In appreciation for helping him with his fence,

[wildwood]

Mrs W and I were recently treated to a lovely dinner in a comfortable restaurant by a fairly newish neighbour couple from two doors down, As the meal progressed the man asked us why one of us said 'thank you' every time the waitress brought something to the table, as she was being paid to do so. I was not even aware that we did, but feel this surely is common courtesy and over the years the missus and I have unconsciously developed a repertoire where one of us says thank you where needed. Initially I thought that we were in the company of a couple of snobs but in due course these people appear very much an average nice couple with the usual concerns and hopes everyone has. This makes me wonder....., do you say thank you when the waitress/waiter brings stuff to your table or a shop assistant hands you the item you've paid for? Since last week I've sort of kept an eye on other people's behaviour and am surprised that some don't say anything to a checkout operator in the supermarket during the whole transaction - and some assistants give them the same courtesy in kind.

[camioneur]

Well I agree with all the above but would like to add this.

The reason there are no negative replies in this post is because they probably can't be @rsed to type one any more than they can be to say thank you

[Oneeyedvic]

I get very frustrated when people don't say thank you. I do a lot of networking and I know most of the names of the waiters / bar people where I network (ie local hotels, conference facilities etc).

My business partner would call it cynical, and I have noticed that I do tend to get a better service from them, but I sincerely hope that I don't do it for any ulterior motive.

[dot.hawkes]

I get the occasional cutomer who walks uyp to the till point and places an item on the counter and starts to rummage in their purse. As we are not a cash and wrap till, but a one to one service concession, I find this very presumptive, especially if myslef and the staff are already serving our own shoe customers and the customer at the till is buying a self serve accessory item that is not rom our company!

I have noticed that customers like this stand there waiting as if you are going to abandon the customer seated trying �125 boots on and serve them the �5 pair of tights!!!

These type of customers are also invariably the ones that when you are free to serve them do not make eye contact with you, put the card in the pin machine and carry out the chip and pin process in silence, and take the purchase from you without a word, these are the people that I say 'thank you' to the most, and most times they will belatedly manage to force a reciprocal 'thank you' from their peevish mouths lol

[bundleone]

I treat everybody with the same respect, however high or low their occupations or wealth,

I have never encountered rudeness from shop staff, you reap what you sow

[shanx]

i always take time with them, have a chat as im packing , and a joke , and listen about their lives , they enjoy it and i enjoy it .