The Economist is King

I was show jumping last weekend in Lege near Bordeaux. I was accompanied by Maxime and the new American au pair Jessica. Whilst Maxime slept in the back after a weekend in a nearby sandpit, we talked at length on the journey back on Sunday after a relatively frustrating weekend (I rode well but invariably had a bar or two down). We talked about the US. I confided that I did enjoy going, at least for the first couple of days, because of the over-the-top excessively friendly and false “have a nice day” type of service which does, at least for a short while, make you feel sort of good about yourself. Maybe it has this reaction on me because I have lived in a country where customers are the scourge of any shopkeepers or restaurateur’s life. Customers are clearly not king in France, and are more often resented as being the people who prevent the aforementioned retailers from an easy life. Good service in Europe is therefore all the more noteworthy when it does actually occur. I was most impressed by the customer service team of the Economist magazine who fixed a recent problem with my subscription which had unexpectedly expired. They listened, they explained (in clear English), they fixed, and they were pleasant throughout the whole process (making me feel less stupid than what I actually had been). Why oh why is such pleasant and competent behavior so remarkable?! In any case, I kneel and salute thee my royal Economist master.