Jeneta: Increasingly, I’ve noticed that when a salesperson thanks a customer for making a purchase, the customer also says “Thank you” instead of saying “You’re welcome.” I’ve even started doing that myself. But when a friend thanks a friend for a favor, the response is always “You’re welcome.”Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the discrepancy that Jeneta observes in people’s responses?
(A) Customers regard themselves as doing salespeople a favor by buying from them as opposed to someone else.
(B) Salespeople are often instructed by their employers to thank customers, whereas customers are free to say what they want.
(C) Salespeople do not regard customers who buy from them as doing them a favor.
(D) The way that people respond to being thanked is generally determined by habit rather than by conscious decision.
(E) In a commercial transaction, as opposed to a favor, the customer feels that the benefits are mutual.
A. Incorrect because it adds unnecessary confusion. The distinction between "you're welcome" and "thank you" doesn't clarify why customers say "thank you" to salespeople. The focus should be on the reason behind their response.
B. Incorrect because it only tells us that customers have the freedom to say anything, but it doesn't address the specific reason why customers say "thank you" in this context.
C. Incorrect because it focuses on the behavior of salespeople rather than the customer's reasons for saying "thank you." We need an explanation that focuses on the customer's perspective.
D. Incorrect because it doesn't explain why responses differ between salespeople and friends. This doesn't address the core issue of the customer's behavior.
E. Correct. This answer provides a clear distinction: if a customer feels they are doing the salesperson a favor, they are likely to say "you're welcome." If they feel they are receiving a benefit, they are more likely to say "thank you." This difference helps explain why customers respond differently depending on their perception of the interaction.
