Things I wish customers at the grocery store (and other places) would understand...

[Chocoholic]

First of all, Phoebe, this is not a rebuttal or anything to your bad customer service thread. I've been on the other side of the counter myself and I totally agree with you about that. This is something I needed to get off my chest.

#1. I am only human. Therefore, like all humans, I am going to make a mistake and screw up once in a while. I try my best not to screw up. but mistakes are inevitable. If I do make a mistake with your order, just nicely point it out and I will do my best to fix it. There is no need to start screaming at me and calling me names and stuff. Also, if you notice a price ringing up wrong, it is the computer's fault, not mine. I have no control over how prices scan. Don't accuse me of trying to rip you off.

#2. We are not a bank and I do not have a magical till. I can only give you cash that I have available in my drawer, so don't pay for a small purchase with a large bill and complain when I have to send somebody to get me more change or I have to give you smaller bills and coins instead of that $20 bill you wanted.

#3. The express line is for people who have less than a certain number of items (12 items or less at my store). If you have more than the required number of items, then do NOT get into this line. Multiple quantities of one item do not count as one item. (Ex: 20 cans of cat food count as 20 items, not one item.)

#4. When the light above the register is turned off and/or the "Use next register please" sign is up, that means that register is closed. Just because the cashier is finishing with the last order does NOT mean you can get into that line. The cashier is probably going on a much needed break, is going to do something else, or is going home. Use the next register please.

#5. I am not your mother and I do not like cleaning up after you. Throw your trash into the trash barrels we have located around the store, not in the aisles somewhere and definitely do not give it to an emploee to throw away. Also, when you take an item and decide you don't want it, then put it back WHERE IT BELONGS!!!, not in some random aisle or magazine rack. This is especially important when the item is something that will go bad if not kept refridgerated.

#6. The store hours are clearly posted at entrance and exit doors. Please do not come into the store ten minutes before closing time and take forever shopping. We like to be able to go home as soon as the store closes for the night. We don't want to wait around for you to finally finish your shopping and get your selfish butt up to the registers a half-hour after we have officially closed. You have all day to get to the store. There is no need to be coming in right before closing to start your weekly shopping.

#7. I am not Superman. I can't move at the speend of light. Don't expect me to. I move as fast as I can. Yelling at me and telling me I'm too slow will not make me move any faster. Also, I have only two hands and I can only do one thing that a time and deal with one customer at a time.

#8. If you have a problem with store policies, prices, product availability, etc. then take your complaints to the manager. I do not with to hear them and neither do the customers in line behind you who just want to check out and leave.

[fr00ti]

Originally posted by Snoopy
First of all, Phoebe, this is not a rebuttal or anything to your bad customer service thread. I've been on the other side of the counter myself and I totally agree with you about that. This is something I needed to get off my chest.

#1. I am only human. Therefore, like all humans, I am going to make a mistake and screw up once in a while. I try my best not to screw up. but mistakes are inevitable. If I do make a mistake with your order, just nicely point it out and I will do my best to fix it. There is no need to start screaming at me and calling me names and stuff. Also, if you notice a price ringing up wrong, it is the computer's fault, not mine. I have no control over how prices scan. Don't accuse me of trying to rip you off.

#2. We are not a bank and I do not have a magical till. I can only give you cash that I have available in my drawer, so don't pay for a small purchase with a large bill and complain when I have to send somebody to get me more change or I have to give you smaller bills and coins instead of that $20 bill you wanted.

#4. When the light above the register is turned off and/or the "Use next register please" sign is up, that means that register is closed. Just because the cashier is finishing with the last order does NOT mean you can get into that line. The cashier is probably going on a much needed break, is going to do something else, or is going home. Use the next register please.

OH MY GOD. Thank you. I feel your pain. I'm a grocery store cashier too and all those things just get on my last nerve. That's why I'm quitting as soon as I can. It's too much stress and time for so little money. Being a cashier sucks.

[MandieR1980]

You just reminded me of how much I hated working at Walmart. There was this one guy who bought a little bottle of soda and gave me a $100 bill and this is when we just opened.

[Rhiannon]

Originally posted by Snoopy


#3. The express line is for people who have less than a certain number of items (12 items or less at my store). If you have more than the required number of items, then do NOT get into this line. Multiple quantities of one item do not count as one item. (Ex: 20 cans of cat food count as 20 items, not one item.)

