Customer service

[wiltshire builders]

Just been to Sainsburys in Chippenham.

As I was walking past the deli a member of staff, walking straight towards me, barged into me. That was bad enough. He then compounded the problem by shouting over his shoulder "sorry Mate"

When I'm a customer I expect to be treated as such. I don't expect to be called Sir or get the red carpet treatment but I do expect a certain level of respect.

I'm tired of being called mate, pal, buddy, cheif or boss. Unfortunately it seems to be on the increase. I wouldn't dream of speaking to my customers like that and I find it incredibly unprofessional.

It seems like customer service is on the decline. Anyone else think this or am I just turning into a miserable sod?

[Snowy]

Just been to Sainsburys in Chippenham.

As I was walking past the deli a member of staff, walking straight towards me, barged into me. That was bad enough. He then compounded the problem by shouting over his shoulder "sorry Mate"

When I'm a customer I expect to be treated as such. I don't expect to be called Sir or get the red carpet treatment but I do expect a certain level of respect.

I'm tired of being called mate, pal, buddy, cheif or boss. Unfortunately it seems to be on the increase. I wouldn't dream of speaking to my customers like that and I find it incredibly unprofessional.

It seems like customer service is on the decline. Anyone else think this or am I just turning into a miserable sod?


You're turning into a miserable sod ;D Join the club ;D

[Bonnielass]

I don't like being called dear or love, I am not a dear or a love, at least, not to the person who's calling me it, do these endearances excuse bad behavior?! And, yes, I'm probably a miserable old git too!

[Squashed_Fly]

They're just terms of endearment. Generally in life, I have more to worry about than whether someone has innocently called me mate, or bud, or hun.

But not everyone is as relaxed as I am about it. I once had a bloke threaten me in a bar for calling him mate, when I was working behind it! Out of probably 200 people I had said it to that night, only 1 took offence. Almost everyone else called it me back.

If he'd called you a c**t then I could understand your issue. But mate? Nah - you're just miserable! ;D ;D ;D :P

Besides, if he'd not said anything after the sorry, it could well have been misconstrued as sarcasm (which is why we follow it up with something endearing). You don;t want to be called sir, or m'lord, so that pretty much only leaves mate or dude as a bloke. Unless you would have preferred sweetheart???? :-*

[lolliver]

I guess I'd rather he say "sorry mate" than just offer me some typical dead eyed customer service textbook apology, at least it offers some hope that he was actually sorry.

Although actually I'd rather that he just look where he's going in the first place ;D

[Mitch9128]

Shop at Morrisons, you'll be too busy laughing at all the staff in their wigs to care if any of them curtsey...

[Kevinb]

Just been to Sainsburys in Chippenham.

As I was walking past the deli a member of staff, walking straight towards me, barged into me. That was bad enough. He then compounded the problem by shouting over his shoulder "sorry Mate"

When I'm a customer I expect to be treated as such. I don't expect to be called Sir or get the red carpet treatment but I do expect a certain level of respect.

I'm tired of being called mate, pal, buddy, cheif or boss. Unfortunately it seems to be on the increase. I wouldn't dream of speaking to my customers like that and I find it incredibly unprofessional.

It seems like customer service is on the decline. Anyone else think this or am I just turning into a miserable sod?


Miserable Sod. Matey Boy ;D

Only joking I know exactly what you mean. We get the same in Tesco's in Trowbridge. Managers stand there and look at you as if you are dirt and still dont move out of your way.

[wiltshire builders]

They're just terms of endearment. Generally in life, I have more to worry about than whether someone has innocently called me mate, or bud, or hun.

But not everyone is as relaxed as I am about it. I once had a bloke threaten me in a bar for calling him mate, when I was working behind it! Out of probably 200 people I had said it to that night, only 1 took offence. Almost everyone else called it me back.

If he'd called you a c**t then I could understand your issue. But mate? Nah - you're just miserable! ;D ;D ;D :P

Besides, if he'd not said anything after the sorry, it could well have been misconstrued as sarcasm (which is why we follow it up with something endearing). You don;t want to be called sir, or m'lord, so that pretty much only leaves mate or dude as a bloke. Unless you would have preferred sweetheart???? :-*

No. Calling someone mate if they're not your mate is not a term of endearment. It's a generic term used by people who are not interested in the person they're talking to. He may as well have said "sorry, but I really couldn't give a damn"
Tone and body language play a massive part. Sorry and eye contact would be more than sufficient. Shouting "sorry mate" as he's walking away isn't.

