When you’re dealing with the public, there is never a dull moment, and spending 40 hours a week with them has taught me a lot about the world. Although I generally enjoy my job and don’t want to constantly sit and complain about it, there are a few things which are generally frustrating, for me, and for anyone else who works in customer service.
1. Smiling
Sometimes you don’t want to smile. Sometimes you want to frown and punch them in the face. But, you can’t. And, it sucks.
2. Standing
Why can’t cashiers sit? I’m not going to be moving, so why can’t I just sit down? Does the world really hate us that much?
3. Pretending
Sometimes people actually respond when you say “Hi, how are you?” and it’s never not awkward. I didn’t really need to know that your husband just divorced you, that your goldfish just died, or that your boyfriend just left you as a single parent to your five kids. I’m going to pretend to care, but I really wish you would just shut up. I would apologize for not caring, but again, I don’t care.
4. Carding
People drive to buy cigarettes without their driver’s license. Then, they get mad at me because they don’t have their license. Not to point fingers, but there is only one person to blame here, and I’m pretty sure that person isn’t me. People will also get mad even if they have their ID. Popular responses include, “I bet I’m older than you,” “What, I don’t look old enough?” and “Seriously?!
5. Waiting
People who wait until I am done ringing them up to start digging through their purse or pockets to find their money are the worst. It’s almost as if they didn't realize that they were going to be buying something.
6. Children
I am not a babysitter. I am a cashier. Don’t look at me when your child is running around half-naked and screaming. I’m starting the think that the best form of birth control might just be watching other people’s children being obnoxious, loud and cranky in public.
7. Comments
These can vary from person to person, but people tell me every. single. day. that I don’t look old enough to be working. “Oh, you look so young!” “You can’t be older than twelve!” “Are you even old enough to be working here?!” 1. You look so old! 2. I am. Trust me. 3. …
8. Crazies
You know who I’m talking about. These are the people who are so absolutely ridiculous that you don’t even have words for them. This category includes the random man who went around the whole store telling people I was his granddaughter, the woman who tried to pay me with Chuck-E-Cheese tokens, and the man who told me that he would take me home if he didn’t have a wife. That is not a compliment. That is disgusting.
Clearly humility and patience are virtues I have not yet mastered, but practice makes perfect, right?
