Tips From a Cashier/Cashier Rant

smantha32

Yeah, we get it about the hooks already.

The hide feature is lovely. :-)

That's like her third post about hooks. People touching her hooks must really ruin her day. :happy:

smantha32

And now I always bring up another item with a bar code if the one I want doesn't have one to save the cashier having to call for a price check which just annoys everyone!

I get this one, but I've seen more than once that that item without the bar code is the last one there. And if I really want that thing, then sorry, the cashier is going to find the price.

mjrkearney

"Do you work here?" Half the time I just give them a blank stare or a raised eyebrow. You sneak up behind me, you're not going to get witty. Also, I volunteer here. The only people who work here are too busy to answer inane questions. Or they're in the hospital for nearly working themselves to death.

If I point behind you in response to a question, that is a valid response. The store is not that big and there are giant signs everywhere.

Before you walk in the door, check the hours or the giant, glowing sign. Yes, the front door is open. For the volunteers. We can't walk through walls and we have a lot of lot of elderly, easily disoriented people who work here. We're not going to make someone's great-grandmother come in through the dock. So when I ask "Can I help you?" and you're just browsing an hour before we open, I will ask you to leave. Do not get snarky with me. I do not care if you already have a cart full of items. I cannot ring you up before we open. The cash drawer isn't even in the bloody machine.

I am the supreme Gofur. Yes, I can help you, but most of the time I will either need to get a manager or someone from the back who can move your new desk. My pint-sized *kitten* can't quite manage it without assistance and I do not have the price lists stored in my head.

If we don't have something in stock, we can't order it from another store. Everything we sell is donated. If it's not coming in, it's not going out.

If something does not have a price tag, we cannot sell it. If there is nobody around to price it, we really cannot sell it.

We do not negotiate with terrorists. Or anybody, really. This is a thrift store. You are not going to find that item within 20 miles of here for a cheaper price. I don't care if it doesn't work. That's why it's so cheap in the first place.

Do not put your stuff on the register and then walk away. We don't have the room or the manpower to just hold something for you. If you do this, I will be summoned to put your items back because it is assumed you don't want them. The items and your place in line have been forfeited.

Don't strip the mannequins. If you want to try something on, ask someone to help you.

Don't play on the sporting equipment. Ever.

Don't take half the boutique into the dressing room and leave it all over the floor. Not only do I have to hang and rack it all, I have to get off the dust and hope nobody left a half-eaten sucker in there. Again.

If the donation dock is closed, don't bring it to the front door, and really don't just leave it at the dock. The cashiers will probably just leave it behind the counter, and anything left outside overnight will be thrown away. It doesn't matter if it was filled with brand-new Prada purses, it is assumed to be contaminated with bugs, mold, etc. Especially if it rained.

The sales for the day are listed at the front door. Hard to miss. Big, white sign on your right.

No, we don't give specialty discounts. Volunteers with more than 20 hours per month get 25% off, but we have nothing for seniors, military personnel, or volunteer's cousins. Or the manager's sister. I don't care.

Don't whine when I need to see your ID. It's not about age restrictions. If you pay with something other than cash, I need to see your ID. It might be for verification. It might be because I need your DL# on the check you just wrote for $2.

No, we don't honor coupons for other stores.

You can see the manager if I can find the manager. The manager who is capable of heavy lifting tends to be otherwise engaged.

If the sign says "Authorized Personnel Only", that is not the way to the bathroom. Or to cool new stuff that isn't out on the floor yet. That is the way to the chaotic abyss and if we find you back there, we are going to assume that you're trying to shoplift.

Just because we do pick-ups and deliveries does not mean that this will be done in a timely fashion. If we don't have enough people to do the job, it simply won't happen until we do.

If you're going to start a fight, you can GTFO. I don't care if we're a christian non-profit and you'll slander us sideways. If anybody feels threatened in our store, we have the right to not only refuse you service, but to have you escorted out by Officer Steve.

And finally, do not ask me if So-and-so is working and if I can go find them. I am not a carrier pigeon and I will assume you are up to no good.

treetop57

The store is not that big and there are giant signs everywhere.

Obviously giant signs are a very ineffective way to communicate with your customers. More signs have never solved any problem just as more legal warnings have never protected idiots from their own idiocy.

DalekBrittany

I will say one thing that annoys me is customers that have no consideration for OTHER customers. I was helping a customer today and ringing her out when a woman cuts the entire line, interrupts our conversation, and asks if she can ask me a question. I said very politely that I'd be right with her after I was finished with this other customer very shortly. Before I can even scan another thing she shoves some panties in my hand and asks why can't I just price check those really quickly. I looked at the customer I was actually helping and she kind of nodded knowingly and said she'd wait a second.

