We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

[Theodoric]

I was just glancing at Service Status reports in ntl community and I noticed that they all ended with that old warhorse, "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."

You see these words (or very similar) everywhere nowadays; near holes in the road, at approaches to motorway repairs, when supermarkets are being refurbished etc.

Now we all take them with a very large pinch of salt (perhaps somewhere in the universe there was once someone who actually really felt sorry about the inconvenience caused), but would you prefer it if they made no apology? Would I now be posting a thread about the arrogance of companies and government agencies in that case?

[tootsie]

Know what u mean, it annoys me too. i used to work in a shop and it began to get on my nerves when customers kept thanking me. maybe i was just going mad

[Martin]

Tee hee I know what you mean. I used to work for Morrisons Supermarkets many moons ago and I picked up the thank you routine and to this day still can't help but thank people. Though I would sooner people be nice then not.:)

[kink]

That's the postmodern society we live in today..... everything is fast and furious (no comments about ntl cs or udt here please :p ). That particular phrase has become a tag line, orginally useful and giving empathetic value... it's repetetive nature has negated anything that it may have meant in the past.
The idea of Best Practice is a good one..... learning from the sucesses of other companies etc and utilising them to fulfill the needs of another organisation or service. The problem is that unless the idea or policy is adapted it becomes valueless in it's predictable and almost automated response :(
I've found myself using the We apologise for any.... line myself at work.... on letters and notices.... why? because it's become an established part of Customer Service jargon, it doesn't make it the right thing to do, but it's easier than coming up with another placatory response that would be more personal and show more consideration.
Why do we do it? Because we can.... and it's become part of everyday language... we almost expect it.... don't get me wrong.. i hate it too :grind: in the same way i hate the Hello! How are you? that people use to greet each other as they whizz past each other.... the 'how are you?' part not being an actual question that requires a full answer.... a fine! or great! is the expected reply as you continue on your way.... i've been lured into being the provocative person that i can be on occasion by repsonding to that greeting with a much fuller answer than expected..oh! my depression is getting much better now that the pills are taking effect... and the court case after that GBH incident is being settled out of court....... well, maybe not that unexpected a repsonse ;) but fuller nontheless..... but the person that had asked doesn't stop to hear the answer and just continues on their way...
Why ask the question if you don't want to hear the answer? :shrug:
Because it's meaningless..... like the We apologise for any...

Anyone else really depressed now? :D Blame Theo.... he started it :spin: :p

[kink]

Originally posted by tootsie
Know what u mean, it annoys me too. i used to work in a shop and it began to get on my nerves when customers kept thanking me. maybe i was just going mad

No.... not going mad lol I used to do the same..... every time i handed a customer something from the pile, they'd say thank you... and i'd look at the rest of the pile and think they're going to keep saying thank you to every damn item i hand them!!! :eek: :spin: and i actually did tell a couple that they didn't need to do that.... but they STILL did :D
A big thank you, or even a small one would have been just as considerate and pleasing at the end of the session :)

However... as martin points out... i'd rather have to endure a stream of thank yous than none at all..... which i've also endured and irked me a lot more :grind:

Thank you as an automated response? Well.... back to my earlier post..... but i can tell if someone means it from the way they say it... and i smile back at those people and show that i understand and that it's appreciated :)

[Ramrod]

When/if I thank a shop assistant/checkout operator/waiter I mean it.

[kink]

Originally posted by Ramrod
When/if I thank a shop assistant/checkout operator/waiter I mean it.

Since you write when/if.... does that mean if you don't use it, you're not thankful? I suppose it does :)
I suppose my parents have slapped it into me ;) They're very unassuming people and very deferential... it may have rubbed off onto me.
However.... i think my subconscious rebellion against their socialisation is that when i don't mean Thank you it's pretty obvious from the glare that's accompanied by the tone in my voice :D :p

[Stuart]

Originally posted by Ramrod
When/if I thank a shop assistant/checkout operator/waiter I mean it.

Same here.


Originally posted by Theodoric
I was just glancing at Service Status reports in ntl community and I noticed that they all ended with that old warhorse, "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."

You see these words (or very similar) everywhere nowadays; near holes in the road, at approaches to motorway repairs, when supermarkets are being refurbished etc.

Now we all take them with a very large pinch of salt (perhaps somewhere in the universe there was once someone who actually really felt sorry about the inconvenience caused), but would you prefer it if they made no apology? Would I now be posting a thread about the arrogance of companies and government agencies in that case?

Most of the time, this doesn't particulary bother me, but when I have waited 1.5 hours in a 15 mile jam on the M1, and see one of those piddly signs saying "Sorry for any delay", I do get a bit irritated.

I also get slightly miffed when waiting for my train at any of the big stations when there is a problem on the railway network, and every announcement ends with "We apologise for any incoveniance caused".

It's mainly because I *know* that the organisation in question couldn't give a toss really..

rant over. :D

[Ramrod]

Originally posted by kink
[B]Since you write when/if.... does that mean if you don't use it, you're not thankful? I suppose it does :)
Correct:)

[Shaun]

It means very little when an automated voice says that they are sorry, how can a computer be sorry?:rolleyes:

[Martin]

Originally posted by kink
i hate the Hello! How are you? that people use to greet each other as they whizz past each other.... the 'how are you?' part not being an actual question that requires a full answer.... a fine! or great! is the expected reply as you continue on your way....

I hate that too, but in the same breath I now say that to people. It is funny how things are thrust on us and we become conditioned into acting that way ourselves. Its like walking down the high street and someone bumping into me, I automatically say sorry, but there is the odd occassion were I want to say fool look were your going. Human nature is a funny thing.;)

I think you do come aware of what people really mean, like at the supermarket when they say "do you need any help packing your bags?" You know they don't want you to say yes sometimes. I do find myself saying yes when they are like this though.