Customer Service - First Names are just for Friends?

[kelvedon]

Following a brief conversation, colleague at work asked a patient "what was your name again", to which the man answered "it was, and still is, Mr XYZ"

 

[Ausbt]

Guys as a descriptor is supposedly derived from Guy Fawkes, with a negative connotation. That connotation was not understood in the US leading to its accepted usage. So it is an English, not US, word.

I use 'people' a lot, if I walk into a room at work I'll often say 'hello people' or 'hello all'. On that score I find it irritating when I'm standing in the work kitchen and someone walks in and doesn't verbally say hello to me. I put that down to their insecurity or perhaps introversion (the latter of which I suppose ought to be respected).

When I ring the VA WP line I'll always say "Hello so-and-so, its firstname here". Another thing that irritates me is (mostly older) people who insist on being called Mr or Mrs but think they can use someone's firstname themselves, usually a shop assistant or similar. I think Old Mr and Old Missus should be saying Mr Shop Assistant too !

 

[LadyC]

Thats strange, they look at your boarding pass or manifest and get it totally wrong? Indeed the use of Mrs is a total assumption on their part.

Yes they do. Sometimes they are polite enough to ask. "Good afternoon Mrs Gentleman, would you like us to call you Mrs Gentleman?" Me: "no, you can call me LadyC please".

 

[get me outta here]

Youse is a bit of Irish slang. This was one interesting example of it, "Youse are a shower of sh*tes"

That's right..."I'll see youse all later, after the rugby!"

Bewildering...

 

[vetrade]

Is she a Cats supporter as well?

Oh no, she's a (presently very despondent) Collingwood supporter. She does have all her own teeth though - which can't be said for a lot of that Collingwood mob!

 

[JohnK]

I don't really care how I am addressed. I feel a little embarrassed when people get the surname wrong. Some people take one look and think it's too difficult so leave out letters. Others get it perfectly right. The funny thing is the surname is pronounced exactly as written.

In Thailand I am Mr John. That's how people refer to me and that's how I introduce myself. To my 2 year old nephew I am lung (uncle) John but sometimes he forgets the lung. I used to be John John so getting a little better.

In the USA in general when someone wants to get your attention, or say on a bus, they may say, 'thank you Sir, or Miss'. I find that quite polite and expedient.

I am called 'Sir' a lot these days. Very polite. Apparently I have aged. Or should that be matured?

 

[Hvr]

<snip>

I am called 'Sir' a lot these days. Very polite. Apparently I have aged. Or should that be matured?

Probably the former.

 

[dajop]

In Thailand I am Mr John.

Not "Khun John"? I get Khun a bit from colleagues, but rarely from customer service in hotels etc ...

 

[JohnK]

Probably the former.

I see what you did there. :mrgreen:

Not "Khun John"? I get Khun a bit from colleagues, but rarely from customer service in hotels etc ...

Not that often. I get that in emails but not many personal greetings. I like Mr John. Has a nice ring to it.

 

[Foreigner]

I am called 'Sir' a lot these days. Very polite. Apparently I have aged. Or should that be matured?

Maybe vintage?

 

[russ]

I don't really care how I am addressed. I feel a little embarrassed when people get the surname wrong. Some people take one look and think it's too difficult so leave out letters. Others get it perfectly right. The funny thing is the surname is pronounced exactly as written.

I just pronounce it "K". Is that right?

 

[medhead]

I just pronounce it "K". Is that right?

I use "Kay" myself...

 

[JohnK]

I just pronounce it "K". Is that right?

You got the first letter right.