So the panties have the full price tag on them, full price (12.50) on one side and sale price (6.99) on the other side. So I showed her the sale tag and told her they were 6.99, as they were on sale. She said no, you can scan them to check because that sign on the wall said extra 50 percent off of hanging items. I was like, yeah, you just said it...the hanging items! lol. So I scanned it and sure enough, 6.99! "So they're not anything extra then?" "No ma'am." "Okay I'll take those." and starts pulling out her wallet! felt so bad for the first woman I was helping! I was like, lady, you just cut a whole line of people and asked me IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRANSACTION to do something, and then you try to have me ring you out? I felt bad for all the people that had to wait even LONGER because of this woman's insistence, as if the lines aren't long enough! It doesn't bother me as a cashier, gives me fun stories to tell, but it bothers me as a customer. I'd have been pissed if I was in that line!

RllyGudTweetr

Here's a really difficult question that someone did today. It's actually rather common. We have 4 registers. If 3 have closed signs and 1 doesn't, which one do you go to? No, no one is standing there because we are doing other things (always), but we see you. So,which register?




Why do people put their stuff on one that says it's closed instead.of the one that doesn't?

Because we know from experience that if we put our stuff on the one lane that appears to be open, the light will be in error, or the cashier is going on break, and going strictly by the light will get us a "sorry, I'm closed" as often as not ("sorry" is entirely optional). Further, we know that there is quite likely another cashier who is just finishing counting down his/her drawer to open up.

Are you really telling me I'm the only human being to whom these things have happened?

bregalad5

Here's a really difficult question that someone did today. It's actually rather common. We have 4 registers. If 3 have closed signs and 1 doesn't, which one do you go to? No, no one is standing there because we are doing other things (always), but we see you. So,which register?




Why do people put their stuff on one that says it's closed instead.of the one that doesn't?

Because we know from experience that if we put our stuff on the one lane that appears to be open, the light will be in error, or the cashier is going on break, and going strictly by the light will get us a "sorry, I'm closed" as often as not ("sorry" is entirely optional). Further, we know that there is quite likely another cashier who is just finishing counting down his/her drawer to open up.

Are you really telling me I'm the only human being to whom these things have happened?

The thing is, this store isn't like that (it's not a grocery store, it's a liquor store - HUGE difference!). We don't have lanes, or lights. It's basically a giant counter with four registers set up on it with space between each one for you to put your stuff. If we're up front, we take off our closed sign. If we're going on break/lunch we put it up. There are only a grand total of eight of us that work there, and usually only three of us on at a time: two in the back doing restaurant orders, which is a majority of our sales, and one up front. I can understand the confusion at a big grocery store, but here? Hellllllll naw, it's plain stupidity.

treetop57

What's obvious to simeone who spends eight hours a day there ain't obvious to someone walking in the first time.

honey_bee_keysha

I thought this might be fun, especially for those of you who have worked as a cashier before.
But I thought I'd throw up a post where those of us who have been cashiers, can post things that really irked us, things customers would do.
I use to cashier for Target before I moved across country, us employee's had a running list of our pet peeves.



*Not using a bar to separate orders. I don't read minds, I can't tell where your order starts and stops.

*Don't ask me if I'm 'open'. I'm standing right here, my light is on, I'm looking at you, YES I'M OPEN.

*Don't wait till the last five minutes we're open to try and check out. I realize you probably think "oh but I'm just one person" no, your not, because everybody is thinking that. People like you are the reason that we not only close 20 minutes later than we're supposed to, but also the reason that regardless of the fact that I was supposed to get off at 11:30, I now have to stay until 12am to catch up on zoning.

*If you suddenly decide you don't want something, hand it to me, don't put it on the drink cooler or ontop of the gum display. Would you like somebody doing that to you?

*If you have a cold item that you get to the register and decide you don't want, PLEASE take it back to the freezer, if you don't, no matter how long you've had it out, we HAVE TO THROW IT AWAY. Such a waste of good food.

*If you read a sign wrong, don't expect me to still mark down the item. First of all, it's not even for this item, second of all, It's not our fault you read just what you wanted to see instead of the whole sign.

*Don't talk on your cell phone while we're checking you out, it's rude.

*When we try to sell you something like a store card, don't get an attitude with me, if I don't ask you, I could lose my job.

*Try to keep in mind that all cashiers do, is check people out. We don't control prices, we don't control inventory, we don't control whether or not a product is damaged. If while I'm checking you out, I notice one of your items is damaged and am nice enough to tell you, don't go ape**** on me; I didn't have to tell you.


