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Originally Posted by student95
The way I'm interpreting this is that this: Since you're thanking someone for something they have done using past tense ました would be more appropriate.
Is that wrong?
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No, it isn't wrong but it isn't that simple, ether.
Quote:
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Then since ありがとございます is in future tense - and it is unsuitable for use to thank people when they will deliver the service - what is the appropriate way of using it?
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You use it when someone did something for you
just now.
You dropped a pen and I picked it up.
You asked me where the post office was and I answered.
You asked for the salt and I tossed it to you.
Exceptions:
If a job that has taken me a more than a few minutes to perform has just finished now, you must say ありがとうございました. The 3 examples above were done in a matter of seconds, so it's different.
Finally, if someone offers to do something at a future time, you say ありがとうございます. Future times include "tonight", "this weekend", "when I have some time", etc.