We might not like it, but the customer IS king. They pay our wages, keep food on the table and and a roof over our heads so they deserve respect.

[Jon_W]

I tend not to get narky at bad attidude from shop staff. I just tend not to back to that shop!

[redken1]

It was probably an accident - oops can I say that :P

I think I must be a stud cos most of the ladies at the checkout in Asda ask me, "Would you like help with packing my Lover?" :-* ;D

Call me what you like but not when Man u's on the box. ;) ;D

[Squashed_Fly]

It was probably an accident - oops can I say that :P

I think I must be a stud cos most of the ladies at the checkout in Asda ask me, "Would you like help with packing my Lover?" :-* ;D

Call me what you like but not when Man u's on the box. ;) ;D

;D;D;D

Love, dear, buddy, mate, pal etc. It's all the same. It's just something to cal someone to be nice, when you don't know their name. It tends to be looked down on by people who believe they are above that and somehow demand more respect than everyone else, while most of us just carry on and say 'no worries bud' because we realise that just like us, the people who work in shops are human.

I firmly believe in treating others how I'd like to be treated. I don't mind being called mate or love etc, so I have no issue using those phrases.

(I can see how this threads going to end up going already, so on that note - I'll bow out of this conversation! ;) )

[wiltshire builders]

It was probably an accident - oops can I say that :P

I think I must be a stud cos most of the ladies at the checkout in Asda ask me, "Would you like help with packing my Lover?" :-* ;D

Call me what you like but not when Man u's on the box. ;) ;D

;D;D;D

the people who work in shops are human.

I firmly believe in treating others how I'd like to be treated. I don't mind being called mate or love etc, so I have no issue using those phrases.


Don't try and turn this into a class thing. NOBODY is more working class than me! ;)

You're absolutely right. You should treat people how you LIKE to be treated and not how you DON'T MIND being treated.

[redken1]

Aid mate I was only joking and having a bit of banter I don't really care what people call me-bet quite a few call me worse than mate under their breathe. ;D ;D ;D 8-) 8-) 8-)

[Harry87]

He was obviously part of the Sainsbury's basics staff team. Whenever anyone calls me mate or any equivalent name, I'll respond in a condescending way just so they know they are of inferior intellect to me.

[Scotty]

Whenever anyone calls me mate or any equivalent name, I'll respond in a condescending way just so they know they are of inferior intellect to me.
Who the f*ck are you, the new Oscar Wilde, "Nothing to declare but my genius"?

Don't make assumptions of a person's intellect based on their place of employment. When I was at Uni I worked in a supermarket, as did a number of other undergraduates, therefore your argument is null.

Besides, a cocky "condescending" (at least you can spell it correctly) response is likely to get you a slap, utterly deserved too. ;D

[wiltshire builders]

Whenever anyone calls me mate or any equivalent name, I'll respond in a condescending way just so they know they are of inferior intellect to me.
Who the f*ck are you, the new Oscar Wilde, "Nothing to declare but my genius"?

Don't make assumptions of a person's intellect based on their place of employment. When I was at Uni I worked in a supermarket, as did a number of other undergraduates, therefore your argument is null.

Besides, a cocky "condescending" (at least you can spell it correctly) response is likely to get you a slap, utterly deserved too. ;D
I would like to think he was refering to their stunted vocabulary rather than their job.

I too worked for Sainsburys while getting my diploma as was spoken to like crap on many occasions.
I never once lost my composure and resorted to being offensive.
It is possible to offer good service without being subservient

[Gerry]

Yer mate, I worked in ASDA when I was a yoof and it never did me any arm.
(except for a mild fondness for stolen chocolate éclairs and pro-plus pills as we were locked in whilst on the nightshift) anyways, wots a undergraduated ???

