To think it is rude of shop assistants to say ...

[rosiecam]

... to say "Thank you for waiting" in a loud voice to next customer when previous customer who has been slow for whatever reason is still very obviously within hearing?

To me it means "I'm annoyed with you for holding up the queue, and I want you to know it, but I'm not allowed to say it, so I'll pretend I'm being polite to the next customer"

I agree with the pp who said working in retail should be compulsory. I work in a small supermarket and we are told to greet customers if we see them come in and then again at the till, I have been known to say hello 3 or 4 times to the same person (luckily a lot of our customers are regulars and just accept this is how it is). I think it is a real shame that some customers are just so ill-tempered and impatient that they give shop assistants a bad name when we sometimes react to the arseyness. I have had a customer put his shopping down and walk out because he had to wait and then ringing manager to complain (turned out he had parked his Ferrari at the bus stop) twat.

I don't think it's rude, no. They get told to say it, it's a simple acknowledgement.

What I do think is rude/uncomfortable is, "So what have you been up to today?" or, "What are you up to the rest of today?"

"Err...what the bloody fuck has it got to do with you?" is what I want to reply.

I now they get told to say it/make conversation but I find it intrusive and awkward...we are bound by politeness and social convention to provide an answer. I know the 21 yr old check out lad in Tesco doesn't give a flying fuck about me taking my kids to Cubs and Brownies later so why does he ask?
Awful...just awful.

*know

I work for a large retail chain, we are mystery shopped constantly.

All the things that we are told to say are marked on, for example was the customer asked if they needed help within a few minutes of entering the store, was the customer apologised to if there was a wait, were the till staff chatty and friendly etc etc

If we get a lower mystery shop (I'm talking under 90% of points achieved) we are marked down as a store this results in the WHOLE stores workforce getting a reduction in their hourly rate.

None of us want to be responsible for that!! So please be nice to us, we are sorry that you have been asked five times if you need any help - sadly our wages depend on it.

Wow! Another "people who work in shops are useless automatons" thread.

Do fuck off now.

That's outrageous aworld.

And then fuck off some more. Snobbish attitudes to people in retail make me sick. Disgusting snobbery veiled as "please don't be intrusive into my life". If your hairdresser made conversation with you would you be such a snob? What about a nurse or doctor treating you? What about your child's teacher?

Didn't think so. Fuck the fuck off with your looking down your noses.

I couldn't agree more Pictish, as I said previously I work in retail. We are supposed to ask about your day and what you're up to, I never do because it makes me feel uncomfortable and I also really couldn't care less about your life.

And please stop telling me to enjoy the rest of my day, after standing there for 8 hours dealing with ignorant bad tempered arseholes it's not very likely is it.

Have you really nothing else to think of rather than dig for offense?

A lot of what goes on in retail is outrageous pictish sadly its private sector, most people are part time and low paid. Therefore instantly replaceable.

I don't find it a politeness, because it is usually sounds exactly like something that they have been told to say, rather than something they actually mean. Don't bother, they know and I know that there is always a wait, just take my money and let's all just get on with our day.

I work in a shop and am actually told to say this! If a customer has been waiting longer than a minute or two, we have to say it. We have a mystery shopper once a month and this is one of the things we are marked on

To be fair, Orwell, I think it's normal to have a more personal relationship with your child's teacher than with the person scanning your groceries.

I'm not sure that snobbishness has a lot to do with it.

lazy I wish shop assistants a nice day. I'll immediately stop though - what would you prefer me to say instead?

I sometimes wish them nice customers for the rest of the day - is that better?

We have to say thank you for waiting

I said it was stupid and condescending when it was brought in but apparently it's a more positive statement than saying sorry for your wait

I now say it when the boss is in ear shot but I've had customers having a go at me as its not like they have a choice -other than to leave the shop

Anna don't worry, I like it when customers talk to me and say they hope I have a good day or whatever. It's nice that they're acknowledging me as a person and not just some lowly assistant paid to serve them!

Orwell - I spend almost two hours in intimate contact with my hairdresser, while neither my doctor or my child's teacher has ever asked me what I've been up to or are going to be up to today. Don't be so bloody chippy.

Aworld - I worked in retail some years ago, but in a convenience store chain rather than a supermarket setting. I know how tough it is. None of my wage was dependent on compulsory standard pleasantries though. How dreadful that is!

Orwell - see...have worked in retail etc. Not looking down my nose...just don't like the intrusion. It's allowed!

Anna I am sorry that really was rude of me. I was at work yesterday and was twice called a cunt (nice affluent area) and sometimes I wonder if I can ever do right for wrong. So I apologise most of our customers are lovely and friendly but we just get so sick of being insulted and in the wrong.

Fuck the fuck off with your looking down your noses.

I bet that runs through your head a lot orwellschild. Luckily no one has worked out how to police our thoughts yet.

Mines a clothing/home chain pictish!

We have to have spoken to the customer within 10 seconds of them entering the door. We also get disciplined if we fail to do so too many times.

Do any customers even actually want it? I know I don't.

Nothing puts me off going into a shop more than if you are looking for help or assistance and you can't find any. I just walk out. If shop assistants are trained properly to assist then I will go in there more. The exception is probably Aldi or Lidl but that's the price you pay for getting your shopping cheaper.

But some shop assistants even in discount stores go above and beyond. I was in Poundland recently and bought a load of stuff, about £30 worth and the assistant put it through in two transactions so we could take advantage of the £2 off if you spend £30 or more. She was like some kind of wizard. And she kept sending me back for things that I could have got more of for a £1. They really are unsung heroes. Here's to shop assistants!