Bad Cashiers - Don't Be One
By kelly60
@kelly60 (4547)
United States
July 1, 2007 10:33pm CST
I stopped in at the store today to pick up one thing on the way to a friend's Anniversary party and after grabbing what I needed I went to the line. There was only one line open, and there must have been at least 10 people in front of me. The cashier seemed to be taking an extremely long time with each customer.
As she was ringing up the three items of the lady in front of me, she stopped for a moment to ask, are those your real fingernails?" The woman tells her no, and the cashier proceeds to say, "I was wondering because they are so long and pretty," before she continued ringing up her purchase. Meanwhile the line is getting longer and longer while she is visiting with customers.
As the woman walked away I held out my one item, along with the change that I had already counted out while I stood there waiting. As soon as she gave me the total, I said, "thank you, have a nice day," and walked away, glancing back at the long line. I know that the other people waiting in line appreciated the fact that I hurried through the line, although I doubt that she took the hint. Do you think I was being rude?
7 people like this
7 responses
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
2 Jul 07
I think you did a calm and non confrontational thing. Chances are that the cashier indeed did miss it. I hope that it was caught on tape like alot of stores have their cameras on the registers now. That might have management a task to take up with all their cashiers. Good job!
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
2 Jul 07
No I don't think she would have got the hint.
I have come across such cashiers before too. They think they are being friendly and securing customer loyalty. If you are that person being spoken to and in a good mood, her aim may have been achieved fine.
If I was you, I would be royal p*ssed too. Especially since the queue was already long, that lass would just be wasting my time!
Maybe if I am p*ssed off enough, I would just yell for her to stop chatting and start working!
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
2 Jul 07
If I hadn't really needed the item I would have simply walked out of the store, as I have done before. Cashiers like this may think that they are securing customer loyalty, but they may be driving customers away. I could have driven to another store, found the item, bought it and been on my way in less time than what I waited in her line. I doubt that yelling at her would have helped. Even if she rushed me through, she would likely have slowed back down to a crawl once I left. If I had the additional time to spend, I would have requested to speak with her manager instead.
2 people like this
@dfollin (24167)
• United States
6 Jul 07
It was nice of er to compliment that lady on her nails,but obviously that was not the time.The K-mart that my uncle used to work at usually only has one or two cashiers working at a time.Most place's I go to the cashier's don't speek english and if I ask a question,she has to call someone over that's speaks english.The one's that really make me mad are the one's that can't count change back.They tell me well the computer told me to give you that and I told her the computer was wrong,she gave me back a penny too much.I counted it back to her and she still didn't understand.I was at a fast food place one time and the cashier did not know how to speak english and aparently did not even know how to count money either.Because the order came to $6.49 and I gave him $10 and he put that amount in the computer/register and then he handed me back $13.51.
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I was unfortunate enough to work with a woman who couldn't count any better than that once. I had to correct her twice in one day while trying to run my own register next to her. I wasn't surprised that she didn't last too long at that job.
1 person likes this
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
2 Jul 07
No, I wouldn't take that as being rude but on the same token, I doubt she caught what you were throwing out at her. When there are more than three or four people in line - especially the grocery store - I am usually the loud mouth that starts a riot and asks if someone else is going to open up a register. At one store I even offered to start ringing people up but no one in the front of the store caught my sarcasm.
3 people like this
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
2 Jul 07
That is probably what I should have done, but I thought that I might just fluster her more and then she might have gone even slower. They only have two registers, but I know that I could have taken care of three or four customers for every one that she took care of.
2 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
I don't think you were being rude at all - I wish they would train cashiers to 'play the crowd'! Being polite and friendly is important but when you have a line of people waiting keep conversation to a minimal.
@beauty_ph (2749)
• Philippines
2 Jul 07
I really hate being standed in line just because someone is making delaying tactics.
I encountered several cashiers in our place who are like that. Some are tellers from govenment bnks and offices. I hate the cheat-chat in between their work than people are in a hurry falliing in line.
I think you just did something for her to know that there are people in line who are in a hurry.
I also have bad experience about a cashier who treated me like her slave or an idiot. I made a decision to write down my complains to the management. Do you think it can help the store and the cashier? Or was I cruel to have done it?
@myluv4yesash (418)
• United States
11 Jul 07
Nope, I don't think you were being rude. I mean it was nice of her to have small talk with people, but there's a time for everything. I mean if you have a huge line, than I say, just be nice, polite and to the point.
Every morning that I go to Dunkin Donuts around my job, there's always an insane line. Of course people are trying to move as quickly as possible I'm sure to get to work. The thing is, the woman at the register and one of the ones that makes the coffee are extremely rude. I mean, I say, you having a crazy morning, you know you have a long line each day, but instead of being rude or overdoing it with friendliness, A simple courteousness wouldn't hurt. Some people are just
1 person likes this
