Regular customers are the backbone of The Boss's limo business, not that you'd know it.
I shake my head at how he treats these people. One guy in particular pays around thirty percent more per airport transfer than everyone else. The reason? Because the bills go straight to his corporate office, and no-one there ever does a comparative analysis against other limo companies.
I suspect that he instructs the finance department not to question the cost because he's comfortable using our service. In reality that means that he likes we drivers; we go out of our way to look after him, and he knows it. Yes, he's demanding and particular but we know how to handle him.
After spending many hours driving guys and girls like him around, you get to know them. The power gradient is huge, of course - we're mere drivers, they're captains and captainettes of industry, but a personal relationship of sorts can spring from this thin soil.
That's nice, and makes for more pleasant working days, but drivers should never mistake cordiality with friendship. The subtext must always remain in a chauffeur's head that this is a customer/servant arrangement, nothing more. Taking liberties and making assumptions can land you in trouble. Quickly.
Only when a customer has invited you into their house for social reasons can you change the footing in your mind. Until then, one has to understand one's inferior position. And I chose that word very carefully.
Saab picture from here [link]
2 comments:
Interesting post. There's a lot of hot air about equality but whenever people can figure out a way they can consider themselves 'better' than others, they sure grab it in a hurry. And you are right, the 'inferior' had better not cross that line.
Fortunately, my natural instinct is towards verifiable trust in the friendship department, Don. So, unlike some other drivers, I err on the side of reticence.
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