I wanted a muffin, I got nothing
Are people 50-plus really ‘invisible’? Or are manners a thing of the past?
I had just enjoyed lunch at what had become a favourite cafe of mine when I realised it was time to go back to work.
I got up and glanced back to the counter and I spied a blueberry muffin that had my name on it. It was to be a small treat to take back to the office for afternoon tea.
Except it wasn’t to be.
I went up to the counter and there were two, well let’s call them “servers” for the want of a better name.
One of them, I assume she was the manager, was engaged in conversation with a visiting salesman who was trying to get her to switch to his particular brand of almond milk.
The other one was cleaning out a display cabinet. Surely, though, she had seen me.
But no. I stood there for what seemed like five minutes then just walked away when neither of them made any attempt to engage with me in any way. I had to get back to work.
I later wrote about the incident on social media, and one of my followers was brutal but clear: “You’ve got to the age where you’re invisible.”
I’m a big man, so I know he wasn’t being literal. Or was he? Are some people genuinely incapable of seeing others who don’t fit into their usual social group?
In any event, I didn’t get served and they didn’t get to make whatever profit it is they make on a $6 muffin. And I will never go to that cafe again.
OK, my decision won’t send them broke. But they will go broke if that’s their attitude towards other (potentially) paying customers.
How hard would it have been for the manager to say to the salesman, “Excuse me, I’ll just attend to this customer and be right back to you?” Or for the other woman to stop what she was doing for a minute and serve me?
Now, maybe it’s paranoia to think, as my social-media friend did, that this was purely because young people don’t “see” older people. But it most certainly was rude and it was extremely poor business practice.
Are good manners old-fashioned and irrelevant? Are people 50-plus overlooked? Should I have spoken up and demanded to be served?
Let me know what you think.
I’m happy to report that The Wrinkle has unfolded quite well over the past few days.
I was greatly encouraged by positive feedback, including from Jonathan Pontell, the man who coined the term “Generation Jones”.
Please let me know what you’d like to be reading in this newsletter and at The Wrinkle website.
In the meantime, here are few other articles you may enjoy reading:
Seniors hit the road to Splitsville
We know the whole “’til death do us part” thing has long had its day. But you might be surprised to know that it’s not just the seven-year itch that causes marriages to break down. “Grey divorce” refers to the phenomenon of older couples choosing to separate after decades together. Full story here.
Does it really pay to be loyal?
Loyalty schemes are a common feature in the retail landscape, used by businesses to reward repeat customers and build brand loyalty. While they offer advantages for both businesses and consumers, they’re not without pitfalls. Full story here.
Coffee is not just a caffeine hit
Is the morning brew good for you or bad for you? Well, it depends … Full story here.
Who’s up for a cruise?
When I speak or write about cruising, some people roll their eyes. Their minds automatically trip to that stereotype that says cruises are for boring old people. I beg to differ! Full story here.
Beers with Lee Mack
From my Mister Brisbane site: how I met the British comedian in the pub where he once worked. Full story here.
That’s all for this edition. Remember, you don’t have to wait until the next email arrives in your inbox, because I regularly post new content on the website!