Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to destroy; to ruin; to tear down; to remove
gather
assess
demolish
fare
TOEIC test: Word games: Free Online Verb Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

How not to greet a customer?



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
What's the meaning of 'hors d'oeuvre'? Which language is it coming from? | What vs. which
Listening exercises
Message
Author
How not to greet a customer? #1 (permalink) Tue Jul 08, 2008 20:14 pm   How not to greet a customer?
 

Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #422 "Retail Sales Phrases", question 2

Which of the following phrases is not a good way to greet a customer? .........

(a) Hi, what is going on today?
(b) Good afternoon, sir. May I help you?
(c) Good morning. What do you want, madam?
(d) Good morning. What can I do for you, ma'am?

Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #422 "Retail Sales Phrases", answer 2

Which of the following phrases is not a good way to greet a customer? Good morning. What can I do for you, ma'am?

Correct answer: (d) Good morning. What can I do for you, ma'am?

Your answer was: incorrect
Which of the following phrases is not a good way to greet a customer? Good morning. What do you want, madam?
_________________________

.
Have you programmed the wrong answer here? It seems that you have.

I would not consider "Good morning. What do you want, madam?" to be an appropriate or typical way to greet a customer.
.
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

How not to greet a customer? #2 (permalink) Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:43 am   How not to greet a customer?
 

The rules of greeting customers have changed dramatically. You are not to say How can I help you? Or may I assist you??? The correct way now is to start a conversation with a special question.So, nowadays "what is going on?" sounds more appropriate than "can I help you ".Though it is very informal and should be used carefully.
Natasha81
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 105
Location: Sydney, Australia

Start exploring the English language today! Subscribe to free email English courseAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsCan you find all the prepositions in this story?
How not to greet a customer? #3 (permalink) Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:48 am   How not to greet a customer?
 

Try getting a job in any store with that approach to customers!
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.
Kitosdad
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Posts: 3894
Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)

How not to greet a customer? #4 (permalink) Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:30 am   How not to greet a customer?
 

Hi Natasha,

Quote:
The rules of greeting customers have changed dramatically. You are not to say How can I help you? Or may I assist you??? The correct way now is to start a conversation with a special question.So, nowadays "what is going on?" sounds more appropriate than "can I help you ".Though it is very informal and should be used carefully.


Are you joking?
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A spring in your step
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 9187
Location: UK

How not to greet a customer? #5 (permalink) Mon Jun 22, 2009 10:06 am   How not to greet a customer?
 

Hi,

how about :"wazzup, ma´am?"
Fan Of Arabian Horses
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1007
Location: next to Dortmund , Europe

How not to greet a customer? #6 (permalink) Mon Jun 22, 2009 17:51 pm   How not to greet a customer?
 

Even worse.

Stick to the formal greeting if you wish to continue in the job for longer than ten minutes.

Kitos. Smile Smile
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.
Kitosdad
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Posts: 3894
Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)

How not to greet a customer? #7 (permalink) Mon Jun 22, 2009 23:05 pm   How not to greet a customer?
 

Hi Guys,
Thank you for your replies. I am no way joking. Unfortunately, that's how it is now in retail. As you may have notice, I answered your test question correctly, because I knew you would consider that sentence wrong. But from my own experience I can tell you that a sale-assistant must not greet a customer with "How can I help you/May I assist you?" any more. I used to work in a shoe shop for four years, a very prestigious brand name too, so I am not making it up. I was surprised when I was told not to use those phrases at all. A person who was caught saying it three times in a row would be punished (housekeeping mainly, but if you were a "serious offender", you could lose you commission and then your job as you refused to follow the policy. I also completed a course in Business Management here in Sydney where we had a special subject called Customer Service Strategy. The new rules are no “May I help you??? “As the usual answer is" No, thanks, I am just looking”, it is pointless. So, you have to start a conversation with a neutral (WH) question that requires an open answer. At the same time, as I mentioned in my previous message, of course you have to consider the age of the customers, and certainly not everyone should be approached by How is it going? " Waz'up?" I believe comes from Bronx, so you are to work there, keep it up!!! SmileSmile “How are you?” is timeless!!! Smile:)Thank you.
Natasha81
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 105
Location: Sydney, Australia

How not to greet a customer? #8 (permalink) Tue Jun 23, 2009 13:17 pm   How not to greet a customer?
 

Australia eh! Say it like it is. Goodonya'sport. Smile Smile

Kitos.
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.
Kitosdad
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Posts: 3894
Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)

How not to greet a customer? #9 (permalink) Tue Jun 23, 2009 22:56 pm   How not to greet a customer?
 

I so much knew you would assume it was Australian!!! Smile Well, I must admit, forgive me Austrlians, nothing much is invented here when it comes to business managment.Everything is borrowed from (guess where??Smile- that's right-Mother England, like it has been for over two centuries:):)They also are quite influenced by The US of course.So, the tendency was not Australian.
Anyway, I am all in favour of the traditional language and that's why I am here. I am so happy I have discovered this website.Having lived in Australia for four years, I finally can improve my language skills rather then permanently damage them.
Thank you very much.
Natasha81
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 105
Location: Sydney, Australia

How not to greet a customer? #10 (permalink) Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:05 am   How not to greet a customer?
 

" I finally can improve my language skills rather then permanently damage them."

Good morning Natasha. Where were you when your language was being so badly damaged?

If your avatar says Australia, then it is fair to make an assumption that you are Australian.
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.
Kitosdad
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Posts: 3894
Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)

How not to greet a customer? #11 (permalink) Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:44 am   How not to greet a customer?
 

Good afternoon,

I live in Australia, but I'm of Russian background. I am truly happy that I can communicate with the people who have the same passion for the language.Nobody in Sydney had been able to answer my questions before I found this website.So, hopefully, I can finally improve my English.SmileSmileSmile Thank you once again for helping me. The site is soooo interesting that I spend hours here!!! I absolutely love it, and I have told all of friends about it. Great stuff!!!

Regards,

Natasha.
Natasha81
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 105
Location: Sydney, Australia

Display posts from previous:   
What's the meaning of 'hors d'oeuvre'? Which language is it coming from? | What vs. which
ESL Forums | English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests) How not to greet a customer? All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
Meaning of purrWhat does 'I can't stomach this' mean?What does "averse" mean?What qualities require to be a core collecter in banking sector?meaning of swipePhrase "You soldiers better toe that line right now"Why "shouldered" is used in this sentence?Phrase: He mouths all of the words to me. He's so cute!What does "greasy spoon" mean?Meaning of bond (It is a paper certificate that is issued by the Government...)Phrase: There's no such thingSentence "I only have some dollars"Why those and not these?What's the difference between "thief" and "robber"?An M-dash be better instead of the commaCome in for vs. come into"I am amazing" vs. "I am amazed"Sentence: There is little if any cultivation in...How not to greet a customer?

Discover English-test.net
GRE Question: toward vs. towardsWhich conditional?'Can you fit the pieces' vs. 'Can you match the pieces'Expression requiring inversion: 'By no means, for example!'I am RajuGRE Verbal Quiz: Games to teach English Vocabulary: List of AdjectivesGRE prep test: Word quizes: Free Online Adjective GameMeaning of earthy, devious, aghast, frigid, prohibitive, serpentinePimsleur Lessons MP3: Pimsleur English from JapaneseWord synonyms: Synonyms for walkHow to speak business English fluently: The entrepreneurial life cycle (1)

 
You can post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail