Why do some cashiers refer to the customer as "boss"?

I had a friend who owned a convenience store, and he addressed his customers this way.

I think it’s just a way of making someone feel important, and respectfully gives you a way to address them without a cheesy “Buddy” or “Pal” being used.

I can’t say I’ve ever experienced that. Most of the time I get called “sir”, which I always thought was cool, especially when it would happen when I was even younger. :)

Maybe it’s a regional thing. :P

something has to do with “customers are always right”...probably…

@curlyz Being called “boss” makes me feel like I did something to piss them off though.

@Vinifera7

It’s kind of like when my friend tells me to do something without saying “please” and I respond with “anything else you’d like, your majesty?” I doubt that’s what it is, though.

I was told it was a less formal substitute for sir when I was traveling in the mid-south region of America.

Another time, you could ask the source of your question and get an answer on the spot. Nobody has ever said tha to me.

@WestRiverrat That sounds about right. I’ve worked with a few people who used this. It’s a pretty informal way to address someone, but not disrespectful.

I always thought that was a regional (mainly country-fiiied) thing.
Edit: Just re-read @westriverrtat’s reply. That’s just about what I was thinking.

When my partner worked in the Home Depot paint department, he noticed that contractors always called him boss.

I have never heard it used for anything other than in a supervisory capacity. Having lived in Virginia and Tennessee most of my life, and having traveled most of the US inspecting hotels and eating out, I have never heard it in a service establishment. Maybe it is because I am a female.

Would you be willing to share a general location (country/state) where you’ve heard this and what your gender is?

That must be a regional thing. I have never heard anyone use that term for a customer or been called that myself (maybe because I am female). However, it does make sense, in an odd sort of way. Because a cashier serves a customer, the customer is the boss, in a sense.

I’m female too, and I’ve only ever been called boss by my uncle. He’s a funny guy. And also works in the Home Depot Paint department, so maybe he picked it up from those contractors.