Do you dislike slow cashiers?
By Link
@BambooPanda13 (867)
United States
August 14, 2010 12:53pm CST
I go to Wal-mart for grocery shopping so we usually have a cart full of stuff just like everyone else. Well the people at the store are bad enough being slow, but then you get these super slow cashiers. They aren't even elderly people (actually the elderly lady that works as a cashier where I go is really fast!). Its like they are too relaxed at their job. They already get to have a nice relaxed dress code which I don't mind, but then they want to chat about everything you bought, or they are just really slow in general. I stood in line for over 10 mins with only two people ahead of me and not that much stuff. I couldn't believe how slow this girl was going, it made me want to cry. They she had the nerve to stop and look at the shirts we were buying and ask us if we saw the ones with the stripes. Now, I'm all for having a nice cashier, but we don't need to converse if it interrupts with their speed of checking people out. You can be nice and also be fast and get people out promptly. I feel like just helping them out sometimes, or doing it myself. And yes I know they have self-checkout machines but if you have more than a few things it is reeeeallly irritating and the machines don't work well and it is slow and the thing says you didn't put the item in the bag when you did so every couple of items you have to wait for someone to come over and put in their key code. So it isn't worth it unless you have just a few items.
So what about you, do you have a lot of slow cashiers where you shop?
3 people like this
23 responses
@for3verfamous (2190)
• Canada
14 Aug 10
If they are in training I'll be understanding because they're learning. But if they don't have something on them that says IN TRAINING, then I get mad. I was at the store a couple days ago and there was this really slow cashier. I was trying to tell her I wanted to put something back but sh wasn't listening or making eye contact. I'm kind of mad because I applied at that place and they didn't hire me, but they hired her. The whole time she was going in slow motion, never made eye contact with me, and didn't respond to me. 
1 person likes this
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
14 Aug 10
Yes, I've seen some slow cashiers but maybe the store needs more lanes open. I would hate to work at walmart as a cashier. Picture an endless line and dealing with people who do not like to wait. Even the best cashiers will get complaints. Maybe a few more breaks or a bonus on getting more customers checked out will help.
@celticeagle (159936)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Aug 10
I think that we have all gotten into such a fast paised world that it is very hard for us to put up with slow ANYTHING. I don't remember the last time I have had a slow cashier. Maybe the one you are describing was new and nervous. I would see if my next visit is the same and if it is I would seek out a manager and talk to him/her.
@Ephraim123 (274)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
I can totally relate with you. It is so annoying when these sales people are so slow and clueless about their customers. Not all customers are the same. There may be some who'd prefer to chat and be nice. But then there are some who are in a hurry and just want to get the job done. For me, it's enough to say hello and smile but giving comments to the items you bought with the other customers on queue is just so unprofessional.
@lilangelspreschool (1129)
• United States
15 Aug 10
I do have some slow cashiers where I shop but most of them are elderly so I can excuse that. When I was working as a cashier though, I really had a hard time with it. It wasn't hard in itself but I wasn't fully trained yet and I had some rude customers complaining about my speed and that made it hard.
So, I tend to look at it from my perspective. How would I feel if I was behind that register and the lines are long and I have mean customers? I wouldn't like it, so I try not to do it to someone else.
@Memnon (2170)
•
20 Aug 10
This can be irritating. I shop at Aldi in the UK, and they are trained to be fast, but still manage a short conversation. When I shop at other supermarkets most are invariably slow, whether chatty or not.
I suppose it's down to personality. For me a shop is a planned operation with a list. For my partner it's an amble along the aisles with a look at anything of interest.
@totallyundecided (3190)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
It really depends. Whenever I get to groceries and then I chance upon a slow cashier - I usually ask if she's new. My reason is so that people behind me in the line could hear if she's new. lol. I'm usually the considerate type so I wait until the cashier is done with the accounting. lol
I'd like your point too , that whenever they have no baggers available, I would help putting my groceries in bags.
