The " No Problem " Problem. Your Thoughts?

Happy New Year ,

Maybe the feedback from older guys ( like me LOL ) might be different than the younger crowd. I have noticed an increasing number of people, over the last ( say ) five years using the response " NO PROBLEM " when you say Thank You to them. Now, at the cost of seeming like a prude and unreasonable, I was always taught to say " You’re Welcome ". Or " You’re Welcome, Thank You " if that is appropriate for the situation.

A few years ago I noticed my guys ( employees) responding to me with " No Problem ", when I would thank them, which I try to do even when it is just a quick instruction on an issue or phone call. So, I got to thinking - " Wait , are they saying No Problem to our customers if they say Thanks to them ". At that point I told them to be sure and say the key words - " You are Welcome " ( NOT ! no problem ) when dealing with our customers.

" No problem ", to me, sounds way less appreciative, humble, gracious … than “You Are Welcome”, which conveys a message that I was glad to help you ( That I appreciate you - That I appreciate your business and I am glad I could serve you ).

What are thoughts on this ?
THANK YOU ! ( no problem !! )

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I notice people say “uh-huh” as a response to “Thank you” as well. I agree it is less formal and seems to diminish the acknowledgement of appreciation. It has become pervasive enough in local culture that I even catch myself doing it from time to time. Ugh.

I now usually present the slighty-more-formal “You are most welcome” as a means of fighting the downhill trend when it comes to manners and courtesy.

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I also use You’re Welcome and Thank you for your business. But im also in business for many years ( not windows tho) and that was instilled in my by the older guys who were around when i started. Also another thing when I was growing up everyone older was Sir/Mam/Mrs/Mr and I still use that to this day. My son who @ 11 even gets that . I cant see how any child calls any adult by first name.

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this is just a generational difference. you perceive it one way but it’s not perceived the same way by the people saying it that are younger than you.

on another note, a couple of months ago I started saying “it’s my pleasure” in response to people saying thank you.

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That’s what the staff at Chik Fil-a say too :rooster:

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Language changes I have no problem when someone says it

we don’t have one of those around here

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Well THAT is unfortunate. Chik Fil-a is amazing.

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I say “Thank you for thanking me and you’re welcome to thank me again.”

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I always say “You are welcome. Thank you so much.”

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It’s no problem. Thanks. It’s all in how you say it. If it looks like you’re not paying attention to the customer, then anything you say will be an issue.

I usually say “Sure thing!”

Unless I’m talking to a Navajo, then it’s “Oat” or “begah hey”

Or a hispanic then it’s “de nada” or a cholo then it’s “Si mon”

Or if it’s a jive turkey then it’s “Straight TCB’in man! Sheet.”

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No worries mate, is how is said down here.

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My sister who is ten years older keeps telling me that. She keeps saying Every thing is changing and I need to change with the times.

I hate the phrase No Problem … hate it. Rubes me the wrong way. Oh well :slightly_smiling_face:

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Bad A.

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“No problem” is a very casual response compared to “you’re welcome” and does not foster relationship with the customer. It is often a way to actually not
take in wholly, the “thank you”. Saying “you’re welcome” and looking them in the eye when saying it is very different.

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Matthew,

That is a very good explanation of why it bothers me. " Not taking it in Wholly " is putting it well. It’s like keeping a distance from the person.

Interesting feedback and perspective from all who responded.
Thanks !!

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I have exactly the same problem with the “No problem” response! It is too casual and insufficient to express our gratitude toward our customer. I have instructed my employee to stop using this phrase. He was instructed to respond with “You are welcome”.

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I spoke with my children about this “new” phrase and they strongly disagreed! They see nothing wrong with it. I was only trying to give them a heads up. I thought they’d want to know that the boomers find the term mildly abrasive. They are 30 and 34 years old. and manage people so I thought they’d appreciate my input. I was wrong. :open_mouth:

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My 2 cents,

I was raised with “proper morals” and respect. I even noticed myself starting to say “no problem”.

I believe it’s a generation thing but not a bad thing. Especially, if the tone is genuine.

Does that mean I disagree with your post? Nope. It’s your business and you can’t argue that saying your welcome and thank you can hurt it.

I wouldn’t look deep into it. If your employees are showing the utmost respect to your clients and to yourself - you have nothing to worry about :slight_smile:

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Where I’m at people always say “no worries,” it bugs the he’ll out of me. I’m thinking to my self " I wasn’t worried, I was thanking you." But everyone has they’re own style. Most the time( as with most business, it shouldn’t be taken personal). Its just business.
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