The other day the Starbucks guy asked me to name my favorite mythical animal. I said chupacabra. He was thoroughly impressed and I left with a smile and a funny story to tell my husband. Sometimes it´s better just to go with it.

Loved this article. I guess I´m an old crank, but I have a stressful, tiring job and don´t want to chit-chat with some silly cashier when I have to stop for cat litter on the way home.

And holy cow, do they ever want to chit-chat so they can snatch the slightest response to yap about themselves! I thought it was the newest "me" generation, but apparently it´s store policy.

My favorite mythical animal is a new high school graduate that can read and write.

The proper response to "Have a nice day" is "Stop telling me what to do." Answer every other question with another question. "Why do you want to know?" works if you can´t think of anything else. Always make the clerk explain what "no problem" means. Entertainment is still possible.

I´m not a big fan of feigned or contrived chit-chat or perky-ness at a service counter. On the other hand, a little bit of civility and polite behavior goes a long way in public places.

When asked, ´How are you today?´ , I invariably respond, ´Why, what have you heard?´

Walgreens must have a new company policy that requires cashiers to say "be well" and there´s something very creepy about it. When I´m shopping there, I just want the cashier to give me the correct change and a receipt, not a robotic "Be Well".

Sigh.
In the 60´s we were told ´if it feels GOOD do it´
The corollary to that is ´if it DOESN´T feel good, don´t do it´

Courtesy, even in the face of insipid inquiries is a sign of a civilized culture.
One does not need to engage fully, a simple courteous reply will suffice.

Oh my, thank you #8; I was getting depressed reading this thread until I saw your response. It is written, do good to those who..and fill in that requirement with not only those who revile you, but to those who give you service with a less than an optimal interaction. Be kind and you don´t know how you might be a blessing to that ´silly cashier´ who toils away at a likely thankless job. And, it might come as a surprise to some, but it is possible that you might be blessed by someone in that service job who has more to offer than a perfunctory greeting. BTW, I hope the Ldots have a great day today!

hey Mike take a flying leap.show me what upsets a man and I will see the mark of the man.

I understand where you all are coming from, but in todays economy, understand that it is a customer service push from the CEO down.

Where I work, we actually have an outline of a script we have to follow with our customers at every stage of interraction with them.

It feels as fake as it sounds, but we are watched, monitored, graded, and evaluated on a percentage outcome of our scores. Daily. Even the customers are questioned on our performance. Each and every one. Every day.

Our total scores define our raise that year.

I work in a hospital.

#9, My pleasure, Ma´am(tip o´ the hat)
Have a great day as well!

#7, some one there must have caught part of of "Demolition Man" recently.