Is it just me, or does someone who’s helping you saying “no problem” to your “thank you” make you feel like screaming?
Especially when of course it’s “no problem”…because that’s what they’re there to DO? Like the shoe sales clerk or the insurance agency’s receptionist? And because it belittles your “thank you” as an acknowledgment of their care and professionalism?
Another standard business phrase, while I’m kvetching, is
“Is there anything special you’re looking for?”
which seems to have replaced, in corporate employee manuals, the dreaded “May I help you?” Don’t you always feel like smirking, “No, I’m looking for something real ORDINARY, that’s why I came in”? (Don’t try that answer. It just confuzzles those poor folk who’ve never actually thought about what they are saying.)
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
I often ask if they are looking for anything special, (guilty), or Is there something special I can help you find?
What I do not feel comfortable saying is: What can I help you find today? It just seems pushy, and from a customer standpoint, assumes that they are there for a specific purpose and not to browse until they find something that they must have.
When they respond with “no thank you, I am just browsing”, I usually say, please feel free, we are that kind of store, but if you would like any help, please let me know.
I would love to know what others do…is there a better way to answer the “just browsing” comment?
@ Chris and Mrs Wig: The HoneyBaked Ham store here has a fellow who consistently says “Have a Honey of a Day!”…which is corny, but gets some warmth and personality across.
@Christine, thanks for your comments…perhaps I was not clear…I find “looking for anything special” to be risible when used as an all-purpose greeting with no real meaning behind it. Of course we’d all use that idea if someone had a tape measure, paint chip, fabric swatch in hand or was frantically ripping through the clothing rack!
I LOVE what they say at Chick-fil-A!….when you say thank you, they say “My pleasure!” EVERY TIME!!! I go in just to hear them say it…makes my day!
I still prefer “It’s my pleasure” as a response to Thank you. It feels quaintly genteel.
Ok, we just had a quick pow wow here and decided we will usually say, you’re welcom or glad we can help. No problem may be used on occassion but we will certainly now keep an eye out for that one. I’m sure that, you’re welcome will bother someone someday, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
We always ask, about looking for something in particular. We are in the furniture biz, so they have often shopped several places and just want to know if we have the item they need. We see this more during the week with our designers or male clients.
I can understand the “no problem” issue (in Canada, it’s “no worries”), but I don’t understand your issue with “are you looking for something special”. Quite often, a customer will clearly be searching the racks for a particular item and asking if they are looking for “something special” opens the conversation to help them meet a particular need. Just a few minutes ago, a woman in my shop was scanning my purse display. I asked her “are you looking for something special today?” and she said yes, she was looking for a silver clutch to go with a green dress and silver shoes she was wearing to a wedding that afternoon as she had given hers to her daughter. Clearly, not an “ordinary” purchase. I think you were a little quick off the mark on this one, Kate!
LOL, I thought I was the only one that felt so strongly about “no problem.” It’s like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. It makes me want to say “Thank goodness I’m not a problem.”
My own pet peeve: when I say ‘thank you’ and the clerk responds ‘yep’.