The OP asked for "Positive stories" not the knocking ones that appear on this site all the time. It's easy to try and compare the food industry in the US, and the reason why workers waiting on/bartending, work hard to get heir tips, but that isn't really the point. It's like comparing apples and oranges, they may be fruits, but are very different.
I've been living here some 7 months now, and generally I have had pretty good service everywhere I have been. Maybe it helps living outside of Capital Federal, maybe they take pity on me for my (still)appalling Spanish, but here are some examples....
I buy the Buenos Aires Herald whenever I get the chance when in Avellaneda Centre. I don't go into town every day, maybe only twice a week, but when I walk up to the kiosk, I am greeeted with a friendly "Hello", and the Herald is whipped out for me from under the counter where the seller has been saving it, in case the gringo comes along. A couple fo times when I have handed him 2 x 2 peso notes for the paper (It costs 2.50), he has given me one of the 2's back as he is short of change. The next day I tried to give him 3 for the paper and to give him the extra 50 cents that he let me off the previous day, he gave me back the coin back, and told me not to worry about it
....
There is a restaurant we go to maybe once every two weeks, here in Avellaneda. The staff know my limited Spanish, and always make a point of greeting me as a long lost friend, and more often than not, at the end of the meal, a glass of lemoncello arrives to say thank you - and again, like was said by someone else, we don't spend a fortune there by any means, just being friendly.
I recently needed to see a dentist as a crown broke on me. I managed to get an appointment the same day I called, she made a temporary fix that day, and had me back the next day for x-rays, molds etc, to make a replacement. The whole process took four days, and cost very little, and each day I am greeted by the receptionist with the normal Argentine kiss on cheek, and a smiling welcome.
I could go on, but I think it depends on what you are used to, and what your expectations may be. Maybe it's because I am used to the more arrogant/less service culture of the UK , rather than the "Have a Nice Day" US Culture of servitude, but in general I have found the local service accomodating. Having said that, I do agree about the Post Office, there must be a better way to simply buy stamps and post some letters, than waiting for ever in a line!
I've been living here some 7 months now, and generally I have had pretty good service everywhere I have been. Maybe it helps living outside of Capital Federal, maybe they take pity on me for my (still)appalling Spanish, but here are some examples....
I buy the Buenos Aires Herald whenever I get the chance when in Avellaneda Centre. I don't go into town every day, maybe only twice a week, but when I walk up to the kiosk, I am greeeted with a friendly "Hello", and the Herald is whipped out for me from under the counter where the seller has been saving it, in case the gringo comes along. A couple fo times when I have handed him 2 x 2 peso notes for the paper (It costs 2.50), he has given me one of the 2's back as he is short of change. The next day I tried to give him 3 for the paper and to give him the extra 50 cents that he let me off the previous day, he gave me back the coin back, and told me not to worry about it
....There is a restaurant we go to maybe once every two weeks, here in Avellaneda. The staff know my limited Spanish, and always make a point of greeting me as a long lost friend, and more often than not, at the end of the meal, a glass of lemoncello arrives to say thank you - and again, like was said by someone else, we don't spend a fortune there by any means, just being friendly.
I recently needed to see a dentist as a crown broke on me. I managed to get an appointment the same day I called, she made a temporary fix that day, and had me back the next day for x-rays, molds etc, to make a replacement. The whole process took four days, and cost very little, and each day I am greeted by the receptionist with the normal Argentine kiss on cheek, and a smiling welcome.
I could go on, but I think it depends on what you are used to, and what your expectations may be. Maybe it's because I am used to the more arrogant/less service culture of the UK , rather than the "Have a Nice Day" US Culture of servitude, but in general I have found the local service accomodating. Having said that, I do agree about the Post Office, there must be a better way to simply buy stamps and post some letters, than waiting for ever in a line!
