Is saying "Thank you" to workers going away...

[BellvilleDad]

Not many people are being taught, or choose to employ, manners anymore.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Because for some bizarre reason I always end with "Talk to you later" if it's a family member/personal call. No one else does this and it's not how I was taught, somewhere along the line I just started doing it. If it's more business stuff, then it's usually "OK, Thank You" (since I've usually gotten an answer to a question).

I work retail so always try to say Thank You, Have a Good Day when done with a transaction. I'm never quite sure what to respond to Thank You from the customer because "You're Welcome" sounds weird to me in a retail setting where you are the customer & I'm doing my job (which part of is to thank you for buying our stuff). Sounds weird to me to say "You're Welcome" for me doing my job vs. when doing something to be polite like holding open a door for someone.

Yeah, I think "you're welcome" sounds kind of weird in that setting. I think just a "thank you" and a smile is a nice response.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I love it when you are leaving a place, and you hold the door open for the person behind you and they walk through it like they are royalty and you are expected to do so and without so much as a thank you.
My DS loves to hold the door, and most people especially the older people with smile and make eye contact and say thank you or something really sweet to him. However, he as well as my other kids, have gotten stuck holding the door for numerous people. One time I counted and I swear 15 people kept coming through the door. Most of them didn't even look down,(he is very short) let alone say thank you. AFter about the 12th person, I told him to let the door go, he didn't want to but after a few more people passed, (they were in a large group together) I dragged him off and let the door just about hit the person in the face. Her is the real kicker, It was at church.

I can only take so much rudeness before I will fight back, especially when it comes to my kids. I try so hard to teach them manners and I will be darned if I let people walk all over them because they are young.

That annoys me to no end. My sons are very polite (well, my oldest, especially) and he holds the door open for people often. Now that he's older (17), people will thank him more often (though certainly not every time ), but when he was little, he'd either get a very nice "what a gentleman! Thank you!" or nothing at all. What the hell is wrong with people?! Why would you breeze through the door and not even give a smile as a thank you? Do you really think you're that much better than those of us holding the door for you?

 

[MIGrandma]

I love it when you are leaving a place, and you hold the door open for the person behind you and they walk through it like they are royalty and you are expected to do so and without so much as a thank you.

I did that once at Cabela's, the guy behind me had his hands full so I stepped back and held the door for him. He didn't look at me, didn't say "thank you", nothing. Normally when that happens, and it has happened before, I just seeth inside and think what ingrates they are, yada yada. But this time I'd had enough.

I said "you're welcome" in a very loud voice. He whipped around and said "ooooh, fiesty! I like them fiesty!" I just rolled my eyes and walked away. Idiot.

Really makes you not want to hold doors for anyone since most don't say thank you or acknowledge you in any way.

 

[ols386]

Oh, as a cashier, I say "thank you" all day long. But most people are too pre-occupied with their cell phone to notice

I'm with you, I say thank you to service people. If for nothing else, to acknowledge we are both human beings. All I can say, it gets lonely day working after day being around customers who choose to wilfully ignore you while you are expected to be cheerful and helpful.

If I can do my part as a customer to not be one of the many "too self-absorbed to care" then I will!

***

Sorry I had a hard day today. had a customer leave a complaint about me for being condecending. She was on her cell phone and trying to ask me questions/ give me orders (and talk to her friend on the phone) at the same time. I couldn't tell when she was talking to me and when she was talking to her phone friend, and I said so.

I notice when a cashier says thank you. Most of them do say that, but not all. That was just rude for the lady to be on her cell phone while checking out. If I'm in a check-out line, and my cell phone rings, I might glance to see who is calling, but I can't think of a time when I've ever answered it while checking-out.

Thank you for being a courteous and nice cashier!!

 

[ols386]

I did that once at Cabela's, the guy behind me had his hands full so I stepped back and held the door for him. He didn't look at me, didn't say "thank you", nothing. Normally when that happens, and it has happened before, I just seeth inside and think what ingrates they are, yada yada. But this time I'd had enough.

I said "you're welcome" in a very loud voice. He whipped around and said "ooooh, fiesty! I like them fiesty!" I just rolled my eyes and walked away. Idiot.

Really makes you not want to hold doors for anyone since most don't say thank you or acknowledge you in any way.

That bugs me too, when that happens.

