Does anyone really like "greeters"?

Question

Paying someone to say hello to customers so that they'll feel better about themselves and spend more money is so transparently insincere, sychophantic and cynical.

Answer 1

I agree. Besides, most of them never greet me anyway, so what the hell are they getting paid for?

Answer 2

Is it transparent, insincere, and cynical to give an otherwise neglected member of society a job, social outlet, and reason to get up in the morning? I don't think so. Many of the greeters are retired people who are lonely or bored and are looking for something to do and a way to be useful. Others are people who have mental disabilities that make it harder for them to find other jobs.

My Grandfather is a greeter as a service project - he volunteers to do it with the lodge that he is a member of. All of his "earnings" go to charity. (Remember that the next time YOU decide to be so cynical.)

Personally, I like to know that a store appreciates the fact that I am there. Greeters are just a modern form of good old fashioned CUSTOMER SERVICE - a concept that is LOST among too many Americans today... and many of the posts on this question prove it.

Answer 3

FYI - A greeters main job is to act as a theft deterrent. I worked retail for many years and during the busy times (big sales, Christmas season, etc...) we would take shifts standing near the entrance of the store "greeting" people as they came in but our main job was to watch and make sure that people did not leave with product without paying for it.

Like it or not, because there is so much theft in this world, "greeters" are here to stay. So really, it is not a waste of money, it saves money. Our store was consistently ranked the best within our company for "shrink", as they called it. We had very little. It's not really about making customers feel good about themselves but you are right, it can be insincere. I suppose it depends on the person greeting and how much they like or hate life. I was always sincere in my greetings. I worked in a ski shop and enjoyed the people that shopped there. They paid my salary through buying things so I was grateful to have customers to greet.

If being annoyed by a greeter at the store is the most you have to complain about, you should count your blessings, life must be good to you.

Answer 4

It's a nice idea in principal, but in theory it drives me mad. I am a brit living in the US and in the UK I can tollerate greeters as they just say hello and hand you a basket for example, but in the US you have to go through the whole how are you blah blah blah and you can hear in the insincerity in their voices - it's not their fault they have to do it, but why should they be sincere about asking a stranger who they don't know from Jack how their day is going. In Australia they actually sound really sincere and ask other follow on questions about what you've been doing etc, and it actiually seems quite nice.

I can see why people employ greeters, but there's no point in making people say things they don't want to as it comes across clearly in the tone of their voice. It's nice for people to take an interest in how your day is going, and can be surprisingly pleasant if a stranger enquires as to your wellbeing, but it's only worthwhile if they are really interested in the answer!

Answer 5

I don't really like greeters either. When I walk into a store, I'd rather just be left alone to look around and not be pressured to buy something. The other day I was looking at something in the front of a store as I was walking out (i hadn't bought anything), and the greeter there was telling me about all the sales and all that. It was kind of awkward for me, cause I had to tell her I had already looked around and stuff.

Answer 6

I work in a supermarket (hint Jamie oliver) and we had a greeter for a while and I could'nt see the point myself.As with other supermarkets I find it false and insincere all I want to do is go shopping and get out not have someone sticking there face in mine and asking if I need any help, if I want it i'll ask for it. In fact they once had me doing for a shift and I absolutely HATED it.

Answer 7

For some people its the only friendly face they have seen all day and the only person that has spoken to them all day too, some of the 'greeters' are friendly and really helpful, some look like they would rather be somewhere else instead, but I guess that's the same of most jobs people have, others love it, some hate it.

Answer 8

I'd never heard of them. Now I have one more sickening modern phenomenon to add to the ever growing list. The image of a greeter, a secret shopper, a personal shopper, and a customer services representative all in the same shop at the same time just sent a little shiver down my spine.

Answer 9

The greeters at our local Wal-mart store are complete jerks. One greeter actually screamed at my bf one day. (My bf did not do anything wrong, he brought a return in and was waiting for the greeter to put a sticker on it, the greeter then proceeded to scream at him to go to customer service.) So NO, I don't think they're worth the money spent. Most of them are idiots who can't get any better jobs anyway and they have virtually zero people skills.

Answer 10

Not a big fan of them. I like to go into a shop and browse, if I have any questions then ask someone, go to the till and leave. I don't like the pressure I feel when they say hello, it's like they're actually doing something specifically for you, and they need to earn money from it. And I don't expect it so I only mumble a reply, and end up feeling embarassed.

Answer 11

They annoy me. I am not going to spend more just because someone I don't even know say hi. Would you feel better if you were walking down the street and I said Hi? I doubt you, you would proably be creeped out. So why do you think it is some great thing to have some guy or girl say hello as we walk in?