Covid – an Excuse for everything or an Incentive to do better?

I am sick of covid as an Excuse for bad Service

We’re currently travelling in the Okanagan, a premier wine region in British Columbia. It is truly amazing how covid splits prevailing attitudes: Many are slacking off, hiding behind covid; while others go the extra mile and perform at their best. They both still have a job and a purpose, but draw opposite conclusions.

Restaurants treating Guests like Petitioners

This happened to us at two winery restaurants: There was no will to accommodate guests from afar, even if we tried to make a reservation three days prior. The attitude was like “we already have enough diners and don’t care if you come or not”. When I asked one of the receptionist how long we had to wait, she replied “no more than half an hour”….and we left. Finding a reasonable solution for customers is no longer en vogue. They were rejectionists, not receptionist. We are done with such establishments!

….and then there are the People who go the extra Mile

Peter, the service manager at Canadian Tire in West Kelowna is one of them: The auto shop opens at 8:00 am, but his door was open at 7:30 am. He listened to my story that we were in a pickle, needing new tires for our wintery drive back home to Whitehorse. Next he came out to our vehicle, assessed our tires, then gave us two options for new tires, and slotted us in for the next morning. We’re on our way with safe tires. I let the store’s General Manager know what Peter did for us, and we gave Peter a bottle of Synchromesh 2019 Riesling.

Yesterday a couple invited me to join them in the hotel elevator – apparently they have the same low level of paranoia regarding covid as I do. While we were standing at opposite corners of the elevator, she asked me where I was going – 3rd floor. She pressed “3” first, even though they were going to “-1” (parking). So they rode all the way up with me first. Hearts of gold, and they made my day!

Some restaurants do brisk business because they care. Cactus Club Café is one of them. We are no friends of food franchises but were impressed how they care about their patrons. Their butternut squash ravioli with shrimp are divine, and so is the Synchromesh Riesling they offer at a reasonable $48 a bottle. Consequently, we went to three different Cactus Clubs over the last two months Burrard and Waterfront in Vancouver, and downtown Kelowna)! At each location they were friendly, fast and well organized.

There is a bistro in North Vancouver we strongly recommend to everyone: Lift Breakfast Bakery . Fresh and delicious food, fast and friendly service! We’re repeat customers now.

Now more than ever, we are returning to those places where we are treated warmly and professionally.

How we bought Synchromesh Riesling in co-weird Times

Here we drive all the way out to the Synchromesh Winery, to buy the Riesling we loved at Cactus Club. There was a metal gate, and it was closed. We called and the answering machine and it said they deliver Canada-wide fro free right now, but due to covid are not open for sales at the winery. I left a non-plussed message – after all you can’t get this wine in liquor stores, especially not in Whitehorse. …….. Then a snazzy Beemer approached the gate for inside. I jumped out of the car, the driver stopped and I asked “are you the owner”. After a yes, and searching for a solution, he called his son, who ten minutes later delivered two cases of the Riesling to the gate; and I thought a case was six bottles – but no, 12! So we’re hauling 24 bottles back home, enough to make our long winters a little more colourful!

We’re in this together – lets manage it together!

There are a lot of interpretations out there how to deal with covid: Most hotels deleted house keeping from their services – at best they drop new towels at your door if you call reception. They save cost, but their rates stay the same. But there are soothing exceptions: A very nice hotel in North Vancouver we recently stayed at still does daily house keeping. This also keeps people employed!

Today I asked our breakfast server to leave the thermos with the coffee at our table. “Oh, I’m not allowed to.” How about giving the thermos a quick wipe down after we had it on our table? At another hotel, leaving the thermos at our table was a given. Co-weird times indeed!

Do your very best to keep your Job and stay in Business!

On a billboard along the highway I read this today: 2019: Stay positive! 2020: Stay negative!