Oct

Have a nice day

Posted by The *Angriest* Pharmacist as Just a question, Rude, Salutations

“Have a nice day.” — “Have a good day.” — “Have a great day.” — “Have a good weekend.”

I refuse to say any variation of the above when I am working the register. It’s not that I’m not polite to people, I just feel that it means nothing. Everyone hears it all day long, with every purchase they make, every person they have an encounter with. With everyone saying this, it just means very little. There’s no power behind it. Also, does it really make you have a better day? Having a high school-aged cashier tell me, “Have a nice day,” does nothing for me. It doesn’t make me feel better, it isn’t an ego booster, and it certainly does not mean that I am going to have a good day.

Additionally, do we care if the person has a nice day? Most of the time our patients are sick, so they are not going to have a nice day. Sometimes, they are rude, so we don’t WANT them to have a nice day. Sometimes they are perfect, and we do want them to have a nice day. So, why don’t we reserve that for the people we enjoy, care about, and want to have a nice day — those great patients that love and respect us, that hug us and call in their refills early, that understand “the doctor did not call back” does not mean “the pharmacist won’t give you your medicine.” They deserve a great day. They get a little more out of me in terms of politeness. Everyone else does not get that from me.

So, is that rude? Am I wrong? I’m sure someone out there has some crazy reason for why I should say, “have a nice day” — or why they do. It’s not going to change my mind, but I will humor you.

What do I say to end a sale and say goodbye?

“Thanks a lot. We’ll see you next time.” — because hopefully, if I’ve done my job right, they’ll want to come back, whether for an Rx, beer, or a greeting card.

Have a nice day,
The Angriest Pharmacist

Or Print it...

PharmGamerKid says October 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

I only say it during consultation. I dunno, it just feels weird if I just end it like that.

Now that I think about it, when I worked as a cashier at the University bookstore, I never say “Have a nice day.” It was more like “Here’s your change. NEXT IN LINE PLEASE!!!” I think when they’re in the paying line, people are more worried about the line moving quickly as opposed to a nice humanly touch.

Susan says October 24th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

I feel the exact same way!!! After awhile, it starts to lose its meaning. I also refuse to say, “how are you?” The only thing I say at the register is “hello” and “bye”. I also make good eye contact. When I say “have a nice day”, I feel so fake and insincere.

Susan says October 24th, 2008 at 6:49 pm

Oh I do make sure to say thank you.

Jaded Judas says October 24th, 2008 at 8:28 pm

I am mister “impressive” medical condition, according to my doctor. I had an endoscopy today, and when I arrived at the appropriate place in the hospital, the receptionist asked me how I was doing…. [[ of course, that's the greeting-equivalent to the "have a nice day" nonsense ]]. For some reason, today I decided to answer this question with the observation that every patient that comes in the gastro-enterology clinic is, by virtue of the fact that they are there to have a camera on a cable inserted down their throat and inside there stomache and duodenum, and, in my case, have varices in the esophagus and stomache banded, and is probably not having a good day.

Thus, I propagated the dark cloud that is hanging over me.

IAPhrmr says October 24th, 2008 at 8:50 pm

If they are picking up something because they are sick/injured I usually tell them “Hope you feel better”, other than that I say “see you later”

Pharmacy Mike says October 24th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

Reminds me of the George Carlin routine. It’s fucking hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Rxys_uBsw

sarah says October 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pm

I feel the same way..i dont say have a nice day and I also HATE..how are you, how are you doing. It’s so fake no ones really going to tell the truth. So in both accounts instead of saying how are you doing I say…Are you working hard today…and instead of saying have a nice day I finsih with ….don’t let them work you to hard.

Love says October 26th, 2008 at 7:04 am

I always say hi, bye and thank you.

If it’s an uncommonly nice patient, or a regular who’s never rude, I will say “have a nice day”/”have a good weekend”/&c. Also, sometimes (when things aren’t as stressy as they usually are) the patient will chat a bit and maybe say that they are going on vacation or something, in which case I will say “have a nice trip”.

But to always say more than hi/bye/thank you feels really fake to me. And I don’t appreciate when it’s done to me when I’m a customer or patient somewhere.

sickofstupidpeople says October 26th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

I, too, say “I hope you feel better soon” when the patient is sick. I never really have a set ’sign off’ when other patients are leaving the pharmacy. If the weather is good, “enjoy the sunshine today”. If roads are icy or it’s raining really hard, “drive carefully”. For my favorite patients, a hug and a “See you soon”. I guess I just like to mix it up!

monster says October 28th, 2008 at 5:11 pm

I’m a chain drugstore intern… and I always smile at customers after any transaction (in-window, too) and tell them to have a nice day/night/weekend… usually they smile back and say, “thanks, you too” …I just feel like it puts me in a better mood. And I work in a busy-as-shit, ghetto-as-hell store, but the customers seem to like me, generally. Several pharmacists have actually commented on my bedside manners and begged me not to quit lol