We don't have a check out counter yet. Usually, they will only write in your receipt that you only have like 3 bags for this receipt for the security guards to check it when your going to your car. :D
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
15 Aug 10
Hi Bamboo,
I know that some people naturally move faster than others. Still, the cashier should be focused on moving that line as smoothly and quickly as possible. You can greet the customer and ask how their day is going while ringing in their purchases. It is completely unprofessional to be commenting on the customers purchases and more than likely distracts from moving the transaction along. If the cashier were slow because she is just learning then I'd be understanding. Even if she is slow by nature, it should not be so slow as to be bothersome. A cashier that just chats and socializes with each and every customer should be reported to her manager.
@henryfranz2005 (3)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
First of all sir BambooPanda, I think we (almost all people) don't like this slow cashiers. Because it takes much time and as we all know less time = less work done. What if we need to buy that product immediately? what if these products must be consumed. I for one needs the cashier to be fast because I'm running a retail store. So I have many items to buy (7-10 carts) and I need it to be fast so i can be productive :)
@trishasantos (1297)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
I dislike them especially when the line is getting longer because they are talking to another employee. I totally agree with you, some older cashiers are much faster. So yeah, their experience adds up. But still I don't is an excuse. Other cashiers talks much, I guess they're too relaxed because the people in the line does not have any choice.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
15 Aug 10
Slow cashiers can make me crazy sometimes. I will always get a slow cashier when i am in the biggest hurry. i thonk they will never get done with my checkout. it can be quite a mood changer when the cashier is just crawking along when all you want to do is be on your way.
@dragonangel (551)
•
15 Aug 10
Definitely yes!I hate it whenever i go somewhere especilly when i'm in a rush and then the cashier is so slow that i get stuck to the line.I mean you are supposed to be working there efficiently right? So you have to make sure that you're really into it and not resort to any other thing which could make the customers stucked in line.So now in order to avoid such mood, before i get to the line, i need to check the cashier on duty first if she is smart enough to act as a real efficient cashier.
@markleob (1902)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
maybe she was new.. most of the time new cashiers really are slow but then as time goes on they would learn and be fast.. so just hold your temper.. relax friend.
@suryaannamdevula (44)
• India
15 Aug 10
ya here also there are a lot of slow cashiers where i shop.there keep us wait for long time and sometimes in queue for taking the money and take more time for giving the change.
@shia88 (4571)
• Malaysia
14 Aug 10
Hi,
For me, it is fully depend on my situation,
If I were in rush,then I will always look for shorter queue
for cashier to make my payment.
Of course, I always choose for the shorter queue for cashier.
I hate for those long queue,that is why I avoid
shopping during weekend, as the queue is always long and
some cashier staffs are slow in their work.
It makes me feel irritating.
If I do encounter slow cashier,I prefer to do to the next cashier counter
rather than just stand there wait for my turn.
@deejays1974 (210)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
So far I haven't encountered any super slow cashiers. What gets me so pissed off is when cashiers keep on chatting while servicing customers. Now, that is the time that they will definitely get a piece of my mind. But if the cashier is alone and not working fast, I don't mind that. Maybe she is just a newly hired employee or just tired of her daily routine. Imagine, doing that all day long. That can be very boring.
@ash_gray (128)
• Philippines
14 Aug 10
Sometime I encountered having a slow cashier on shopping mall. I'm in a rush to go home after I buy some present for my son's birthday and this cashier is very slow to manage the line even only few of us are going to pay. So sometimes when I going to pay in the cashier I'm checking if the response to the customer is fast or slow.
@lauraeliana (46)
• United States
15 Aug 10
sometimes when i shop at many places cashiers are slow. Im an impatient person and especially if i am in a hurry i get irritated. One time i bought a water at walgreens and i was in a hurry to get somewhere the lady asked me do u want to buy a brownie i said no then she asked do u want kool aid then i was getting irritated. So cashiers like that i really dislike.