G :)

PS: I too dislike being called (by gentlemen I don't know) mate, boss, pal, chap, chappie or bud. Quite happy for ladies to call me love, hunny or hun though - must be my age ;)

[Harry87]

lol keep calm and carry on Scotty ;D

Unfortunately for you, you now look silly. You have read two separate statements I made in my post, and presumed they were connected. The first statement, was a joke linking the 'basics' food range Sainsbury's sell to this 'mate' user; that he belonged in that range from the way he acted and retorted. I never associated working in supermarkets to intellect lol ::) The second statement shows my standing in this topic, that I do not like being referred to by these names. You really jumped the gun there.

[virginie_morisot]

actually today at work , some guy addressed one of the women, as "mate" , which left her and myself a bit startled.. let's just say it really didn't suit her personality or age etc, but i really don't mean that in a negative way to her, as I think she is truly lovely. It's just that it seemed completely inappropriate, and on the verge of rude.. Which i believe was the message intended by some of the posts on here..

[Jon_W]

Whenever anyone calls me mate or any equivalent name, I'll respond in a condescending way just so they know they are of inferior intellect to me.
Who the f*ck are you, the new Oscar Wilde, "Nothing to declare but my genius"?

Don't make assumptions of a person's intellect based on their place of employment. When I was at Uni I worked in a supermarket, as did a number of other undergraduates, therefore your argument is null.

Besides, a cocky "condescending" (at least you can spell it correctly) response is likely to get you a slap, utterly deserved too. ;D

;D ;D ;D

Go for it scotty!!!!!!

[virginie_morisot]

and on a much -needed lighter note.. ::)
I was called "sweetie", "darling" and "honey" today.. by a female i may add.. just sweet and friendly. However, although I enjoy calling my friends by similar names, i question their use by a complete stranger, however friendly.. Indeed i like to use terms of endearment but also wish for them to actually have a meaning still..
This reminded me of when I first arrived in England and I noticed people in shops often used very affectionate terms such as "my love" or "darling " simply when I purchased bread or milk etc .. I thought it was unusual, surprising but pleasant I guess, to get such a loving and warm greeting just to pay for my groceries..

[ro]

Endearments like this don't bother me much in normal conversation when they are hardly more than just punctuation for some people. I think there can be trouble if there's any question of presumed status though - for example, one time I did get cross about something similar was when I was making a complaint to my bank after some mess-up of theirs and the person on the phone called me by my first name. Given the nature of the conversation up to that point, the false friendliness just came over as disrespect. I guess this is exactly what the OP felt too.

[Squashed_Fly]

I think it has a lot to do with where you're from and how you're brought up as well.

Many regional dialects use these terms and everyone is brought up using them so nobody takes offence, or assumes they are of lesser intellect for using them.

I think it's more common in the Northern areas of the UK, amnd also Wales, where people are just generally more friendly and it's not seen as being 'over familiar' etc.

In Wales, every calls each other butt, and you go north, everyone is 'love', or 'duck' etc. The Scots use the term pal quite a lot to be friendly, but down here, that term can come across as quite aggresive.

Then you've got 'context', and how these terms are used. You can call someone mate, or buddy to be quite nasty in the right context. Or you can call your mates n*bheads and w*nkers in the right context to be friendly. In many ways, I think the context is more important than the actual words used...

[RedSoul]

I think it has a lot to do with where you're from and how you're brought up as well.

Many regional dialects use these terms and everyone is brought up using them so nobody takes offence, or assumes they are of lesser intellect for using them.

I think it's more common in the Northern areas of the UK, amnd also Wales, where people are just generally more friendly and it's not seen as being 'over familiar' etc.

In Wales, every calls each other butt, and you go north, everyone is 'love', or 'duck' etc. The Scots use the term pal quite a lot to be friendly, but down here, that term can come across as quite aggresive.

Then you've got 'context', and how these terms are used. You can call someone mate, or buddy to be quite nasty in the right context. Or you can call your mates n*bheads and w*nkers in the right context to be friendly. In many ways, I think the context is more important than the actual words used...

+1

[Swanny]

Please and thank you seem to have disappeared from our language :-/

[Squashed_Fly]

Please and thank you seem to have disappeared from our language :-/

Don't get me started on that one! I always make a point of saying "thanks then" when I hold a door for someone and they just walk through it with so much as a by-your-leave.

Manners cost nothing, whether you call someone mate, sir, buddy, madam or love!