#SayHello: The Importance of Polite Greetings in the Fast Food Industry
Say “Hello” ๐
As someone who works in the fast food industry, I know the importance of providing excellent customer service. However, it can be disheartening when customers fail to reciprocate simple gestures, such as saying “hello” or “thank you.” In this article, we will explore the significance of polite greetings in the fast food industry and why they matter.
The Impact of Polite Greetings on Customer Service
When customers enter a fast food establishment, they expect to be greeted with a friendly and welcoming attitude. A simple “hello” can go a long way in making customers feel valued and appreciated. However, when customers neglect to respond with a similar greeting, it can create a negative atmosphere for both the employees and the other patrons.
Examples of Rude Customer Behavior
Let’s take a look at some common examples of rude customer behavior that fast food employees encounter on a daily basis:
1. Failing to say “hello” or “please” when placing their order.
2. Speaking in a condescending or demanding tone.
3. Disregarding basic manners, such as saying “thank you” or “goodbye.”
These behaviors can have a significant impact on the overall customer service experience and can even affect employee morale.
The Power of Positive Interactions
On the flip side, when customers respond with politeness and courtesy, it can make a world of difference. A simple “hello” or “please” can change the entire dynamic of the interaction, creating a more positive and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Incorporating Manners in Daily Interactions
Now more than ever, it is crucial for customers to be mindful of their manners and the way they interact with fast food employees. Here are a few simple tips for incorporating manners into your daily interactions:
1. Always greet fast food employees with a friendly “hello” or “good afternoon.”
2. Use “please” and “thank you” when placing your order or receiving your food.
3. Remember to show appreciation by saying “thank you” and “have a nice day” upon receiving your order.
By being more conscious of our language and behavior, we can create a more pleasant environment for everyone.
The Impact on Employee Morale
The way customers interact with fast food employees can have a direct impact on their morale and job satisfaction. When customers fail to acknowledge their presence or treat them with disrespect, it can take a toll on their overall well-being.
Conversely, when customers make an effort to engage in polite and respectful interactions, it can boost employee morale and create a more positive work environment.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the simple act of saying “hello” or using manners in the fast food industry can have a significant impact on the overall customer service experience and employee morale. By being mindful of our language and behavior, we can create a more positive and enjoyable environment for everyone. So the next time you visit a fast food establishment, remember the power of a polite greeting. #SayHello.
Or go the other way and kill them with kindness.
You’re ducking unhinged if you think this is revenge! They probably prefer you get their order in without chit chat.
I work in a call centre and use what I call my Barbie voice when I get a shitty shouting customer. Sickly sweet and overly polite. Doesn’t always work in calming them down, but it makes me feel better
The ones who twist me the most, pull up to drive thru and ignore you. They just sit there with their window rolled up being rude. You greet them like you are required to, then greet them 3 more times, and they still can’t be bothered.
I want to tell them.. I am allowed 5 minutes to serve you, and you wasted 4 minutes of that ignoring me, so you have to pull around and come inside to order. Have a nice day.
I often catch myself just going into my order without think about it. I do say “Hello” every time but sometimes the person asks “How are you today?” before I start to rattle off my order and I have to stop, back up, acknowledge what they said, ask them how THEY are doing, and then give my order. F rude people and I don’t ever want to be seen as one.
On the flip side is the food industry workers who just look at you like theyโre expecting you to read their minds that they are able to process an order.
get over it and move on. you chose this job and you chose to do that.
Hello ๐ You deserve better.
As a customer I like to keep nonsense pleasantries to a minimum because I think that would bother workers who already have enough to deal with. I just want to give my order and not waste more of your time.
Is this the wrong attitude? I’ve never really worked a customer facing role other than a couple months at a liquor store in college, and I didn’t enjoy talking to most of those customers.
Wrong sub, but agree with you
Every time I go to a restaurant I make sure to say hello, how are you today? And I ask if I can get a xxxxxx. I have a mini conversation and I ask their name and respond to them with their name so that they know I am listening to them.
I have gotten so much free food from restaurants just because I’ve been a human talking to other humans. I had one manager tell me that I was the first person to say hello in over a month and she comped my entire meal.
I don’t do it for the free food but it is nice when it happens.
A hungry customer is the worst customer. Like a child throwing a tantrum because it doesn’t have its basic needs met.
