People who refer to themselves as "Mr."

Very strange...

[Dogza]

I've had several customers introduce themselves lately as "Mr." So-and-so.

At first I found it very funny. I haven't called someone Mister since I had teachers in college.

Am I just out of it, or is introducing yourself as "Mr." very strange. I tried saying it out loud using my own name and couldn't stop laughing.

After thinking about it for awile, I actually found I felt a bit insulted. Am I so "Below" this guy that I'm not allowed to call him by his first name...

[bakedjake]

scribbles down "new thing to try" at pubcon

[idolw]

better do not serve these customers. 99,999% of these are Nigeriam cheaters using stolen CC numbers.
We just delete requests with people calling themselves Mr.

I hope it saves you a few bucks.

p.s. If you get an order from Dr. and this dr. comes from Germany or Austria - do not be surprised as it is their habit ;-)

[LifeinAsia]

We deal with a lot of travel agents in Asia through e-mail. As most Westerners don't have a clue as to the gender of most Asian names (and many are not gender-specific), apparently they've found it helps the people they write to in terms of how to address them.

Conversely, a lot of non-Westerners are also not experts on the gender of many not-so-common Western names. So we could actually learn something from the practice.

I hate to admit it, but I also agree with the post about the Nigerian scammers.

[mack]

Man it's not just un-cool, it makes ya sound old

I sure hope on one ever calls me mister lol

Mack.

[lawman]

In business, I never presume the use of a familiar name. Unless someone tells me otherwise, I always refer to him/her as Mr. or Ms. - even if they are much younger than I.

[digitalghost]

I address everyone as Sir and M'am if I don't know them. Here though, it's common to use Mr. and Ms. in conjunction with a first name if you're familiar with them. Mr. Frank, Ms. Jenny.

[diggle]

In England, it is polite for a member of a company to refer to a customer as Mister So and So but using a person's Christian name is impertinent.
I think that for someone to introduce themselves as "Mr Smith" for example is pompous and shows a lack of grasp on etiquette.
I would say: "Oh hello, my name is Smith. I'm calling about the etc etc.
Sometimes over here we still use Esquire after a person's name on an envelope as in Mr John Smith Esq.
Funny lot aren't we? But I like the way some Americans still use Sir and Ma'am. Bit like the French really.

[idolw]

i guess the original post is about people writing for the first time and signing the e-mail with:
Mr. John Bush

what is funny, we noticed that some Westerners will sign it with "John Bush (Mr.)" and these are very unlikely to be scammers

[larryhatch]

I thought only licensed barristers (lawyers) put esq. after their names. -Larry

[cornwall]

American culture is not universal.

Many countries have different codes for how they address each other.

German, French and Spanish languages for example have different words for "you" (du/sie, tu/vous) and accepted social codes for when you can change from one form to the other.

Many countries would find it impertinent for you to address them by their Christian name, on first meeting.

[Lilliabeth]

And what's the deal with physicians? I have a neighbor who comes over all the time for technical advice. Years ago he introduced himself as Dr. Jones, so that's what I call him even though he calls me by my first name. Looks like he would invite me to call him Joe, but he doesn't. He isn't even my doctor and he's about my age.

[Dogza]

lol, I should have been more clear in the original post. This was a FACE to FACE meeting with a customer, not an email. He actually introduced himself as Mr. So-and-so while shaking my hand. I actually stuttered for a second when he said it because I didn't know how to respond. Then I said "Hi Mr. So-and-so, I'm MIKE.. Nice to meet you."

He just sounded really pompous.

[Jane_Doe]

One of my sons' teachers sent me an email addressed to me by my first name, but signed it "Mr. Smith". And he is literally half my age!

He's actually a really nice guy, but I thought the email was a bit weird.

[LifeinAsia]

Many countries would find it impertinent for you to address them by their Christian name

Especially if they're not Christian! ;)

[Moosetick]

I presume that most of you would frown upon addressing customers as dude and baby.

To male customer- "Dude, I got your website looking super dope!"
To female customer- "Baby, don't you worry about nothing. I'll deliver the goods!"

[topr8]

>>I address everyone as Sir and M'am if I don't know them

ditto, except i use madam

[ken_b]

And then there are those folks who address, and refer to, their spouse/significant-other as Mr/Mrs/Ms.

