{ 22 comments… add one }

• MetalRx July 12, 2012 at 9:38 pm edit

  I hope I never adopt this attitude as I get older. I cringe when customers get angry if they are called by their first name. Give me a break.

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  • bigcajunman July 13, 2012 at 5:01 am edit

    I didn’t get angry young man, and who taught you that using someone’s first name is the polite thing to do?

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• Ray @ Financial Highway July 11, 2012 at 6:03 pm edit

  I generally prefer to be called by my first name, but that’s also because the age gap is usually very small. At least they should ask if it is ok to call you Alan.

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  • bigcajunman July 11, 2012 at 6:05 pm edit

    Or sir!

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• Mary July 10, 2012 at 10:58 pm edit

  As far as I know, Ms is still a proper salutation. I agree that some women place a large value in being called Mrs. but it’s not as common these days.

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• Big Cajun Wife July 10, 2012 at 8:38 pm edit

  I don’t think this is “bank policy” because when we go into the bank when we have made an appointment and get to sit in a glass office the person dealing with us refers to us as Mr. and Mrs. Big Caj. Our titles are in our file as all our correspondence is labeled correctly.
  I believe this is an example of poor customer service training by front line people.
  tsk tsk TD.

  Big Cajun Wife.

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  • bigcajunman July 10, 2012 at 8:54 pm edit

    True, but she is also afraid of me, and knows my wrath as well!

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• Elizabeth July 10, 2012 at 3:03 pm edit

  See, “Madame” would work for me (if it was in common use here, that is). Why are names and titles so confusing for women? We don’t use “master” and “mister” for men anymore.

  Unfortunately, for many women that “Mrs.” is an important status symbol. I hate having to correct people that I’m a “Miss” not a “Mrs.” because everyone assumes I should be married by this age

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  • bigcajunman July 10, 2012 at 7:18 pm edit

    So is Ms. off the table now? Too bad, I liked that.

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• CVS Coupons July 10, 2012 at 2:29 pm edit

  I see nothing wrong with young people in the service industry calling you MR. Learning to show respect to your elders is a lost art in the day in age.

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• Money Beagle July 10, 2012 at 2:22 pm edit

  I would judge the level of respect on other things, like did she make you wait before taking care of you, did she give you her full attention, did she do what you requested of her without having to be told twice, did she avoid distractions from other co-workers, did she smile at you, did she thank you for your business, etc. If someone is pleasant, efficient and attentive, those are signs that they respect me and the business I bring.

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  • bigcajunman July 10, 2012 at 7:17 pm edit

    Agreed, however, when you start off bad, it takes a while to come back from that too.

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• Mary July 10, 2012 at 1:28 pm edit

  I completely and wholeheartedly agree with you here….a person should have the respect to, at least, ask you if it’s ok for them to use your first name. I can’t agree with Echo either, there is nothing old fashioned about using ma’am or sir…that shows that you have been raised with respect for others, no matter their age. Of course, I was raised in the South, where manners were a big deal but I see no situation where respect for others can be turned aside.

  Yep, bigcajunman, you definitely hit on one of my pet peeves! There seems to be a big lack of respect these days,.

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  • bigcajunman July 10, 2012 at 2:01 pm edit

    Lack of respect, or at least the appearance of lack of respect.

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• The College Investor July 10, 2012 at 11:55 am edit

  Being a guy in customer service, I always call every woman, regardless of age “Miss”. That way, if they are young, they feel young, and if they are older, they still feel younger.

  I did get one complaint in all my years by this old woman who wanted to be called “Ma’am” and not “Miss”, but you can’t win them all!

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  • bigcajunman July 10, 2012 at 12:13 pm edit

    No, but at least you made the effort, and for that we old folks appreciate it.

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• Elizabeth July 10, 2012 at 9:32 am edit

  You post made me laugh because I’d rather be called by my first name than have someone trying to figure out if I’m “Miss” “Ms.” or “Mrs.” Men don’t have that problem!

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  • bigcajunman July 10, 2012 at 9:35 am edit

    In France they solved that, everyone is now Madame!

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• krantcents July 10, 2012 at 8:53 am edit

  As another old(er) person, I have no problem with someone younger calling me by my first name. although other circumstances dictate respect. In my classroom, everything is different. Mr. K is the only acceptable reference.

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  • bigcajunman July 10, 2012 at 9:35 am edit

    I would prefer they ASK first before becoming familiar with me.

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• Echo July 10, 2012 at 8:21 am edit

  I think it’s old-fashioned to call people sir, or ma’am these days. Mr. Big Caj sounds ok, but I wouldn’t get too worked up over it if someone used my first name.

  That said, when I was on the front lines of the hospitality industry we would never use someone’s first name in a business setting. In fact, there’s an Italian family who came in for coffee every morning and I think if I called the man Tony he would have me whacked – and he’s 95 years old!

  Social settings are different. I have a friend whose father is a prominent business man in town and likes to be called Mr. V. I call him Glen and he still seems to like me.

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  • bigcajunman July 10, 2012 at 8:24 am edit

    Yup, you never know WHO you are talking to!

    Reply

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