a smile wouldn't hurt

[skilly]

I have been shopping today in town, in most of the shops I went into it was hard to get a smile off anyone or a thank you.

I worked in a shop many years ago and we were always told to be polite and smile (sometimes hard to do when you have an obnoxious customer!) But we still had to do it.
I mentioned this to my husband, who agreed ,as he goes for a walk every day in the countryside near our home. He said when he passes someone he often says 'Good Morning' but people hardly ever reply and look at him as if he is loopy!

It just made me think how in Icmeler, we walk around the old village and everyone including the older people who don't work in the resort say good morning to you.
Are we becoming a miserable ,unfriendly suspicious people?
We once met a Turkish man who said he moved to England but went back to Turkey because he said ' You English ,you never smile' That was his experience of living here.

[blondie]

Have to say that, round about here, if you're out for a walk or so on, most folk will smile and say hello, but service in shops can be a bit dour to say the least.
People are just so friendly in Turkey - and what's more, it's genuine, not some kind of forced politeness which you get in some places. They really are pleased to see you and welcome your custom. It's such a refreshing change from some places - especially Spain, where I found they couldn't wait to take your money, but were less than welcoming.

[tonytigwall]

I agree wouldnt ever go back to Spain Blondie

[geovil]

Don't find that here you may find the odd person who is a misery but mainly the people are polite and easy going even in the shops,one exception from what I hear from people is the bus drivers there main occupation it seems is waiting for someone to run for the bus looking in the rear view mirror and as they get near the door drive off, very friendly.
Geovil

[adewolves]

I've only been abroad twice in my life, both times to Spain and yes they do seem to be the sort of people who just want to grab your money without any gratitude whatsoever. I can't comment on Turkey as I don't go there until August but lets face it they all want our money, just maybe the Turks do it in a better way. I'd rather spend money at a place with a smiling face than a miserable git serving me. As for this country, we haven't really got a lot to smile about have we. Loads of people mortgaged up to the hilt food prices going up fuel prices sky high and wayne rooney and his other half spending five million on a wedding. Sorry rant over.

[blondie]

Obviously people are running a business and need to earn a living, but there are ways of doing it, and the Turks certainly do it with a smile. What's more, as I said, it's a genuine warmth, not the fake "have a nice day now, y'all"....kind of thing. They are simply "people people" - they are very genuine about it, and they are especially good with children. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, adewolves, I know I was.

[tonytigwall]

A little story
2 years ago i felt a bit queasy so went for a walk.
A lad called me in to his bar asked me if i wanted lunch or a drink i told him sorry but i felt a bit dodgy.
We chatted for a couple of hours he never asked me again if i wanted anything and i thanked him for the chat.
He told me to come anytime just for a chat, i did go back with my mrs and had a couple of drinks but believe me he was generally just happy to ask about my life dislikes footie etc
Nowhere else in the world i have been has been like that and we have had a 2 year sabbatical trying different places until june this year when we went back.
We have booked twice next year and would book 10 years in advance right now if the price was right.
Oh we also go to Rhodes for our 25 wedding anniversary in sept on a Thomson Gold 5 Star All Inclusive holiday and i would swap it tomorrow if i could and go back to Icmeler if it didnt cost us.
John or Rami wanna try sort us?

[geovil]

We have found some really nice people on our travels in Bulgaria Cyprus & Corfu but these were a number of years ago,but Turkey,one thing that I hate is when you go to a bar or restaurant and ask for something and they just say sorry but,I have never come across this in Turkey,in Gumbet a couple of years ago I asked for a couple of drinks one being aTomato juice to settle my stomach we saw a young lad leave on his moped a couple of minutes later he returned with a carton of tomato juice,in Icmeler a couple of years ago we were having a meal in Ozzy's restaurant,and after were looking to watch a football match on the TV after trying to get it on realised it was on a channel he did not have,so he asked if he could drive us to a bar that had it and he did drove 4 of us to Footballers wives bar to watch the football where else but in Turkey would they do that.
Geovil

[mazz]

You're right Skilly

What does it cost to smile? Nothing... and it might just brighten up someone's day.

People don't smile enough!

