I WAS sorry to hear of Jane Reeve’s friend’s experience of over-familiar and patronising staff in an Oxford store.
A couple of weeks ago, while I was choosing an item from a stall in the open market, it was all “yes, sir”, “sorry, sir”, “£5.99, sir”. When I was handed the change, though, the accompanying remark was “thank you, darling”.
I made light of this by ironically repeating it, but a recently arrived lady customer turned round to me and exclaimed: “He’s a man too!”, indicating the stallholder. Perhaps she was new to Oxford.
LEO BAFFI Marston Road Oxford
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here