Door Greeters/Response to...

[Elmo9607]

Oh you guys are great!! I don't mind greeting people...I realize it's part of my job and I do it. I makes me happy when people respond to me. I'm not going to chew your head off with a conversation or try to tell you something I'm just saying hi!

And I won't interrupt a conversation I'm having with someone to greet someone else. That is rude and while they actually want me to do that at work, I won't.

 

[wdwgal]

I always speak back and try not to take it personal if the other person does not speak back. You never know what someone is going through and just the acknowledgement that you show may go a long way in their mind wheather they say so or not.

wdwgal

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Most of the time they say "Hello, how's it going?" or something along those lines and I say "Hi, i'm good thanks"

 

[merryweather20]

I ALWAYS respond back. I've worked in customer service long enough to know not be be rude, and a lot of people are. It's utterly appalling.A lot of the time, I'll be the first one to say hello. If someone asks me about my day, or how I'm doing, I ask them the same. If they wish me a good day/morning/evening/night, I will wish them the same in return.

I think it's really bleeped up to ignore someone, for any reason. I can't even tell you what I think of the people who are on their phone when ordering or paying or the like.

But I guess all I can do is be as nice as I can to people when I talk to them face to face and let karma take care of all the jerks.

Wow! You think someone is a 'jerk' if they don't manage to respond to the greater . Wow! Sometimes people have other things to do as they're entering the store, and while I agree that talking on the cell phone at the cash register is rude, why is it rude as one is entering a store?

 

[Poohbear123]

I used to be a Cashier, and HAD to say Hello to the customer NO MATTER WHAT...its part of our Policy! However, most of the people that shop at my store, IGNORE me, or are ON THE PHONE talking about their Baby's Daddy, Momma, whatever. I don't even talk to them.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Wow! You think someone is a 'jerk' if they don't manage to respond to the greater . Wow! Sometimes people have other things to do as they're entering the store, and while I agree that talking on the cell phone at the cash register is rude, why is it rude as one is entering a store?

Because if simply saying hi, or smiling is ever a struggle (under ordinary circumstances) then yes, it's jerk-y activity. Responding to someone being polite to you should never be something ignored, for any reason, and that it is, is pathetic.

 

[doxdogy]

Drives me nuts when someone can't hang up the phone long enough to at least acknowledge the cashier in the grocery store or in line at any other store.

I used to be a Cashier, and HAD to say Hello to the customer NO MATTER WHAT...its part of our Policy! However, most of the people that shop at my store, IGNORE me, or are ON THE PHONE talking about their Baby's Daddy, Momma, whatever. I don't even talk to them.

 

[Tink888]

This is just something I've noticed over my years of working retail in a hardware store. When I'm at service desk, I have to greet everyone that walks in. I've noticed that about half will say hello, a quarter will ignore me, and a quarter will acknowledge my presence (look right at me) but ignore me.

I know when I go out shopping, I always say hello to whoever greets me at the door in a store (if there is someone). Very rarely do I not. What do the rest of you do?

I make eye contact and say hello.

 

[TheZue]

I always say hi, but I'm in retail. If you don't want to talk to the staff it isn't that hard to say that you are just looking and are fine on your own, there really is no need to be rude about it. I do know that people that act weird and won't talk or avoid to us often get followed around the store because we get worried they are going to shoplift. I'm not talking about being on the phone, but the ones that actively turn around and go the other way if you smile at them.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My favorite is when I get ignored by a Walmart greeter. It doesn't happen often, but it makes me scratch my head since their job title indicates their function is to greet people.

I don't expect someone at the counter to say hi to me as I walk in a store. Especially if they are with a customer. Simple
acknowledgement that they noticed you and you noticed them is sufficient. Ignoring someone IS bad manners. Doing a non-verbal acknowledgement....as far as I know....is not bad manners.

But I am with some of the other posters. If you interrupt me if I am
mid conversation with a present human to extend a courteous verbal greeting, it is rude.

Same as if you were engaged in a transaction with me and then turned your head to greet each and every customer---it isn't doing the company any favors as (general) you are ignoring the paying customer right before you to do that.


I have worked in customer service for several years.
There is an art to doing it.

Just as you get peeved by customers, I get peeved by cashiers, bagged, agents and any other customer service position that you can think of...that deals with their present customer in a passive manner while engaging in conversation with their peers or other customers abou weekend plans, last night's party, the latest gadget, or heck...even business related stuff.

Their should not be an expectation of customers that isn't properly fufilled
by the staff. Their job is to serve the customer. It seems more and more lately...employees are not doing that.

