Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Stellwagen on August 11, 2010 at 7:40am

You know, it seems like such a gesture of friendship to ask someome their name. There are even lines from Shakespear that say "There is nothing sweeter than the sound of my name." But in 2010, and especially since 911, people are becoming more paranoid about everything, our society is losing a lot of it's civility. One would think that when you ask someone their name is begins to break the ice and be the beginning of a somewhat more personal relationship, but again people are funny: you know, identity theft and all. "With that said, I would go on asking people their names if you are doing it so that you can make better aquaintance with folks and personalize their experience with you more. The ones that don't like that, well you probably don't want to be their friend anyway.

Best,
David Stellwagen

So that

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Vaaler on August 11, 2010 at 9:20am

I can understand not liking it when you know the company or employee really doesn't care. The ones that are genuine, I don't mind.

David,
I still ask for names and don't take up that much time for those that are uncomfortable with it. Just smile, be nice, and move on.

Permalink Reply by Matt Fitzwater on August 11, 2010 at 9:44am

Hey-hey. I joined your group to answer this from the Northwest perspective.

In the past it seems it was a standard. Every Starbucks nationwide would ask after punching their codes and marking the cup, 'Your name?', Peet's did the same and all the wee ones followed suit. It was a charming bit of hospitality and 'coffee culture' that seems to be going away ... I attribute this to the industry changing: lil' shops have gone away, places to sit for hours are slowly vanishing and are being replaced with 'kiosks' by the roadside for a quick pick-me-up. I hate a drive-thru. I hate all drive-thrus: impersonal, focus on speed rather than quality (though they can go hand-in-hand) and truly only profit driven. In and out mentality.

That's here. This is the Northwest. Asking names is going to the wayside, 'personal' service coffee is becoming a thing of the past in as much as people don't know so well their barista in many places. Things change. They weren't always this way and their still not as bad as all that. People still come in looking for one fella they KNOW will make it right, make it their way, and make THEM happy. So in saying that, I feel 'names' are a bit of culture that needs to continue, especially in high volume stores if for no other reason than to keep one latte from going in the hands of the person who ordered the same drink five people later in line.

Don't people, when not certain of giving their name, ask, 'Why do you need my name?' and isn't a proper response similar to what I've written above?

Incidentally, I was ordering recently and was asked, 'May I have your name for the drink?' I paused, reflecting, and answered, 'No.' The attendant simply wrote 'No' on the cup. I laughed and tipped a little better; I love it when these guys play along!

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Vaaler on August 11, 2010 at 1:23pm

What ever happened to being nice, more specifically genuine? And it does make a customers' experience more personable. It's just really hard to wrap my mind around this since I'm so used to building customer relationships.

Permalink Reply by Khristian Ortiz on September 4, 2010 at 7:42am

I have been lucky alot of costumers introduce themselves and ask my name. Im sorta a fish out of water being from puerto rico and landing in North Carolina