Hey all! I've been really busy this past weekend with my new job, checker @ Safeway. Anyway, let's just say the past couple of days (especially today) have been really stressful :(. There's so much to remember! (PLU codes, different types of tender, those annoying WIC checks ect) and let's not forget the lovely customers :mad:. Today was my first day after only training for three days via computer and it was awful. The Hawks game was today so the store was extremely busy plus it's a Sunday. Most of my co-workers have been really nice and given me lots of encouragement, but it's still hard. I've heard that a job like this becomes REALLY easy after the first month or so, but damn, this first day was really harsh. Anyway, the point of this post was to see if any of you out there have ever been/are a grocery checker and if you have any words of advice or encouragement for me... tell me your stories! :)

Hey all! I've been really busy this past weekend with my new job, checker @ Safeway. Anyway, let's just say the past couple of days (especially today) have been really stressful :(. There's so much to remember! (PLU codes, different types of tender, those annoying WIC checks ect) and let's not forget the lovely customers :mad:. Today was my first day after only training for three days via computer and it was awful. The Hawks game was today so the store was extremely busy plus it's a Sunday. Most of my co-workers have been really nice and given me lots of encouragement, but it's still hard. I've heard that a job like this becomes REALLY easy after the first month or so, but damn, this first day was really harsh. Anyway, the point of this post was to see if any of you out there have ever been/are a grocery checker and if you have any words of advice or encouragement for me... tell me your stories! :)
I really feel for you, LB. I thought being a checker would be fun... and it was to an extent. However there's SO much to remember. All those codes (as you mentioned) plus the different types of vegetables and fruits, coupons etc. I worked for Kroger as a checker in 1988 and although I enjoyed it, it was pretty stressful. We were "graded" on how fast we scanned items, which I think is really stupid. I know they don't want someone who takes forever, but still...:crazy: I remember very well going to "checker school" for a few days. I did learn the different types of apples which I still remember to this day, so at least something came of it. My boss was really nice but I was bummed out after a month or so because they told me that I wasn't fast enough to be a checker and dumped me in the deli department. That was like going from Heaven to Hell, I tell you. Talk about the boss from HELL!! She was a total witch!
Anyway, I'm sure you are going to be better at it than I was. It's probably easier now with the advancement in technology and so forth, but still I'm sure it's challenging. Glad your co-workers are supportive and nice. If I would have known that my "career" at Kroger would end up being in the deli department, I would have quit after they "booted" me out of the front line.:(
I'm short and in the deli, I was forced to use the slicer all the time and I noticed that months after I quit, I started having massive pain in my right shoulder and upper arm. I couldn't figure out why and I concluded that it must have been from using that slicer all the time.

Sorry if I sound negative about the whole thing. I did enjoy being a checker and as I said, I'm sure it's a lot better than it was in 1988. If I ever had to get a second job, I'd apply to be a checker at Safeway or somewhere. I'm pretty good at using those scanners at the self-checkout lines in Fred Meyer!;)

Andrea

Thanks Andrea:) I'm glad to know somebody out there understands. Hopefully after awhile things will become top of the hat, and I'll never forget any of those stupid codes. I am actually really thankful for modern day technology, I just wish there was someway to scan produce :lol:.

Hey there, Littlebelle, Jude--full time male cashier at a mom and pop supermarket (which means I'm not working at a chain store, thank ya Jesus). Can I share the stories with you......well I may just use this thread for my pet peeves about working there. LOL. Basically I do like my job but there are so many things wrong that should be corrected to improve. First off, the impression that cashiers are these unskilled second class workers.....BALDERDASH!! :p
I will prolly share much more when I have more time to devote and clearly think out what I want to say.

Keep sharing as well :)

I'm actually about to go to work in a couple of hours so I'll let you guys know how my second day went, don't think it could be any worse then yesterday. Thanks Jude, I'll keep you posted as you do the same.

I worked as a supermarket cashier for over five years. For the most part, it was OK. A lot of my regulars were decent people. I couldn't stand the long hours, lazy co-"workers" who do anything but work, and grouchy customers who treated us like dog poop. I don't miss it and I hope I never have to do it again.

right now, the hours are really getting to me--it is insane for people to expect you to stand on your feet 8+ hours everyday and still be smiling and friendly. Esp after some people just prefer to talk into their cell phone than to pay attention to you, the lowly cashier :rolleyes:

Are you allowed to purchase any of the products at a grocery store, LB?

