Ben Stein How Not to Ruin Your Life

Timothy - Thursday, May 15, 2008, 11:34AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Amen, brother. He has voiced a feeling I've had for a long time now. The economy is definitely still good enough that people who shouldn't have jobs have them.

AIV1935 - Monday, May 12, 2008, 1:40PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 3/5

"Y'see?... "Peadles1998" is a prime example of the problem. A customer wants to buy books (B&N's prime function), but he also wants an added service. He didn't want it for free. He was willing to pay for for the packaging & shipping, but... "Well, gee. we can't do THAT! why? because that's just the way it, uhhh,... IS." It was certainly not an unreasonable or seriously difficult thing to accomplish with a little effort. Believe me, someone else will come along who WILL find a way to serve the customer, the cutomers will leave in droves, and the unemployed GW Univ. slackers will be standing around whining & complaining that they don't have the do-nothing job they DESERVE." To you and Ben, Maybe you haven't ever worked where your employer doesn't give you the tools to accomodate customers. If their attempts to ship it locked up the computer, maybe you should be making comments about B&N's company policies, not the employees with their hands tied by corp policy.

James - Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 1:16AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 4/5

Wow! A simple slip of the mouse and your just plain STUCK with your accidental good rating! (I meant to give Ben Stein only 1 star!) Anyway, as someone who's no stranger to thankless jobs, I consider myself to be somewhat of an expert on this issue. I've had jobs that paid well and I've had jobs that paid the barest minimums. The amount of work, initiative, reliability, and customer service I gave at each and every job I've ever held was in direct correlation to the amount of pay I received. At jobs that I received what I thought was a good wage, my work performance was stellar, but when I held jobs that didn't pay well: I was late every day, I called in once a week, and treated customers like crap. I have a bumper sticker on my truck currently that reads: "THEY PRETEND TO PAY ME, I PRETEND TO WORK". I really don't what Barnes & Noble pays in other areas of the country, but I can't imagine it's too different from where I live. Here in Pensacola, Florida, they have a reputation for being one of the lowest paying employers. In fact, their current starting wage here is only a few cents above Florida's minimum wage! So, it's really no surprise to me what happened to Mr. Stein. If Barnes & Noble (or really any other service provider) was really concerned with the level of customer service their employees were providing, they would better compensate their employees. WOULD YOU have given Ben Stein good customer service making only $6.00 an hour??? WOULD YOU have given Ben Stein good customer service knowing that the worse thing that could happen to you is for you to get fired, and then hired on TOMORROW with a different retailer offering (what most likely would be) a higher wage???

Yahoo! Finance User - Saturday, May 3, 2008, 11:45AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

In 1962 a leadman told a group of us young engineers that " A person that gives you eight hours a day of good work stands out like a sore thumb". In my 36 years of work I have never found that to be untrue!

Marie - Saturday, May 3, 2008, 11:17AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

I agree with the main point of this article. However, the services Ben was asking for are no longer done the way he remembers. Many businesses today have "outsourced" these former services to the customer.

Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, May 2, 2008, 6:07PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

So true! It's my biggest problem with unions. My brother came home baffled one day that a guy on a construction job was getting paid to sit on his butt all day doing nothing because there wasn't a "laborer" to carry boards 10 feet from the pile to his saw so he could cut them. My brother was doing plumbing work due to being out of work in his usual IT field (this was during the dot-com bust) and couldn't imagine that kind of attitude working in his regular field. And yet these union guys go on strike at the drop of a hat because the companies are going broke trying to pay 100% their retirees health care. They want everything but don't want to work for it. And this is the example they're giving the next generation. Sad, very sad. Meanwhile, I work as a contract software developer, where I don't get paid if I don't work. Period. It does make you appreciate the value of your work.

Chuck - Monday, April 28, 2008, 7:26AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Absolutely on target. If you read the papers here in the Boston area you can see a fine description of this problem, especially with DPW ,firemen, and other government employees. They find all types of excuses for their behavior. Number one excuse is they require more money to off-set these problems via more people or training etc.

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, April 27, 2008, 9:14PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 3/5

I want to work and learn. I can't find a job where my boss actually want me to do a good job, so I slack. To give you an idea, I show up at my work at 8 AM in the morning, and my boss comes late 2 hours later, does nothing but gets all the raises and increases. Why bother?

