Rant: Customer Service

How often have you heard the statement, "I think every one should work in customer service at one point in their lives?" It's something I probably rolled my eyes at when I was a teenager. Yeah, right, why would I work in a restaurant and serve other people? Yet now I find myself wanting to tell the customers that arrive around 3pm at my Starbucks, "Appreciate me!!!" One kid yesterday said to my co-worker, "How come your service is so slow these days?" Are you kidding, kid? Your drink was ordered and made within a minute. Your only wait-time was to pay at the register. I'd rather not stereotype--but I'll just say that most of these teenagers seem to have wealthy families. My store is in a well-off neighborhood. It is one of my biggest hopes to raise a child that has an appreciation for genuine, hard-working people like my co-workers. Please, don't tell us to smile when we've been doing it non-stop for 8 hours. I'm not sorry that my face turns from a smile to a concentrated squint as I make your half-caf, triple-shot, two-pump vanilla, non-fat, extra dry cappuccino. Good day! :)