Triumphrob

"Did you find everything 'ok'?"
This is a question. The appropriate response is to say "yes," if you did find everything ok. If you didn't find everything you needed, the appropriate response is to say "no," and then say what you were looking for. What will then occur is that someone will go and get what you need.

But if you ever say "no" they look at you with a shock horror expression cos they dont know what to do next. It is a hollow, meaningless reply that they are conditioned to say.

cindyabs

I can only speak for myself and some of the people I worked with but shock and horror were not the reactions that we exhibited when a customer answered our query. If they (customer) did reply with a specific request or comment then the correct response on the cashier's part is to try and help.
Conditioned? Sounds like Pavlov's dogs! Give me a break.
We were also trained to make eye contact with the customer and to greet them. Random customers are asked by supervisors to evaluate the cashier on these things.
I am sorry that you have had a less than satisfactory experience along those lines, but it is neither fair nor accurate to tar everyone similarly employed, with the same brush.

rincewind

"Get you some..." is one that drives me insane.

Relation: "Get you some."

Me: "Get me some what?"

Relation: "You know? Get you some."

Me: "I heard you but you still haven't told me what I am supposed to get."

Oh yeah, and if I hear "Get 'er done" one more time by some drunk red neck Larry The Cableguy fan, I swear I'll be on Death Row.

fatbrit

I'm with Cindy on this. The checkout position is a hard job for minimal wage. I always try to be nice to the person, being English-born and therefore too embarrassed to tell them I couldn’t find something I wanted. Instead, I often ask them whether they’re at the beginning, middle or end of their shift or joke with them about the management of the store. I do not, however, reserve the same joviality if the management of the store should incur my wrath.

AdobePinon

The one that irritates me is when, halfway through a meal, the waiter walks up and asks, "Does everything taste OK?"

Why, did you stick something in it? And why is it supposed to taste just OK, not great?

Pigtails

Better yet....when you haven't even started eating yet and they come and ask "does everything look okay?"

ladylisa

I dont mind being asked questions at the check out because I find that if you strike up a conversation the check out person is usually more than happy to stop with their usual patter. (You certainly notice the difference when you visit the UK)

I was in a fine dining restaurant recently with my friends and we found the waiter really annoying, he approached us too many times asking if everything was okay, he actually interupted us on more than one occsion. He even topped up our water when it really didnt need doing and leaned across me, so I again had to stop what I was saying to my friends. The thing is I know he was trying to give outstanding service but I ended up feeling a little frustrated. Obviously I didnt say anything being British.

dunroving

A colleague of mine ends almost every conversation with "Enjoy!" before he walks off. I think that might be a midwestern thing(?) I've heard it at restaurants all over, but not as a conversation-ender.

The Bahamas has some weird ones, especially greetings like "What it is?"

(pop quiz - anyone know the correct response to the above?)

Elvira

And I'm with you both

(Glad to hear I'm not the only one who is too embarrassed to tell them I couldn’t find something I wanted...)

CaliforniaBride

Grr! Then they remove the other persons plate before you have finished. Hubby explained that it's considered proper to do that here. But I find it almost impossible to continue eating when the person sitting with me has had their plate removed.

AND! "Are you still working on that?" AAAAAAAAaaaarrrrgggghh! I'd do time for that line, really I would!

NC Penguin

What is more irritating that I frequently get asked the question when my mouth is full and before I can answer, the server has already walked away. Smacks of insincerity since they don't hang around long enough to get a response...




NC Penguin

megs

Then there's the midwest habit of saying 'you bet' in response to 'thank you'. You bet how much? On what? Oh wait, you can't actually bet at all, can you?

Do I say anything? Certainly not, I'm British!

dunroving

All right if no-one wants to play.

the correct response to being greeted with "What it is?" is to reply "Right here".

NC Penguin

Can you translate the question and response into British English please?

Thanks,



NC Penguin

Steff

I thought it was interesting how English people say "Alright" when they mean hello. At first I would say "Yes, I'm good, how are you?" It took me awhile to figure out that it's not a question