"No Problem"

[lilclerk]

I think it sounds nicer the first few times you hear it, but after a while it starts to sound scripted and insincere.

I agree, like.. it's obviously not pleasurable for them to be serving you fast food. I'm not saying that they necessarily hate their job, but it's not a pleasurable experience.

 

[Luv2Run]

I'm curious why you make the distinction. A customer is a customer, no matter what their rank or status is. And shouldn't your service & response to them be the same?

I mentioned in my original post why I make the distinction, but I'll repeat: those that I am the same rank as and/or am familiar with, I am less formal than when I am addressing an officer or those in our command (Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Command Master Chief). It helps to personalize their customer service experience, so that they get a warm fuzzy feeling from me. For instance, if I am overly-formal with someone of the same rank or who I am friends with (many of whom are on a first-name basis), they may see it as me talking down to them or being stuffy. On the other hand, I wouldn't dream of using my Commanding Officer's first name or saying "no problem" when he thanks me for helping him with an issue, so I make sure I'm more formal in how I address him.

 

[Wendy31]

I don't think this is so much a language thing as a cultural thing. I suspect you will not find the same responses to "Thank you" in every culture that speaks a certain language.

As an English speaking person, I very rarely say "You're Welcome", unless I actually mean it - as in, someone asked me to do something I didn't really want or intend to do, but I did it for them and they thanked me - if it was something I was already going to do anyway, "You're welcome" would not cross my lips. In fact, when I used to work in customer service, when someone thanked me, my reply was always to thannk them in return, never you're welcome.

Example:

*customer pays for coffee and donuts*
*I go get them coffee and donuts*
Customer: Thank you.
Me: Thank you.

That is probably true too.

When someone sincerely thanks me for something, I think I generally reply something like, "You are welcome. It was my pleasure" or "You're very welcome. I'm so glad I was able to help" or "Oh, goodness, no... thank you for giving me the opportunity!"

I think it sounds nicer the first few times you hear it, but after a while it starts to sound scripted and insincere.

I agree to certain extent. We actually don't go to Chik-Fil-A that often. The one closest to us is always extremely crowded. When I do, I generally go through the drive-thru & will receive a "my pleasure" twice - After I've given my order, & they've repeated it back & given me my total, I say "thank you" & the person replies, "my pleasure" and, after I've said "thank you" at the window when the person gives me my bag, I'll get another "my pleasure."

And, again, I don't get upset or anything close to it when someone says "no problem" - I'm just happy the person acknowledged me w/ more than a grunt or a "uh huh." But I do notice the difference when someone replies w/ something other than "no problem."

 

[pryncess527]

I think it sounds nicer the first few times you hear it, but after a while it starts to sound scripted and insincere.

Agreed. I also hate how Chick fil A trains them to say, "How may I serve you" -- i find that wording off-putting. Not enough to think about it much outside the context of this conversation, but talking about my pleasure reminded me.

 

[Wishing on a star]

But it rubs me the wrong way and unless I'm at a beach or pool in the Caribbean, it seems overly casual.

OMG!!!! Now this brings back memories.
The Caribbean, at our resort in Jamaica, 20 years ago, was the first time that I really noticed the phrase.
Everything was either "Irie, Mon..." or "No Problem!!!"
Loved it!

Still love it!

But, here is the thing.
Why would one be rubbed the wrong way just because somebody is not formal and scripted enough???
Really???

Life is too short.
Way too short.

And, I could never in a million years want somebody to have to convey that just doing their job, and being in my amazing presence, is such a 'pleasure'.

 

[deedeetoo]

Languages evolve. I see no issue with "no problem". The meaning is more important than the actual words used.

The rudest thing on this thread was the poster bragging about how her young kids were correcting other people. There is just no excuse for that.

 

[Poohforyou]

I say "no problem" almost every time someone says "thank you." My friend and I actually had a conversation about this the other day. It seems generational. Millenials tend to say "no problem" while older generations say "you're welcome." I tend to think of "you're welcome" as "I'm acknowledging I did you a favor and your thanks" where as "no problem" is seen as "don't even mention it as something that needs to be thanked." You're welcome also seems more formal to me. But that's just my take.

Anyway, I don't get why it bothers you what this other girl does. I don't see a problem with any of it. None of that is inappropriate.

I agree with you. To me it's just indicating that what I did wasn't a big deal and I don't need to be thanked. I don't know why it would bother anyone

I also hope parents are pointing out to their children that it's bad manners to point out others bad manners.

 

[cabanafrau]

Responding with No Problem isn't the way we were expected to respond back in the day, but if it is said with a pleasant attitude and the person has been helpful I don't give it a second thought and walk away pleased with their customer service. I nitpick over those kinds of things when people are unpleasant or do their job grudgingly and I will put on my judge's robes and "write them up" in my head for any and all infractions.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I don't have any problem with "No Problem" I figure that it is just a younger person's way of saying "You're Welcome"

NOW ...... Here's something that I Really DID have a problem with ..... Once when I was in a restaurant in the mall, I was by myself, and a much younger woman waited on me. When she forgot to bring me something, I reminded her to bring it. I was very kind, but still, a total stranger. She said to me: " Sorry I forgot - It must have been a brain F**t"

THAT kind of language is fine for friends that you know and that they are OK with it. But if I was that woman's supervisor, I would have fired her on the spot.

