The concept of 'Maamsir' and other far-eastern nuances!

Ma'amsir! Ma'amsir! 

What was that noise? I turned around to see an enthusiastic, far-eastern gentleman shouting in what appeared to be my direction. 

I turned around once more to check. I was the only person in the immediate vicinity - this was a quiet weekday in the Ibn Battuta Mall. 

Ma'amsir!! - Ice cream Ma'amsir?!? 

I turned around again. The aforementioned enthusiastic gentleman was waving frantically. In his right hand he held an empty ice cream cone which he was now hurriedly waving about like his life depended upon it!

Ice cream 'Maamsir?'

Yep, definitely me. Apparently I was the target and to be referred to as 'Ma'amsir.' Visitors and residents may be used to hearing this somewhat annoying phrase very frequently. 

But it's origins lay elsewhere. The term 'Ma-amsir' apparently originates from the far-east and is a particularly common sales expression in the Philippines. 

So just what IS a 'Ma'amsir?'

As is often the case with slang terminology, Urban Dictionary offers the best answers:

'A bi-gender pronoun used politely to refer to an individual one does not know. Typically used by store employees to address customers. (Most popularly used in the Philippines.)

Good evening maamsir, would you like to try our new lotion collection?' 

and 

'A pro-noun used to address ladies, gentlemen, and variations thereof. 

Most commonly used in the Philippines where people are unsure whether you are a man or a woman, or just can't be bothered to state the difference. 

A phrase apparently quite popular in the Philippines!

The last highlighted statement seems to be on the mark. It often seems that the term 'ma'amsir is adopted when the vendor can't actually be bothered to raise their head to identify the potential clients gender. Just go straight in with the pitch! 

Who is 'Ma-amsir?' 

This seems an easy one. You are, i.e. any potential customer is 'ma'amsir!' It probably seems a unique concept to any ex-pats out here as there aren't too many far-eastern sales employees (at least in the UK), but it seems that the phrase has reached the general public with abundancy in the middle east. 

The customer: commonly referred to as 'Maamsir.'

'Ma'amsir' has become a common exclamation in shopping malls across the city. Those who are well-of hearing may have heard its extension to those of other cultures within the sales domain who don't speak particularly fluent English. 

When is Ma'amsir? 

When shopping or doing any leisure activity where money is exchanged it seems! Tourists and residents alike seem to be fair game to vendors who frequently try to garner their attention through the use of this perplexing phrase! Ma'amsir seems to be used particularly often during busier periods of the day when the sales person cant be bothered to identify the customers gender, or the number of people in the group!

Where is Ma'amsir? 

Shopping malls: Natural habitat of the 'Ma'amsir' 

Shopping malls. Areas of high footfall seem particularly likely locations to have the phrase 'Ma'amsir' shouted frantically in your general direction! Restaurants too. It's not uncommon for your server to refer to you (and indirectly your group) as ma'amsir for the duration of your meal!

To be brutally honest, it's most likely a phrase you'll encounter in areas where far-eastern staff are likely to be widely employed typically the service sector.

Why is Ma'amsir? 

Culture and convenience! It's a far eastern expression that seems to have found its way across the world!

So there we have it. I hope that's shed some light on a phrase that initially baffled me upon my arrival here! 

**Further Observations 

Have you ever been served in a restaurant, and had similar staff to the above grovel around you the whole time and then once you've paid the bill seemingly completely forget every last detail of who you were!

It's like you suddenly become invisible! 

The customer: Attended to until the bill is settled!

It seems a common philosophy amongst far-eastern staff the world over, the customer is always right until the customer is no longer the customer! 

**Upselling

For far-eastern sales staff, it seems every advisable opportunity is an additional sales opportunity! 

Tea, coffee Maamsir? Perhaps a desert? I don't think I've ever been pitched so much at a restaurant before until encountering a Filipino server! 

Sales Opportunities: Tea, coffee, perhaps a desert? 

These are by no means criticisms of the service, It is impressive and skillful selling!however it is apparent that they take sales ability to the next level!