The Queens, reps and the patter.

[MissSteak]

I was more than relaxed about the whole affair and hung up with easy and without a rise in my pulse. I guess it’s a pet hate I just won’t tolerate, if I’m going to deal with them and ultimately spend money. They could at least speak to me in the way I want. Certainly after being told that I won’t talk to them if they continued to use these abhorrent managemt phrases.

Narcasistic tendencies? Why should YOU demand to be spoken to in a certain way. Yes, you are a customer but this isn't dicensian England. If the spoken word riles you to that extend maybe you need to take a look at yourself.

 

[MissSteak]

You were (presumably) given a first name (for "homely" use) and a surname (for formal use). This confers relative importance, too - school kids address their teacher formally, but the teacher addresses them in a "homely" way. Having someone I don't know calling me by my first name, is therefore doubly insulting - sort of creepily intrusive, even - so I'm with Grem on this one.

Really?? It's 2018 pal. Fair enough in a legal setting but day-to-day you expect to be called Mr X.

Christ almighty, you guys are wound tighter than a ducks arse.

 

[stewart]

You were (presumably) given a first name (for "homely" use) and a surname (for formal use). This confers relative importance, too - school kids address their teacher formally, but the teacher addresses them in a "homely" way. Having someone I don't know calling me by my first name, is therefore doubly insulting - sort of creepily intrusive, even - so I'm with Grem on this one.

I was given a first name and also have a surname, at school I also addressed the teacher as Mr Xxx or Sir, I believe this is right and proper for a young child to address his teacher this way, the teacher generally called be by my surname, without the Mr, pompous twit that he was.
For this to continue into adulthood to allow the person who expects to be addressed as Mr Xxxx a feeling of superiority I would find insulting to me, when I meet someone generally I shake their hand a give them my first name, if they then counter with I am Mr Xxxx I expect to be addressed as such I would in all likely hood tell them to go fu¢k themselves.

 

[Rowland]

When I’m called Mr Rowland I find it very odd plain Rowland will do seriously if I introduce myself I’ll tell them my 1st name and surname then expect them to use my 1st name.

 

[Dolomite]

Queen’s. With an apostrophe and a capital Q.
americanisms. Without an apostrophe.
there are. Not their are or they’re are.
etc. With a full stop after the ‘c’.

If you want to claim the high ground, at least get the basics correct.

#ironic

At no point have I said or claimed I was a littery perfectionist as explained in another post further along from my original post. Also as the original post was typed in the middle of a field on my phone whilst enjoying a quick tea break. I was as I always am, suffering from Apples great auto-correct and predictive text changing words and sentences before and as I write them. Reading back thoroughly and critiquing every word, grammar point and punctuation wasn’t my most pressing concern at the time. I’m not a grammar nazi and most likely never will be because of my shortcomings in written literacy.

My original post (subject matter) was leaning or meant to be towards the spoken language I have encountered and didn’t tolerate rather than written. That said, I do acknowledge the importance of decent and coherent correspondence by what ever written or typed means used.

 

[Dolomite]

Narcasistic tendencies? Why should YOU demand to be spoken to in a certain way. Yes, you are a customer but this isn't dicensian England. If the spoken word riles you to that extend maybe you need to take a look at yourself.

If they are trying to flog me their wares they are to speak to me in the manner I expect and as a customer demands. Why shouldn’t I expect that? I’ll take my business else where if these people can’t do as asked. After all there is always someone else willing to sell the same things and take my money instead. I wouldn’t go to any of my customers talking to them in slang using profanities and referring to them as mate, old chap or boyo. Some of my older and very much old fashioned customers wouldn’t entertain me if I used the management talk and styles of wooing and schmoozing as said in my post. It’s about professionalism decency and customer respect. They show me that and I will show them the same in return.

Maybe you need to look at yourself? Tolerating any old rubbish and being spoken to in any way they deem fit. I was brought up to speak to others the way I expect to be spoken to. To treat others as I wish to be treat. It’s not narcssistic it’s called being brought up and being taught decency, manners, self respect and respect for others. Something somewhat lacking nowadays with most parents neglecting to teach their off spring the value of these things that will set them up well for later in life.

 

[Highland Mule]

At no point have I said or claimed I was a littery perfectionist as explained in another post further along from my original post. Also as the original post was typed in the middle of a field on my phone whilst enjoying a quick tea break. I was as I always am, suffering from Apples great auto-correct and predictive text changing words and sentences before and as I write them. Reading back thoroughly and critiquing every word, grammar point and punctuation wasn’t my most pressing concern at the time. I’m not a grammar nazi and most likely never will be because of my shortcomings in written literacy.

My original post (subject matter) was leaning or meant to be towards the spoken language I have encountered and didn’t tolerate rather than written. That said, I do acknowledge the importance of decent and coherent correspondence by what ever written or typed means used.

So, in summary, you don’t care about the fundamental rules of the English language (and indeed are deeply offensive to those that do), yet you think it’s okay to criticise and punish those who fail to conform to your foibles of vocabulary choice.

Okay.....

(Posted from an iPhone as, indeed, 99% of my posts are).

 

[dolf_lundgren]

A lot of intolerance and self importance on this thread.

If someone is being rude of abusive then fair enough, but if they are being polite and you understand what they are saying then i don't see the problem. To criticise someone for using words, which are legitimate words just you don't like them is daft.

Good service and decent manners are important, if you have to go into the minutia to criticise someone it is likely that they are not the one with the problem.

Also odd that our own "mistakes" or misspeaks/types are ok, but it is not ok for others.