 

[lil mermaid]

For those onboard who find it just fine to say "no problem" is this something you have taught or will teach your children about manners? I ask this because when my sons were very young, I'd guess as young as 3 or 4, whenever they said "thank you", they waited for the "you're welcome". If they didn't get that response, they pointed it out - every time! It's kinda funny to me that my 4 yr old knew more manners than the waitresses waiting on us.

If your children knew manners, they would not be correcting adults.

 

[goofinoff]

Holy cow.....7 pages!!! First of all, I never said the phrase no problem was offensive. I said it bugged me and I didn't think that is was an appropriate response for Thank You. I do agree that there are times where it is perfectly fine to say it. I have said it to customers who have returned things and it turned into a long transaction. The customer said something sorry for the trouble or sorry to take up so much time etc. Then I think it's perfectly fine to say either not a problem, not at all or something along those lines. I think when you've waited on someone and they thank you for your help, the appropriate response, IN MY OPINION, should be you're welcome.

I also stated that this particular coworker never thanks the customer. When I'm finishing a transaction I always say thank you very much. That customer and the one before and after her, are keeping me employed. We work in a commission department and that customer just paid part of my salary! The least I could do is say thank you.

I never said that my coworker was rude by saying no problem. She's a very cheerful young lady. So far no one has complained. I just personally don't like the phrase is an acceptable response in that setting for Thank You.

 

[Ambear]

I don't have any problem with "No Problem" I figure that it is just a younger person's way of saying "You're Welcome"

NOW ...... Here's something that I Really DID have a problem with ..... Once when I was in a restaurant in the mall, I was by myself, and a much younger woman waited on me. When she forgot to bring me something, I reminded her to bring it. I was very kind, but still, a total stranger. She said to me: " Sorry I forgot - It must have been a brain F**t"

THAT kind of language is fine for friends that you know and that they are OK with it. But if I was that woman's supervisor, I would have fired her on the spot.

Wait... You would fire someone for saying "fart"??? Or is that a swear word I'm not deciphering right?

This thread is epic!

 

[OurBigTrip]

For those onboard who find it just fine to say "no problem" is this something you have taught or will teach your children about manners? I ask this because when my sons were very young, I'd guess as young as 3 or 4, whenever they said "thank you", they waited for the "you're welcome". If they didn't get that response, they pointed it out - every time! It's kinda funny to me that my 4 yr old knew more manners than the waitresses waiting on us.

I would find a four year old correcting an adult to be the height of rudeness, and would point that out to both the obnoxious child and the adults.

Happy to do it, no problem.

 

[Adipoo]

I don't have any problem with "No Problem" I figure that it is just a younger person's way of saying "You're Welcome"

NOW ...... Here's something that I Really DID have a problem with ..... Once when I was in a restaurant in the mall, I was by myself, and a much younger woman waited on me. When she forgot to bring me something, I reminded her to bring it. I was very kind, but still, a total stranger. She said to me: " Sorry I forgot - It must have been a brain F**t"

THAT kind of language is fine for friends that you know and that they are OK with it. But if I was that woman's supervisor, I would have fired her on the spot.

LOL, I would have told her that I'm the queen of brain farts and had a good chuckle.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I have no issue with it. But, then again, I work in a place where colorful language is pretty common so am very desensitized to language in general lol.

 

[Ceila]

I don't have any problem with "No Problem" I figure that it is just a younger person's way of saying "You're Welcome"

NOW ...... Here's something that I Really DID have a problem with ..... Once when I was in a restaurant in the mall, I was by myself, and a much younger woman waited on me. When she forgot to bring me something, I reminded her to bring it. I was very kind, but still, a total stranger. She said to me: " Sorry I forgot - It must have been a brain F**t"

THAT kind of language is fine for friends that you know and that they are OK with it. But if I was that woman's supervisor, I would have fired her on the spot.

Oh good grief.

 

[tvguy]

I am guilty of saying No Problem. But only when someone says thank you after I do something that was no problem. ANd I have no idea where I picked it up from.

The one that gets my goat is when I say thank you to a server in a restaurant and they say "My Pleasure".......about a dozen times during the course of the meal.

 

[SandiR]

It used to be the fashion to close letters with "Your Humble Servant". Now we say "Yours Truly". Neither has ever been meant to be taken seriously.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I like it when everyone puts there own slant to being polite

 

[mommasita]

Generally it doesn't bother me (actually can't think of a circumstance where it has)- but I do observe that manners and courtesy are rapidly declining, and expect they will continue to do so.

I will note that in some languages, "no problem" really IS how one says thank you.

Spanish - de nada - it's nothing
French - de rien - it's nothing

A couple of articles on the subject of "no problem":

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/no-problem-yes-its-a-big-problem/
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/11/29/the_un_welcome/

I have never in my life said de rien, it seemed pretty slang to me to be honest. I have always used bienvenue. I would say it is really ISN"T the way to say thank you in French at least.

de rien is really informal. bienvenue, je vous en prie, avec plaisir, is what we were taught in school.