To all who purchase things from drug stores, here are some don’ts when it comes to checkout etiquette:
1) If we say hi, say hi back, don’t stare at us like we have 10 eyes. We don’t want to have a conversation, but we are trying to be polite.
2) We don’t talk on our phone while serving you, have some respect and put the person you are having a conversation with on hold. Or hang up. If it’s important, you can call them back.
3) Don’t be rude! There is no need for nastiness.
4) Don’t argue with us about whether or not we take “points cards” for certain items. We serve 400+ people a day, we know what we’re talking about.
5) Do NOT talk down to us. You may be through school and working some classy fucking job, but remember, once, a long time ago, you were also trying to pay for school/pay off your car/stay afloat. What gives you the right to assume we aren’t doing the same thing?!
6) If we are serving someone else (even if we aren’t), don’t ask us to leave our cashes to show you something. Find someone on the floor to do that.
So, thank you in advance for not being fucking pricks, and giving us some damn respect. Remember: we can only take so much before we bitch at you to your face. —Fed-up Cashier
This article appears in May 5-11, 2011.
Decent bitch. Pretty much applies to every place where there are checkouts, not just drug stores.
The BEST was when this old guy tried to argue with me for 10 minutes on why he had to pay a 10 cent deposit on a can of apple juice because it’s a can, damnit! haha. Finally i just said “I don’t know why there’s a deposit on it — go ask the premier” in a calm manner and he finally pissed off (after he returned his $1.00 can of apple juice because of the 10 cent deposit yelling “I NOT BUYING THIS! STORE THAT IS SUPER IS RIPOFF!)” (store name edited for content).
I’m always nice to cashiers and service people and when I say hi and thank you, I often get a glare from them. So how about that. It doesnt stop me from continuing to be nice, but if I say thanks and they just stare i say “THIS IS WHERE YOU SAY YOU ARE WELCOME OR HAVE A NICE DAY”. Then I call their manager. Then I get a nice gift certificate in return for letting them know what kind of douchey staff they have working there.
not very many people know how, r are even nice. most are just trying to get thru life, with nothing but their own sanity. but that is no reason not to be nice to those of us, that are trying to be nice to them in return.
Self checkouts are the way to go. Scan, pay, go. Time to cut out the middle man/woman.
Only thing I don’t really agree with is the phone thing. I have done this before, been on the phone with someone else while check out. I’m not bein overly loud or anything but I can chat nad look at what you’re doing at the same time.
I understand some people are bad at that (multitasking) and that may be where you frustration comes from. I’ve never had an issue with it and usually dive a small nod, wave or smile when leaving (if still on the phone) to acknowledge a job well done.
Sorry kiddo, you just don’t know it yet but you’re gonna do all those awesome nasty things when you have that classy job.
Personally, I find the cell phone point very annoying as well.
I don’t answer mine when I am actually being rung through( when waiting in line I do, but end the call when I get to the cashier).
Is it just me, or do women tend to be guilty of this more often than men?
Ugh secretagent. I’m with ya on that. There used to be this really sour lady at one of the campus spots I used to go to every morning. I’d be my usual self and tell her to have a nice day and she’d give me a snotty “I will!” every. damn. morning. *eyeroll* They’ve since replaced her with one of the awesome ladies from the other campus spot, and the other one who worked there to begin with is A++
Also: the self check outs are actually a big fat waste of time. They don’t scan as fast as the regular check outs and for those of us with grocery cash experience, they slow us down A LOT. Plus I find i can’t bag properly at the self check outs because I can’t put things aside and then put them in the bag after I get a like item — it just keeps yelling “PLEAST PUT THE ITEM IN THE BAG!”
And putting produce and bulk codes in there is a pain in the ass.
I’ll go to a regular check out because I know I’ll get through faster.
OK, fine, I’ll be nice, in exchange for you not taking your SWEET FUCKING TIME when you have a line up of 5+ people. I swear every time I go to my local drug store these people want to take a all fucking day to scan a couple items and ring it up. I don’t expect everything to be speedy as can be, but it bugs me when I see a cashier making no effort whatsoever to get people through in a timely manner. They’re getting paid for that time, I’m not. You’re right OB, we’ve all had to work these jobs, and take the crap, so now it’s your turn. Suck it up princess.
I really don’t get the cell phone thing … this isn’t a bank, you and I know what I’m in here for, check me out and let me go.
I understand being frustrated with people who talk loud or carry on while on the cell phone, but if I can pay you, and do what I have to do with you at the same time, then why not.
I ALWAYS will acknowledge the service though, I never just walk away like nothing happened.
http://wins.failblog.org/2011/04/25/epic-w…
Thanks for the laugh paingirl, I wonder how many people won’t get the sarcasm 😉
lol I hope not too many.. then again most people these days follow that sign religiously
the cell phone comment is annoying b/c it’s RUDE. if someone is ringing you in, taking your order, whatever, the least you can do is have the decency to give them the time of day. sometimes there are questions they may have, and it is annoying as all hell to try to get the persons attention while they are yammering away with someone on the phone, usually about something pointless. we get it, you’re special, you’re important, you have someone to talk to. now hang up, spend the time treating your cashier/server/clerk with respect, and the majority of the time (b/c there are always ones who ruin it for the rest)… you’ll get good customer service!
