GUEST OR CUSTOMER?

After my BLOG article EUPHEMISMS was published, a friend commented, "Have you noticed the use of the word GUEST rather than CUSTOMER in stores and restaurants?" I had not noticed.

But, last week, having had the pleasure of dining out three times and doing lots of shopping, I was struck by the fact that the word "guest" was used at all the restaurants we patronized and I saw "guest" posted in a store that the former "customer service desk" is now "guest services".

Despite what the Grammarphobia (see here) article states, if I am paying for a service then I do NOT think I'm a guest!