This isn’t a diatribe, just a quick observation. I recently arrived in Brussels from the UK and noticed this sticker in my taxi from the airport. The fact that it refers to the customer’s convenience as well as the cab firm’s own security is key. An equivalent UK sticker would have said “for your convenience” only. They’d never dream of adding the latter bit, because frankly, what’s the point – you’re trying to demonstrate to customers that you’re looking out for them. Do they really care that you feel more secure?
A reflection of a far more egalitarian relationship between customer and service provider in Belgium than in the UK: it’s not about sucking up to the customer, but from the off, a tit-for-tat relationship. More honest I suppose.
Steffen Moller 