Do they call you a "guest" at your local Starbucks??

[skypilot]

I go to a Starbucks near where I work. The employees there used to simply say, "May I help the next person/customer in line." Recently I've noticed that they all now say, "May I help the next guest in line." I hate this. I hate the fact that ALL the employees say it ALL the time. In my opinion, any hospitality that Starbucks is trying to convey by referring to us as "guests" is undermined by the fact that they are obviously making their employees say this. I had no problem with being called "customer" or simply "person". I hate it when companies think they are winning people over by mandating specific greetings.

[philosophie_en_rose]

1. It's annoying.

Safeway makes its employees call people by their last names. (Have a great day, Miss _____ ). Considering it takes them a few moments to look at the reciept for the name, it's hardly heartwarming.

[skypilot]

4. Hardly heartwarming.

And a bit presumptuous.

[Left Is Write]

20. I agree. I've always found it presumptuous.

Especially because the employee calls me "Catherine" (the name on my credit card/check), but I don't go by Catherine in daily casual conversations.

[u4ic]

8. Especially when they constantly mispronounce

one's surname. :eyes:

A few are smart and don't even bother with the name.

I find it rather creepy that they even know my name. I don't believe that customer information should be brought up on the screen when the customer card is swiped. Safeway isn't the only one.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. Nothing new....

when I worked in Fast Food in the '70s, it was drilled into us to refer to the customers as "guests".

[skypilot]

3. The '70s?!?!

I had no idea it went that far back. I grew up in the seventies and I've been to my fair share of fast food places and I've NEVER heard this.

[MonkeyFunk]

13. Yep!

Even back then, companies tried to reduce the feeling of "mercantilism" involved. "Guest" sounds so much more cozy than "customer".

We were also taught to be super-extra accommodating to the children, because even in '76, they knew that children were the predominant "deciders" of where a family ate.

[skypilot]

15. sounds so much more cozy...

...until you've heard it for the 50th time. That's the problem: they think it sounds warmer or cozier. Once you notice that all of the employees are saying it all the time you can practically see them getting the memo from HQ.

[Deep13]

5. Guests don't have to pay for products.

When people are my guests, I don't charge them for the accomodations.

[1gobluedem]

10. E-zackly...

Nor do I make my guests stand in line or have to hunt me down to ask a question.

I really, really hate that term.

[BOSSHOG]

6. the local coffee shop

doesn't have a standard greeting but at one of the local grocery stores the checkers always send you on your way with "have a beautiful day." They are very nice folks and I guess a beautiful day is better than a nice day.

[cloudbase]

7. I always love it when

they ask me if I'm a "guest" at a hotel. I tell them I'm not, since I'm paying for the room.

[Zavulon]

9. Equally annoying: calling employees "associates." (NT)

[Deep13]

11. As if they were major shareholders. nt

[Zavulon]

12. Exactly, like the person who says hello to you at Wal-Mart. (NT)

[KitchenWitch]

14. I hated it when Target started doing that.

[Pierre.Suave]

18. I was fired from target a few years ago

I was temp help over xmas break from school, and I was fired for referring to a customer as a customer and not a guest over the radio...

edit: also, I dont go to starbucks, I go where they actually know my name.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. No, they say "Howdy, Stranger!"

Then proceed to ask questions in a language I don't understand. So I leave and go to Micky D's or Tim Horton's for some coffee.

Is Starbucks a cult?

:wtf:

[HEyHEY]

17. They call you that at fast food joints now

[Left Is Write]

19. No, but Target customers are "guests."

I love Target. I'm a lifelong loyal Target shopper. I hate, however, being called a "guest." I am not a "guest," I am a paying customer. "Guests" do not have to pay for anything!

[LostinVA]

21. Disney has been doing it for decades

[Redbear]

22. Usually, they just call me "Mel."

Which is odd since that is not my name.