 

[mhsjax]

I did that once at Cabela's, the guy behind me had his hands full so I stepped back and held the door for him. He didn't look at me, didn't say "thank you", nothing. Normally when that happens, and it has happened before, I just seeth inside and think what ingrates they are, yada yada. But this time I'd had enough.

I said "you're welcome" in a very loud voice. He whipped around and said "ooooh, fiesty! I like them fiesty!" I just rolled my eyes and walked away. Idiot.

Really makes you not want to hold doors for anyone since most don't say thank you or acknowledge you in any way.

I have no words for this. I am not sure I could have contained myself, well at least my mouth. but then again Foot, meet man parts. How is that for fiesty. lol Just kidding, but I would have done it in my head.

 

[MIGrandma]

I have no words for this. I am not sure I could have contained myself, well at least my mouth. but then again Foot, meet man parts. How is that for fiesty. lol Just kidding, but I would have done it in my head.

Ooooh, I never thought of that!! Good one!

I was just surprised that I even had the nerve to say anything, I'm normally a very non-confrontational person.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Total thread highjack here:

I read this whole thread and was going to respond, but when I saw Sheetz - I got sidetracked. We recently moved from PA to TN, and man do we miss Sheetz! Have a shmonster on a pretzel roll for me. Those sandwiches were about the only fast food we ate and we miss them so much. Oh! then have some of those peanut butter no bake cookies for dessert! YUUUUUMMMM!

I didn't realize Sheetz were that far south. I thought they were pretty centered on PA, though I have seen one in MD and one in WV. Learn something new every day!!

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread. Thank you for your time.

Sheetz is worth getting sidetracked about! Hubby's family came from PA, and when we lived in DC, we'd drive a couple hours to hit the closest one for some MTO subs. Then we moved to NC. A couple years ago, construction started on a gas station here in our town. When the red awnings went up, we started going bezerk. When we saw the official sign, we were dizzy with excitement -- I know; pathetic but true!

There are a few more now, so they're definitely expanding.

Now I just need Wegman's to come down here and I'll be 100% happy.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I work retail so always try to say Thank You, Have a Good Day when done with a transaction. I'm never quite sure what to respond to Thank You from the customer because "You're Welcome" sounds weird to me in a retail setting where you are the customer & I'm doing my job (which part of is to thank you for buying our stuff). Sounds weird to me to say "You're Welcome" for me doing my job vs. when doing something to be polite like holding open a door for someone.

I used to reply, "No, thank YOU."

 

[lizbaby007]

My BF always holds the door open for people. If someone is coming out behind him he will stop and hold the door. I would say only 15% of people ever say thank you. He always makes sure to say "your welcome" even if they do not acknowledge him in the first place. Usually the person will turn and say "Oh thank you".

Another one that irks me is after a cashier checks me out I will always say "Thank You and Have a Good Day" rarely does one ever say "You too." They just go on to the next person.

I think with the internet and cell phones being glued to peoples ears that people in general are more self involved. Granted most people are busier than they ever have been (especially 40-50yrs ago). The less face-to-face interaction people have the more they seemed to lack the social niceties that use to be the norm. Its a shame that common courtesy is disappearing.

 

[cm8]

I did that once at Cabela's, the guy behind me had his hands full so I stepped back and held the door for him. He didn't look at me, didn't say "thank you", nothing. Normally when that happens, and it has happened before, I just seeth inside and think what ingrates they are, yada yada. But this time I'd had enough.

I said "you're welcome" in a very loud voice. He whipped around and said "ooooh, fiesty! I like them fiesty!" I just rolled my eyes and walked away. Idiot.

Really makes you not want to hold doors for anyone since most don't say thank you or acknowledge you in any way.

I totally agree. Especially the ones you let in front of you and they would have never gotten out if you had not stopped

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I do say thank you to people--but it feels more sincere to me to include a reason.

So if I see a cop directing traffic--I will say thank you plus a quick blip as to what I am thanking them for.

Some transactions are obvious--someone does something for you specifically and you thank them when complete.

Others directed towards the general public or group at large, I'll have add why I Am thanking them so that they aren't confused as to why I bothered. Sometimes--folks are just confused.

 

[sweet angel]

I say thank you all the time.

