It Pays To Be A Customer

So, I walked into KFC, feeling like a customer that mattered, when this notice said something like: “Won’t help you at the counter unless you’ve got cash, baby.”

So much for feeling like a customer that mattered. I found myself in a situation where KFC basically told me to do the work for them (hello, big 'n' shiny kiosk) or there’d be no chicken for me. And guess what? Customers think that’s perfectly reasonable — except that customers are being turned into unpaid employees. I smiled at the young lady and said, “You will help me.” She just shook her head — “I’m not allowed.” So, I stepped back outside, climbed into my car, and drove through the drive-thru. I placed my order at the speaker, pulled up to the window and, guess what? The same young lady actually had to help me. She didn’t want to — I could tell from her face — but rules are rules, baby. 

It just staggers me that people think being unpaid workers is fine — especially when they don’t even get time back in return. I doubt they even think about it. We’ve become Pavlov’s dogs, trained to jump through hoops: scan, tap, pay, wait. All without blinking. 

What’s next?

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