I remember waiting patiently with my children in the bathroom of a department store in Fairfax. I was pregnant and had my three children with me and three of us had to go. A makeup counter employee--don't recall which brand walked in and just as a stall cleared and I was ready for my children to go potty since we were NEXT in line...the timing was perefect for her to waltz on past us.

Then when she finished and as my girls next went into the stall..she washed her hands and made sure to tell me about fabulous deals at the makeup counter and to stop by and sample product.

I politely acknowledged her....but no way in heck would I have considered it at that point. (and before anyone gets all "benefit of the doubt" on me---she didn't say excuse me nor appear nor "sound" as though she had a huge emergency of her biological functions. No doubt at all that she was self-serving and rude!)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Because if simply saying hi, or smiling is ever a struggle (under ordinary circumstances) then yes, it's jerk-y activity. Responding to someone being polite to you should never be something ignored, for any reason, and that it is, is pathetic.

I will have to respectfully disagree at your absolute statement that it is pretty much always pathetic.

 

[disneychrista]

I will sometimes say hi back but most of the time I just keep walking. I honestly dont' need or want someone saying hi to me as I walk in the door. I think stores can save money and do away with the greeter.

 

[KristaTX]

Sometimes the person might just not realize you've said hello. Sometimes when out shopping I'm in my own little world or distracted and not expecting someone to be talking to me, so if other customers are around I may not realize for a bit that the person is talking to me. And then if I do realize it after several seconds, there's that awkward feeling of "Do I go back and say hi?".

And sometimes I don't hear them because I don't hear that well - that probably is the case with people more often that one would think. But if I do hear a greeting, of course I give a smile and a "hi" back .

But I have seen rude people who just ignore workers, so I know that they exist. I just don't think that everyone who seems to be is purposely ignoring you.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I will sometimes say hi back but most of the time I just keep walking. I honestly dont' need or want someone saying hi to me as I walk in the door. I think stores can save money and do away with the greeter.

I could be mistaken...but I am recalling from my retail days...that this politeness serves two purposes...warm fuzzy customer service for a welcoming atmosphere and second..it is a loss prevention tool. People who are considering shoplifting might change their mind by a simple greeting. I am not wording that correctly, but it is just something I can vaguely remember from
when I worked for Mervyn's and Sears.

So while I don't feel an employee suspects me of shoplifting, I do know that they aren't doing it out of "politeness" at all times. I won't snub them if I hear or see them....but I can see why the practice makes folks uncomfortable. Often it doesn't seem genuine.

 

[maxiesmom]

Wow! You think someone is a 'jerk' if they don't manage to respond to the greater . Wow! Sometimes people have other things to do as they're entering the store, and while I agree that talking on the cell phone at the cash register is rude, why is it rude as one is entering a store?

If someone says hi to you, it is rude to ignore them, no matter where you are. I can't imagine thinking it is ever ok. Someone says hi, you say hi back. It takes less than a second. It costs you nothing. It is called being polite.

 

[dimimi]

I say hi...but I think the greeter is completely unnecessary. If the greeter has another role, such as stocking shelves, working the counter, etc., I guess it's ok, but I'd rather see the store save money!

 

[autumnpalm]

I used to work at The Gap and my manager was big on us chatting with customers. I was not specifically a greeter, but we were expected to greet anyone that came in and ask if there was anything we could help them with. I would say I got ignored by at least half of the people that came in. Now I always make an effort to chat with people working retail and am polite and friendly to them- it only takes a second! A little friendliness goes a long way.

 

[TheZue]

I say hi...but I think the greeter is completely unnecessary. If the greeter has another role, such as stocking shelves, working the counter, etc., I guess it's ok, but I'd rather see the store save money!

They seem useless, but I know when we have the unfriendly people who don't like talking to the customers our sales and conversion rate go down.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I always do. Maybe sometimes I'm on my phone as I walk in, but I'll at least smile and aknowledge them. I just think it's rude not to.

 

[CleoPahd]

I always greet and ask how their day is going. But the big issue, is that sometimes I don't hear them, or I question if it's ME they are even talking to. I guess I don't want to feel stupid and say "fine, thanks" when the question is not even for me!

I second that...that's exactly how I feel sometimes. I always say hello when I recognize it's me they are talking to.

On a similar subject, years ago a friend of mine worked as a bank teller on the drive thru window. She would get so upset when people didn't say hello to her. I had to confess, honestly, I never thought they really listened to you in the car. I assumed they just hit the button to say hello and then got to work on your deposit. I had always just smiled and nodded, but when she told me how upset it would make her and her co-workers, I made sure to always say hello from that point on.