# "Welcome in"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 1, 2022, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753 "2022-02-01T17:13:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/1 "2022-02-01T17:13:50Z")
I’ve noticed that a lot of retail establishments lately greet me when I walk through the door, and always the same way: “Welcome in!” That’s sweet. Nice to be acknowledged, nice to be made to feel welcome. But … “Welcome _in_”? What does “In” add to the statement? It’s totally redundant. It means the same as “Welcome!” or “Welcome to Quik-e-Mart!” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/2 "2022-02-01T17:16:20Z")
Where are you? I’ve never heard “welcome in” in western Pennsylvania. Is it a regional thing? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/3 "2022-02-01T17:19:33Z")
Here in SoCal, I have not heard it either. It is kinda nice, tho. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/4 "2022-02-01T17:25:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve never heard “welcome in” in western Pennsylvania. Is it a regional thing? Welcome Inn is a hotel brand based on the pun, so I don’t think it’s an uncommon expression. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/5 "2022-02-01T17:38:10Z")
Never heard it, and it’d take me aback. I’d probably stop, stare quizzically at the greeter, then figure it’s not worth asking about and continue “in”. I’d be so tempted to reply “Welcome _IN?_ That sounds weird; I don’t think I’ll be _‘in’_ at all…” as I back out through the doorway. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/6 "2022-02-01T17:49:23Z")
Here’s a thread I started on the subject back in 2020: > [@When did businesses start having employees welcome customers in?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-businesses-start-having-employees-welcome-customers-in/923545): > > Wal-Mart had their “greeters” going back to at least the 1980s, maybe earlier. But in what seems like a very recent phenomenon, like just starting in the last year or two, often when I walk into a store whichever employee happens to be closest to the entrance shouts “Welcome in!” at me. I’ve noticed it at multiple, unrelated stores – Petco, BevMo, Beach Hut Deli. All of these business must have instituted some corporate policy requiring their employees to say this. When did they start doing … Needless to say, I started noticing that phrase at retail establishments a few years ago. And like I said in the other thread, it sounds very much like a “corporate speak” greeting to my ears, and I assume it’s something their management is making them say. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/7 "2022-02-01T17:49:35Z")
Northern California (Bay Area) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/8 "2022-02-01T17:50:48Z")
And I’m in the Sacramento area. I wonder if the phrase has taken off mostly in NorCal for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/9 "2022-02-01T17:51:45Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > And like I said in the other thread, it sounds very much like a “corporate speak” greeting to my ears, and I assume it’s something their management is making them say. _“Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!”_ Wait, that’s something else. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/10 "2022-02-01T17:53:16Z")
Could it be “Well, come in!”? ---
**Author:** ![Cwturner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Cwturner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cwturner)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/11 "2022-02-01T17:59:51Z")
I work for one of the big home improvement stores and thay are pushing the welcome greeting as well, but they don’t require any specific wording. We had “greeters” too, but at least here in Philly its as much to keep shoplifters from going out the in door as it is a welcome ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/12 "2022-02-01T18:02:59Z")
When I was cashiering in a thrift store, those of us near the entrance were expected to greet incoming customers (wording not dictated). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/13 "2022-02-01T18:34:12Z")
In the southern US (Georgia or Florida IIRC) we stopped at a restaurant for breakfast. When we walked in _every_ employee there said/shouted, “Good Morning”. We were seated and for the entire time we were there, they did the same spiel each time anyone walked in. It sucked. I ate hurriedly and we got the hell outa the place. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/14 "2022-02-01T18:41:51Z")
I guess you’re welcome to come in, but not to leave. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/15 "2022-02-01T19:03:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I guess you’re welcome to come in, but not to leave… Oh, like Chicken Inn. Where chickens check in, but they don’t check out… ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/16 "2022-02-01T19:08:45Z")
I’m hearing “welcome in” a LOT lately here in SW Washington, and I’m not sure I’ve ever heard it before moving here in June (from Oregon). It’s still sounding strange to me. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/17 "2022-02-01T19:32:07Z")
“Window shopping” is a thing. I guess you’re welcome either way. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/18 "2022-02-01T20:27:39Z")
Never heard “Welcome in” before. “Welcome,” “Welcome to [place, store or restaurant]” or “Welcome here” are more common IME. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/19 "2022-02-01T22:45:19Z")
I commented on this to my wife recently. It’s everywhere out here. I find it irrationally annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753/20 "2022-02-01T23:06:59Z")
Something to do with getting a larger chunk of the vampire demographic, no doubt. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-in/958753.md?page=2)