Youngsters today....

[ArDee]

Perhaps he recognised you and was calling you "Matt" - it was just his accent that made it sound like "Mate"?

 

[redcard]

Conversely, you're keeping them in a job as much as they're keeping you in food, water, clothing and everything else.

 

[vernon]

unresolved tissues may help.

Undissolved tissues are healthier though.

 

[Arjimlad]

What made me smile wryly was that my 9 & 12 yr old sons have stopped going to a scooter shop where the young chap serving them called them "little dudes", which sort of fitted with the ethos of the place generally..

 

[Over The Hill]

You are still talking about the social divide between master/mistress and servant when you are talking about retail/service situations. We abandoned that notion with tradesmen's entrances and servants quarters. By all means write your own code for social exchanges separated by counters/bars and income but you'll have to get used to it being ignored or modified without your permission.

Sorry when was that? We have abandoned nothing! We may have adapted things slightly but if you walk in most decent hotels, restaurants or even car showrooms or barbers there is a master and servant role being played out. The players know it to simply be what it is- just playing a role rather than a social divide. But it certainly has not been abandoned.

 

[Over The Hill]

I do not want some pretend respect from a bygone age.. If the retailer wants to give me respect they can do so by fighting for my custom every day and work towards earning my loyalty.
My LBS has worked towards earned my repeat custom and treat me exceptionally well, but for the life of me I do not even recall how I am addressed as a customer, I am however very aware of the service I receive.

You give no detail of how the LBS treats you when you go in.
On clearer ground - Take the Mrs to a nice restaurant and how do you want the waiter to address you and treat you? He is after all running around and bringing you things and it is usual for us to sit there and get him to run around for us. It is just surely an accepted way of doing things. We dont pop out to the kitchen to get our own meal in that situation or gather up the plates at the end.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

You give no detail of how the LBS treats you when you go in.
On clearer ground - Take the Mrs to a nice restaurant and how do you want the waiter to address you and treat you? He is after all running around and bringing you things and it is usual for us to sit there and get him to run around for us. It is just surely an accepted way of doing things. We dont pop out to the kitchen to get our own meal in that situation or gather up the plates at the end.

The LBS treat me nicely and they are welcoming, the first thing I get offered is a drink and biscuit. They show interest in me as a person along with talking interest in my ride and bike.. they give me as much of their time as I desire which I really appreciate. It seems genuine and well intended to me.

When in a restaurant, I expect the waiter to do his job to the best of his ability and be attentive to my needs (ie wait on me) I would expect him to be polite, hygienic and give me a great service... However I really would not be offended if he said "I have a table for two over by the window mate, will that do".

 

[Over The Hill]

The LBS treat me nicely and they are welcoming, the first thing I get offered is a drink and biscuit. They show interest in me as a person along with talking interest in my ride and bike.. they give me as much of their time as I desire which I really appreciate. It seems genuine and well intended to me.

When in a restaurant, I expect the waiter to do his job to the best of his ability and be attentive to my needs (ie wait on me) I would expect him to be polite, hygienic and give me a great service... However I really would not be offended if he said "I have a table for two over by the window mate, will that do".

Although done in a slightly casual way he is still offering you something, highlighting and justifying such offer and seeking your approval for the offer. That is falling into the master/servant role.
In any role where we are the customer there is a default position with the master and servant. Otherwise the waiter gets called "surly" if he is seen to be acting above his role.
We expect someone dealing with us in a shop to act differently to say a co-worker.

 

[MarkF]

"Young man" is always a winner with me.