Tim Hortons: "Basic human decency? What's that?"

BitVyper · 02-09-2008, 01:44 AM

I'm a touch mad right now. I'm not really mad at anyone in particular. I'm just confused and angry about people.

Okay, for those of you who don't know, I live in the cold wastes of Canada. Right now, the temperature and wind chill have passed the point where you can reasonably be outside for any length of time. It's dipped to -38 tonight.

Work ended, my car wouldn't start. Okay, I have my AMA membership for a reason, so no problem. I've no phone (admitably, my own fault), and it's very late, so I walk to Tim Hortons, buy some food, explain my situation, and ask to use a phone. "The phone is not for public use." I point out that the temperature can literally kill a person given nowhere to go. Same response. I ask for a manager. Up to now, I'm fine. I'm sure the cashier is just doing her job, and I get that this is kind of hard to deal with when you've got rules, so I'm sure the boss will have some kind of human decency and not leave someone to the cold.

I was wrong.

The boss gives me this incredibly disdainful look, like I'm somehow a bad person, and it should be obvious that I am beneath the use of a phone. She turns me away. Not in a particularly polite fashion either.

What the fuck? I mean, I'm not mad because this made my situation more difficult, and it's hard for me to even direct my anger at the manager. I'm just pissed off that a person like this exists. I mean, weren't we all taught to have some common decency? Isn't the idea that you give someone a hand when it costs you nothing, and they're basically SoL without you? Do you not throw someone a line if you see them drowning in a river? I can get over every personal aspect of this situation, but what is wrong with the world when someone will literally just leave you stuck in an emergency situation?

This is how I was raised. This is how I have always endeavored to act. Guy came to us at 10 o'clock with a dog that had been hit by a car once. We were trying to go home. Letting him in: Totally against the rules. Not a single person working with me thought of doing anything but letting him in, writing off some bandages, and getting in touch with the emergency vet. This is how a god damned civilized person acts.

Anyway, I should finish the story. I walked around looking for a place that was open. Some Starbucks employees were still around, closing up, so being pretty damn cold at this point, I banged on the door. They let me in, let me warm up, gave me a phone, made me some hot chocolate, waited around for me to call AMA, and then waited for my ride to come so that I could stay inside. I'd have been happy with five seconds on a phone. Next time someone cracks a joke to me about Starbucks employees being full of themselves, they're gonna catch a lot of shit.

I mean, it would actually have been understandable for these guys to turn me away. They were closed, and I could have been a psychopath. They could have just not answered the door.

Anyway, I've always hated Tim Hortons. I've never seen them treat people right, so saying I'll never go there again doesn't have much oomph. Instead, I'll just say "fuck you" and leave it at that. Fuck you, Tim Hortons.

As for you, Starbucks: I wish you produced some kind of product that I liked so I could buy from you on a regular basis. As it is, I'll just settle for writing a letter.

POS Industries · 02-09-2008, 01:51 AM

I had a feeling that their whole "15 million Canadians love Tim Horton's" ad campaign they have down here in the States was utter bollocks. Glad you made it through all right.

BitVyper · 02-09-2008, 02:06 AM

Fastest way to become a millionaire in Canada is to own a Tim Hortons. My college had two. TWO. Within five hundred feet of each other.

Eltargrim · 02-09-2008, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS Industries

15 million Canadians love Tim Horton's

Blatant lie. We don't love Tim's; we love donuts and coffee. Brand means nothing. Nothing!

BitVyper, glad to hear you made it out. That wind is absolutely brutal.

BitVyper · 02-09-2008, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eltargrim

Blatant lie. We don't love Tim's; we love donuts and coffee. Brand means nothing. Nothing!

To be fair, the brand DOES mean something. With Tim Hortons, it means you can have faith in the fact that you will pay for the most pathetically small doughnut (outside of those mini ones) ever to grace the Earth.

What? I said I CAN get over all the personal aspects. Not that I would.

Bobbey · 02-09-2008, 03:31 PM

Ironically enough, I'm eating Timbits right now.

But yeah man, that's harsh...I hate it when people don't seem to know what decency is...the people at my old job didn't know that either, I was the only one who really helped out the customers, especially if they were lost (tourists always stopped in to ask us where the hell they are, because they thought they were at Tremblant when they were really about 40 miles away of their point of destination) or if they couldn't afford the food/snacks we sold, I'd let them bring in their own lunch, even if it was against the rules to do so.

-38...brrr.

Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope · 02-09-2008, 03:37 PM

Bit Viper: You should contact your local media outlet about this. Tim Horton's is a horrible company.

I am glad you made it through though.

Krylo · 02-09-2008, 03:42 PM

Well if Bit did contact the media about it, Tim Horton's wouldn't really take a hit as a company. The manager would probably end up being crucified by their corporate PR department, though.

Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope · 02-09-2008, 03:54 PM

Tim's takes its public image seriously. It won;t affect them in the long run, but it still another red mark on the corporation.

Telephalsion · 02-09-2008, 04:04 PM

I agree, that was bad manners, I'd call the manager a mean jobsworth.

I mean, most times I get help form working personell when I'm in trouble. Me and two friends missed a station while on the train once and ended up a few miles too far, so when the return train return, we explained our situation, and the conductor just let us on the train. Admittedly, there was nobody else on the train, so he wasn't going to get in any trouble, but it's just common decency, seeing as we had left the jurisdiction of Leeds Taxi companies, we were basically, lost.
Sometimes though, I've met people like that manager, who simply take their work-rules way too seriously, like a technician at school who refused to help me because I knocked at his door one minute before his break ended. I mean, sure, I wasn't in mortal peril, but that minute could be discounted.

And I'm somehow reminded of the staff at the burger joint in the movie "Falling Down".

02-09-2008, 01:44 AM	#1
BitVyper History's Strongest Dilettante Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arcadia Posts: 6,662	Tim Hortons: "Basic human decency? What's that?" I'm a touch mad right now. I'm not really mad at anyone in particular. I'm just confused and angry about people. Okay, for those of you who don't know, I live in the cold wastes of Canada. Right now, the temperature and wind chill have passed the point where you can reasonably be outside for any length of time. It's dipped to -38 tonight. Work ended, my car wouldn't start. Okay, I have my AMA membership for a reason, so no problem. I've no phone (admitably, my own fault), and it's very late, so I walk to Tim Hortons, buy some food, explain my situation, and ask to use a phone. "The phone is not for public use." I point out that the temperature can literally kill a person given nowhere to go. Same response. I ask for a manager. Up to now, I'm fine. I'm sure the cashier is just doing her job, and I get that this is kind of hard to deal with when you've got rules, so I'm sure the boss will have some kind of human decency and not leave someone to the cold. I was wrong. The boss gives me this incredibly disdainful look, like I'm somehow a bad person, and it should be obvious that I am beneath the use of a phone. She turns me away. Not in a particularly polite fashion either. What the fuck? I mean, I'm not mad because this made my situation more difficult, and it's hard for me to even direct my anger at the manager. I'm just pissed off that a person like this exists. I mean, weren't we all taught to have some common decency? Isn't the idea that you give someone a hand when it costs you nothing, and they're basically SoL without you? Do you not throw someone a line if you see them drowning in a river? I can get over every personal aspect of this situation, but what is wrong with the world when someone will literally just leave you stuck in an emergency situation? This is how I was raised. This is how I have always endeavored to act. Guy came to us at 10 o'clock with a dog that had been hit by a car once. We were trying to go home. Letting him in: Totally against the rules. Not a single person working with me thought of doing anything but letting him in, writing off some bandages, and getting in touch with the emergency vet. This is how a god damned civilized person acts. Anyway, I should finish the story. I walked around looking for a place that was open. Some Starbucks employees were still around, closing up, so being pretty damn cold at this point, I banged on the door. They let me in, let me warm up, gave me a phone, made me some hot chocolate, waited around for me to call AMA, and then waited for my ride to come so that I could stay inside. I'd have been happy with five seconds on a phone. Next time someone cracks a joke to me about Starbucks employees being full of themselves, they're gonna catch a lot of shit. I mean, it would actually have been understandable for these guys to turn me away. They were closed, and I could have been a psychopath. They could have just not answered the door. Anyway, I've always hated Tim Hortons. I've never seen them treat people right, so saying I'll never go there again doesn't have much oomph. Instead, I'll just say "fuck you" and leave it at that. Fuck you, Tim Hortons. As for you, Starbucks: I wish you produced some kind of product that I liked so I could buy from you on a regular basis. As it is, I'll just settle for writing a letter. __________________ "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea is asleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace; we've got work to do!" Awesome art be here.

02-09-2008, 01:51 AM	#2
POS Industries Argus Agony Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gotta go fishing! Posts: 10,483	I had a feeling that their whole "15 million Canadians love Tim Horton's" ad campaign they have down here in the States was utter bollocks. Glad you made it through all right. __________________ Either you're dead or my watch has stopped.

02-09-2008, 02:06 AM	#3
BitVyper History's Strongest Dilettante Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arcadia Posts: 6,662	Fastest way to become a millionaire in Canada is to own a Tim Hortons. My college had two. TWO. Within five hundred feet of each other. __________________ "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea is asleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace; we've got work to do!" Awesome art be here.

02-09-2008, 03:31 PM	#6
Bobbey I mustache you a question. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laval Posts: 768	Ironically enough, I'm eating Timbits right now. But yeah man, that's harsh...I hate it when people don't seem to know what decency is...the people at my old job didn't know that either, I was the only one who really helped out the customers, especially if they were lost (tourists always stopped in to ask us where the hell they are, because they thought they were at Tremblant when they were really about 40 miles away of their point of destination) or if they couldn't afford the food/snacks we sold, I'd let them bring in their own lunch, even if it was against the rules to do so. -38...brrr. __________________ The key to being a big league pitcher is the 3 R's: readiness, recuperation, and conditioning! You see, after the game, a lot of guys like to ice up their arm. Still, other fellas think that heat is the way to go. But I have discovered the secret, Henry: hot ice! That's right: hot ice. I heat up... the ice cubes! It's the best of both worlds! -Phil Brickman

02-09-2008, 03:37 PM	#7
Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope Definitely NOT a samurai Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Location: Wherever the wind leads me Posts: 5,347	Bit Viper: You should contact your local media outlet about this. Tim Horton's is a horrible company. I am glad you made it through though. __________________ Lost in the Music ~ On Hiatus Tales of a Torn World ~ World Building

02-09-2008, 03:42 PM	#8
Krylo The Straightest Shota Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a secret to everybody. Posts: 17,789	Well if Bit did contact the media about it, Tim Horton's wouldn't really take a hit as a company. The manager would probably end up being crucified by their corporate PR department, though. __________________ I am very tired.

02-09-2008, 03:54 PM	#9
Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope Definitely NOT a samurai Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Location: Wherever the wind leads me Posts: 5,347	Tim's takes its public image seriously. It won;t affect them in the long run, but it still another red mark on the corporation. __________________ Lost in the Music ~ On Hiatus Tales of a Torn World ~ World Building