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The student voice of Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Leaf

The student voice of Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Leaf

The student voice of Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Leaf

Grocery store questions create opposing responses

Last week I overheard my parents arguing about something unusual. Apparently at grocery stores the employees are now trained to ask: how is your day going?

Photo on 4-15-14 at 8.15 PM
Many grocery stores have begun retraining their staff to ask more personal questions. The hope is that these questions will spark genuine dialogue. However, some say they dread the question. Photo Courtesy of Lila Englander.

When I heard this, I naturally agreed with my mom. I rarely want people to talk to me at stores, let alone talk about something personal and unrelated to their expertise.

According to one manager at Whole Foods, the response is about half and half. Some people can’t stand the new question, while others love it.

At first my parents decided that this makes sense because some people are simply more extroverted and some more introverted. But I disagree; I believe the debate comes down to one’s purpose when entering a grocery store.

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Some, like my mom, go grocery shopping for just that, to shop, to purchase food and leave. It’s one chore out of many.

On the opposite side of the spectrum are those who agree with my father. Like him, they visit the grocery store for an experience. He will often bring his laptop to Whole Foods and work there for hours, maybe coming home with only one or two specialty foods.

Regardless of which side of the debate you stand on, this change in customer service style will affect everyone, and could spread to many more industries. It will be intriguing to watch this phenomenon and its aftermath unfold.

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About the Contributor
Lila Englander
Lila Englander, Assignment Editor
I am currently a senior. This year I serve as an assignment editor. I love writing about people or groups with fascinating stories who often fly under the radar. Beyond learning to use the Adobe design programs and developing my writing skills, journalism has allowed me to pursue my love of learning and gain a deeper understanding of the profound value of collaboration. I enjoy participating in Academic Quiz Team, Chinese Club and TEAMS team. I love backpacking, kayaking, climbing, reading and napping. I am learning Chinese at school at the AP level and can read, write and speak Hebrew because I went to Jewish day school until eighth grade. I also sharpened my Hebrew skills during junior year while studying abroad for a semester in the desert of Israel through Alexander Muss High School in Israel. The past three summers, I have been lucky enough to intern at a small nonprofit called Design Impact. My favorite book is "Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace. My favorite T.V. shows are "The Wire" and "True Detective." My three favorite news sources are "The New York Times," "The Atlantic," and "The Onion." I also listen to "This American Life" on NPR every week. Although I am interested in pursuing a career in engineering, I am confident that journalism will benefit me wherever I end up. I am looking forward to another great year on staff!
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Grocery store questions create opposing responses