Names

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I don't like it. I don't mind so much being called "Mrs. RecoveringKinkoid'sHusband", although it's still creepy if I didn't introduce myself...but I do not like being called by my first name by someone who not only doesn't know me but who I didn't say "please call me Recovering" to.

I have enough relationships with people that I don't need to pretend a business transaction is a relationship. In fact, I find the whole "You're a friend, not a customer" mentality to be extremely creepy. Yes, I am a customer. Not a friend, a pal, or a family member. I wish some of these companies would knock it off, because to imply anything more is presumptuous and weird.

It won't usually put me off shopping there, but then, I've never had a place to it to the point it drove me out. But the day's not over yet.

[Ringtail Z28]

I really don't like it for a couple of reasons.

First because it makes me feel very uncomfortable when total strangers use my name.

Second reason is that nobody gets it right. My first and last name are apparently very difficult to pronounce and it's gets a little annoying to hear people mutilate it constantly.

[wagegoth]

I voted for the last option, but I don't like it.

If I don't know you, and you use my first name, it weirds me out. We haven't been introduced, and I won't call you by your name either, even if it's on your badge, unless I get your permission.

I'm not a Mrs. I didn't change my last name either time I got married. Stick to Ms. Assuming I'm a Mrs. may be understandable, but I don't like it. It also works the other way, as sometimes my husband is called "Mr. wagegoth'slastname." This bugs me at stores where I don't know the person helping me, and I know they're reading it off the receipt to follow this kind of policy.

I don't get rude, I certainly don't snap or complain, but I don't like it. It's kind of like when I check out at Target and they always ask if I want to open an account; no, I don't, and I won't quit shopping there, but I don't like it, and remind myself the poor cashier is just doing what they're told.

If I call my bank or order something by phone, then the person's using my name makes sense. They have to verify my identity.

[Killer Bees]

I don't like people being overly familiar with me when I don't know them. I can deal with shopkeepers greeting me in a friendly manner, but don't use my name unless I give the okay.

It just gives the impression of false sincerity and I really hate that.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

What I'm wondering is, how are you supposed to find out somebody's name if they're not a regular?

Otherwise, I too dislike it when strangers call me by name. I get kind of flustered and start thinking "Am I supposed to know you?

[NightAngel]

What I'm wondering is, how are you supposed to find out somebody's name if they're not a regular?

I know because it's on their account.

Truth be known I don't call my friends by name very often. If I see them I say, "Heeeyyy you! What's up?!" and if I call them on the phone I say, "Hey, it's me."

I greet some of my regular customers like I do my friends- I know their names, they know I know their names. If I suddenly start saying, "Hello Bob how are you today? May I help you find something?" it would actually LOSE friendliness and they'd probably be weirded out.

Like last night on of my regulars came in and I said, "Hey there! I certainly hope you're in a good."
Him, "Why?"
Me: "Because no one else is tonight."

My regular customers expect a certain bit of candor and comedy when they arrive. They don't expect me to script and call them by name.

[Bella_Vixen]

Truth be known I don't call my friends by name very often. If I see them I say, "Heeeyyy you! What's up?!" and if I call them on the phone I say, "Hey, it's me."

I almost never refer to anyone by name when I am talking to them. ::thinking:: Exes...nope...Family...nope...Friends...nope....Co workers...no. Hell, I was talking to K a few weeks ago and I actually said her name. She freaked out, because we've been friends for 4 years, and up until that point, I just never said her name in conversation.

[jnd4rusty]

At my job we HAVE to ask each customer for their name to place on their ticket, then when the order is ready we call it out on a microphone..example "Bob, your order is ready please, Bob" We have to say it exactly like that. We also have to know 100 customers by name and something about them within six months of employment. It is not hard as we have MANY, MANY regulars, so many that I actually know over 1,000 people by sight and something about them, and I am learning more each month. I have also worked at the store for 13 yrs and I am very outgoing and talk to my customers alot. I have made it my mission to know how to spell basically any name that I get and boy most customers with odd name are suprised that I am able to spell their names, in fact it really pleases them. I also take down the name on the check instead of asking and I have found that every single customer actually likes that, instead of telling me their name. I don't mind people using my name either, but since I work in a service industry that requires me to use names then I understand completely.

[Imogene]

The name I respond to changes roughly once a year or so, calling me by my legal name is a sure way to get your throat torn out at some point in our relationship. There are... let's see... four people, total, who I allow to call me by my legal name: one of my teachers in Middle school who had been my third grade teacher as well, as I had just started going by my nickname then; one of my long-lost friends' mom was allowed to, because she had lived across the street from me for years; my Grandmother on my Dad's side can, because she's very set in her ways; and occasionally the rare phone call that comes in for me. I try to shoot those down quickly, however. And those are a sure way to skim out telemarketers.

[GingerBiscuit]

Somebody referring to me by name when I don't know them creeps me out. I'm glad we don't have names on our name badges.


I don't mind giving it to 'my' customers who'll then come in and ask for me...
but I hate it if people I don't really know use it. I don't like it if people I know but don't LIKE call me by name.

[draftermatt]

I have no problem with people saying "thank-you Mr. ****" or the like, but unless you know me personally, (ie, we are friends, I used to work with you, etc) don't call me by my first name.

[Lace Neil Singer]

...how do y'all feel when some customer you've never met before just reads your nametag and says "Hey Mike!" lol...it always gets me for just a second, like "How the hell did you know my name!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"

It majorly creeps me out, to be honest. Like I voted on the poll, I want to shout, "Use my name and I'll gouge out your eyes!" As far as I'm concerned, unless you know me personally my name is off limits. You call me Miss or Ms Neil Singer, dammit!

[Broomjockey]

I have an ex-friend who would do the "read the nametag and use the person's name" thing, but then take it a step further. He'd try to sneak reading the tag, and then be overly friendly, pretending he knew the person, to deliberately try to throw the person off, making the poor worker wonder where they knew each other from. I informed him several times he was an ass for that, but he didn't care, he was all about it.

[Emmeileia]

I truly hate it when people I don't know call me by my first name. It reminds me of used car salesmen trying to create some sort of false intimacy so they can sell me a lemon.
I couln't do anything about it in customer service when I had to wear a nametag, but I sure as hell am not letting someone call me by my first name when they don't know me! Call me Miss LastName or miss or ma'am or whatever, but please don't assume. I was always brought up to never call someone by their first name unless I was invited to. Old fashioned, but there you have it. Just one of my quirks.
I have some friends whose given name I did not learn for months. They simply do not use it, and go by nicknames.

[Eben56]

Its usually wrong

I don't mind too much. I'm old enough that I prefer Mr. xxxxx but I find it normally quite humorous when people try to use my first name. If they are reading it, and have not heard it, they will invariably pronouce it wrong. Some people never get it right and I basicly just give up correcting them. It does tell me a lot sometimes when I am dealing with a salesperson as a good barometer of whether or not they are actually listening to what I say.