I went to my local farmfoods shop today and bought a load of stuff as I usually end up doing. While I waited to pay one of the bags sagged sideways and the top item fell out. It was a large carton of eggs! Of course they all broke and went all over the floor.
I was dumbstruck and just looked at the assistant.He in turn looked at me and then calmly rang the bell for assistance. A woman appeared and he asked her to get another pack of eggs. She did this and brought them over to me. A man appeared with a handful of paper towels and a dustpan. He set to work, the till operator completed my transaction ,someone brought a wet floor triangle and I sorted the bags out ready to take to the car. All without any recriminations, explanations of how good they were being or in fact any mention of the incident at all.
I know it was a small thing (although potentially hugely embarrassing ) and the cost of the broken eggs was relatively little but
I was most impressed and have written to head office to say so.
I left the shop with a little spring in my step and I reflected that good service isnt about grovelling servitude. Sometimes its about not saying anything at all.