[Jane_Doe]

I had not heard anyone use the term "Mrs." much in recent years until I had kids. I thought it had been replaced by "Ms.", if anything. When I worked at a regular job people would address even the top managers by just their first names.

But a lot of the women teachers at the local schools want to be called "Mrs." and even some of the moms in the neighborhood have their kids' friends address them as "Mrs. InsertHusbandsLastNameHere"

My kids' friends all just call me by my first name. The whole "Mrs" seemed always seemed to me like something from the fifties.

[Essex_boy]

I always refer to my tenants as Mr or Mrs blah, on occassions I will refer to them by their first names but not until I have met them several times, having first started a conversation with them by addressing them formally.

During a conversation I then only call them by their first names if a situation or idea is going in a direction that they like.

Otherwise its Surnames, however I always have them use my first name except when I have the misfortune to deal with a shedule one sex offender, then im like a Japanese POW commandant runnning a camp.

Bow before me, sit when I say, and its Mr Essex_boy to you and dont look me directly in the eyes.

[jecasc]

Huh. That makes me think. When writing emails to english speaking customers I always write: "Dear Mr Smith" or "Dear Ms Smith".

However I have noticed that many customers write back adressing me by my first name only. Nevertheless I always stick to Mr. and Ms. It would appear odd to me adressing a customer as "Dear Joe" because in german it would always be "Herr Schmitt or Frau Schmitt" and never ever "Lieber Joe".

So how would you expect to be adressed in a business email from someone you don't know and have not met before?

[lawman]

And then there are those folks who address, and refer to, their spouse/significant-other as Mr/Mrs/Ms.

I make my wife call me "daddy" as in "who's yer daddy?". ;)

[john_k]

I make my wife call me "daddy" as in "who's yer daddy?". ;)

And everyone else: That's "Mr. Daddy" for you Ma'm

[john_k]

As to the original post, I agree that it is unusual for someone to introduce themselves with "Mr/Mrs/Ms". Although it does establish the fact that this is the way they want to be addressed. People come from all kinds of backgrounds and you can hurt yourself trying to figure out some motives. I think this is a small thing, and if someone introduces themselves this way, then I just honor the implied wish and move on with things.

If it really bothers you, you can reply with the tried and true method of: "Pleased to meet you Mr. Smith. My friends call me Mike. But you can just call me Mr. Jones."

[bcolflesh]

When I was little, my grandparents would send snail mail addressed to "Master ..."

To this day, all who come before me are "encouraged" to address me as "master".

[Lilliabeth]

To this day, all who come before me are "encouraged" to address me as "master".

Reminds me of that old Richard Pryor / Jackie Gleason movie "The Toy".

In email, I usually use first names even to people I have not met unless I happen to know they are considerably older than I. I was encouraged to do so at a small business conference - they claimed email is an informal communication format and it would be good for sales to be relaxed, friendly, and use first names.

[oneguy]

However I have noticed that many customers write back adressing me by my first name only.

Maybe that's an indication that they feel comfortable with you, which I'm guessing would be a good thing.

I use Mr. or Ms. when I want to make it clear that I am not trying to be someone's buddy. (Please remove my content emails...)

I also use it out of plain respect when I'm not sure how someone would like to be addressed. If they start signing emails by their first name, I switch up.

I've never made reference to myself as Mr. (name). When I'm buying something from someone and they refer to me that way, I feel neutral about it.

Interesting responses here, about something I've never really thought about.

[diggle]

"I was encouraged to do so at a small business conference - they claimed email is an informal communication format and it would be good for sales to be relaxed, friendly, and use first names."

This would put me on my guard. I would think it too smarmy and intrusive. IMHO you have been misinformed.
You only have to see all the spam emails that start "Hey John! and you think oh why don't you just FO and die...

[ken_b]

If an email is signed John Doe, I'll likely respond with Hi John, if I respond at all.

If the email is signed Mr/Ms/Mrs/Dr/etc, I'm less likely to respond, but if I do I'll most likely address the person as Mr/Ms/etc.

[walkman]

Mr Walkman has no offical position on this.