Okay, so here's the thing. I started working as a cashier at my town's local grocery store because I needed a second job and the store was looking for some more people to man the register. So, here I am, a month into my new job working as a cashier and let me tell you it has been an interesting and stressful ride thus far. The register has been mean to me and I have encountered some mean and rude rude people along the way. Also, I have met some interesting people too. Here is a look into the inside lives of grocery cashiers.
Blanche DuBois, is that you? No joke, I seriously thought I had a customer who was Tennessee William's Blanche DuBois from his play "A Streetcar Named Desire." She had a soft spoken kind of voice just like the dramatic character from the play. Once she left, the customer behind her said, "Oh my God. She was posing while putting her items up onto the conveyor belt. Who was she posing for? It sure wasn't me because I didn't care." I then told that customer that the lady reminded me of Blanche DuBois. After I said that, she agreed with me.
Really? I'm trying to tell you how much you owe but you are too busy talking on the phone. I think talking on the phone while someone is ringing up your order is just plain rude. I try to tell the customer something but she is not paying attention to me whatsoever.
Why did you bring your dog into the store? It's not even a service dog either. Maybe leave the pooch at home or in the car with the windows down?
A couple weeks ago, I encountered my first rude customer. And let me tell you, he was a lousy person. He yelled at my bagger (who was a brand new worker) about not understanding what plastic and paper bags together meant. Also, he got mad at me because the coupons were not going through. Do you not understand that it is hard to work the cash register sometimes? Sometimes it takes a while for the coupns to go through or I have to call a manager. Please be nice to the cashiers and baggers please. They are doing the best they can.
No, no, no. Don't do this to me cash register. Why are you not letting me open the cash register? I typed in the right amount. Now it is saying manager's key please. Calling over the manager who has the keys to the register can be nerve racking because their job is already so stressful. One day while I was working, I had to call the manager over to my cash register about five times, and I could tell she was annoyed.
Product look up number is the worse because sometimes the numbers are not on the products at all. "Is this a yellow onion?" "Umm ... what is this?" You get the picture.
At the end of the day all you can do is smile, and be kind to your customers or you will probably get fired. To all the customers who understand the job of being a cashier, thank you for being so understanding about our job; I enjoy every minute of the time I get to have conversations while you wait for your groceries to be bagged.