Mazz

[jayj]

I work in Retail and I know where you are coming from. Its is the hardest thing to train most of the young ones to do. All they do is slouch yawn drag there feet and if they do talk is I'm shatterd and thats them only working 9 hours a week. See thats me all going now its a bad subject with me. I think I need to review my training program

I think i need to lie down now.

Mary

[reesy1959]

I totally agree about the lack of happiness in today's world, but also manners.

Just thinking back to my childhood, I would never dream of calling anyone older in the street by their first name. We were brought up, to say Hello Mrs whoever or Mr Whoever. Days have certainly changed. Some things for the better and some things for the worse.

Lets hope Turkey keeps up with its old traditions better than us Brits have.

Mary

[skilly]

You've hit the nail on the head Mary!
I try to understand why I love Icmeler especially the old village, and I think its because I grew up in small village and we were surrounded by lanes and fields, we had a farm and we used to play in the barn as my friends dad was the farmer.
We used to earn money in October picking potatoes in the fields.
But going back to what you said Mary, we never called anyone older by their first names as it was not respectful.
I also hope that Turkey never loses its original values such as respect for older people for example.
Someone made a point earlier that we in England haven't got much to smile about but the same applies to Turkey, if not more so and they manage a smile.
Thanks for all your comments ,its interesting to listen to other viewpoints.
And thats me off my soap box for now

[Fanny]

like the saying goes...........
it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice

same goes to for smiles and manners in my book!

[Annie.f]

Hubby is a retail Store Manager and always makes all his staff smile and says hello to all the customers as they walk through the door. However he had a customer come in last week and after he had said hello this bloke replied with, "Im just looking around if its alright with you, so dont ask me if i need any help ok?" rather rudely giving him a dirty look. To which my husband replied "I always say hello to all my customers but if youd rather I was a miserable git and ignore you I will" Apparently his face was a picture. Hubby doesnt mince his words with anyone He always manages to have the last word. I know this country is going through economic problems but a bit of politeness and a smile doesnt hurt anyone. Whats worse is when you go abroad and you see Brits who complain about everything because its not up to the standards at home. Thank goodness Icmeler still has it turkish charm and hasnt (yet) become like some of the more British resorts in Spain etc. (Falls off soapbox ).

[Fanny]

don't know about making me smile Annie, that had me laughing my head off

[jivebunnie0]

Totally agree with you and politeness does not cost! I cant stand people who do nothing but whinge and moan. The Turkish people (well most of them anyway) are so friendly, cannot do enough for you, and expect nothing in return.

[skilly]

The company I work for is going through re-branding and as part of this we attended an information event about what was going to happen.
The consultant our company employed to oversee this gave us an interesting & sometimes funny talk on customer care.
He said he went into a well known electrical retailers to buy a TV, the salesman hardly spoke to him and when he was paying he said to the salesman ' Is a thank you not needed here?' to which the salesman said 'It says thank you on the reciept'!!

[Jozzyd]

Made me laugh about older people and calling them Mr or Mrs whatever, i have lived in the same house for 15 years, have 3 kids aged 24, 6 and 3 all my kids call the lady next door but one Mrs ***. It's the 24 year old who calls her mrs *** and little ones have copied. Best thing is 24 year old bought house inbetween me and and Mrs ***, so she says please don't call me that it's Sandra, you make me feel old All the kids at school call me Megan's mum not my first name but doesn't bother me. Same as when you are out and say 'morning' it's old school like me

[sanjo]

I too have worked in retail and at the same store for 20 years. We are well known for our customer care and go out of our way to be nice to customers. The only thing that annoys me is how rude some customers can be to us sometimes. Some of them speak to you as if you are something stuck to the bottom of their shoes and it makes me a little mad at times .
One day I had a gentleman looking around and he looked as if he couldn't find what he was looking for, so I went over and asked if there was anything I could help him with? In response to this his answer was "If I wanted help I would ask for it"
You just cant win sometimes

[Annie.f]

Glad im not the only one with a big gap in ages of my kids Jozzy, not quite as much as you but mine are 10,12 and 24!!! Back to topic, Ive worked in retail too and agree that some customers look down on you. But as my job now involves me meeting a lot of very well off people with very good jobs and posh houses, I see the sad life they lead working long hours away from home, huge mortgages, extremely stressed out. No thanks id rather be skint, as long as Ive got enough to go on holiday every year Im happy and now Ive found Icmeler to go to, even better