Secret Shoppers (was: Re: coercion)

[susanmcgee48176]

> Susan:
> > I find that when I figure out that this is a
> >  requirement I don't 
> > bother to really respond, I just try to be  polite,
> > and say just fine 
> > and you?
> >  
> Sandy:
> 
> I am  not required to ask how people are or to tell
> them to "have a nice day",  but I do both. I assure you that not 
everyone 
> tells me they are just fine. I  get many responses when I ask how 
they are. If I 
> get a negative response, such  as not well, or I am having a bad 
day, I tell 
> them that I am sorry to hear  that and that I hope they feel better 
or things 
> improve for them. When I ask  how they are it is my way of engaging 
them, and I 
> don't expect everyone is  going to be great. I listen to what they 
say and 
> respond accordingly.  Likewise, when I tell them to have a good 
day, evening or 
> night, depending  upon what time of the day it is, it is because I 
hope they 
> do. I am not  required to say that, I do so because I want to, and 
I do make 
> exceptions. If  they have been rude or nasty, or are hanging on 
their cell phone 
> (which I  consider the height of rudeness), I say only what I am 
required to 
> say, which  is thank you. Thank goodness that 99.9% of the 
customers I wait on 
> don't share  your cynical view that I am doing this because I have 
to. 
> Perhaps my tone of  voice conveys that I am sincere in asking how 
they are and that 
> I do truly  wish them a good day. 


I shop at several stores every week - about four of them regularly.
It is very obvious when someone is saying "how are you" and "have a 
nice day" because they are required to. I then say, "fine" and "you, 
too" to be courteous.

If someone is obviously engaging me as an individual, of course, I 
talk back, and have a nice conversation with the person.

Susan