a snob she is (if the reason she didn't tip him much was rudeness and not that she was broke, who knows, maybe she was having to sell the jewelry and that was why she had it on her, but then she probably wouldn't have been able to give him $100 if that was the case) but he will always know that he did the right thing and has a clear conscience. We need more people like the cab driver. I'm sure he knew when he was trying to find her to return the jewelry that if he got a reward it wouldn't be for as much as he could have got selling the items.

Answer 3

This case would be a hard one to swallow, but I would go on helping people as best as I could. Obviously the woman is not a very gracious or giving type so I wouldn't expect very much in the way of a thank you, but maybe she learned a lesson about how people should treat each other. If not, it's her karma that will suffer while the cabbie's will soar.

Bravo to a human being with such fortitude to follow through on his ideals in the face of certain disregard!

As for "customer service" in the USA, I think it's driven by the overwhelming demand for higher profits at the expense of more personal care. Employees are too busy or too disinterested in their jobs to put forth the extra time and effort it takes to "keep the customer satisfied".

Intersestingly, the current trend in consumer goods businesses is something called CRM -- Consumer Relationship Management (aka Consumer Resource Management). The theory here is that a company can increase profits by getting customers to register themselves as loyal consumers. The company offers services, discounts or other niceties beyond what the customer would usually get so the potential buyer feels more satisfied with the company's product. In turn the business uses the collected data to understand who their best customers or highest potential "switchers" are. They then target these households with advertising for new products or reminders to stock up on the products they already buy. In short, they're offering better customer service!

So in a way, the current state of "customer service" in the US is on the upswing, but only if a company can make a profit off it. But then, that's what the cabbie should have gotten in the first place, isn't it?

Answer 4

Honestly, a good deed should be it's own reward. Personally, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself had I kept the diamonds. Karma will deal with the woman and her chincy tip...

And no, this woman, and people like her, are not responsible for the horrid state of customer service. Part of customer service is dealing courteously and professionally with people whom you dislike or disapprove of.

Answer 5

That is why it's called a "Good Deed". If you are looking for a reward before doing anything for anybody, then the world will be a poorer place.

Answer 6

Well it's a good deed your supposed to get a good feeling out of it not compensation but...she is one cheap b**ch! I would say I would do it again but then I never actually went through it before so hard to say.

Answer 7

Luckily people that are good Samaritans don't do it for a reward or even a better tip...thankfully they do it because their parents taught them the only thing to do is the proper thing...you return what isn't yours and you help when you are able...

Answer 8

if they were her rings, yes, but it sounds like (31 rings?) maybe she had them as a work thing, and may be poor herself, so 100$ may have been a huge reward if it was that way. though I personally believe that if you can't afford a tip, you can't afford a cab/restaurant, etc.

Answer 9

I don't consider that a good deed as you put it. I consider it part of his job. The fact that she was stingy has nothing to do with it. I think that from then on I would turn the items over to my manager and let them deal with it, though.

Answer 10

It's always nice to be recognized for a good deed, but truth is, most good deeds go un-noticed! The lady should have done more for him, but kudos to the cabbie!