Does it irk you when customers call you by your first name?

[AnaKhouri]

It depends on the situation. People rarely use my name unless they are commenting on it (Hey, that's my name too!) or they ask for it at the end of a call (they special order something and ask my name so they can bitch about me if I get it wrong...which never happens because I am awesome).

I hate it though when people call and I answer, "Thank you for calling >bookstore<, may I help you?" And the first thing they say is, "Who is this?" You called me, asshole. Who are you?

Nope, my pet peeve is nicknames. For example, if namebadge says Elizabeth, do not automatically shorten my name to Beth or Lizzy. That's not my name. Not to you anyway. Unless you've known me since Junior high, my name is Elizabeth. People I've worked with for years call me Elizabeth. My name badge says Elizabeth. So why do some people I talk to over the phone or in person (and this includes the occassional coworker) automatically shorten my name to a nickname. I know it shouldn't, but that really bugs the hell out of me. You don't know me that well and frankly, I go by my full name now in work, clubs, etc. So automatically calling me a nickname feels overpersonal and invasive to me.

I know exactly how you feel. My name is Patricia. Not Pat, Patty, Patsy, Trish or Tricia. If someone calls me and asks for someone using one of those names, I tell them no one by that name lives here. If a customer calls me one of those names after learning my name is Patricia, I gently correct them with a "Actually, it's Patricia." To co-workers, though, I let it be known that I do not answer to anything else, and if they call me a shortened form of my name, I will not answer until they say it properly.

Petty? I don't think so. It's your name, and you have right to be called however you like.

[Mara-chan]

We HAVE to use our names on everything at work. "Thank you for calling <city> Staples, this is Mara, how can I help you?" is said on every call. We all have nametags, and since I'm CSL it's got my FULL name on it. When I'm Manager on Duty, they put my name on the sign up front. I can't get away from it.

So I don't mind if people (especially regulars) call me by my first name, or even the shortened version of it. Just not the childish shortened version. For example, it would be like Joseph could be called Joe, but Joey would be too childish.

I also hate the multi-users. Like others have said, the "Hi Mara, what's on sale today, Mara. I didn't get an ad, Mara, did you, Mara?" Ugh!

The thing I hate the MOST is when Hispanic people come in. My last name is Hispanic, so they ASSUME I speak it and INSIST on converting my name into the Hispanic equivalent. Usually it'd be like this "Ah! <last name>! Como Estas, Jose?" I usually stare them down a moment, look completely lost, or reply with the only spanish I know. "Donde esta el banyo." Or they'll say the spanishified first name as a question. "Jose?" and my answer would be "No. Don't Speak Spanish."

Of course there is that Indian guy who calls me Doctor all the time too... THAT pisses me off more. And at least I don't have STAPLES on my new nametag, people used to call me Mr Staples. -_-

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I am also not your friend, buddy, pal, bro, boss or champ. Please don't refer to me as such. I'm being nice enough to not refer to you as fuck trout, fuck wit, fuck trumpet, fuck turnip, fuck stick, fuck muffin, fuck pop, fuck hose, fuck hydrant or the very event horizon of all that is fucking wrong with humanity. <cough>

So please return my courtesy. >.>

Oh I am CRYING with laughter. I had my head on my hands on the desk just now.

It doesn't irk me, but I find it a bit disconcerting. I dont' find it too jarring if someone refers to me as "Mrs. or Ms. Kinkoid" (usually after I pay with a card) because there is no inappropriately presumed familiarity with someone using a honorific.

First name, though, when I have not introduced myself is rude. I know that many places force their poor employees to do this, and they shouldn't. I'd never get mad or even annoyed by it, though, as they are told to do this. (the only time I will actively tell someone they need to knock it off when they try to work my name into every other sentence. That's just...I dunno... disturbing. )

And I don't do it to employees, either, name tags or no.

I absolutely detest strangers who shorten people's names to nicknames, too. WTF?

[Lingering Grin]

I know exactly how you feel. My name is Patricia. Not Pat, Patty, Patsy, Trish or Tricia.

