Originally Posted by
jackal
Agreed 100%--I thought the same thing when I read tfar's post.
As someone in the service industry but whose job it isn't to fetch people taxis, if someone asked me (even pleasantly as tfar suggested) to call them a cab, I wouldn't be inclined to help them. After all, I may need to look up the phone number to a taxi company--the same as they'd need to do, in which case my impression of them is that they're too lazy or too self-important to do the work themselves, in which case I'd be tempted to decline their request (they can do their own d*** work).
On the other hand, if someone asked me the best way to catch a cab or to get to the airport, I'd actually feel (as Mr H suggested) flattered that they think I might be knowledgeable enough to help them. I might offer to look up the number for them, call the taxi for them, suggest a better alternative, or--who knows?--I could even say that I was going to be heading that way in a few minutes and I'd be happy to take them with me (I've done that a time or two).
It is a good technique, I may even use it. Nonetheless, I find it ever so slightly manipulative and there shouldn't be any need to use such a technique on a normally calibrated person. It's really funny how the cultural differences on this pan out. I would say people are generally more helpful in the US and generally more status conscious in Europe. But in the US they have very easily offended sensitivities and a high "not my job" attitude. My polite question would get the desired results without them even thinking the question is demeaning in Europe. The proposed technique might not lead to an offer for help but just to an answer telling you what is the best way to get a taxi without actually offering you any help.
I can see the American visitor standing there thinking "Duh!".
As for who to ask. Of course, it is better to ask the business partner, then the lobby attendant and only ask the security as a last resort.
But the lobby attendant should really be able to do that and I see that as a classic job for a lobby attendant. I mean, ...? (excuse my language), what else is a lobby attendant there for than customer service? Especially if there is extra security anyway.
Till