Shop staff - "Sir" or "Mate"

[GTIR]

Why o why do people who work in shops either have to call you "Sir" (when they obviously dont mean it) or "Mate"?

"Sir" is irritating enough as you know they are told to say it, but I find it patronising.
"Mate" on the other hand just pisses me off! No im not your mate you prick.

If I went around calling my customers "Mate" i'd be out of business.

In a well known mobile phone shop this week (that's not really a warehouse at all) and bought a couple of car chargers. Shop oik kept saying "yer mate", "£35 mate", "Cheers mate", "see ya mate"

FUUUCCKKKKK OFFFFFFFF!!!!!!!


Amiright or amiwrong and should I get a life and stop worrying about little things as there are far bigger things in the world to worry about. Like global warming?

Edited by GTIR on Tuesday 24th November 17:40

[Papa Hotel]

You want to try parts of rural Northern Ireland squire. Now that's annoting.

[37Flipper]

I moved from Kent to Norwich about 18 months ago and I'm still getting used to everyone in Norfolk calling you 'buddy'!!!!

[toppstuff]

Sir, is just fine. Or nothing.

"Mate" - god no, but a chap in Halfords called me "fella" the other day.

[Deva Link]

GTIR said:

In a well known mobile phone shop this week (that's not really a warehouse at all) and bought a couple of car chargers. Shop oik kept saying "yer mate", "£35 mate", "Cheers mate", "see ya mate"
]

You should have asked for a discount, seeing as you're mates.

[Los Palmas 7]

"Sir" I quite like, as it shows a bit of respect for the customer, but being called "mate" by some pubescent oik I've never met before is totally unacceptable and guaranteed to put my back up. See also "buddy".




By the way:

GTIR said:

Amiright or amiwrong

Never, ever do that again. Mate.

[dazzztay]

What do you want to be called?

Mr?
Man-who's-name-i-dont-knkow?
Dave?
Gezza?

Its just a friendly term......

[deevlash]

I hate people who call people they dont know "mate" idiots. I tend to ask people their name and refer to them as that, my headmaster at school used to make us call him Sir and ever since then Ive always thought that unless you're knighted you can sod off with that notion!

[jamieboy]

At a moderately-posh dinner a few weeks ago, the waiter addressed all the men at our table as "sir" and all the women as "love".

[ukwill]

some serious anger issues on this forum...

[GTIR]

Los Palmas 7 said:

"Sir" I quite like, as it shows a bit of respect for the customer, but being called "mate" by some pubescent oik I've never met before is totally unacceptable and guaranteed to put my back up. See also "buddy".




By the way:

GTIR said:

Amiright or amiwrong

Never, ever do that again. Mate.

Or what?

ETA: Buddy

Edited by GTIR on Tuesday 24th November 17:54

[aclivity]

I recall being somewhat shocked the first time I was addressed as "my lover" (or, phonetically, "moi larvor") in a west country shop.

[GTIR]

dazzztay said:

What do you want to be called?

Mr?
Man-who's-name-i-dont-knkow?
Dave?
Gezza?

Its just a friendly term......

Nothing.

I was in a shop in Cambridge and gave my credit card to the cashier, paid, said goodbye and the guy said "Have a nice day Adam" (I didnt expect him to say my surname as everyone gets it wrong)

See, nice touch. Not to formal and made me feel all warm inside. (no, I hadnt pee'd myself)

When I pick my clients up I never call them "Sir". Its either "Mr/Ms/Mrs xxxx" or nothing.

[jeff m]

I suggest you wear a name tag as you are not giving the guy much scope if you reject Sir and Mate !

Sir should be the norm in a store.IMO

Mate would make me think he is speaking to somebody else.

I would give the guy a break, forget global warming and get laid real soon.

Edited by jeff m on Tuesday 24th November 17:59

[Los Palmas 7]

jeff m said:

I suggest you where a name tag

Wear should I where this name tag?

[jeff m]

Los Palmas 7 said:

jeff m said:

I suggest you where a name tag

Wear should I where this name tag?

I must edit faster

[JonyPI]

how would you suggest someone comes and approaches you to help you?

can i help you blud?

you alwight there?

what you want?

can i help you sir is the most polite way for a salesman to introduce himself to you, and we dont get TOLD to call people sir, you just do it because its just common courtesy, as you say, 'mate' is abit retarded but generaly how the younger gen. speak now, they probbaly see you as an old fart and so call you sir! [hehe]

[ChunkyloverSV]

jamieboy said:

At a moderately-posh dinner a few weeks ago, the waiter addressed all the men at our table as "sir" and all the women as "love".

That made me giggle.

[pokethepope]

GTIR said:

dazzztay said:

What do you want to be called?

Mr?
Man-who's-name-i-dont-knkow?
Dave?
Gezza?

Its just a friendly term......

Nothing.

I was in a shop in Cambridge and gave my credit card to the cashier, paid, said goodbye and the guy said "Have a nice day Adam" (I didnt expect him to say my surname as everyone gets it wrong)

See, nice touch. Not to formal and made me feel all warm inside. (no, I hadnt pee'd myself)

When I pick my clients up I never call them "Sir". Its either "Mr/Ms/Mrs xxxx" or nothing.

If he noted your name he probably noted your card number as well, and is now busy ordering video games online.

[kambites]

You should try living in Nottingham for a bit... the women all call you "duck".