Call me madam, perhaps.

Oh the occasional "Madam" is nice, channels my inner Maggie Smith

Madam is respectful if a bit old fashioned but it does for any woman married or single.
Depending on how old the woman looks Miss, might be more appropriate. As in Madame or Madamoiselle

I detest being called "dear." Our local terms are "sug" (as in sugar) duck and a few "chucks" from those who come from Manchester way. Which I do not object to, they are fully intended to be friendly.

'Your Ladyship', of course . The reality is more likely to be no form of address at all. I do like Madam. Very respectful

I quite like Madam. But what I really like is when either in local shops or where I've used my credit card, the shop assistant has looked for my name and calls me Mrs Ainsworth.
Failing that I'll settle for 'pet' or 'hinny'

Ok with Madam, agree use of my name is good. Like regional terms that are friendly. Really dislike dear or dearie. Really, really dislike a generalised 'you guys' - just not accurate!

I don't mind at all, as long as I am treated politely and with respect. I've always said I'll answer to anything.

Me too,manners are much more important to me.

Madam, love, dear, anything really.

John Lewis used to train staff to do just that, janeainsworth. DD dropped a near clanger when working for JL before university, checking a customer's account card, saw the name Therese (I think that was her Christian name ) Lawson, and quipped, (with the confidence of an 18 year old about to read Politics at university) " No relation to Nigel Lawson?" "Yes" replied Lady Lawson sweetly, "my husband".

I love being 'madamed'. It doesn't happen often mostly you get an 'you alright there' in the shops which I hate and usually reply something stroppy like ' no I've got a headache' and then wait until they ask me if I need any help or something like that. Here the traditional greeting is me'duck which is charming but fading out now I think.

My Indian ENT consultant calls me Madam. Up here it's quine or lass regardless of age.

I agree "you all right there?" is downright rude, what is wrong with "can/may I help you?"
Department stores in general seem to be so focused on not breathing down our necks that you have to practically jump up and down sometimes for attention. What happened to "customer service"?

Alea

'loov' is pretty common here, 'oop north' but I don't worry too much about what they call me as long as it's accompanied by a smile and good service. The midwives in Exeter who attended upon me while I was in labour with my first called me 'my lover'. Next time in Nottingham I was 'me duck'. At that time all I wanted was to get that baby out.

'loov' is pretty common here, 'oop north' but I don't worry too much about what they call me as long as it's accompanied by a smile and good service. The midwives in Exeter who attended upon me while I was in labour with my first called me 'my lover'. Next time in Nottingham I was 'me duck'. At that time all I wanted was to get that baby out.

B****y thing's done it again.

I like it that John Lewis always call you Mrs whatever but am happy with the local Morrison's cashiers calling me "pet" too

I don't really mind what they call me as long as they are pleasant and helpful. I can't abide stroppy off-hand sales assistants.

I don't have a problem with any of those names just as long as the person expressing them is friendly. I find it quite warming to be called love, pet, anything really, and the darlin' expressed in these here parts is fine. It's the manners that matter to me, far more important than dropped aitches or mispronunciation. Unless of course it's my family wot's done it and then I can't resist a little comment ...

Yes, it's nice when someone uses your name ( ok, one's name) from seeing it on a debit card.

On the matter of one and your, I find it clumsy to use one, as one then has to keep reiterating it for the sake of conformity, doesn't one ?

I like the noticing of the name on a card, shows that extra bit of thought.

Think I must be posh as I have been called 'mam'!

the masseur who sorts out my aches and pains calls me 'young lady'
Love him!!!

Just don't call me dear. i detest that!