We were leaving a restaurant one night and were behind another couple. They walked out the first set of doors and didn't even attempt to hold it long enough for me to put my hand out. Just walked thru like no one was behind them. Same thing with the second set of doors. I LOUDLY said, "Hey, THANKS!" My non-confrontational DH's jaw just about hit the ground because the guy turned around. I just kept walking. DH said, "I can't believe you just said that." I said, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT GUY WAS SO IGNORANT!"

Not my normal behavior, but for pete's sake, would it kill you to hold the door for a second???

 

[cm8]

I say thank you all the time.

We were leaving a restaurant one night and were behind another couple. They walked out the first set of doors and didn't even attempt to hold it long enough for me to put my hand out. Just walked thru like no one was behind them. Same thing with the second set of doors. I LOUDLY said, "Hey, THANKS!" My non-confrontational DH's jaw just about hit the ground because the guy turned around. I just kept walking. DH said, "I can't believe you just said that." I said, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT GUY WAS SO IGNORANT!"

Not my normal behavior, but for pete's sake, would it kill you to hold the door for a second???

Now that is also something that I can not stand!!!! That really ticks me off and makes me want to .

 

[mhsjax]

I always check behind me to see if there is anyone there. If there is, then I hold the door. It is so rude to just let the door slam shut.

Hey how about when people get on the elevator before you even have a chance to get off. Drives me crazy. Yes my DS 9 has done it, but I grab his arm and snatch him back before he gets all the way in.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

This is sort of off track, but when people tell me "thank you" or "have a nice day" I am so used to saying "You, too" that I use it in inappropriate times. ie: Waitress says "Enjoy your meal"- I say "you, too". I am trying to train myself to say "thank you" more in those situations! But, I always say "thank you" to cashiers, door holders, etc.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I always check behind me to see if there is anyone there. If there is, then I hold the door. It is so rude to just let the door slam shut.

Hey how about when people get on the elevator before you even have a chance to get off. Drives me crazy. Yes my DS 9 has done it, but I grab his arm and snatch him back before he gets all the way in.

I hate that, too.
Recently, I was at the grocery store and this woman had 4 children running around the produce section. It was ridiculous; they were literally climbing over watermelons on a pallet and everything. I turned down one "aisle" (small ones) to avoid them and they come running up the other side so now I can't go anywhere. They are looking at me like I should move. I just kept repeating "Excuse me". Instead one (about 5 years old?) stuck his feet on the bottom of the produce case and grabbed onto my basket and squeezed himself past me to the side of my cart while the other one climbed onto the watermelons. Don't they realize I can't go anywhere because they're blocking my path?

 

[PollyannaMom]

i, too, have noticed that people rarely say "thank you" anymore and i'm only 21! i think people just expect the work to be done for them so a "thank you" would be unnecessary. another thing, though, that really bugs me is when people don't say "you're welcome". oh my gosh. it is not "no problem", "you bet" or "uh huh", its "you're welcome". drives me crazy.

I must admit to being someone who does use "no problem" (or, more accurately, "Oh, it was no problem at all.") too often. - But sometimes someone is thanking me profusely and I don't feel like there's anything to thank me for! - When they almost sound like they feel guilty, and are so grateful for something that took me no effort, I want to reassure them that it really was no problem, so they aren't afraid to ask again if they ever need to.

...I think with the internet and cell phones being glued to peoples ears that people in general are more self involved. Granted most people are busier than they ever have been (especially 40-50yrs ago). The less face-to-face interaction people have the more they seemed to lack the social niceties that use to be the norm. Its a shame that common courtesy is disappearing.

I think you've definitely hit on something there! I was just reading an article yesterday that linked that to the increase in bullying among school children as well. It said that kids just don't have the face-to-face practice learning how to get along with each other that they used to.


OP, I'm with you in thanking people! - I always nod and mouth "thank you" to the cop directing me around road work, or say "Have a nice day" to my cashier (and they almost always say "you too" - I must be lucky in where I shop.)

I think we should declare a "Thank-You Day" on the DIS, and all go around thanking people, and see what happens.

 

[EeyoreEma]

I'm a big believer in saying thank you. I have noticed, though, that not everyone makes that effort, which makes me sad. I am also big on returning the question of "How are you" which usually gets a chuckle out of telemarketers. I've had more than one say that I am the only person who has asked them that all day. I feel like my parents instilled good manners in me and I am working hard to make sure my children see the same good examples of manners.