I like the bitch, it’s all good, but I would like to counter with one suggestion of my own, especially if you work at the chain that kicked Big Leagues out and moved them across the street (or so I’ve heard) so they can expand. Keep 2 people on cash, because if there’s one line and a lottery goblin gets in there, it’s lost business.
I’m not talking about when someone is taking your order you dim cunt.
I’m talking about the check out at say Lawtons.
It’s all discretion. Would I ever yammer on my cell phone if there is a line, likely not. Would I be giggling and whispering sweet nothings, no, can I answer your question at the same time as talking to say my mom about something, yes, yes I can, pay at the same time, yes.
Would you like me to stare into your eyes as you bag my Oh Henry and Justin Bieber nail polish … ’cause I will if you want me to.
Now I will say I won’t do this at say Sobeys when doing a cash out that takes 15 mins, that’s just weird. To pick up as call that’s like, hi, how you doing, bye, I don’t see the issue …
PK – I think the voice software at the self scanners needs changing to that guy on Silence of the Lambs – “it puts the items in the bag or it doesn’t get served”
part 2 on self scanners – maybe they should have different grades of scanners – aisle 1 is for nice voices, aisle 2 is for slightly miffed, aisle 3 is for caffeine challenged fuckers, aisle 4 is for TTFN going atomic on ya, and the slowest would be the aisle 5 which is Peter Kellys who can’t scan your items without hiring a consultant.
I get the cell phone thing. There is nothing quite like trying to help a client/customer while they are blabbing away on their phone. Most people are courteous enough to tell the other person they’ll call them back, but there are a few who don’t quite get it. And they’re usually the ones who later complainn about not being told about X, Y and Z. Yeah, buddy, I would have told you had you been paying attention to me, the person standing in front of you.
I especailly like the customers who whine and complain about a company policy that you had nothing to do with implementing. Yes, we charge for that. You screaming at me isn’t going to make that charge magically go away. I get I’m getting yelled at because I’m the person standing in front of you, however do realize that I am not the policy setter. If it really is that big of a deal to you, here is the number for customer service / head office. Go deal with them.
And really, its not that difficult, for either party, to say hello, please and thank you, have a nice day….or whatever.
I didn’t mind people using their cel phone while I took their order at Tim Horton’s because it meant they didn’t want to engage in conversation with me which was fine by me! Anyhow, great bitch.
some of our customers arrive already on the phone, others answer the phone while paying. the majority excuse themselves and go outside or sit in their vehicles. it’s ’cause we have candy^^
“others answer the phone while paying” that I would not do.
i generally don’t want anymore facetime at that point anyway
Everytime I go to Tim Horton’s and ask for a “Medium Double-Double Please” Do you know what I get?
F’ng Tea! If customer service reps don’t hear the word “Please” enough to recognize it, I’m thinking this is a valid bitch.
there’s no ordering or conversation necessary to buy a few items at a drug store!!
if the customer wants to chat on his/her cell phone that is his/her right. the customer is ALWAYS RIGHT you ever heard that one? they’re PAYING YOU MONEY and EMPLOYING YOU in turn with this money, shut the fuck up and ring it thru.
why should anyone feel forced to make small talk with you just because you happen to be the (easily replaceable by self-checkout lanes for sure!) modus operandi? get over yourself.
i’ll have you know i’m the cfo^^
limericks please
“Most people are courteous enough to tell the other person they’ll call them back, but there are a few who don’t quite get it. And they’re usually the ones who later complainn about not being told about X, Y and Z. Yeah, buddy, I would have told you had you been paying attention to me, the person standing in front of you.”
THIS is exactly why people who work with the public do not like cell phones. trust me, we don’t want to small talk with you anymore then you do with us… but there are things we need to ask, need to get you to do (depending on where you’re at… i work somewhere that is not a cash register, so we need more information), and it is very difficult when we’re competing with the person on the other end of your phone.
and has anyone ever heard of being POLITE? being rung through at a drugstore only takes a minute or so… how hard is it to stay off your phone for that time? you people would be the first to complain if the cashier chatted away on the phone while ringing you in. it’s sad that we’ve gotten to the point we can’t not be on our phones for a few minutes in the day. are we really that important?
blah blah whatevah!
Oooh ohh I’m so adding to this.
When a rush of people come and another cashier is called to open, even if they do not SAY “I’ll take the NEXT person waiting” which I always do ANYWAY, it should be implied. I so f***ing hate when people rush over who haven’t been waiting a mere second, when there are people ahead of them. It’s not survival of the fittest people. There are some things that set us apart from animals!
donk… you deserve to work with the public and deal with people like yourself. i hope you do.
Perhaps calling you a dim cunt before wasn’t the nicest …but that’s how I felt. I should have said that talking on a phone while someone is taking your order is what a dim cunt would do … and not what I would.
There.
wow, i think i struck a nerve….
lol.
come in admiral, there is fresh meat in the nest…over
… what nerve, lulz. You must be le new.
…and i meant this http://hornbyeagles.com/webcam.htm