The clerk hands you your change with a glazed look and doesn't even bother to make eye contact. "Have a nice day", he states, unsmiling and indifferent. How many hundreds of times over the past few months have you been told to "Have a nice day"? Does it even mean anything to you anymore? Do you acknowledge it when it is stated? Do you sense the person is happy you stopped in or wants your repeat business? "Have a nice day" may be the most insincere thank you in our society. It is overused, outdated, and needs to be laid to rest.
Why do managers and owners continue to instruct their sales and customer service staff to tell customers to "Have a nice day"? This droning has become so prevalent, that I am always pleasantly surprised when a sales person says something different to me.
Do you know what the final statement you make to your customer represents? It represent the opening line of your next sale to that customer. Why not hand the customer their change and product and say, "Thanks for stopping in. Come see us again!" Have the customer service rep smile and make eye contact when speaking to your customer. What happens? The customer feels acknowledged, and that you sincerely appreciate their business. And they come back again!
Avoid sayings such as "We appreciate your business". While this is an improvement over "Have a nice day", it still indirectly references the customer's money and not the customer him/herself. Speak to your customer in terms that communicate you are glad to see him/her!
I have become so desensitized to "Have a nice day", that I am almost offended by it because I understand the lack of thought and sincerity that goes into the comment. So when a customer service rep says something, anything, other than "Have a nice day", I find it makes an impact, if for no other reason than it is something unique.
All our customers have options and choices. They don't have to buy from us, but they do. Make this small adjustment in your sales representative closing statements. Let's lay to rest "Have a nice day", and start telling our customers that we are sincerely glad they are here!