High Counters

You will have to excuse the language, but you know what really gives me the shits? Those high counters at shops and cafes.

For some reason, it seems to have suddenly become the thing to add high tables, once the rigeur in bars, in cafes .

I don’t mind them too much as high tables in cafes – in fact, as a walkie, they are easy to slide onto for a quick coffee or snack. Saves you from having to bend down, which has its advantages when you have dodgy knees, or, as I have at the moment, a sore back. Cafes generally have these things in addition to sitting tables, and its quite ok to share them with complete strangers.

But high counters are another thing altogether.

I have worked in the service industry and never liked them. They are purposely designed to create a barrier between the customer and the service staff. For some occasions that can be a bonus – but in general, I find you get better and friendlier service when staff and customers are not separated by the high barrier.

Now that I am generally accompanied by at least one wheelie, I positively hate them.

You know that thing called independence? You know that thing where parents get their kids to pay for them at the shops - no no, it’s not just lazyness, it’s a teachable moment. You know, money (counting, banking) and manners (here you are, thank you very much).

Try doing that when you have a Mount Everest of a counter in front of you.

See what I mean? JB HiFi is a perfect example, but I can provide plenty more.

It really isn’t that hard to build a lower counter – at the very least a section of it if you really have the burning desire for a high counter. Or make a small adaptation, like the Genius Bar in the Apple Stores. It just slides out, and folds up and in again neatly when the wheelchair using customer is done. Genius. Sorry…

This bloody thing can only mean two things. Either wheelies don’t have to pay. Or wheelies are not welcome.

Now, in this day and age, with all sorts of building requirements and our oh so sensitive and politically correct attitude, it could not possibly mean that wheelies are not welcome right?

It must be that wheelies don’t have to pay.

I am seriously contemplating starting a thing. A social movement. A hashtag. A whatever. Where wheelies go to the counter, can’t reach it and take a picture. Then post it on social media. And walk out of the store without paying.

You recon if we en masse refused to pay the high counters would dissapear?