"Are you ok?" by shop assistants...impolite?

cozmik · 18-11-2007 07:52AM #1

Is it considered bad manners for shop assistants to say to customers that walk in "Are you ok?" instead of "May I help you?"?

cozmik

Jesus Wept · 18-11-2007 07:53AM

Are you ok??

Peyton Manning · 18-11-2007 07:55AM

Sh1t thread

Jesus Wept · 18-11-2007 08:03AM

Archimedes wrote: »

Sh1t thread

[Simon Cowell]

Bit rude.

[/Simon Cowell]

Pherekydes · 18-11-2007 08:54AM

Watcha want?

18-11-2007 09:25AM

"do I look like I have a problem?"

English not first language.....???

phasers · 18-11-2007 09:29AM

that is so annoying

if I need help I'll come to you.

pirelli · 18-11-2007 10:31AM

A quickpick please....No! yeah that one,
Did you say yeah, sir
Oh I did sorry I meant yes!
That a syringe sir.
No its a hyperdermic needle.
Bus drivers are real pricks some times especially the 45a

Dave! · 18-11-2007 10:57AM

No it's not rude, I say it all the time.

Bard · 18-11-2007 10:58AM

I find that leaving them alone for a while so they can have a look around and then if they look interested in anything asking if they "need any help there?" is better than "ARE YOU OK THERE, LIKE, OR WHAT? HEY?"...

mp3guy · 18-11-2007 10:59AM

phasers wrote: »

that is so annoying

if I need help I'll come to you.

You get fired if you're not seen saying it often enough. You've obviously never worked in retail.

Ste.phen · 18-11-2007 11:01AM

If you don't see a problem with it you've obviously never shopped in retail

MoominPapa · 18-11-2007 11:04AM

"Sorry" instead of "excuse me" p!sses me off more

Setun · 18-11-2007 11:18AM

We had to say it all the time or we'd be sent off to the box crusher *shudders*

Anyway one day one of the lads asked this old man who occasionally came into the shop for a browse if he was ok. He proceeded to list all his ailments and present him, then me with a spoken word autobiography.

Brethitmanhart · 18-11-2007 11:36AM

i don't get the point of this thread, the employees have to say it and there's nothing wrong with it....unless you just want to waste time looking about the place in which you say, "I'm fine, thanks!"

Kintarō Hattori · 18-11-2007 11:49AM

As pointed out, if you work in retail you have to ask it. As Bard said I'll leave people alone to have a browse around and ask them if their OK after a few minutes.
I hate when an assistant comes up to me as soon as I walk into a shop. If I want help I'll indicate that I want to ask them something.

Naos · 18-11-2007 12:00PM

I generally don't mind being asked the first time, but when you are harrassed a couple of times after replying "I'm grand thanks", it really annoys me.

Especially those who start asking you questions the moment you pick something up, or help you find a size when you are flicking through the rail.

I have worked in retail and understand the situation. My old boss was a nightmare for it, badgering me to badger customers when it was clear they didn't need help.

I always preferred the "Hey how are you?" "Grand" "Well if you need any help just give me a call".

Laslo · 18-11-2007 12:13PM

I don't mind being asked how I am or being told that if I need help, to let them know. I do have a serious problem with being harassed though. It seems to happen mainly in men's clothes shops. There are several in Dublin that I don't go into because of the overbearing staff. I don't like being followed around the shop and being told what would look good on me or what's 'really nice' - I can figure that one out for myself and in my own time, thanks.

Kipperhell · 18-11-2007 12:16PM

Isn't the point the expression "Are you OK?" is actually impolite rather than the fact they approach.
I would say it is in the same way saying "What?" is to "Pardon?".

The classic overheard in Dublin

Mother asks son the time but does hear her so says "Huh?"
the mother gets angry and say "it isn't "huh?" it's "Wha?""

I am more tolerant with customer service workers now as many don't have English as their first language but is still annoys me to hear somebody who has English as a first language unable to speak it. You can pretty much tell how bright somebody is by their use of language.

Many people don't know when they are being impolite more so than actively being rude.

galactus · 18-11-2007 12:21PM

Manny: (As businessman enters store) I bet I can recommend and sell a book to this bloke here.

Bernard: Tenner.

Manny: You're on.
(Manny approaches businessman customer)

Manny: Hello...

Businessman: (Bellowing) Will you leave me alone I'm sick and tired of being hounded by salesmen in shops! I'm browsing, all right?! Browsing! At the end of it I might buy something, I might not - but you will not influence me one iota! Not one jot! Now I've finished with you, YOU MAY GO!!

Manny: (To Bernard) Best of three?

daiixi · 18-11-2007 12:27PM

Kipperhell wrote: »

The classic overheard in Dublin

Mother asks son the time but does hear her so says "Huh?"
the mother gets angry and say "it isn't "huh?" it's "Wha?""

