Used Omlet outdoor rabbit run Width 2.2m Height 2.05m Length 3.1m vgc.

[Cinnamon]

When I used to work on checkouts in Sainsbury's, I much preferred a 'Hello, how are you?' from a customer, rather than being completely ignored. I think it's just being polite and friendly when someone says it, even if they're not that interested in the answer. Even worse than being completely ignored was when the customer talked on their mobile the whole time I was serving, then made me feel rude for interrupting their conversation when I had to ask them questions when paying.

 

 

I loath it when people keep blathering away on their phones while I am trying to serve them

I find it beyond rude.

Even though you may think that a checkout girl says little,there is actually quite a lot we have to ask (would you like carrier bags,could you enter your PIN please etc), & it is so difficult when the customer is on the phone.

 

But I will never,never ever ask a customer how they are unless they are a genuine acquaintance & I genuinely want to know how they are.

 

I would much rather stick to the 'Hello,would you like some help packing' sort of thing.

[majorbloodnock]

When I used to work on checkouts in Sainsbury's, I much preferred a 'Hello, how are you?' from a customer, rather than being completely ignored. I think it's just being polite and friendly when someone says it, even if they're not that interested in the answer. Even worse than being completely ignored was when the customer talked on their mobile the whole time I was serving, then made me feel rude for interrupting their conversation when I had to ask them questions when paying.

 

 

I loath it when people keep blathering away on their phones while I am trying to serve them

I find it beyond rude.

Couldn't agree more.

 

Even though you may think that a checkout girl says little,there is actually quite a lot we have to ask (would you like carrier bags,could you enter your PIN please etc), & it is so difficult when the customer is on the phone.

 

But I will never,never ever ask a customer how they are unless they are a genuine acquaintance & I genuinely want to know how they are.

 

I would much rather stick to the 'Hello,would you like some help packing' sort of thing.

Perfect.

[Lewis]

I'll take your POV but I don't see "How are you?" as a very private or probing question.

If they aren't very chatty back then fair enough but you have to be friendly, to them for those few minutes you're the face of the business and so its just customer service

I kind of think that by not being interested enough in the customer to even ask if they are ok is a bit rude.

 

On the otherhand, I'd be uncomfortable with addressing someone (or being addressed) as "Sir".

 

Obviously I say thank you, but again thats back to what I think of as being polite, along with the How are you?

 

You sometimes don't realise that the person in the shop will have had the same conversation dozens of times that day and so making that 'effort' to just reply and chat is nice for them too.

[Cinnamon]

I'll take your POV but I don't see "How are you?" as a very private or probing question.

 

But, this is the point I am making,you actually don't really care how they are,because they are of no acquaintance to you.

Its just empty words.

As I said earlier,that is what annoys me,& that is why I always feel a desperate urge to be totally honest (although I never have yet!)

 

Being on the front line of customer service as it were,there is a marked difference in how we converse with different people.

For example,I had a big loud bunch of lads through my till of the weekend buying Vodka,bacon & eggs.

They got a casual greeting & there was a fair bit of banter between us all.

Wouldn't have dreamt of calling them 'Sir' & I wished them a great evening & a nice Breakfast the next morning.

 

But an older gentleman deserves & appreciates being called Sir & having a bit of polite chat about the weather maybe.

 

You can tell the non-chatters very easily too.

 

And some are just downright rude. A nasty baggage actually THREW a duck at me this weekend.

[Lewis]

I'll take your POV but I don't see "How are you?" as a very private or probing question.

But, this is the point I am making,you actually don't really care how they are,because they are of no acquaintance to you.

Its just empty words. As I said earlier,that is what annoys me,& that is why I always feel a desperate urge to be totally honest (although I never have yet!)

I don't see it as "I don't actually care how you are so I won't ask" I just think its polite to ask and I see it as a friendly opener to conversation.

 

Likewise, I don't really care about the weather but if thats what the customer commented on I'd still respond and make conversation, rather than not reply 'cos I didn't care

 

We're all different

[majorbloodnock]

I'll take your POV but I don't see "How are you?" as a very private or probing question.

If they aren't very chatty back then fair enough but you have to be friendly, to them for those few minutes you're the face of the business and so its just customer service

I kind of think that by not being interested enough in the customer to even ask if they are ok is a bit rude.

 

On the otherhand, I'd be uncomfortable with addressing someone (or being addressed) as "Sir".

 

Obviously I say thank you, but again thats back to what I think of as being polite, along with the How are you?

 

You sometimes don't realise that the person in the shop will have had the same conversation dozens of times that day and so making that 'effort' to just reply and chat is nice for them too.

Sorry, that wasn't intended as criticism - particularly not the "thank you" bit, which I was taking as read.

 

The problem is not so much that we're all different but that the variation can be so wide. This is underlined by the fact you find my viewpoint difficult to comprehend (even though you're quite willing to accept it).

 

The bald fact is that I've spent years battling against the kind of social games that sales people play to influence the unwitting customer, so when I'm in a shop all I want is to limit conversation with staff to the minimum necessary to achieve what I want. I don't want to say how I am, I don't want to discuss the weather, I don't shop staff to chatter idly to me. I even take (admittedly minor) exception to the question "how can I help you?", since it assumes I need their help in the first place.

 

Is this overly suspicious? I don't believe so, since, in my misspent youth I tried out several careers, and my stint in sales opened my eyes to just how much manipulation goes on. I want to remain in control of my purchases and off any and all marketing databases too. Does this make a checkout person's life difficult? Yes, but I didn't create the situation; I'm merely dealing with the situation the companies have created for themselves. I've also (in aforementioned misspent youth) had several customer-facing jobs, so have only too good an idea of how many times one must have the same conversation with different people, along with how rude some people can be in return. I do my utmost to remain polite without sacrificing my position.