I really don't understand how people DON'T GET THAT!!

:

[Sterling Holobyte]

Geeze, what happened to "service with a smile"?

Just kidding. I used to work in a grocery store too, and all the things you mentioned are right on the money. Except it was a small store and we didn't have an express line, so you can imagine how hot tempers would get when they had to spend a couple minutes in a line.

[Nanny Fine]

Originally posted by MandieR1980
You just reminded me of how much I hated working at Walmart. There was this one guy who bought a little bottle of soda and gave me a $100 bill and this is when we just opened.

Ah another person who hated Walmart. I worked as a cashier there for 8 long miserable years. Never again will I work in a job like that.

Snoopy every single thing you said is something I felt at one time or another. Hated it. Hated hate hated it.

[SBTB Geek]

I work at a department store, and we through the same crap too.

[RCA]

All that is so true Snoopy. I used to be a bag boy or whatever they call them now and i understand. Now that i dont work in that field anymore, and am now a customer, i have only two complaints. These are not directed at you, just going to the supermarket in general.

1. While standing in line, i wish the parents would control there kids a little better. Most do, but the few that dont have there kids jumping all over the back of my legs.

2. I dont know what its called but that turn table you put your food on while waiting for it to spin around to be checked. Sometimes the cashier wont spin it to give you room to put down your food. The cashier will have a couple feet of open table while your standing there waiting with food in your arm to set down. Sometimes i think they do this on purpose to make you wait.

[Pitooey]

Snoopy.. I'm with you all the way. Although I no longer have to deal with the public some people just don't realize the HELL workers have to put up with!

People have to be more tolerant.

[Mijada]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Snoopy
[B]

#2. We are not a bank and I do not have a magical till. I can only give you cash that I have available in my drawer, so don't pay for a small purchase with a large bill and complain when I have to send somebody to get me more change or I have to give you smaller bills and coins instead of that $20 bill you wanted.

I hate when people do that. I went to Taco Bell one time and the guy ahead of me hands the lady a $100 bill for a $5 order and then got all mad because she didn't have the change in her register. When I have my paycheck cashed at the bank the largest bill I ask for is a 20 so I don't have to worry about breaking large bills.

#3. The express line is for people who have less than a certain number of items (12 items or less at my store). If you have more than the required number of items, then do NOT get into this line. Multiple quantities of one item do not count as one item. (Ex: 20 cans of cat food count as 20 items, not one item.)

I can't believe people actually get 20 of the same item and try to pass it off as one. That's crazy.


Also, when you take an item and decide you don't want it, then put it back WHERE IT BELONGS!!!, not in some random aisle or magazine rack. This is especially important when the item is something that will go bad if not kept refridgerated.

I admit that I'm guilty of doing that. There's no excuse for it though except that I am too lazy to put it back. I never do it with parishable items though.

[MandieR1980]

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
Ah another person who hated Walmart. I worked as a cashier there for 8 long miserable years. Never again will I work in a job like that.

Snoopy every single thing you said is something I felt at one time or another. Hated it. Hated hate hated it.

I got treated so badly there that I now refuse to shop there I haven't stepped foot in that place in years. My mom rolls her eyes at me she just doesn't get it.

[Hollow]

Ive never worked there or anything but as a customer i have patience with the cashiers. theyre not robots, everyone makes mistakes.

[PZelda]

Originally posted by safety pin
Ive never worked there or anything but as a customer i have patience with the cashiers. theyre not robots, everyone makes mistakes.

Same here. I've never worked in retail (and I don't think I will), but I have the utmost respect for them. I smile, pay up then leave.

[EricIdlefan]

Originally posted by Snoopy
First of all, Phoebe, this is not a rebuttal or anything to your bad customer service thread. I've been on the other side of the counter myself and I totally agree with you about that. This is something I needed to get off my chest.

#1. I am only human. Therefore, like all humans, I am going to make a mistake and screw up once in a while. I try my best not to screw up. but mistakes are inevitable. If I do make a mistake with your order, just nicely point it out and I will do my best to fix it. There is no need to start screaming at me and calling me names and stuff. Also, if you notice a price ringing up wrong, it is the computer's fault, not mine. I have no control over how prices scan. Don't accuse me of trying to rip you off.

