DEAR MISS MANNERS: Sometimes I give suggestions to businesses, such as a gym, a store or my condo management. I am very careful to be respectful and polite, and to wait till the person at the counter is available to speak with me.
I usually receive one of a few answers, but I don't know how to reply.
Sometimes I hear, "No one else has mentioned this," which I find condescending. Or I'm told, "There has never been an incident before" to requests for safety measures, which I find very illogical. I've never had a fire at my home or been in a car accident, yet I use smoke alarms and seat belts.
I believe that when there is a problem, it should be investigated -- such as checking the temperature or the decibels, for example, if I mention that it is extremely cold or extremely loud -- instead of telling me I'm the only one with the complaint. There is never a simple acknowledgment or validation of my concerns.
GENTLE READER: And that is unfortunate. Miss Manners might have some sympathy for an establishment receiving conflicting feedback on subjective criteria, but these replies suggest that your reactions are out of line.
Your response to such remarks should be, "Thank you. I will take it up with management." Whether or not you actually do so is entirely up to your own equally subjective criteria.