Don't call me sir!

[FDF]

I used to work in retail, not a salesman but I never called a customer sir. Had to call teachers at school sir or miss, felt such a plonker saying it and they knew you didn't mean it with as much respect as you're supposed to.

I remember when I was about 20 some spotty little salesman called me sir and I thought he was talking to someone behind me. Couldn't salesman just say "Do you need some help?" or "Can I help" or "prosecuting is our policy" without the sir.

 

[Kier]

I've not really been called it, however at the hotel I'm currently at, I find it kinda funny, people twice my age calling me Sir .

 

[pooroldcodger]

I used to work in retail, not a salesman but I never called a customer sir. Had to call teachers at school sir or miss, felt such a plonker saying it and they knew you didn't mean it with as much respect as you're supposed to.

I remember when I was about 20 some spotty little salesman called me sir and I thought he was talking to someone behind me. Couldn't salesman just say "Do you need some help?" or "Can I help" or "prosecuting is our policy" without the sir.

I can tell you weren't a salesman!
"Can I help you?" is a closed question.The most likely answer is "No!". So shop staff are supposed to be trained to come up with imaginative alternatives like:
"Were you looking for a new TV today or audio sir?"
You might still get a resounding "neither", but at least they have to think about it !
O'h happy days of working in a nice quality store - 500 staff, split 400 women and 100 men, of which around half were gay, therefore real odds of 1:8. Ding Dong!

 

[StevenRB45]

Personally I hate being called 'the man'. Due to the nature of sales we get a fair few kids in and obviously the parents use us to keep their kids in check with "the mans coming put it down before he gets angry"....I am I Bruce Banner? Am I going to pick the little b***ards up and eat their fingers on my lunch? Although it would amuse me one day to produce a baseball bat hold it in a threatening manner and shout "She warned you! now face the consequences!"

 

[Munkul]

good on the parents, at least they are teaching their kids manners and respect.

 

[Kier]

Personally I hate being called 'the man'. Due to the nature of sales we get a fair few kids in and obviously the parents use us to keep their kids in check with "the mans coming put it down before he gets angry"....I am I Bruce Banner? Am I going to pick the little b***ards up and eat their fingers on my lunch? Although it would amuse me one day to produce a baseball bat hold it in a threatening manner and shout "She warned you! now face the consequences!"

haha, I love it, wonder if I did what their parents said I would do...if they would mind

good on the parents, at least they are teaching their kids manners and respect.

Yep

 

[BrumBrum]

Nah to young for Sir, Get it on the phone though, due to my manly phone voice lol
I hate being called mate, I don't know you so how are you my mate? lmao

 

[Munkul]

ok now i dont like it.

was in staples 20min ago, was served by a big middle-aged man with a horribly false smile and of course, the "Sir"s delivered up in such a way that it made me think he was taking the ****.
Of course, it probably meant nothing more to him than part of his job, and if i told him that, he would be outraged. Still....

 

[pooroldcodger]

ok now i dont like it.

was in staples 20min ago, was served by a big middle-aged man with a horribly false smile and of course, the "Sir"s delivered up in such a way that it made me think he was taking the ****.
Of course, it probably meant nothing more to him than part of his job, and if i told him that, he would be outraged. Still....

Back in the olden days I used to wear a suit for work and at lunchtime I went to have a look round a music store in Sheffield that sold pianos and organs. A rough looking woman with a snotty nosed kid said
"e'h Mister - do you mean if ar Ryan has a go on this organ" ?
I said I didn't mind at all.
So he started making a right racket on this organ.
One of the staff came over and said
"Do you mind madam, that's a Hammond organ"!
Woman points at me in my suit and says - "he said he didn't mind"
Man says - "he doesn't work here madam!"

 

[maddogmorg]

used to work in retail and we were encouraged to talk to the customers this was fine mid week when it's quiet and the people shopping aren't in a hurry, but try doing it at weekends when customers just want to buy stuff 'n get out of there!

loved it though when the parents used to say "don't do this or 'the man' will stop you" or suchlike, i used to look menacing, say pick up a plant pot or something heavy which i nearly always had nearby and watch the kids get scared!:devil:

 

[pooroldcodger]

used to work in retail and we were encouraged to talk to the customers this was fine mid week when it's quiet and the people shopping aren't in a hurry, but try doing it at weekends when customers just want to buy stuff 'n get out of there!

loved it though when the parents used to say "don't do this or 'the man' will stop you" or suchlike, i used to look menacing, say pick up a plant pot or something heavy which i nearly always had nearby and watch the kids get scared!:devil:

When I was about 18 I was working on a Saturday. We closed at 5.30pm. At 5.28 ish this family of middle class muesli eaters came in (all open toed sandals and kids who had to be allowed to "express" themselves). We couldn't leave 'til they were served. One of the kids started tearing around and jumping on the displays - parents oblivious. While nobody's looking I stuck my leg out and tripped the kid up. He bawled his head off so the mother looked up and said "what's the matter darling?"
"That man tripped me up"
My boss glares at me.
"You must stop telling lies Archie" says his Mum!
"Let's go home" says his Dad.
Phew says me!
"You were bloody lucky" says my boss under his breath, with a grin.

 

[ChrisUK]

Better than "oooooo ere daft lad got a light daft c**t". My reply was no but I've got a high powered air rifle in the boot thats chav happy.... Dip s**t.

 

[Rich_65402]

i work in a hotel i call most people mate... im calling no ****er sir unless they deserve it, in a suit driving an audi clicking their fingers at me for a capachino **** OFF am i calling them sir

one of the oddest ones i got was a 50 year old man call me

DUDE!

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

In the shop I work, we are told to say sir or madam.... u hate hearing it, and we feel daft saying it

I called most men at work Sir, unless they're some plonker, :tosser: or chav

 

[StevenRB45]

I refrain from refering to anyone at work as anything....They get no undue respect or disrespect from me, only times I use anything like this would be if someone about my age or below comes in and asks advice at which point sentence usually starts with right mate your choices are...