to use their name

[ScoobyCan]

Went supermarket shopping with friends recently.

Lovely lady was at the checkout. Her name - Gail - was clearly written on a name tag on her lapel. I struck up a conversation with her as she priced up my goods, and I called her Gail a couple of times. As we left I wished her a good day.

My friends think I'm odd for calling her by her name tag name. I have always done it, and I have always believed that it is a polite thing to do. Apparently they don't, and that's not what it is there for.

AIBU to think that if a member of staff in a bank, retail outlet, restaurant or other has their name displayed clearly on a name badge, it is for the purpose of a customer using it to be polite if they so wish? Or is it so I know who to refer to if I make a complaint?!

When I worked in a supermarket I used to hate people using my name. I found it creepy. And occasionally I'd see people out in town when I wasn't working and they'd say "hello Heidi".

So my name badge had a false name on it.

When I was 16 and worked in a bakers we had to wear name tags. I remember a creepy middle aged man coming in and talking to me close up.
As we were locking up for the day, I was in the back cleaning and the manager was on shop floor. The guy came in and asked for me by name and asked what time I was finishing. The manager assumed he knew me and told him 6 o'clock. I came out to find this guy waiting for me.
Later found out he'd been banned from the shopping centre round the corner for harrassing young girls.

@Flippetydip Yes, DH only uses my name when he's calling for my attention. Using it in conversation would be very odd and make me a tad suspicious he was working up the courage to say something.

Possibly cultural. In France it's normal to use the name of someone if you know it even if you don't know them. But in theory here you'd never just say Bonjour. You'd say Bonjour Madame/Monsieur so I guess it makes sense.

@claire yeah wearing your own badge is fine, but wearing someone else's badge is silly. Because as you say, you compliment or complain about that staff member.

"in theory here you'd never just say Bonjour. You'd say Bonjour Madame/Monsieur so I guess it makes sense."

??
I've lived in France and visited since then and just saying Bonjour is very, very common. The Madame/Monsieur is for extra politeness or when talking to an older person.