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Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut





Michigan

I don't think it's that big of a deal, but if the underlying reason for him calling you Sir was to butter you up and sell you something, then I think you have a legitimate complaint. I can't stand walking into a GW and having the staffers sell you the new unit of minis. It's hard to find a polite way to tell them to blow it out their ass
   
Made in us
!!Goffik Rocker!!





(THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)

When I sold televisions to people I said sir. People tend to think you're trying to buddy up to them if you go in too casually in my opinion.

I now call my friends sir ironically because it amuses me.

----------------

Do you remember that time that thing happened?
This is a bad thread and you should all feel bad 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






brado wrote:I don't think it's that big of a deal, but if the underlying reason for him calling you Sir was to butter you up and sell you something, then I think you have a legitimate complaint. I can't stand walking into a GW and having the staffers sell you the new unit of minis. It's hard to find a polite way to tell them to blow it out their ass


Absolutely, everyone knows SALES Staff are hired to stand in the corner facing the wall, and absolutely nowhere on the contract does it state about helping the customer find the product they are looking for! Honestly. Sometimes I wonder how they expect to go bust if the staff insist on trying to be helpful!

Tcoch. Don't GW know anything

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2008/12/30 17:47:33


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Made in us
Heroic Senior Officer





Woodbridge, VA

First visit, or first time, or at least until they get to know you, sure, sir is OK.

Course, when I told the local GW staffer that my name is Don and I really do prefer to be called that (this was to an employee who has known me for years but was calling me isr), I was told he was required to call me sir. That, IMO, is taking it a bit too far.

Don "MONDO"
www.ironfistleague.com
Northern VA/Southern MD 
   
Made in us
5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)




The Great State of Texas

Get used to it. The older you get the more you'll get to be called sir. Don't worry, they'll call you "that old fart" behind your back.

-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
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Made in au
[MOD]
Making Stuff






Under the couch

Frazzled wrote:Get used to it. The older you get the more you'll get to be called sir.


Heh... the first time some teenager walked up and said 'Hey, mister, do you have the time' sort of threw me for six...


whatwhat wrote:Disrespectfull? I'd quite like it if they said Sir at the end of every sentence, in a childish cockney accent preferably.


"Please, sir, can you buy some more?"

 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka






Lancaster PA

Heh, I remember the first time I went back onto a college campus since graduation. My wife and I were driving around looking for a place to turn around (way too many 1 way streets around here) and we were thinking "This must be highschool open house or something, these kids don't look old enough to drive..."

Turns out it was just Tuesday, and we were just 26 year old hermits.


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"I'm sick of auto-penetrating attacks against my behind!" - Kungfuhustler 
   
Made in us
Dominar






Did he say "sir" but spell it c-u-r? Otherwise I'd guess he was just a local schlub doing his best.
   
Made in us
Long-Range Ultramarine Land Speeder Pilot



Whitebear lake Minnesota.

heres how you can tell if its disrespect or respect.

If he said "sir is there something i can help you with" this would be disrespectful

now what he said was "Hello sir. how can i help you."
thats respectful

read the 2 above witch sounds worst?

let me say it easier, if he says sir before any other word ie...hello or hi or something along those lines its Disrespectful and pushy unless he has served his country then it could be a habbit. just my 2 cents

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Made in us
Darkwolf






New Hampshire

malfred wrote:Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name...


Dammit, now that song's stuck in my head...

As for "Sir" in a retail situation, salespersons are being taught more and more that customers are "guests" in their store. As a way of showing respect, sir or ma'am are the most common titles when addressing someone. Even though I can see why you responded the way you did, I wish more people would do it. Half the time I don't even receive a greeting (thanks, Circuit City!).

What always confused me was when to call a woman "Miss," or "Ma'am." For some reason they can get really bent out of shape over that.
   
Made in us
Sinewy Scourge




Murfreesboro, TN

I can see both sides of the argument here. First off, the first time someone called me sir (early 20s) it threw me for a loop (I'm already at the sir stage?!), but since then I have come to expect it. If, however, I were to go down to my local game store (my home away from home) and one of the staff called me sir, my first response would be to take offence. I spend so much time there and have gotten to know everyone there very well, so even if it was a new guy I would be taken aback. I would quickly catch myself and realize "Hey he's new and doesn't know me yet." But still, being called sir in my equivalent of "Cheers" would still leave me abit bothered.

