Spot the retail worker...

[edible_hat]

Since I started working in retail again, I've pretty quickly gotten into the habit of saying "Have a good day/night" at the end of every transaction. Which sometimes gets me funny looks when I'm the customer, it's sort of a "hey, that's my line!" kind of look. I have a few regular customers who say "have a good day", and the more I think about it the more sure I am that they wear uniforms of other retail establishments.

What other ways are there to spot retail workers when they're off the job?

[PaRaGaS]

I actually said "Enjoy your meal" instead of "Thank you" to a pizza delivery boy once.
Lots of laughs.

[Gravekeeper]

What other ways are there to spot retail workers when they're off the job?

Nervous ticks. Mutters to self. May strangle air periodically. But will always say please and thank you. May stab anyone nearby who does not say please and thank you. <nods wisely>

For me whenever I have to call a company and speak with an operator using their Operator Voice(tm) it makes me slip into my Operator Voice(tm) too. So it ends up turning into the most pleasant, helpful sounding conversation ever recorded. >.>

Then they tell me to come work for them.

Seriously, that happened once. One of the Telus ( local phone/internet company ) operators told me to come down and apply. =p

[AriRashkae]

Answering the home phone with your work greeting.

Husband did that. And it was his boss calling.

[UncleImpy]

* Dialing '9' for an outside line when you pick up ANY phone.

* Akin to AriRashkae's comment, closing any call with 'Thank you for calling <company>.' before you can catch yourself.

[Plaidman]

Answering the home phone with your work greeting.

Husband did that. And it was his boss calling.

I've done that. My boss said that's her line.

[Racket_Man]

try working at two unrelated job at the same time ie pizza place and a gas statiion and for a brief monent forget which place you are at and answer the phone for the place you are not AT

at the gas station answering "good (whatever) thank you for calling Pizza Hut will this be for delivery or carry out and wuld you like to hear our specials......... sorry ........ thank you for calling XXXXX Shell how can I help you?????? thank the gods that it was my xDW or boss calling when I had that brain fart and they were somewhat amused

[crazylegs]

Generally the easiest way to spot a retail worker is the huge stress etched into their faces as they come out of work, the 'humanity is no more' comments made because they have to deal with the dregs of society daily, and the exceptional politness in which they deal with other retail workers. To this day I will not raise my voice to a retail worker, they have enough shit to deal with without me barking at them.

Stay Safe

[auntiem]

Retail workers and people who work on commission are some of my favorite clients. They are prepared for the call before they make the call, they ask right off if I have time to deal with them now or if I need to call back, are reasonable in their requests - the list of politeness goes on and on. Bonus, I know that when they go out in the world they will be good tourist and treat their maid / front desk people / waiter / tour guide well. As opposed to some clients I send out in the world - the bad tourist - I feel like I should call ahead to pre-appologize.

[DrFaroohk]

I typically feel the need to make eye contact and greet anyone who comes within 5 feet of me. It sucks going to the grocery store.

[blas]

I wish Gravekeeper could call me and give me a wake up call every afternoon....that voice! Mmmm!

Uh anywho....

A lot of times I'll say "Thank you" and "Have a good day" before the cashier even has a chance. I'm super polite and tolerant of busy times and am as patient as possible.

[Gravekeeper]

I wish Gravekeeper could call me and give me a wake up call every afternoon....that voice! Mmmm!

Technically speaking that could actually be arranged as we DO offer wake up services and it is graveyard's responsibility to enter them into the system at night and do all of them between 11pm and 7-7:30am. =p

I usually make the other graveyard op do them since I do everything else ( Shift reports, nightly back ups, auditing etc ). Though I do some myself too if its busy, the other op is sick, a trainee or if the person requests me specifically. Something which, sadly enough, HAS happened before. >.<

So yeah, weirdly enough that is entirely possible. Although I admit I am not available for afternoons as I am asleep myself. ;p

[Seshat]

For me whenever I have to call a company and speak with an operator using their Operator Voice(tm) it makes me slip into my Operator Voice(tm) too. So it ends up turning into the most pleasant, helpful sounding conversation ever recorded. >.>

Then they tell me to come work for them.

I get that!

I've never even done paid telephone work and I get it. (I did answer the phones for my parents' business many times, as I grew up, however.)

[InsanityInc]

I had to take an English course one summer. Our teacher was having us read excerpts from Poe, and came to me. I automatically dropped into my "Phone Voice". Whole class and the teacher are are staring at me. I'm like What?!? As one, the whole room goes "Do you narrate books for a living?" I had to explain I answered phones for reservations.

[Becks]

I typically feel the need to make eye contact and greet anyone who comes within 5 feet of me.

You forgot to mention smiling at people when you make eye contact with them. (As I do.)