by jksimpson

I just got off the phone with a restaurant employee. I said, “Thank you.” She replied, “No problem.” No problem? I am a customer who is doing business with you, and I am not a problem?

Great! I am very happy that I am not inconveniencing you, annoying you, wasting your time, or otherwise causing you a problem when I do business with you or express appreciation for your service.

Now, I realize that the use of “not a problem” or “no problem” may be viewed as similar to “de nada” (it was nothing) or de rien (of nothing), but “it was nothing” does not imply that the person doing the thanking is a “problem.”

What is a problem? Definition of problem: A matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome; a thing difficult to achieve or accomplish.

Next time I say “Thank you” to someone and get the reply “No problem,” I may try one of the following responses:

“I appreciate knowing that my patronage has not caused you undo distress.”
“Thank you for advising me that doing your job is not an onerous task.”
“Wow! Awesome that you could overcome the difficulties to help me out here!”
“Oh man! I had no idea that I might be causing you trouble! So sorry!”
“What can I do next time so you won’t consider me a problem?”
“I am so sorry that you apparently have so many problems. How can I help?”