I couldn't go a day without purchasing delicious ice cream products.

P.S. Sorry about the Seahawks. I do think they are in trouble, however.

Well I've never been a cashier, however, since December 17, 2000, I've been a bagger at Kroger. I'm at the point now where I can barely stand people. But early on, I liked my job and the people that worked there.

There's always those mean, evil customers. But I take it as positive thing in that I know how NOT to act when I'm at a store.

Customers expect us to be perfect, and we're not. We're just humans and we're bound to make mistakes now and then. But try telling the customers that.

The fact that we are not tipped like say wait staff are, yet we are supposed to be just as all giving and non stop serving, really sometimes irks me....

No, and I wouldn't want to either. I really like our local cashiers at the groceries we shop at, and the baggers. They're really friendly. It's not a job for me. I don't think I'd be very good at it.

Where are you, LB?

I sent you a private message on Friday.

Sorry, I've been really busy Chris. This job is killing me but hopefully it'll get easier. Most people think it's an easy, no brainer job, but they're sadly mistaken... at least for the first month. Oh yeah, this is to all you rude costumers that I had to deal with today...


F YOU! :) ;) :lol:

Oh yeah, this is to all you rude costumers that I had to deal with today...


F YOU!

By rude customer, do you mean "I WANT THIS ICE CREAM FLAVOR, NOT THAT ONE!" or "PUT THIS PRODUCT IN THAT BAG!"

By rude customer, do you mean "I WANT THIS ICE CREAM FLAVOR, NOT THAT ONE!" or "PUT THIS PRODUCT IN THAT BAG!"


Yeah sort of. Or "um, excuse me I think you charged me twice for that miss".

LB, what are your work hours?

I need to know when you'll be online and offline.

It varies. I usually work an eight hour day, but I don't have work this week until Friday.

I don't have work this week until Friday

That doesn't sound like a bad schedule- three straight days with no work.

BTW, you got by TGIF PM, LB?

i had been a checker for 6 years before i got out of retail. the hardest was a gas station where there was no scanner. so i had to know the price for every item in the store, literally. plus all the plu codes for the cigarettes, each brand had a different plu and we had like a million brands. then i had to count how many packs of cigs at the beginning and end of my shift, learn the lottery machine (lottery customers are some of the most demanding), if i was opening the store (which was at 4am) i had to put on 16 pots of coffee. i was there for about 6 months and i got fed up because i ended up having to do everything, all my other co-workers were the epitome of lazy and i was always the one to pick up the slack. it got old fast!

if i was opening the store (which was at 4am) i had to put on 16 pots of coffee.
Holy crap! 16 pots of coffee? At once? That's crazy!:crazy: I used to have trouble putting on one pot of coffee!

Andrea

Yeah. After my 30 day period, I guess if I don't get fired or demoted already, I'll just have to tell them that this isn't the job for me... that is if I'm still having trouble and stressed out about it.

Your health is worth more than any job stress......that's why I had to quit Blockbuster. So my current job isn't a bed of roses either and if I get to the point like I did with Blockbuster, i'll quit there too.

Yeah, I've never had anxiety like this before and I don't like it. For awhile I was having trouble sleeping and I lost my appetite... and in order for ME to lose MY appetite, man, something must be very wrong :lol:.

littlebelle, did you get my private message I sent on Friday? It's about TGIF.

My grandfather was actually a grocery store manager, and both his kids (my mom and uncle) worked part-time as checkers at his store when they were teens. My mom said working in a grocery store is one of the most stressful jobs on earth!! :eek:

How big is this grocery store you work at, LB?

Your health is worth more than any job stress.

That's true. One of our front office employees is 30 years old and she's had a minor heart attack, another heart related problem that she took a sick leave for. It was all caused by stress from the job. She just recently stepped down from the office and is a cashier and she's been doing much better health wise. Bottom line - a job is something you do to get money to buy things. It's not worth getting sick over.

How big is this grocery store you work at, LB?


Really big. It's the biggest Safeway in the Seattle division.

It's the biggest Safeway in the Seattle division.

Is it the size of a warehouse?

Is it the size of a warehouse?

Not as big as like a Costco, but maybe about half.