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I thought 'Hi there' was only used to greet people who you didn't know their names, such as you write a complaint letter to customer service. So I feel a little bit awkward when I received messages with 'Hi there' + some random chat/information from my close friends. I have encountered twice such case. Not sure if I have been overreacting on these.
Elizabeth
Posted 2020-05-22T14:06:41.190
Reputation: 452
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"There" suggests a physical space/place.
You are at your desk. You're busy working and then look up and see a friend or acquaintance whom you only just noticed or were not expecting. You say: "Hi there".
It is informal. It does not mean you don't know the person. In fact, you might know them very well. Or you are at your desk at home, and your child comes up unexpectedly, and you say: "Hi there."
It is not appropriate for writing emails to customer service. So, feeling uncomfortable receiving an email with that great as a customer service person is completely understandable...
There is also an element of surprise. You were not expecting the person to show up unexpectedly and it pleases you.
Lambie
Posted 2020-05-22T14:06:41.190
Reputation: 26 929
2'Hi there' would be a very informal way to address a communication to an unknown person. A more formal way would be 'Dear Sir/Madam', 'Dear Customer Services' or similar. – Kate Bunting – 2020-05-22T14:17:51.953
@KateBunting I disagree. I never say Hi There to people I don't know and e-mails that contain that to me when I don't know the person are usually scams. If one writes to customer service, one can just say Hello to be informal. – Lambie – 2020-05-22T14:19:37.800
I wasn't recommending it, just saying that if you did use it in those circumstances, it would sound extremely informal. – Kate Bunting – 2020-05-22T14:22:17.860
@KateBunting How is: very informal, your term, and mine, inappropriate any different when I specifically pointed out it was informal?? Your comment adds little beyond what I have already said. – Lambie – 2020-05-22T14:42:07.883
You said 'I disagree' as though you had understood my comment as recommending 'Hi there' as an email salutation, which I had certainly not intended to do. – Kate Bunting – 2020-05-22T14:47:56.877
@KateBunting Since I think it is totally inappropriate because of the informality, I would not use the explanation: would be very informal. It's not that it would be very informal, it is informal and therefore inappropriate and your comment does not add anything to my answer. – Lambie – 2020-05-22T15:38:03.033