 

Finally, you raise a good point about being the public face of the company you represent, and I agree entirely. If it fits with the company's image, I see nothing wrong or rude with replacing a "sir" with another appropriate term or leaving it out entirely. However, if forcibly trying to demonstrate the company's "friendly attitude" when I've dropped several hints that I just want the representative to shut up and leave me alone for a bit, I find that rude. Nonetheless, I'd be the rude one if I didn't allow enough leeway for the staff to find out what is a resaonable tone to take with me.

 

I know this all sounds very Major-centric, and I'm not, in fact, that self centred. My intention here is to present an insight into a point of view that differs greatly from what companies believe is socially acceptable. I'm not being awkward; just different.

[Cinnamon]

Huh.

Maybe its an age thing?

Interesting though.......

 

Do you really not care about the weather - its all I can think about sometimes

[Alis girls]

I suppose in my job asking someone how they are is part and par of the course. I sometimes regret it mind when I hear about top to toe ailments. I am tempted like you Cinnamon to give them the lowdown on how I really feel.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Why do people say 'literally' when something didn't literally happen?

 

'You could literally cut the atmosphere with a knife'

'I literally jumped 12 feet in the air'

'I was literally tearing my hair out'

 

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[majorbloodnock]

How about "At this present moment in time" instead of "now"? Admittedly, "at this present moment in time" can be used in situations when "now" can't, but those exceptions are covered by "right now" and "currently".

[Egluntyne]

A 'new innovation'. Erm....

[Cinnamon]

110%

[Egluntyne]

110%

 

I was ever so slightly worried when I heard the Chancellor of the Exchequer use this expression earlier this week.

[Chickendoodle]

I get really irritated when it is announced on TV that "inflation is going up". No it isn't, the rate of inflation is going up. Inflation, in itself,is a thing that is going up. Similarly, inflation CANNOT go down, the RATE of inflation can decrease.

 

Also hate the use of "basically", as in - basically, I was walking across the road............totally meaningless

[Egluntyne]

I reach boiling point when I hear or see the words 'One Pence'.

 

Arrgghh!

[majorbloodnock]

....Also hate the use of "basically", as in - basically, I was walking across the road............totally meaningless

You just reminded me.

 

The word "meaningful". How meaningless.

 

Going off at a bit of a tangent, which smart Alec genius decided to spell "phonetic" with a "ph"? Oh, the irony.

[Lewis]

110%

You can have 110% though

 

Sorry

[majorbloodnock]

110%

You can have 110% though

 

Sorry

Not in the context in which most people use it.

 

A price, for instance, could easily increase by 110%, especially when in the hands of any Chancellor of the Exchequer. However, I usually hear it used in one of the hackneyed phrases about asking people to "give 110%" of their effort. Why? Is everytyhing they have not good enough? Must we really resort to Spinal Tap's argument that "this one goes up to eleven"? The truth is that superlatives are like antibiotics; overuse them and they'll lose their effectiveness.

[Space Chick]

110%

You can have 110% though

 

Sorry

 

I agree Lewis

 

Having previously worked in financial services (escaped now ) I lived in a world where 100% of targets were barely acceptable, you always had to strive for 150% or more

[majorbloodnock]

110%

You can have 110% though

 

Sorry

 

I agree Lewis

 

Having previously worked in financial services (escaped now ) I lived in a world where 100% of targets were barely acceptable, you always had to strive for 150% or more

That, of course, says as much about the inappropriateness of the target as the language....

[Space Chick]

Tell me about it Major Thats why the country is in the state its in

 

*Debs steps off soapbox*'

[Redwing]

Does it matter? really?

 

I am an educated 'product' of one of the best schools in the country, I am professional at work, am good in meetings and speak or write to anyone at any level in the company with eloquence and correct grammar, I deal with my adult responsibilities such as the mortgage company in the same way

 

The rest of the time I relax, as long as people arent rude I dont mind what they say and how many 'H' letters are dropped, how they do maths or whatever, my grammar goes to pot on here and anyone meeting me would not think I have an A level to my name, I ask people how they are even if I dont care and dont mind if they ask me - its just interaction after all

 

I dont judge or label people on what they say or how they say it, life is too short

[Sam]

Does it matter? really?

 

Totally agree. I am educated so I do understand good/bad grammar to a certain degree. Maybe I'm just not as pedantic as others I've read thought this thread saying guilty... guilty... guilty...

[SarahJo]

Err - sorry have I missed something? I started this thread as I turned 40 last Friday and wondered why there are sayings like " life begins at 40" The thread was not supposed to be about what is said correctly or incorrectly - though under the broader umbrella I see why this could happen! Also grammar entered for other reasons as some sayings are double negatives.

 

I am sorry my initial idea to cast light on whether I had to make my life work at 40, has now turned a little personal on etiquette - this was not the intention. It does not matter how educated you are I just wanted 2 know why sayings are said, like mad as a box of frogs? We all have quirky regional sayings - grammar does not enter into it.

[Alis girls]

Awright everyone? Innit marvellous this threads still going - I'll go down our street. Anyroad see ya later and have a good day know what I mean do ya ? Know what i mean GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Sarah Jo sorry darlin we've hijacked yer thread - yeah we 'ave - now take care dont worry just fink 10yrs before yer 50 - innit innit.

sorry can't keep this up - know what I mean?

Have to say I heard at least 4 of these at work yesterday and first patient greeted me in true Michael Barryomore style "awright" - I nearly choked as I thought of this thread.