Thank you not thanks

Thanking someone is the simplest and easiest way of expressing gratitude. One of the basic human emotions, gratitude is something all humans feel. Whether one asks for a favor or one is signaling the conclusion to an interaction, thanking is an expression so common it is almost subconscious.  

As someone who works in sales, I have encountered plenty of people express their gratitude insincerely. Just because someone expresses gratitude doesn't mean their gratitude is positively received. Choosing the word or phrase to express or attempt to express gratitude means the difference between being grateful, insincere, or blatantly rude. 

I'm talking about thanks, not thank you-- big difference between the two. 

One day I received an email from a customer who was upset about an inconsistent data formatting.  When read fast the email sounded like a simple question, but when reading slowly it sounded like a command. I thought nothing of the email until I saw the sign-off, thanks. Leaning in my chair I reflected. This person was not asking me to help her with something difficult-- this person was commanding me to help even after the sale was made. (To be clear each customer signs a contract stating that the data sold as-is) At first, I would have gladly helped her, but her "thanks" sign off made me rethink this person's email.

Six letters don't seem like a big deal. How I analyzed this person's use of thanks could be totally wrong because I did not confront her about it. Nevertheless, I am sure that this person used thanks in a commanding way. If she used thank you then, maybe, I would not have reacted in a way that motivated me to write this blog post.