*Cashiers are people too, you may be having a bad day, but remember that we have our own problems. Taking out your anger on us... It does nobody any good. We have our own problems, not to mention we've been standing for 8+ hours and are tired too but we're still friendly (or at least I was).

*While unloading your products onto my conveyor belt, please let it make sense. Don't give me two things of cleaner than a long line of random food items followed by clothes, more cleaner and other random crap. We have to bag things a certain way, cold food with cold food, cans with cans, cleaners/non-food items separate, not to mention we're scored on our speed, the longer it takes you to unload your belt, the more likely it is I'll get 'talked to' about being to slow.

*If I can't give you proper directions, don't get mad at me. I'm exhausted. Here's a map.


*If you're returning an item and it's past the 90 day return policy, yelling at me won't suddenly turn back time. You missed the 90 day's, the end.


*Yes, I notice when you stare at my boobs. It's rude and it makes me uncomfortable to the point where I want to quit my job.


*I don't know what kids are into these days. Drugs? Don't ask me.


*I truly appreciate customers who are friendly and are willing to hold a conversation with me. I'm more likely to help them out if something goes wrong. I'm also more likely to offer them a discount on an item with an extra coupon I have (yes it's allowed don't worry).

*Being rude to me and expecting me to still want to help you is not how it works. If you're rude to me, I will not go above and beyond to satisfy you, I will do jack **** and let you leave pissed. I'm a human being, not a floor mat.


*I don't mind throwing away your trash for you, I have a trash can, but don't leave it at my register without saying a word. It's extremely disrespectful.


*Don't make comments about my weight, when the hell is that an appropriate thing to do to a stranger?


*Don't hit on me, especially after you've been staring at my boobs. Especially since I look 15 and you're definitely older than thirty.

*If you put an item on my belt that weighs more than 30lbs, don't expect me to lift it. Take note of my size, there is no way in hell I'll do that without breaking my back.


*Extreme coupon'ers.. We hate you. I realize you save a boatload of cash but you don't need thirty things of mayo and I don't want to sit here for an hour reading all your coupons to make sure you're within the coupon rules.
T.T


I realize I probably come off like a ***** but... being a cashier changes you. It shows you how people really are, makes you bitter. =p

Anybody have anything more to add?

I agree with every single thing on this list. I worked at Wal Mart for two years and I hated it. You should add in the people who comes into the 10 items or less aisle with a cart full of groceries. Grr

bregalad5

What's obvious to simeone who spends eight hours a day there ain't obvious to someone walking in the first time.

For argument's sake, say you're the only customer in my store (note: most of the time there are only 1-2 customers in there at a time), and I'm putting away stock. I look up and see in the mirror (note: our walls are even mirrors. If I find you suspicious, I can pretty much follow your every move in the store without even setting foot in the same aisle as you) that you're headed toward the front. I yell, "On my way! Be right up!" What you're saying here is that it "ain't obvious" to you that you should stick your $4.21 pint of Aristocrat vodka on the one single counter - staring you in the face - that doesn't have a bright green "CLOSED" sign on it?

pudadough

Yeah, yeah. Whatever.

*I'd put the bar down to separate, but 99% of the time there is NO bar.
* A lot of times, cashiers don't have their light on and they call someone over to them while I'm sitting my *kitten* in a long line because I assumed they weren't open in the first place. We wouldn't be asking if we hadn't all experienced this at least once!



I had a job as a cashier when I was young. I had things that irritated me. People are rude. Get over it or get another job.

rml_16

Here's a really difficult question that someone did today. It's actually rather common. We have 4 registers. If 3 have closed signs and 1 doesn't, which one do you go to? No, no one is standing there because we are doing other things (always), but we see you. So,which register?




Why do people put their stuff on one that says it's closed instead.of the one that doesn't?

I have on many occassions put my stuff on the "open" register, only to be called to the "closed" one when someone came to ring me up. Nearly every time, actually. And often it requires me to walk all the way around a large structure to get to the correct register that was marked closed.

rml_16

Yeah, we get it about the hooks already.

The hide feature is lovely. :-)

That's like her third post about hooks. People touching her hooks must really ruin her day. :happy:

I don't think, in all my years in retail, anyone ever touched my hooks. lol

Scarlett_Belle

I was a cashier as my first job and a few others down the road. It definitely helped to solidify my desire to get out of retail.

- Put your money in the cashier's hands. Cashiers don't make you scrape your change off the counter, so don't make them scrape your payment from there either.

