...to get irritated by people who say 'see you later'

[MrsSippy]

In shops and supermarkets, you go to the till, you pay, you say thanks, goodbye, and then they say 'see you later'!! Why?? Are you coming for tea???

It just seems weird and lazy

"Cheerio, but be back soon.
I dunno, somehow I'll miss you
I love you, that's why I
Say 'see ya later' not goodbye"

Doesn't bother me particularly, but I was a bit taken aback when paying my home insurance the other day and we came to the end of our phone call and the man said 'see you later'. I very much doubt it.

I too think the things we say instead of a straight forward goodbye are used to make us seem more friendly. I tend to say 'take care' or 'enjoy your day' even when, as pp said, it's afternoon or evening. Makes no sense, but it makes me sound like I care, I suppose.

it is a bit weird, unprofessional, like the tesco check out person saying see you later just a bit odd

YABU

SYL

Seeya

Why Lazy? thats far more weird as a description than saying 'see you later'.

YABU - don't sweat the small stuff!

Oh get over it already.

'round 'ere we get:

t'raa abi' bab, wa' chow ya goo.

I love the black country :)

Ha, I can be a bit literal too, so do find it odd. It seemed to become common (or I moved to somewhere it was?) about ten years ago. To me later is same day. Another time, again, next time, all signal other days. It's so common now I've probably used it myself though.

Around the same time that 'are you all right? became the standard alternative for 'how may I help you?' / 'what can I do for you?' in shops and cafes. That is properly, inconviencingly confusing, as the 'standard' conversational answer, 'well thanks and you?' Or especially 'fine thanks' can cause the shop person to think you don't need help and move on to the next customer. I'm fine but I do want you to take my order!

Otoh see you later alligator is absolutely fine.

YANBU at all. My partner is a Northerner and we'd have a conversation which he might say I'm not sure if I'll see you this evening... followed by 'see you later' which made me think we would indeed meet up. I got confused then when he would ring for a chat on his way home
It was only when I visited his home town and the boots pharmacist declared he too would 'see me later' I realised it was a figure of speech

I think it's something that only started fairly recently and yes nearly all shop assistants say it - maybe they are told to - doesn't bother me. What does annoy me is shop assistants saying "You OK" - often wonder what would happen if I said "well no actually I've got hip and back pain and every step is painful" instead of "yes thanks" and then when you look at something (clothes) they say "They're nice aren't they - we sell a lot" - that's it, I'm off out of the shop!!

because I'm paid £7.nothing to talk to you and pretend that I care about the conversation and your transaction in reality I just want to sell you shit so I get a few extra pence at the end of the month so I can pay my netflix

Many years ago, in an expensive clothes shop in the US, the assistant said 'Missing you already' as I exited. I still haven't got over it.

Angelto IMO that's a nice way to end a conversation. There are many accidents in the home when people DON'T watch how they're going I always say 'take care' when dh goes off travelling.

'Enjoy your day' irritates me far more. I'd love to have the nerve to say - "I have other plans thanks you".

Ppea it doesn't annoy me as much as it makes me chuckle.

We are also from the Black Country but not sure if it's a local thing or just something he's adopted as he hasn't always said it(we've be together nearly 20 years).

The correct phrase and response are:

"S'later"

"Woodlouse"

Have a nice day/evening isn't great from a sales assistant IMO. Someone might have just had bad news, be going to a funeral, etc.

Smile and "Thank you, bye" is all that's needed.

lol check out assistants say that all the time to me. I always just smile and say bye because i know am not going to see them again.