[smcl]

I tried to visit when I was last there but the DLR was out of action completely, and when I asked the staff how else I might get there from where I was they were completely out of ideas (one said "nah you're pretty much fucked...")

[jumblesale]

If you're ever in that situation again, try this: http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?lan...

You can select what modes of transport you're interested in (so you could disable the tube if the DLR isn't running). It'll show you boats too which is cool and definitely the best way to get to Greenwich.

[ig1]

Journey Planner should automatically take into account closures/problems

[mortov]

Welcome to UK customer service. You got one of the good ones - there are many much much worse.

There is a convenient river boat you could have taken from the center of London but don't expect anyone to tell you.

Screw you customer service is one of the worst things about living in the UK - especially if you're used to North America. I constantly dream of the days I can move back to my lovely house in Canada and put all this behind me.

[alan_cx]

As a born and bred Brit, I have to thank you for being so kind as to put "UK" and "customer service" in the same sentence. That's quite generous of you.

Thing is though, I find that when we do try to do North American style customer service, we tend not to like it and find it fake and tacky, and judge actual US customer service in the same way. We simply don't trust it and think we are being BSed. When some one serving us in some way says "have a nice day, Sir" or some such, the British mind seems to internally mumble "Yeah, like you give a toss, don't think I'm falling for that one old chap", or worse!!!

But equally, we get really agitated when something happens like the previous poster experienced. We too would want the alternate information to help us on our way.

So, we tend to get neither the information we need, nor the NA style "Sir" and "have a nice day stuff". What we too often get is the nice words, but not the information or action required. Its like the nice words are seen as a cheap replacement for action.

Of course this is all rooted in the centuries old class resentment thing. In short many here still see service as subservient. Both ways. Those serving resent serving, those being served look down on those doing the serving. Isolated, its ridiculous, but in historical context, you can understand why.

Oh, also there is nothing in it for us. In the US, a lot of service work is usually tipped, coupled with a low initial wage, right? Not so, generally, in the UK. Good service gains the employee little. Might be great for the business, but again, there is this them and us thing between the business owner and the employee. So, the employee just looks at it as gaining them nothing while making the owner more prosperous.

No idea if things are improving, as I live here. That is a question that a frequent foreign visitor would be better placed to assess for us.

On one hand I think its all very amusingly "British", but I do think the whole class resentment attitude really holds us back. But, I have to be honest and admit that even though I think I can see through it, and I can see the really problems with it, I still "feel" in those limited class resentment terms. Its like its genetically bred in.

Still, vive la différence, and all that!!!!!

[sageikosa]

As a native of the US of A, I've found that customer service can often be improved by being a congenial customer. Better customers get better customer service (generally).