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They have a reputation for being big-headed, but New Yorkers showed they are big-hearted too, by finishing first in our global courtesy ratings.They placed in the top five in all three tests and were particularly polite at holding doors open, with only two people failing to do so. "I don't even think about it," said syndications assistant Kirsten Chieco, who held the door of one of the Starbucks coffee shops where the tests were done. "Most New Yorkers are courteous."
Surprised? Not former mayor Ed Koch. Asked to react to our findings, Koch pointed to a rise in New York niceness since the terror attacks on the city five years ago. "After 9/11, New Yorkers are more caring. They understand the shortness of life."
The second most courteous place: prosperous Zurich, Switzerland. In a feat matched only in Stockholm, Sweden, Zurich shop assistants thanked us for our purchase in every store we visited. Old-fashioned customer service was very much in evidence.
"I am friendly to people whether they are dressed shabbily or wearing an expensive fur coat," said Frieda Lütolf after we purchased $2 worth of chocolate from exclusive confectioners Sprüngli. "Everyone I deal with is served attentively -- even those who are rude to me."
Swiss shopworkers' good manners were often inspired by their pride in their work. "I have been here for 40 years," explained tobacconist's manager Ursula Gross. "I like it, so I have always arrived on time and always been friendly and courteous."
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