So I got a flower delivered to me at work today, from a customer. I don’t recognize the name on the card, but he also put his phone number on it. Help me, SDMB, what do I do? Call him back to say thanks but no thanks, ignore it and hope I don’t see him again? What’s the protocol here?
Depends where you work, what type of customer, etc.
Need more info. But in general, dating a customer is a no-no.
<inside joke>
If you work at Starbucks, we all advised the guy a couple of weeks ago not to send you the flowers.
</inside joke>
Did he mention why he sent it? Was it for excellent customer service, or “in hopes of getting to know you better?”
If the first then a thank you would probably be the proper response. I have a feeling, that this isn’t the case. For the latter when the same thing happened to me, I just ignored it. This is probably the thing to do. If he pursues you further, then a “thanks, but no thanks” would be appropriate. I made my co-worker tell him that I had a boyfriend, while I hid in the kitchen pretending to fill salt shakers. What can I say, I am chicken shit and hate hurting feelings. What ever you decide to do, he probably won’t ever show his face at your work again.
I’m a bank teller, and the card included a “Call me: xxx-xxxx” on the back, so I’m thinking not just a ‘great customer service’ gift. I wouldn’t date him anyway (how bad a sign is it that I don’t recognize the name at all? Probably pretty bad), and I have an SO.
[Note to managers of customer service-type jobs: this is what happens when you tell your employees to smile more and use the customer’s name!]
I’d take them home and enjoy them and not call. I think the phone number is an invitation to call but you aren’t obliged.
Lately I’ve been reading posts with the fanciful assumption that the OP is in response to something another Doper did.
So in your case, I’m imagining that a Doper posted a thread talking about a sweet, attractive woman who works at his bank, and asking for advice on how to approach her. Dopers gave many helpful suggestions, one of which was to send flowers, with a card and his phone number. Doper thought that was kinda forward, but he decided it was worth a try.
Until the Doper posts that he’s sent the flowers and asks what to do next, pokey’s advice sounds good.
How crazy would that be?
Then, in that case, we’ll never know about it…will we?
:dubious:
I think you should report the incident to your manager, not as a big deal, but w/ the idea that you’re making them aware in case this develops into something more disruptive. Other than that, simply enjoy the flowers and ignore the phone number. If the guy approaches you again, tactfully and pleasantly, but firmly, tell him you are not interested. You might tell him that you’re forbidden to socialize w/
people you meet at the bank, if you need some kind of excuse. Again report the contact to your supervisor, to establish a record of events.
It’s entirely possible that it’s very innocent, just some guy who finds you attractive and doesn’t realize the flowers were inappropriate.
I think your final comment is off base. While some businesses go too far in insisting that their employees, robotically, mouth certain phrases or greetings, I do like to be recognized, and treated nicely, at places where I regularly do business. Perhaps even pass a pleasantry or two. Being friendly and personable is part of any job that entails dealing directly w/ the public.
I think the obvious question here is what is the balance on his account? 
Anyone doing this as a “Thank you” never would have included the “Call me” request. So no, it’s meant as something more.
Not only do you have an SO (seriousness unknown) but the sender apparently made no favorable impression on you whatsoever. Are you seeing any reason to pursue this?
He says “Call me”? Excuse my directness but what kind of self-respecting weenie can’t stand in front of you and make his intentions known? He’s hiding behind a hope and a prayer instead of a direct look in the eyes “yes” and that strikes me as quite possibly creepy.
Don’t return the call, enjoy the flower and casually mention the incident to a super in case this gets weird, which it likely won’t.
I’ve done this exact thing for a bank teller who unraveled a particularly sticky bureaucratic wicket for me when I couldn’t be there. Didn’t ask her to call me, though. She thanked me when next I was in but that was the end of it.
The phone number makes it a request to date a stranger. Centainly don’t call the number, and keep it just encase you start receiving unwanted attention. Give the number to the police at that time, otherwise blow it off as a one time deal.
Just leave the flowers in a visible place and thank him for them next time you see him. That should send the message you want: flowers are nice, I don’t want to date you.
Anyone else read this where “them” is genderless pronoun you might use when discussing a hypothetical person? Really changes what’s being said . . .
I notice people are saying “flowers” not “flower.” One flower means something very different than a bouquet. One flower usually means love.
It’s not a thank you, either. A thank you would have been an innocuous arrangement, and it wouldn’t have “call me” on the back. I would do as Sapo suggested and display it at work, also do as lieu suggested and let someone higher up know. If the guy isn’t a creep, he’ll get the message.
I’m torn about calling the number to say thanks, but you’re happily attached. That ends the fantasy pretty quickly, but it also could be presumptive (though I gotta believe that there’s no other agenda at work here). So maybe just ignore the call request. But at the same time, the emotionally clueless type might need to hear the “thanks, but no thanks” message loud and clear.
I vote against displaying at work. Even though you wouldn’t be calling the number, displaying the flowers could be interpreted as a signal anyway.
Susan
Look up the phone number on line and see who it devolves to.
Could be an advertisement–the name being unrecognizable could point to that.
Oh, yes. I am sure we are all assuming he is just a nice guy trying to get a date with a pretty lady. We do that, you know? 
And we don’t have too many tools at hand to get your attention, so we go for what we hear works. Flowers in this case.
Also a good point about the single flower vs the bouquet. The OP does say “flower” in singular. That is quite a stronger message. Still, assume no creepiness. He is interested and he let you know. You are not interested and you let him know. End of story.
Holy Crow! You’re right I didn’t notice it was only one, that is different and a bit weirder. An arrangement is a generous gift that says, “enjoy these flowers and consider whether you’d enjoy getting to know the person who sent them,” and one flower is just a message that says, “I think you’re beautiful and special like this flower.” It’s not much of a treat in and of itself. If someone gives you flowers then they’re telling you something about themselves. It’s like a sales pitch. If someone gives you just one then they aren’t telling you anything about themselves, they’re only telling you what they think of you and it’s like they want something from you and figure that all they need to give you is their own opinion of you and you’ll consider that to be a treat.
In this case I think the protocol is to ask your co-workers if they know who he is and then to throw it out and say, “oh well.” I can see why you would be irritated to receive it from someone you don’t even remember. However, I wouldn’t worry myself about it. He gave you his name and number and you work at his bank so he was being accountable for his actions. He’ll probably just avoid you since you didn’t call. If he doesn’t avoid you then he’s obviously not afraid of confrontations and rejection so he won’t die if you have to tell him you’re not interested.