I’m always polite to any service staff. Worked in fast food for 8 years, saw how shit some people are.
You’re doing great ๐
I always treat servers/wait staff in a kind and courteous manner. I’ve worked food service myself, as have my mother and youngest sister. I’ve witnessed how shitty treatment affects them. So, treat your servers and wait staff with the kindness and courtesy you’d like to see them give to your pregnant wife or grandma. Trust me, a little kindness goes a long way.
We always say hello, how are you, please and thank you to wait staff or in a shop etc and most look surprised. Was always told with surprise how polite my daughter is. Really annoys me when people can’t have the minimum of politeness and decency
I always do that and because I am petty, if they don’t say thank you, I just act like they did and say clearly “you’re welcome”
๐
I work in a grocery shop. I hate people not saying hi, makes me want to slap them and ask if they where raised by monkeys
Edit: I always go with the stay silent. And then try to talk some extra with the next one while the idiot is within hearshot
I work in a store. When people come in, I say Hi, how are you today. They answerโฆ Iโm just looking. I come right back with greatโฆ What are you just looking forโฆโฆโฆ.. My other line isโฆ..Great, now that you have told me what you are doingโฆ.. How are you today?โฆโฆ. Iโve had people still be snotty and rudeโฆ. I tell them that Iโm just being friendly and saying helloโฆโฆ.. because Iโm the only personโฆ. They either relax and talk to me or they turn and hi-tail it out of thereโฆโฆ.
I have that with a colleague. Ignored my friendly “good morning” 3 times. Now she’s dead to me and i ignore her completely.
Manners maketh man.. and woman, ignorance isn’t always bliss
You know I work in a retail job, and it never bothers me. Why? Because if I’m exhausted and tired of being there, there is a good chance that the customer is also exhausted and mentally drained, or having a bad day, or whatever. Everyone in this world has their own story, and it’s so easy to get lost in our own that we often times forget about theirs. Don’t get upset by this dude. Just help the customer and move on.
Hello! Iโve been there. I hope youโre day is free from asshole customers.
People.suck. that is all there is to it.
Keep in mind they may have been standing in line behind the old couple that decided to chat your ear off for 5 minutes. Even though there was a line of people waiting.
When I find myself in that situation. My goal is to order and get out of the way as fast as I can. So I don’t become part of the problem.
Most of those folks probably not. But some might just be trying to help you.
I canโt afford to go out much, but the people who work the retail and fast food jobs are the most deserving of respect to me. I always greet them with a smile and a hello.
Unpopular opinion time! As someone who absolutely hates small talk and interactions with strangers in public, yeah, no, I don’t care how rude you think I’m being, I’m not going to waste time on pleasantries. I’m here for a specific reason, your job is to provide me service, I want the interaction over as soon as possible so we can both move on with our days. If that means saving a few seconds by not saying hello, then so be it, give me the “ducking” attitude, I’d honestly prefer it right off the bat, thanks.
It’s not a punishment or a teaching moment. Some people really just don’t care – and also, just because YOU perceive something as rude, doesn’t mean the person doing it is actually TRYING to be rude; that’s all a matter of opinion. Being a nice person isn’t the same as being a good person, and manners are not mutually exclusive to either one of those things.
And since I’m sure there will be plenty of negative replies to this, let me just get my general response back out of the way: I’m one of those people who really just don’t care.
I always say hi and ask how their day is going. Usually this is met with some sort of brief silence! Most often, I get thanked for asking and my order hasn’t ever been wrong yet…this takes far less than a minute.
I go to a fast food place almost every day, on my way to the dog park, when I don’t feel like making breakfast. I always say good morning before giving my order and they always respond. It was the same lady for a long time and she always would say “hi pop” and greet my dog as well. We would have short conversations at the drive thru window. I started noticing after awhile, that I would sometimes get an extra sandwich or charged for a small when I got a large. Little things like that just because I try to be nice to everyone.
I feel ya on this one. I work in a coffee shop and the amount of customers that just outright ignore anything I say is unbelievable.
The worst ones are those that decide talking on their phone is more important. They then get pissed if *you* ignore them by doing something more important like cleaning, or stocking up.
I’m human, dammit, not an automaton. I have feelings. I am *not* your servant. I certainly wouldn’t go to their job and tell them how to file papers or answer calls.