^ ^ ^ ^ THIS! ! ! Times infinity! Drove me nuts, I finally started putting their change on the counter so they would get the hint.

treetop57

It's a cultural thing. In some parts of the world, people are ranting about how some rude people try to put the money directly into the cashier's hand.

treetop57

What you're saying here is that it "ain't obvious" to you that you should stick your $4.21 pint of Aristocrat vodka on the one single counter - staring you in the face - that doesn't have a bright green "CLOSED" sign on it?

Yep, that is what I'm saying. When you're in a place for the first time, it's hard to pick things out of the barrage of new information.

bluelena

I worked as a cashier for Kmart for three years in high school. I didn't mind it. However, it really irks me (and irks me now when a cashier does it to me!) when someone hands me the bills and then the change on top. This is very awkward! Hand me the coins first then the bills. Easier to put away! And now I always bring up another item with a bar code if the one I want doesn't have one to save the cashier having to call for a price check which just annoys everyone!

I've known other cashiers who became flustered by getting the coins handed to them first.

Can't please everyone.

Personally, I'm always thankful when the cashier counts the change back the old fashioned way, rather than just telling me the lump sum of change or - all too often - just handing me the change with nothing more than "here's your change. Have a day."

It especially irks me when I'm handed my change, coins on top, and then expected to vanish into thin air. Give me a second to put my money away!

RllyGudTweetr

Here's a really difficult question that someone did today. It's actually rather common. We have 4 registers. If 3 have closed signs and 1 doesn't, which one do you go to? No, no one is standing there because we are doing other things (always), but we see you. So,which register?




Why do people put their stuff on one that says it's closed instead.of the one that doesn't?

Because we know from experience that if we put our stuff on the one lane that appears to be open, the light will be in error, or the cashier is going on break, and going strictly by the light will get us a "sorry, I'm closed" as often as not ("sorry" is entirely optional). Further, we know that there is quite likely another cashier who is just finishing counting down his/her drawer to open up.

Are you really telling me I'm the only human being to whom these things have happened?

The thing is, this store isn't like that (it's not a grocery store, it's a liquor store - HUGE difference!). We don't have lanes, or lights. It's basically a giant counter with four registers set up on it with space between each one for you to put your stuff. If we're up front, we take off our closed sign. If we're going on break/lunch we put it up. There are only a grand total of eight of us that work there, and usually only three of us on at a time: two in the back doing restaurant orders, which is a majority of our sales, and one up front. I can understand the confusion at a big grocery store, but here? Hellllllll naw, it's plain stupidity.

The thing is, NONE of those qualifiers were apparent in your original comment, which just read as calling out any customers who couldn't correctly guess which lane(s) were open by the (often misleading) lights as being stupid.

GodlessHeathen

I hate when people are on their phone. Or they bring up a cart full of stuff then decide they don't want half of it. What I really hate is when someone walks into the store and says " hey working hard or hardley working" it's not witty or funny.

Last but not least don't get mad at me when I check your large bills I'm just following policy, pay with small bills if the cashier checking to see if they are real bothers you so much.

Oh yeah the customer is not always right

bregalad5

Here's a really difficult question that someone did today. It's actually rather common. We have 4 registers. If 3 have closed signs and 1 doesn't, which one do you go to? No, no one is standing there because we are doing other things (always), but we see you. So,which register?




Why do people put their stuff on one that says it's closed instead.of the one that doesn't?

Because we know from experience that if we put our stuff on the one lane that appears to be open, the light will be in error, or the cashier is going on break, and going strictly by the light will get us a "sorry, I'm closed" as often as not ("sorry" is entirely optional). Further, we know that there is quite likely another cashier who is just finishing counting down his/her drawer to open up.

Are you really telling me I'm the only human being to whom these things have happened?

The thing is, this store isn't like that (it's not a grocery store, it's a liquor store - HUGE difference!). We don't have lanes, or lights. It's basically a giant counter with four registers set up on it with space between each one for you to put your stuff. If we're up front, we take off our closed sign. If we're going on break/lunch we put it up. There are only a grand total of eight of us that work there, and usually only three of us on at a time: two in the back doing restaurant orders, which is a majority of our sales, and one up front. I can understand the confusion at a big grocery store, but here? Hellllllll naw, it's plain stupidity.

The thing is, NONE of those qualifiers were apparent in your original comment, which just read as calling out any customers who couldn't correctly guess which lane(s) were open by the (often misleading) lights as being stupid.

Sigh... my apologies. I was at work, on my only too brief break, and posted it. I added the qualifier post while at home. Next time I'll be sure to go into a detailed explanation that may make me sound a bit like a broken record to those who read my previous posts in this thread.