【话匣子英语】客户服务

 当服务员为你提供了很好的服务，你在结账时是否会额外给服务员一部分小费作为回馈呢

Maura:            All right. Now let’s get to the episode¹ today. We are going to do a Chatterbox episode, and that is where Harp² and I get to chat about different topics of interest—could be cultural, could be an interview.

 

Harp:              We often do different topics, and if you ever have an idea, you could always leave us a suggestion on our Facebook page or send us an email.

 

Maura:            Now, this time, we are going to be talking about customer service.

 

Harp:              Yes. We’re gonna talk about customer service. So whether you go to a restaurant or if you go shopping, the service that you get.

 

Maura:            Exactly. How do the people in a store or a restaurant or in a business treat the customers?

 

Harp:              We’re gonna start with talking about tipping.

 

Maura:            And then we’re gonna talk a little bit about bad customer service.

 

Harp:              And we’re gonna finish with talking about our experiences working in customer service.

 

Maura:            That’s right, because we didn’t always just broadcast podcasts.

 

Harp:              Yeah. We were doing other work before.

 

Maura:            OK. So first we’re gonna talk about tipping, which is when you give an amount of money to someone who has provided you with a service.

 

Harp:              Yeah. You’ve paid for the service already, but you give them an additional amount of money as an appreciation³ for their service.

 

Maura:            You know, that was the old definition, I think, Harp, because more and more, tipping is expected. Whether or not you got good service, we’re supposed to give a little bit of an extra amount to some forms of service that we get.

 

Harp:              Yes. That is true. It’s really expected now.

 

Maura:            And also, more and more places—more and more types of employees—are expecting tips. Places that I remember when I was a kid no one ever tipped, today we do tip.

 

Harp:              The most common place to tip is in a restaurant.

 

Maura:            That is definitely true. When you go to a restaurant and you sit down, when someone takes your order and brings you your food, you should be giving them a tip at the end. Now, the amount that you tip is really up to you.

 

Harp:              Yeah, it varies. And this is where the quality of service can definitely come in, because you can leave 10% if it was bad service, or if it was really good service, you can leave 20%.

 

Maura:            Or even more. Now, when Harp says 10%, she means 10% of your bill. So, for example, if you bought a meal and it cost $10, then a 10% tip is one dollar.

 

Harp:              Now I have a question for you, Maura.

 

Maura:            I hope it’s not a more difficult math question, because I won’t be able to do it.

 

Harp:              Nope. But I’ve had this discussion with my friends. Do you tip on the amount before taxes or after taxes?

 

Maura:            To be honest, I usually estimate. And when I look at the receipt, I probably look at the total, so I would look at the price after taxes, because in Canada our taxes are added on after. So if you go to a restaurant and the menu says that something is going to cost $8.83, when you get your bill, it’s not going to be $8.83. It’s going to be that amount plus the tax, so the bill always goes up.

 

Harp:              Yeah. And the tax amount differs depending on which province you’re in, but it’ll definitely go up. I agree with you though, I tip on the total after taxes.

 

1 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

2 harp   

n.竖琴；天琴座

参考例句：

• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
• He played an Irish melody on the harp.他用竖琴演奏了一首爱尔兰曲调。

3 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。