This past summer, I had my first experience working a register. I worked at a local restaurant; there was often a long line of customers waiting to order, and we had to try to get orders out as quickly as possible. I must have talked to hundreds of customers while working there, and I learned a lot about which kinds of customers made our jobs easiest. Whether in the food service industry, in a retail store, or in some other business, here are a few easy ways that you as a customer can make the cashier’s job a little bit easier.
1. Have your cash in order before paying.
If you hand us crumpled-up bills, we have to take the time to unfold them and even them out before we put them in the register. We can get your order through more quickly if we don’t have to worry about that.
2. Be wary of whether there’s a credit card minimum, and have some cash on hand just in case.
We can still swipe your card if it’s just under the minimum, but if you spend ten dollars and there’s a twenty-dollar minimum, just use cash.
3. If you have spare change, use it.
If your order comes out to $5.01 and you have an extra penny on hand, it helps us out a lot if you give it to us. Even giving us an extra nickel or dime is helpful. Of course, if you don’t have any change or you need quarters for parking, don’t worry about it – but in most cases, giving us that little extra bit of change can help us take your order more quickly.
4. Read the menu and have your order ready to go before ordering.
If you have questions about the menu, that’s fine – we’re happy to answer them. But try not to order something that isn’t on the menu in the first place, and have your order in mind before coming to the register. You have plenty of time while waiting in line to think up your order, and the faster you’re able to tell us, the faster we can get your order in.
5. Try not to be distracted when ordering.
If you’re talking on the phone or having a conversation with other people while ordering, it can be unclear what you actually want to get. Place your order and then continue your phone call afterwards. The conversation can wait.
6. If there’s a problem, ask to see a manager – they can do more to help than the person working register.
If it’s a small mistake, like handing out the wrong order or forgetting something, tell us and we can fix it. But if it’s a larger problem, ask to see the manager. We’re just employees and we don’t make the higher-up decisions.
7. Last but not least, try to be courteous and polite.
Remember that there’s another person working behind the register. A little bit of kindness can go a long way!