 

[ollie989898]

I would not use someone's forename unless I knew them beyond the odd chance encounter if you know what I mean. I don't know what slang or profanity a rep would elect to use I personally would not make a habit of that either, although I did have a repertoire of unusual Somerset adjectives but they were not confusing or offensive in any way.

I can count on one hand the number of people I have met in a professional capacity who use formal register and perfect English, I think wandering around using language like Jacob Rees-Mogg would actually disadvantage you in the majority of situations you may encounter today.

The skill in communication is in being able to work at a similar level and pace to the person you are talking to. We will all naturally gravitate personally toward someone who is communicating in a way that matches ourselves, that is human nature. I forget the actual terminology but it is one reason why it has been proven that so many foreign-accented tele-sales people really struggle to engage with British people.

That said, I would never hold someone's vocabulary or use of English against them; you can never know their background, education or upbringing. There could be very valid reasons the communicate as they do.

 

[Dolomite]

A lot of intolerance and self importance on this thread.

If someone is being rude of abusive then fair enough, but if they are being polite and you understand what they are saying then i don't see the problem. To criticise someone for using words, which are legitimate words just you don't like them is daft.

Good service and decent manners are important, if you have to go into the minutia to criticise someone it is likely that they are not the one with the problem.

Also odd that our own "mistakes" or misspeaks/types are ok, but it is not ok for others.

I take it you haven’t read my post then like Highland Mule hasn’t. Where I explained at school I didn’t care for English and didn’t pay a great deal of attention. It now shows in my written documents. Only in later life did I realise it’s importance and have I actively tried and still am trying to improve my written English. It’s not the best and never will be. I’ve never professed to be a littery genius. I’ve never expected my writing to be mistake free and expect plenty of faults found, after all I’m only human.

The thread started out over the spoken language and how it is being degraded and used wrongly. How people are spoken to and how I stand for standards of verbal communication to be kept. For what I lack in writing abilities I more than make up in proficient verbal communication and a decent vocabulary. It’s much better to be able to tear someone a new one verbally without profanities.

 

[Highland Mule]

I read every word you wrote. Including the phrase “grammar nazi”, which I found deeply offensive.

 

[dolf_lundgren]

I did read your post. Maybe your sales rep has excellent written skills though? Maybe he puts more emphasis on that than verbal? Im not criticising your grammar etc, I agree it is easy to make mistakes and we can all be picked up on things. However to be a pedant on some things invites others to be pedantic towards you.

I just think you are being unreasonable to criticise someone for the way they speak. If they were swearing or being rude then fair enough. The world has evolved and so has language, as long as you know what he means I dont see the harm.

 

[dolf_lundgren]

More importantly though, was he wearing a tie and starched collar when he phoned?

 

[Tim G]

Perhaps if someone communicates with you verbally in a way you do not like (perhaps it is not their particular skill), it is best not to berate them on a written forum if that is not your particular skill (as you admit).

 

[Dolomite]

I did read your post. Maybe your sales rep has excellent written skills though? Maybe he puts more emphasis on that than verbal? Im not criticising your grammar etc, I agree it is easy to make mistakes and we can all be picked up on things. However to be a pedant on some things invites others to be pedantic towards you.

I just think you are being unreasonable to criticise someone for the way they speak. If they were swearing or being rude then fair enough. The world has evolved and so has language, as long as you know what he means I dont see the harm.

I understand your point and agree. That said on several calls prior to this one in question and I think 2 visits in person to the farm. I’ve told him every time I do not like nor tolerate these phrases “touch base, drill down, going forward” etc and management language. I’d warned him and as it turns out so have some of my customers I passed his number onto. He’s a nice pleasant man with manners, I just think too much time in the office and in that environment has poisoned his vocabulary for when out on farm calls. Then again every farmer or customer will want to be spoke too in a way they find acceptable which can be the opposite to me. Just happens to be the way I was brought up which was to accept nothing less than what I’ve stated else where.

I take great dislike to these phrases and the manner I’m spoken too at times as to me it rude and offencive. I won’t tolerate it where as others will, possibly because it doesn’t bother them or because they are too nice to say anything, I don’t know. As said before, if they are trying to mske me part with my money into their account, the least they can do is speak to me in a manner I want. It’s nothing but common decency as I’m the customer.

 

[Paddington]

I understand in the Antipodes the term "Ya bas***d " is used as an affectionate salutation, not sure whether it would go down in commercial dealings over here.

 

[MF-ANDY]

Just stumbled on this thread and coincidentally had a rep on the phone wanting to TOUCH BASE so he can PING me an email then we can BUTTON down the deal[emoji3]

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Just stumbled on this thread and coincidentally had a rep on the phone wanting to TOUCH BASE so he can PING me an email then we can BUTTON down the deal[emoji3]

Was it a good price

 

[An Gof]

More importantly though, was he wearing a tie and starched collar when he phoned?

I’m not insistent on starched collars but I do consider ties appropriate.

I can think of two young machinery reps In this area. One is always well turned out, clean shoes, jacket, shirt and tie. He looks presentable and professional. The other wears shoes that haven’t seen any polish since the day they were bought and generally appears somewhat unkempt. This one is starting at a serious disadvantage in my case.
In my opinion, if you are selling premium equipment, you should dress and conduct yourself accordingly. I have no desire to be called “mate” by any representative.

 

[Highland Mule]

Ties? Seriously? If your farm risk assessment allows the wearing of loose clothing such as ties around workshops and machinery, I would be seriously questioning the competency of the person that did it.