The Measure of Good Service

Sometime in my late teens, my friends and I used to spend a lot of time in all-night restaurants and coffee houses, paying for coffee, salads, and nachos on our meager budgets.  I'm guessing we weren't the favorites at Denny's when considering our money spent to time spent at their table ratio.  But still we expected to be treated like any other paying customer.  We were there to spend money, after all, and we deserve to be served.  Do you remember the measure of good service?  For me, it was always prompt beverage refilling, even if it was just water.  I can remember numerous nights at Denny's in Waikiki (the one that was on the corner of Kapahulu and Kalakaua.  We went there after my senior prom, remember?), pasty-mouthed and livid because my tiny cup of water had not been refilled in half an hour.  Outrageous.

Well, yesterday I filled out the eCafe surveys for my teachers and it brought to mind-- what is the measure of good (online class) service?  I'm so easy.  I put a lot of weight into how promptly my teachers respond to emails or discussion inquiries.  I've heard so many stories about being ignored by professors, about assignments being posted willy-nilly in random places, and so I feel really lucky that I haven't had those nightmares so far.  My teachers were all punctual, clear, and fairly transparent.  I lucked out.

If you're wondering what my measure of good service is these days in restaurants, would you be surprised if my list has grown?  Prompt refills still tops the list, but also important is whether my server asks my kids if they want dessert, especially when the dessert isn't part of their meal.  I mean, don't do it.

How do you measure good service?