OK, here's the thing. Trendsource has a grocery Client that I frequently shop monthly, and have for YEARS now. There is a question for EVERY Dept associate you interact with, asking if the associate thanked me. Well....no!! Not every time. Not even half the time. And then the MSC wants to know WHY NOT??? Well, here's my take on it. Some of the times, after asking the Associate for assistance, and after being given genuine help and/or information, I am thankful, so I am tempted to say, "Thanks", and on many an occasion, I have done that, and explained that it was much more "natural" for me, as a customer, to thank the associate for the genuine help being given. And for YEARS, my explanations have apparently been accepted, because I've never heard otherwise. But I think TS has gotten a new editor lately, because in the last month or so: NOPE. Can't do that. That's a no-no. Can't say Thank you.
OK, so I can see their point that by doing so, I am not giving the Associate a chance to thank ME. (for what???) Anyhow, so now I merely say something like, "Well, that's what I needed to know", smile and see what happens next. What happens next??? Inevitably, the Associate will say something like: "OK, have a good day", or something similar. RARELY do they say "Thank you". Usually they smile and walk away. But it doesn't FEEL NORMAL for them to say "Thank You" to me when I'm the one who wanted/asked for/needed their help!!!! So now, I just write what happens:
"After Associate in xxx Dept showed me the item/answered my question, I simply smiled and commented: "Well, OK, that's what I was looking for" or something similar, without thanking them. The Associate then nodded/walked away, or wished me a good day"
I was doing a grocery shop yesterday, and happened to see a REGULAR CUSTOMER ask a Dept associate for help. After he got the help, the CUSTOMER THANKED THE ASSOCIATE!! THAT is what seems normal, not the other way around. And what was the Associate's response?? "Have a nice day."
Oh well, done venting. I'm sure there are other takes on this that I am not considering, and I would appreciate other viewpoints. But after doing this since 2005, and always grateful when I receive the actual help, WHY can't I just act like a NORMAL CUSTOMER and THANK the Associate??? I'm done. Sorry for ranting.