Trust me, I know how you feel. I have the male form of your name... I HATE being called Pat... even my MOTHER isn't allowed to call me that.


I've gotten in trouble more than once for not saying my name when I answer the phone, or for "losing" my nametag... what!? I swear the underwear gnomes in my house steal them!

[Plaidman]

I'm a meh about it. Some customers call me by my name, others don't. A very tiny batch call me by my real true name that everyone knows me by, but I just tell others my nickname, which coincidently is my true name.

Umm... let me back up with stupid history.
Real Birth Name: William.
Nickname: Driver
History: Was going to be called Billy, but my cousin billy at the time I was born got jealous, and just told everyone we were going to call him the 'Driver'. Naturally my drug loving family just stuck to it for my whole life.

So I answer far faster to Driver then I ever could with William.

The boss at store doesn't care if we wear nametags. In her mind, if we don't know customers name, why should they know ours. Of course if they ask, we should tell them.

[Mordecai]

Despise it. Both ways. Don't presume to call me by my name when I'm on the job or if you're *on* the job and I'm you're customer.

It just strikes me as impolite.

I am also not your friend, buddy, pal, bro, boss or champ. Please don't refer to me as such. I'm being nice enough to not refer to you as fuck trout, fuck wit, fuck trumpet, fuck turnip, fuck stick, fuck muffin, fuck pop, fuck hose, fuck hydrant or the very event horizon of all that is fucking wrong with humanity. <cough>

So please return my courtesy. >.>

What he said.

[Sirloracaz]

It's a little weird acting like they know me by reading my nametag. It's not like they're trying to get to know me.... they're hoping to get a deal (which I can't even offer) by acting chummy. or using my name to plot against me.
Sometimes I can tell they want to treat me like a real person, which I don't mind. catches me off-guard though. But usually they act like they are 'armed' with my name.... they can use it for or against me, so I batter watch out.

[Pezzle]

I never got the whole being offended by the first name thing. It doesn't bother me at all, only when they try to pretend like they've known me for years (usually in some sort of patronizing-give-me-your-employee-discount tone). Otherwise...whatever. I have a name tag and they can apprently read, so it's all gravy.

In my sales I do the handshake and introduce myself. I guess that's why it doesn't bug me. Why SHOULDNT they call me by my name if I've said "HI, my name is pezzle what kind of computer can I help you find today?" and they always brighten up it seems. Sales days are over though -embraces new warehouse overlord-

[Dreamstalker]

The only people who I let call me by my first name (or a variant thereof) are bosses/coworkers, regular customers, friends and family (and the exception I mentioned earlier if I'm ordering food/drink that needs a name attached to it). A customer doing it, unless it's a regular, just rubs me the wrong way especially if I know they're trying to be manipulative with it (knowing my name will not get you freebies/my discount, Go Away kthx).

[jedimaster91]

I don't like 99.9% of the patrons knowing my name. I've quit writing it on the white board unless there's a computer class and I flip my lanyard around so they can't read it. I have no doubt that there's at least one of them out there who would follow me home after I tell them they can't look at dirty pictures on MySpace, so the less they know about me, the better.

I also do not answer to: sweetie, honey, lab assistant, computer lady, shorty, babe, whistles, snaps, psst! or hey! "Miss" will do only because "ma'am" makes me feel old and I've pretty much nixed every other form of greeting.

[ralerin]

Yes and no. Personally most of the people who come in don't bother to look at my nametag. It's only a few people who use my name and while it does grate my nerves, they aren't the SC type, they're just regulars.

And

I am also not your friend, buddy, pal, bro, boss or champ. Please don't refer to me as such. I'm being nice enough to not refer to you as fuck trout, fuck wit, fuck trumpet, fuck turnip, fuck stick, fuck muffin, fuck pop, fuck hose, fuck hydrant or the very event horizon of all that is fucking wrong with humanity. <cough>

So please return my courtesy. >.>

>_> Is now my sig, edited down to fit. Hope ya don't mind.