That's the problem for people like a delivery guy though, isn't it? He calls everyone Mrs X, some people don't like Mrs, some people prefer first name, some people don't want him to speak to them at all, if he doesn't speak then some will find that rude, if he does but doesn't use a name some will find THAT rude. Can't win.
Yup, I work in retail customer services and you can't win - people will complain if cashiers are too chatty, but then others will complain if their cashier doesn't speak to them; some will complain if their transaction is done too quickly, some if it's too slow; some will complain if they seem overly formal, some if they're too casual and so on and so forth ... you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. I even had one woman complain because the cashier was "too familiar and was unprofessionally casual" with the person in front of them ... that person was the cashier's brother, and in the course of scanning and packing his shopping they had been chatting and joking with each other!
I have to take people's details - eg because they have lost something in store and want us to contact us if it's found - and that can turn into a minefield ... they might tell you/write on the form that their name is "Jane Lewis" but then it seems rude to not use their name (esp if I have to leave a message on an aswering machine) but do I just go with Jane, as Jane Lewis seems too awkward, since she's given me her first name? Or Mrs Lewis , despite tha fact she hasn't given me a title? Or should I just stick with "madam" despite the fact she has given me her name?
I regularly get stuff handed in to my customer service desk (lost cards/keys/handbags, you name it we get it handed in!) and if it has a name on I will put a call out on the tannoy for the named person to come to the desk if they are in store ... people will even complain that you use the name on their items and not psychically know that Andrew Jones actually goes by his middle name of Stephen?!
I once had a woman's purse handed in, with cash, cards and a couple of large value cheques in there. So I put a call out "If there's a Mrs Joanne Smith (not the lady's name obvs but it was as similarly a common surname) currently in store, could she please come to the customer service desk?" Well this woman came storming over, how dare I call out her full name over the tannoy, how dare I presume she was a "Mrs", how dare I use her first name and incidentally, what the hell did I want her for anyway? She soon simmered down when I explained I used the name that was on her debit card, including the Mrs, in order to return her purse that she had dropped in the car park, and in order to do that ss soon as possible I hadn't just called out "Mrs Smith" as it is a very common name and might have meant someone else had come to try and claim her item.
Having said all that, what I hate the most is people using my name at work. I wear a name badge, not out of choice, but because it's company policy. I don't mind people knowing my name, or asking for it if we're on the phone so they know who they spoke to about something as in that case knowing my name has a purpose. What I really dislike is when people go out of their way to use my name during a transaction, they might be doing it to try and be nice/friendly but I am always wondering why they are making such a point about to use my name so often. So a transaction goes something like:
"Good afternoon sir"
"Hello *melj1213"
"Do you need any bags today?"
"No thank you, melj1213!"
"Alright then, are you okay with your packing or would you like a hand?"
"No thanks, melj1213, we'll be fine"
"So there's your change and your reciept. Have a nice day sir!"
"Thanks, you too melj1213!"