"I'm not much for prejudice, I prefer to judge people by whats inside, and how much fun it is to get to those insides." - Unknown Haemonculi 
   
Made in us
Shas'o Commanding the Hunter Kadre




Missouri

Ok there seems to have been a bit of a misunderstanding here, I'm not moaning or whinging about being called Sir.


Actually, you kinda are. You started a topic about it on several forums even. If you can't just shrug it off and let it go then it must really be bothering you, hence the discussion.

 Desubot wrote:
Why isnt Slut Wars: The Sexpocalypse a real game dammit.


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Made in au
Stormin' Stompa






YO DAKKA DAKKA!

LuciusAR wrote:A simple "Hello There" or Hi, hows it going?" is fine.

I dont beleive GW staff are beneath me, I consider them fellow hobbists. Ones who unfortunatly earn minumum wage. Like I said Im an ex-staffer and one of the biggest annoyances were the hobbyists with superiority complexes.

A freindly greeting will get a freindly response. Grovel to me and I'll back off and back off quickly.

Perhaps its just me but I do generaly respond better to a 'buddy-buddy' aproach.



I was referring to the fact that you're an EX-staffer, and making a little Socialist joke.
I'm sure any GW retail staff who works the hours I do would make more money than me anyway.

I always used to want to work at a GW store, but never lived in a city as a kid. Sort of glad I never did though... I ended up spending the years in question a little better. I know that of the various schools I've ever gone to, some expected teachers to be called 'Sir' rather than their names. However, being of an Australian disposition, it's disturbingly natural to blurt out 'G'day Mate!' in any situation. It never got me into trouble.

I think the question '...How can I help you?' as an opener is a little more presumptuous in a GW store, but it may have just been a bad habit on the employee's behalf. Much like most people's habits of ignoring intrusive salespeople with a shuffling mumble. I imagine most forms of retail training drill that to into you, but I've never experienced it myself. Cut it down to, 'Can I help you?' and it's neutral again. It's even a platform for conversation... I mean, people the world over say, 'How are you?' as a greeting and don't answer it in reply. It's weird, but just one of the ways communication has mutated.

Some people aren't confident enough for the buddy-buddy approach, and can only manage to display confidence through a facade of professionalism. The best way to catch that is when they apply the wrong professional stance. The thing about professionalism, though, is that it only really needs to be applied to surly or unconfident customers in the first place.
   
Made in us
Rogue Daemonhunter fueled by Chaos






Toledo, OH

I'm guessing a lot of this is cross atlantic cultural differences. Here in the states it's very common for sales staff to call customers sir or ma'am. It was one of the first things I was taught in retail, and while it was a bit jarring to here it as I aged, I got used to it in a hurry. It's also far more common in the south, where I was visibly shocked to find the 70 year old Chick Fil A greeter holding the door for me and calling me sir. It wierded me out a bit.

I think in the UK the actual class issues are far more prevalent, and so everybody tries harder to pretend they are aren't there. In a store in the US, every salesman treats every customer with respect, regardless of each persons class because everybody's coin is good, and people like to feel waited on. I think the UK, where there is an honest to god nobility, it might be a lot more odd to, as we put it, "treat the customer like a king."

   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka






Akron, OH

Nothing pisses me off more then being called 'Sir'

Mainly because I'm female -.-

-Emily Whitehouse| On The Lamb Games
 
   
Made in us
Shas'o Commanding the Hunter Kadre




Missouri

Cyporiean wrote:Nothing pisses me off more then being called 'Sir'

Mainly because I'm female -.-


...you know if that happens a lot I'd be kinda worried.

 Desubot wrote:
Why isnt Slut Wars: The Sexpocalypse a real game dammit.


"It's easier to change the rules than to get good at the game." 
   
Made in us
The Last Chancer Who Survived





Norristown, PA

I know Sir or Mr. Kline is respectful, but I hate hate HATE it when people call me that. It just makes me feel old :( I don't wanna be a Sir or Mister till I'm like 60

 
   
Made in ca
Storm Trooper with Maglight





Toronto, Ontario

I'm amazed that this post is still going on.

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Made in ie
Frightening Flamer of Tzeentch





Yeah, I think its an American thing.