Andrew - Sunday, April 27, 2008, 4:55PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 4/5

Good article, But Ben still doesn't understand why we are in a recession (Actually a depression)

TomS - Saturday, April 26, 2008, 1:00PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 4/5

Y'see?... "Peadles1998" is a prime example of the problem. A customer wants to buy books (B&N's prime function), but he also wants an added service. He didn't want it for free. He was willing to pay for for the packaging & shipping, but... "Well, gee. we can't do THAT! why? because that's just the way it, uhhh,... IS." It was certainly not an unreasonable or seriously difficult thing to accomplish with a little effort. Believe me, someone else will come along who WILL find a way to serve the customer, the cutomers will leave in droves, and the unemployed GW Univ. slackers will be standing around whining & complaining that they don't have the do-nothing job they DESERVE.

Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, April 24, 2008, 10:56PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 4/5

Good article. In response to another comment, Ben Stein's observations on money issues make a lot of sense, even if he reaches his level of incompetence when he tries to offers commentary on scientific issues like evolution.

c - Thursday, April 24, 2008, 3:18PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 2/5

I usually like Ben's writings but feel like he picked a bad example to make his point. B&N stores are not set up to mail books from behind the counter, simple as that. What did he expect the clerks to do, drive over to the post office for him? Can you imagine him agreeing the the price they would have to charge for that?

Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, April 24, 2008, 10:36AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

GREAT! Perfectly said. Too bad all the "Illegals" arent given the opportunity they deserve. When the company I worked for fired all the "Illegals", That company went bankrupt. Could'nt replace them. too many lazy ppl wanna move from job to job..for all you haters...your racists! go watch the movie Expelled to find out what type of person you are!

MIKE - Thursday, April 24, 2008, 1:47AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Well said, Ben!

Charles - Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 3:06PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

This one's a gem, Ben! And I couldn't agree more. A rarity in the American workplace today - particularly in retail, as we all know - is initiative. For those with initiative and skills, times are rarely as bad as for the mediocre. All reputable organizations - or at least those wanting to grow - are looking for folks that will really contribute something, not just accept a paycheck. Unfortunately, at some businesses, those that show "too much" initiative are told to fall in line; it's a threat to the higher-ups that think such individuals may be after their jobs or are trying to seize control of an enterprise. Higher-ups - especially those that have started a business - have considerable egos and are wary of those who may try to upstage them. But this is far from the dominant condition in this country. It's like the old expression - "If you want anything done right, you have to do it yourself." I, like you, Ben, also like taking care of some of my business online because it's just faster. I'll be saving this article for those I think will need to read it.

Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 3:04PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 3/5

I can understand Ben's impatience with the store clerks...have been there myself. But not all young people are like that - my experience with a repair at a local Apple store, with excellent customer service in the midst of frustrating corporate rules, confirms that....

Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 12:45PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Ben Stein is right. It's unfortunate that in his recent movie advancing ID, he shows as much competence as the store clerks he criticizes.

Lauren - Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 12:12PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 1/5

This is disgusting. I wish I could give it zero stars. Read a an excerpt from the book "Working life" below to see how employees are rewarded by corporate america for their hard work. and read the book for even more grotesque examples" "Middle-class workers have not been immune. On a day in 2003 that Circuit City workers remember as “Bloody Wednesday,” the retailer fired 3,900 senior commissioned salespeople — some earned $50,000 a year — having concluded that their commissions and wages were too high. Circuit City simultaneously hired 2,100 replacement salespeople who were to receive lower wages and far lower commissions. Then in 2007, Circuit City laid off another 3,400 employees because they, in the company’s words, earned “well above the market- based salary range for their role.” Many of those laid off were earning around $29,000 a year. Circuit City announced that these workers could reapply for their jobs ten weeks later, but if rehired, they would come back at the lower “market rate.” In her ten years at the Circuit City in Hoover, Alabama, Julie Godette was considered a model employee, assigned to train new hires and receiving repeated raises that brought her up to $16.40 an hour. She, too, was suddenly laid off. “To work that long for a company and to be let go because you did a good job really hurts,” Godette said"

betsy g - Sunday, April 20, 2008, 5:19PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Ben Stein is wonderful. This article is so right on the money its sad.

Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, April 20, 2008, 1:26PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

I own a small business that has been in operation for 86 years. While it certainly doesn't take "rocket scientists" to work our retail setting, our biggest frustration is finding and keeping employees that have a good work ethic. This article is accurate.

Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, April 18, 2008, 8:54PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Very good point. All of society benefits when the individual gets up, goes out there and deals with it. That person gains the most.

Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, April 18, 2008, 3:20PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 3/5

I want to agree with him 100%, but if I had to take a crack at the other side of the story, perhaps there is a history that low-paying jobs tend to be held by apathetic people--how much does an admin make at a doctor's office? True, we should always try our best in whatever we do, but the reality is that if the incentive (i.e., good benefits, livable wage) is not present, there will be poor performance. But, hey, I worked myself through low paying jobs to a good position in IT solely on my own drive.

Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, April 18, 2008, 2:32PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

As usual, a great article by Ben. This situation bodes well for those of us who have a strong work ethic !

Jack - Friday, April 18, 2008, 1:25PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

I think that a lot of readers are missing the point. Ben is partly lamenting the lack of intelligent entrepeneurship. In the B&N example, I think the clerks could have easily said, "We're not equiped to handle your request, but if you want, after my shift is over, I will send the books for you for a fee of $100 per book." At that point, the onus is on Ben to say yes, no, or negotiate a lower price. Basically, the B&N employees missed an opportunity to make a customer happy and enrich themselves. That is, they didn't create a win-win scenario by thinking outside the box. To those who rated the article lowly and whine that retail salaries are shamefully low, you'll not get an argument from me. But even there you can show some spirit that indicates that you have some intelligent ambition. The attitude shown in the article by the B&N employees (and by some of the commenters) just indicates that they'll be tools (dull at that) for the rest of their careers. To those who rate the article highly and think it's vindication that their hard work is unappreciated and so should be rewarded/hired/admired/etc. , I say that hard work is only one part of the equation. If you work hard without thinking about bettering yourself, your employer, and your family's situation, you're just a dope. And in the end, just a tool as well (albeit maybe a sharp one).

LavonS - Friday, April 18, 2008, 11:29AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

I 100% agree with Mr. Stein. One of the problems I see is most companies resort to hiring young unsure what they want to do with their life kids. Most who grew up in homes where everything was given to them. Life isn't a serious conviction. I worked at a well known retail store where the older generation worked there butts off, came to work as scheduled and on time,where so called team members/team leads from 18 yrs-35yrs old come to work late or lag when at work only to cause the hard workers to make up the void. Yet, they are the ones who can come and go as they please without any repercussions. I'm almost 48 yrs. old and have been trying for months to land a job. Not because I'm lazy but because companies rather pay a young body(not worker) to fill the position. Marine Corps vet and I don't even get looked at. For the Gentleman who worked for 48 yrs. welcome to the new generation of slackers.And, yes customer dis-service is a norm now days. The old adage "you get what you pay for". Where the hard workers get the well known slogan "expect more and pay less". Sad!!!!

johnh - Thursday, April 17, 2008, 8:49AM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

I have noticed this as well. Of course, I am one of those hard workers that nowis looking for a job. See the other problem with this is that when you work hard you get noticed and sometimes to your dismay. To explain, your boss is not always a hard worker but their boss is say the last thing they want is to be replaced so you are usually let go before this happens. In other words, if you can find a job in which your immediate boss works hard keep it because they are few and far between. Sure you might have to wait longer for a raise or promotion but it will be more worth it at that place than the other where you work hard but constantly are in fear of your job because others on your level or immediately above you are put in fear for theirs because of you.

Tim - Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 11:33PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

I have noticed this problem quite a bit the past few years. Seems folks think their entitled to things without effort, perhaps they should be allowed to sink in order to learn their lesson. I am not all that interested in aiding the lazy and apathetic either.

Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 8:57PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 5/5

Ben Stein is right on the mark, as usual. It is impossible to get any person who gives a damn about doing a good job and this is very frustrating. When I attempted to add dental coverage to my Aetna health policy, I went through 9 of their so called customer service??? reps over a 4 month period. It took a call to their corporate headquarters to finally get the coverage added. I wrote a letter to the CEO of Aetna but he must have come up through the ranks of the "I don't care workers" because I never got a reply and now a year later, the same type of service is still the norm. Two weeks ago, I experienced the same attitude when I again tried to make a simple change. One of them went so far as to tell me that the change couldn't be done. Three others told me that they had made the change but it wasn't done. This time remembering my previous experience, I called corporate headquarters after only two weeks and 4 customer "dis-service" reps and had the change made. I am retired after working for 48 years but when I was working, I knocked myself out to give a FULL day's efficient work to my employer. My husband always gave 110% to his job. My son has taken up where we left off and gives his all to his job. Is it too much to ask that others do the same? I can't understand why this country is stuck with such an overwhelming amount of lazy, inefficient, do nothing bums!!! If someone can explain this to me, I would really appreciate it.

La Marque - Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 8:45PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 3/5

I am glad that the user who thinks Ben Stein is a creationist won't be reading the column anymore; then we won't have to read his idiotic comments anymore. Ben is right about a lot of this; but B&N and the other businesses failed to properly train the first customer responders, the clerks. Most untrained and even semi-trained people panic in unfamiliar situations. Remember it is the business owner's job to have qualified people in place.

Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 8:25PM ET  Report Abuse

• Overall: 3/5

I believe Ben should consider whether too much debt relative to income is the primary cause of this recession.