Mary Portas secret shopper

[housesparrow]

Jan 22, 2011 23:17:29 GMT jean said:

Jan 22, 2011 22:24:17 GMT Weyland said:

...women and younger men will invariably say something very like "Are you alright?"

It used to puzzle me that when you offer someone tea or something, if they say 'You're alright' it means 'No thanks'.

It took me a long time to work out that "I don't mind" in some British cultures means "yes please". I always thought it rather rude; as if they were doing you a favour by accepting.

Aubrey,

I can never work out whether the Dr when I got and see him is asking if I'm all right just as a greeting or a genuine question. I usually say, "I'm Ok," and then tell him what I've come for; which always sounds a bit daft.

I can remember my doctor asking me "how are you?" and me replying "very well thanking you", which threw him a bit. I had intended to sit tight and see how long it took him to work out that he has summoned me to discuss my blood tests, but decided to put him out of his misery.

[Weyland]

WH Smith in Oswestry this afternoon. Long queue:

"Hello there. Are yee alright? . . . . . Thank yeeeeee."

"Hello there. Are yee alright? . . . . . Thank yeeeeee."

"Hello there. Are yee alright? . . . . . Thank yeeeeee."

"Hello there. Are yee alright? . . . . . Thank yeeeeee."

"Hello there. Are yee alright? . . . . . Thank yeeeeee."

"Hello there. Are yee alright? . . . . . Thank yeeeeee."

"Hello there. Are yee alright? . . . . . Thank yeeeeee."

...

Service with a smile.

~ ~ ~

Touristic Tip No. 582: There's a WH Smith Museum in Newtown, Powys, above the branch.

[Patrick]

In the East Midlands it's "Alright Duck".

Round here it caused a little amusement to be walking down the main shopping street to hear one person after another greeting friends with "Hiya Loov Y'all Right?"