"Hiya mate - Cheers" - What's happened to courtesy?

Salu · 06-12-2005, 16:16

Is this a Yorkshire phenomenon or is it more widespread?

Rather than a shop assistant saying "Hello Sir/Madam" they now seem to say "Hiya Mate"?

After the transaction instead of saying "Thank you Sir/Madam" they say "Cheers" or "Thanks Pal".

I'm not saying I want to be treated like Royalty when buying my bread and cheese but a little more courtesy and respect wouldn't go amiss......

What's happened to courtesy? Is it now old fashioned?

Saaf_laandon_mo · 06-12-2005, 16:20

I blame it on the immigrants........ Well i thought I'd get in there before anyone else

**Chris** · 06-12-2005, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

I blame it on the immigrants........ Well i thought I'd get in there before anyone else

Bl***y Australians!

**Russ** · 06-12-2005, 16:25

At some Tesco store in Cardiff a few months ago, the female members of staff were complaining that their polite and cheerful manner with customers was causing a lot of unwanted attention as some men apparently thought they were coming on to them.

I'm sure incidents like this will play a part in it all.

gazzae · 06-12-2005, 16:25

I prefer the informal way.

Salu · 06-12-2005, 16:26

Hiya Chris "mate" nice quip "fella"

gazzae · 06-12-2005, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

At some Tesco store in Cardiff a few months ago, the female members of staff were complaining that their polite and cheerful manner with customers was causing a lot of unwanted attention as some men apparently thought they were coming on to them.

I'm sure incidents like this will play a part in it all.

You mean she wasn't?

Salu · 06-12-2005, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

At some Tesco store in Cardiff a few months ago, the female members of staff were complaining that their polite and cheerful manner with customers was causing a lot of unwanted attention as some men apparently thought they were coming on to them.

I'm sure incidents like this will play a part in it all.

Do you mean the "polite and cheerful manner" to be like the "mate, cheers, thanks luv" way or the "polite" way ie courteous?

**Russ** · 06-12-2005, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salu

Do you mean the "polite and cheerful manner" to be like the "mate, cheers, thanks luv" way or the "polite" way ie courteous?

She was encouraged to be cheerful, to smile at customers, make eye contact with them and sound interested in conversations they bring up, that sort of thing.

**Graham M** · 06-12-2005, 16:31

I work in Retail, in a One Stop Convenience Store if you must know. I get treated with no courtesey or respect by MOST customers so see no reason to give it back. There are the odd few that are nice and say please and thankyou but theyre few and far between. Anyway, "Hi Mate, how you doing?" Is something I only tend to do with regular customers who know me and I know them, I wouldn't say it to a random stranger and wouldn't say it was impolite. If I said "Alrite ****er?" then perhaps, yes.

When I say goodbye to a customer I usually say "Take Care" or "Goodbye, have a good evening" or something similar But as before, if the customer isn't polite/doesn't say anything then I'm not going to return the favour, simple as that.

**Maggy J** · 06-12-2005, 16:31

I'm fed up with the kids in school being too familiar.I do not want my personal space invaded and if I'm not allowed to touch them then they are not allowed to touch me.Just because they like to be called Tom instead of Thomas doesn't mean I have to do it either.Teaching 5 classes of 30 + children per day 5 days a week means I meet a lot of Thomas's in a week.I can't remember what every Tom,Dick or Harry wants to be called.

They aren't going to be calling me by my first name any time soon either.

Salu · 06-12-2005, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

I work in Retail, in a One Stop Convenience Store if you must know. I get treated with no courtesey or respect by MOST customers so see no reason to give it back. There are the odd few that are nice and say please and thankyou but theyre few and far between. Anyway, "Hi Mate, how you doing?" Is something I only tend to do with regular customers who know me and I know them, I wouldn't say it to a random stranger and wouldn't say it was impolite. If I said "Alrite ****er?" then perhaps, yes.

When I say goodbye to a customer I usually say "Take Care" or "Goodbye, have a good evening" or something similar But as before, if the customer isn't polite/doesn't say anything then I'm not going to return the favour, simple as that.

You're quite right that it works both ways. I've seen some very rude people in front of me in the queue and I usually try to ensure that the assistant is left feeling a little more self worthy after I have left. A smile or a joke won't hurt will it? If we weren't in so much of a percieved hurry all the time then maybe we would be inclined to stop and think a little more?

Nugget · 06-12-2005, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

I work in Retail, in a One Stop Convenience Store if you must know. I get treated with no courtesey or respect by MOST customers so see no reason to give it back. There are the odd few that are nice and say please and thankyou but theyre few and far between. Anyway, "Hi Mate, how you doing?" Is something I only tend to do with regular customers who know me and I know them, I wouldn't say it to a random stranger and wouldn't say it was impolite. If I said "Alrite ****er?" then perhaps, yes.

When I say goodbye to a customer I usually say "Take Care" or "Goodbye, have a good evening" or something similar But as before, if the customer isn't polite/doesn't say anything then I'm not going to return the favour, simple as that.

I am, without fail, always polite to the staff in whatever shop I'm in - having worked in retail, I know that it's an absolute nightmare as it is.

Having said that, I'll happily have an argument or, in fact, be downright rude to any member of the public who's decided that they rrrrrreeeeeeaaaaallllyyyy need to be in that gap that I happen to be in - weird innit?

06-12-2005, 16:39

You want to move across the Penines Salu, to the land of well courteous shop assistants. Want an ASDA checkout person's life history? Bury's the place, my love

Salu · 06-12-2005, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyl

You want to move across the Penines Salu, to the land of well courteous shop assistants. Want an ASDA checkout person's life history? Bury's the place, my love

You realise you have almost committed sacrilege by suggesting that.....................pal