An American once asked me for directions, and after every sentence he said 'Yes sir'.
Kinda weirded me out. In Ireland, no one wants to be called sir lest people think you were trying to put yourself above everyone else. But I guess that in America it doesn't have implication.

But then in Ireland we are a very first-name based culture, even in business meetings, etc everyone is on a first name basis.

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Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut




Scotland

It could have been worse they could have just pointed
and laughed!
Take into account he was new to the job so he's still
finding his feet.If you ask him nicely he'll probably
call you whatever you want next time!

 
   
Made in gb
Hardened Veteran Guardsman





damn straight it pisses me off

I didn't spend 5 years at evil medical school to be called "sir" (or Mr, I ain't no surgeon)

Vompire, welcome to Dakka. Please use punctuation in the future. You’re arguments will be sign with greater merit and you’ll avoid people calling you on it.

Jfraz (MOD)
Jfraz thinks this phrase is 'more gooder'. 
   
Made in us
Rough Rider with Boomstick





If someone calls you "Sir" does not equate a disparity in power or status. If you think that anyone who calls you "Sir" actually thinks you are in any way "better" than them, you are simply deluding yourself. It is a formal show of respect, a way of talking to someone whom you do not have a casual relationship with.


The Happy Guardsman
Red Templars
Radical Inquisitor
 
   
Made in fi
Calculating Commissar







The first time I was called "Sir" was at Harrod's, whilst purchasing a quantity of fudge. For the price I was paying, it felt apt...

The supply does not get to make the demands. 
   
Made in us
Angelic Adepta Sororitas




Inland Empire, CA

Or, as Homer J. Simpson so fondly said, "For once I'd like to be addressed as Sir, without adding 'you're making a scene.'"
   
Made in us
Wrack Sufferer





Bat Country

nikeforever22 wrote:For once I'd like to be addressed as Sir, without adding 'you're making a scene.'


Winner, thread over.

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Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




meh, In a store I prefer not to be addressed at all, unless I know the person already or if I ask a sales question or I get a casual greeting
like: "Hello, let me know if you need anything."
other than that, I'd rather not have anyone bother me while I shop.

especially if it's a GW staffer,
I HATE the way their trained, with a fiery passion.
and the GW voice.... RAGE!
last time I was in a GW store (*shall be unnamed*) I 'saw' the sales associate's GW-voice and 'raised' him a few decibels until he got the hint and broke character
(I even gave him the old "Which army do you play." interrogation.)
...

anyway, the only time I call someone "sir" is sarcastically, disrespectfully or if they have a gun (which they didn't take so well at the time).
but, I'm not really traditionally socialized anyhow... so I'll stay away from Texas
   
Made in us
Never-Miss Nightwing Pilot






Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:MAdam is the appropriate greeting over here.

Over here, a 'Madam' gets you a happy ending...


Ghidorah

   
Made in ie
Frightening Flamer of Tzeentch





BoxANT wrote:If someone calls you "Sir" does not equate a disparity in power or status. If you think that anyone who calls you "Sir" actually thinks you are in any way "better" than them, you are simply deluding yourself. It is a formal show of respect, a way of talking to someone whom you do not have a casual relationship with.


I think you're missing the point and a lot of history.

No one calls anyone else Sir and we all get along just fine.
Though that is diminishing a little with all the rest of the americanisation going on (or should i say americanization).

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Church: So it is a sword, It just happens to function like a key in very specific situations.
Caboose: Or it's a key all the time, and when you stick it in people, it unlocks their death.  
   
Made in us
Deadly Dire Avenger



Athel Querque

I am from the Southern USA too - but I am also old, and being called sir really annoys the heck out of me! Dirty filthy little whippersnappers....

It doesn't happen quite so much if Iwear a baseball cap....
   
Made in us
The Hammer of Witches





A new day, a new time zone.

Thanatos_elNyx wrote:
BoxANT wrote:If someone calls you "Sir" does not equate a disparity in power or status. If you think that anyone who calls you "Sir" actually thinks you are in any way "better" than them, you are simply deluding yourself. It is a formal show of respect, a way of talking to someone whom you do not have a casual relationship with.


No one calls anyone else Sir and we all get along just fine.

Until someone is so bothered by being treated in a familiar manner the first time they walk into a store they go whinging across multiple boards about it. :S

"-Nonsense, the Inquisitor and his retinue are our hounoured guests, of course we should invite them to celebrate Four-armed Emperor-day with us..."
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