Have you ever noticed how people you don’t even know call you by your first name? That really bugs me.
It probably came about from some idiot’s idea of “personalizing” retail dealings. Some idiot who has no idea about manners. I remember when you called strangers either sir or ma’am or mister or missus whoever. And it wasn’t just strangers. There was an etiquette about the whole name exchange that everyone seemed to learn. I doubt anyone under thirty even knows the rules any more.
Damn kids.
Every time I use a membership card or a credit card to make a purchase, it’s always, “Have a good day, David (my real name),” or “Thanks for shopping, David. You saved a zillion dollars today shopping at the widget barn.”
Bloody effing annoying.
On the other hand, it’s kind of fun sticking it to retailers who we know are using membership cards to track purchases. Most of them also accept your phone number if you don’t have your card. So, every time I visit my father in southern California, some sucker ends up getting purchases of gatorade, red-hot fritos (which I cannot buy where I live), pork rinds, and beer all bought using his discount. Sadly, he has the same phone number, though a different area code, as my father. I found that out purely by chance one day when I was trying to reference my own old membership to the same store.
Lucky for him I’m not buying pron with it.
I think that’s one of the things they do instead of trying to, you know, actually improve their service. I also don’t want to have to say “Hi” to a dozen store employees as I walk through the store, either. Don’t bother me, just be available.
My guess: someone took a survey somewhere and either misinterpreted the results or couldn’t figure out any other way to achieve what they thought customers were asking for.
People have first names? I never knew that!
Being addressed by my first name is particularly grating when it’s done at 8:59 P.M. by an outsourced mortgage company telephone solicitor sitting in Bangladesh who maintains that his name is “Steve”, or “Bruce”, or “Frank”.
My little boy will turn three in April, and you better believe he knows how to address people!
He says “yes, please” and “no, thank you” as well as “sir” and “ma’am.” God willing, it’ll stick. It’s nice that his day care is provided by a Baptist minister native to Missouri, who tends to (thankfully) be very traditional about such things.
Here’s another that’s slightly related, David (read on), and I’m surprised Jim in KC didn’t mention it.
My real name is James, but when I was a kid everyone knew any James is called Jim. No one, except English butlers perhaps, is called James. Obviously, when I filled out forms or needed to give my “real” name, I used James, but everyone just knew to call me Jim.
Nowadays, a guy uses James in these same official capacities and everyone calls me James. From the dipshit at the club (morning, James, have a good workout) to all the examples for mentioned by Dave(?) above.
I’ll admit I was thrown a bit when I became a “sir”, but that I understood. James? Effin’ James?
maggie katzen has a few grocery cards, but she can’t ever get her address or phone number right. just have to be sure I have the card on me, cause the phone number thing ain’t gonna work.