I have worked or formerly work in customer service since I was 18 and not just the customers but the cashers/clerks are human and people who are customers think that the employees have it "easy" but they probably don't know what it is like to work on the other side and if one day and one time I can trade places with the customer for 48 hours they will have a better understanding I try to show respect and decency when I am a customer because I know what they go through

#2. We are not a bank and I do not have a magical till. I can only give you cash that I have available in my drawer, so don't pay for a small purchase with a large bill and complain when I have to send somebody to get me more change or I have to give you smaller bills and coins instead of that $20 bill you wanted.

There are some stores that have banks and it is stupid that they(the customers)can go to the bank. We are just a conveinant/grocery store

#3. The express line is for people who have less than a certain number of items (12 items or less at my store). If you have more than the required number of items, then do NOT get into this line. Multiple quantities of one item do not count as one item. (Ex: 20 cans of cat food count as 20 items, not one item.)

I have rung people up in the express lane and they either don't look and/or don't care if the lane is an express one and they expect "special privilieges & special treatment"

#4. When the light above the register is turned off and/or the "Use next register please" sign is up, that means that register is closed. Just because the cashier is finishing with the last order does NOT mean you can get into that line. The cashier is probably going on a much needed break, is going to do something else, or is going home. Use the next register please.

I have had people coming up to my line and one time as I was going to leave for the day the CSM chewed me out and told me not to leave my register until the last customer is gotten!! My store was under new management

#5. I am not your mother and I do not like cleaning up after you. Throw your trash into the trash barrels we have located around the store, not in the aisles somewhere and definitely do not give it to an emploee to throw away. Also, when you take an item and decide you don't want it, then put it back WHERE IT BELONGS!!!, not in some random aisle or magazine rack. This is especially important when the item is something that will go bad if not kept refridgerated.

I did my best to clean up around my register by sweeping, using cleaning products, dusting the registers and the table where the food and/or non-food is rung up to make sure when the next cashier came in they could come in and work on a nice and clean register

#6. The store hours are clearly posted at entrance and exit doors. Please do not come into the store ten minutes before closing time and take forever shopping. We like to be able to go home as soon as the store closes for the night. We don't want to wait around for you to finally finish your shopping and get your selfish butt up to the registers a half-hour after we have officially closed. You have all day to get to the store. There is no need to be coming in right before closing to start your weekly shopping.

I have had a lot of customers come in before it is even five minutes before the store closes and one time this woman came in three minutes before closing and shopped for nearly ninety minutes!! I wanted to tell her that the store has closed but the manager was there and was afraid that she wouldn't ever come back in the store again


#7. I am not Superman. I can't move at the speend of light. Don't expect me to. I move as fast as I can. Yelling at me and telling me I'm too slow will not make me move any faster. Also, I have only two hands and I can only do one thing that a time and deal with one customer at a time.

People like it too fast or too slow and they complain that we should care about quality and not quantity but where I worked at the store cared about your rings per second keeping and staying up!! I have two hands and two feet and I would just loved to give some rude customers the middle finger

#8. If you have a problem with store policies, prices, product availability, etc. then take your complaints to the manager. I do not with to hear them and neither do the customers in line behind you who just want to check out and leave.

The managers always takes the customers side over the employees sides nearly 99% of the time to make sure the customers come back and shop or else the store would have to close down

[Mysty Eyes]

Two comments:

Originally posted by Snoopy
#4. When the light above the register is turned off and/or the "Use next register please" sign is up, that means that register is closed. Just because the cashier is finishing with the last order does NOT mean you can get into that line. The cashier is probably going on a much needed break, is going to do something else, or is going home. Use the next register please.

#5. I am not your mother and I do not like cleaning up after you. Throw your trash into the trash barrels we have located around the store, not in the aisles somewhere and definitely do not give it to an emploee to throw away. Also, when you take an item and decide you don't want it, then put it back WHERE IT BELONGS!!!, not in some random aisle or magazine rack. This is especially important when the item is something that will go bad if not kept refridgerated.

#4 - I have shopped at many a store where the light is off, yet the register is open. The checker's fault, of course, unless the lightbulb is burned out.

#5 - Trash barrels located around the store? Not at any grocery store that i have ever shopped at. There might be some at the front of the store, but elsewhere? Nope.