My mam would do something like that - she'd yell out my name from downstairs and when I replied "What?" she'd say "It's not 'what' it's 'I beg your pardon'" to which I'd reply that I'd heard her and just wanted to know what she feckin wanted.

On topic: "Are you ok?" is just a ridiculous thing to ask someone in shop and assistants should instead ask "May I help you?".

JIZZLORD · 18-11-2007 12:53PM

Daddio wrote: »

We had to say it all the time or we'd be sent off to the box crusher *shudders*

Anyway one day one of the lads asked this old man who occasionally came into the shop for a browse if he was ok. He proceeded to list all his ailments and present him, then me with a spoken word autobiography.

i hate when that happens, i ask someone are there any curtains that they want and i get a story through the ages of their house and everything that has ever happened in their life

Naos · 18-11-2007 01:37PM

This is getting a bit petty, moaning about the choice of words.

Let us not turn into America, who use the "How can I help you?" to portray their position of power over yours of weakness.

I don't care how someone asks me, I care when they hang around you.

Wishbone Ash · 18-11-2007 01:51PM

It's annoying when queueing in a shop to hear "are y'ok"!

What's wrong with "next please" or "are you being served"?

The assistant in my local Chinese take-away says "you OK" as I'm entering!

I feel like saying "give me a chance to get in the fucking door - I'll be at the counter in another second" :rolleyes:

........but of course I'm too polite to say that!

bytesize · 18-11-2007 01:51PM

eo980 wrote: »

As pointed out, if you work in retail you have to ask it. As Bard said I'll leave people alone to have a browse around and ask them if their OK after a few minutes.
I hate when an assistant comes up to me as soon as I walk into a shop. If I want help I'll indicate that I want to ask them something.

phasers wrote: »

that is so annoying

if I need help I'll come to you.

Never shop in China then. You won't be able to take it. Trust me!!

Thirdfox · 18-11-2007 02:09PM

bytesize wrote: »

Never shop in China then. You won't be able to take it. Trust me!!

Tip to shopping in China - wear earphones

Only take them off when you want to inquire about something.

I find that in general most Irish shop assistants let you do your thing. Much more pleasant when there's less pressure on you to buy.

Kipperhell · 18-11-2007 02:13PM

Mear wrote: »

This is getting a bit petty, moaning about the choice of words.

Let us not turn into America, who use the "How can I help you?" to portray their position of power over yours of weakness.

I don't care how someone asks me, I care when they hang around you.

The point seems to be do you find the phrase impolite so it hasn't been reduced to choice of words it is about whether they are polite or not.

It seems to bother you just as much as you seem to think " how can I help you " as a position of power from a shop assistant. Which is to my ears a position of servitude as the shop assistant is offering their service to aid the the other more senior person.

In short the words used are important and you think it is too.

zuutroy · 18-11-2007 02:22PM

Come to Ireland: Where everyone has so little to worry about, they get uppity about the choice of wording by shop assistants.

ejmaztec · 18-11-2007 02:23PM

When you go inyo a newly-opened shop, you are accosted by about ten members of staff in quick-succession, when all you want to do is see what's on offer. Same shop, 6 months later, there's never anybody around when you want to ask a question. Harvey Norman?

dame · 18-11-2007 02:27PM

Mear wrote: »

I always preferred the "Hey how are you?" "Grand" "Well if you need any help just give me a call".

Something along those lines is acceptable to me too.

Proxy · 18-11-2007 02:40PM

<unnamed Irish company> have just hired "Active Floor Sellers" for the Christmas season, so expect to be pestered big time. I work there and i've just been through the training. Its a big faux-pas to ask if someone is "ok". There are 6 phrases (can't remember all of them right now), but you're meant to;

- initialise by asking casually if you can help with something
- if someone is looking at something, ask them if they need info, is it a gift, who's it for, etc, and augment the info around it,
- push the sale from the start by saying things like "you'll need a memory card too, which is..." and talking as if you've already bought it (this works!)

Its pretty interesting to sit in on, its like hypnotism for dummies. BUT - its our job to ask you, we know you don't like it, but in all honesty, out of 10 people you ask, 8 actually appreciate any info you give them. Imagine explaining what the difference between a DS and a PSP is to a mammy and why their precious would want either more - its a hard job being a parent at Christmas!

EDIT: I don't want to seem like we enjoy it; we don't. It can be enjoyable, you can have the craic with customers and its nice when you do make a sale and the customer feels like they've learned something - but we're not shoving digital cameras into your hands. If you're looking at it - we'll try help you decide. I've never heard anyone actually push someone to a sale (course you're sposed to, its bad business not to). Personally, I just give the info and let them decide. Like I said, parents have it hard enough at Christmas.

"Are you ok?" by shop assistants...impolite?

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