I have a question for those of you here who work as cashiers

[snl 70s show fan]

hi i had a bad experience while shopping today and i was wondering if those of you who work at wal mart/k mart or any store like that can anwser this for me? when all of you were being trained to work the cash regester did you all have to learn on the job with lots of people standing in line or did your boss train you before the store opened? the reason i asked is that i went to my local wal mart today and the person that waited on my mother myself and about 5 or 6 other people in line was a trainee and she really didnt know what she was doing she didnt know whow to push what button for what amount of money she couldnt work the scanner they had to call the supervisior over to try and show her what to do and then she just poked along and poked along needless to say there were alot of unhappy people at wal mart this afternoon my feet are still sooo sore from standing in line i was just wondering if your supervisiors made sure you knew what you all were doing before you started waiting on people?

[Ireneparalegal]

I can speak for my daughter who used to work for a Walmart. She was trained on the job. They show let a little beforehand, but it's mostly on the job. They should do that when the store is NOT so busy.

[SBTB Geek]

I've worked at a department store and all the associates had really extensive training before being put on the floor.

Trainees didn't start "actual" work until their third or fourth week. That store is very careful about its image.

[ponytail]

That poor cashier! I have patience with new cashier's. I would have been a wreck if it was me.

[MsOrange]

I have patience with the newbies, I once was one of them. I use to work in a grocery store, and you walk in, sign a paper, get an apron and you have a day of training. The only "behind the doors" prep you get is the warm feeling you get when ya pee in the cup for the drug test.

Just gotta have patience, it's not easy being the new kid.

[sara]

At my store you have one day of training at a register with just you and a manager for a few hours. That happens during store hours, but they don't make you take any real orders. They also make you wear a traniee ribbon for your first week or so, so customers know you're new and hopefully will be patient with you.

[Ireneparalegal]

if anything, I think this thread should teach those of you who come across a new cashier to have patience. Growing up I had many jobs as a cashier. I was an awesome cashier, always being commended for being fast, accurate and always having a smile. But, that didn't come easy. I had to learn each job's diff. cash register and it takes some time getting used to. Being a damn good cashier meant struggling at first, trying to remember procedures, being scared of messing up, etc. So please, when you do come across a trainee, let them know, it's ok and don't show your frustration, that only makes it harder for them to help you. Once they get through with the training, they will be faster and faster each time.

[cralappyhappy4]

i was trained at foodland in the express lane at like 5 when everybody gets off work it was crazy i didnt know any codes for produce i didnt know how to use the credit card machine or check machine people are never happy about trainees

[Chocoholic]

I do think stores should give their new people a little more training time before they let them "fly solo". Personally, I'm a lot more patient with trainees than I am with cashiers who don't bother to acknowledge me, stand there gabbing with their buddy while ringing my order, or even act like it's such a hardship for them to have to help me in the first place. I know from personal experience how unpleasant working in retail can be, but do you have to be so rude to me just for being there in the first place?

[Central Perk]

At my store we had three four hour sessions of training and a test at the end. And on your first day of actually working the register you had another cashier with you the whole time bagging for you and helping you out.

[GARFIELDKOOL]

I've been a cashier at McDonald's and this local chicken and rib joint. At McDonald's I was more of a cook. So they moved me up front and I didn't really wnt to go up front, I was erractic. I would clear orders before customers got served, I would mess orders up, and I could hear customers talking sh*it under their breaths, but it wasn't my fault. I didn't want to learn cash register, they forced me to. I only had a few minutes of traing too.

At the chicken and rib joint, the register was easy. The problem were the customers. Especially the bar crowd. If the food wasn't to their liking, me and whoever was running the register would get cursed out. An example, the chicken was made to order, so it would take about ten minutes for the food to cook. This one dude came in and ordered wings, he had an attitude from the get go. I told him 10 mintues, he left and came back three hours later. His food was bagged up, so when I gave it to him, he complained that the food would be cold, and pounded his fist on the counter. I offered to give him a refund and he walked out and just said he would kick my ass the next time he saw me! It was so abuse in there.

[Karen*]

I work at the concession stand at a movie theater and I do get put on register a lot. I was never formally trained, a co-worker taught me how to do it. When my manager officially put me on register, she already assumed that I knew everything. But I didn't, and I kinda broke down on my first day cuz it was really overwhelming. Now I'm getting used to it and sometimes I'd rather be on register than do popcorn or hot foods. But yeah, my point is be patient with newbies. I was there at one point, so I know how it feels.

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

I was trained upstairs in the training room 4 years ago. No matter how much training you get though, once you go 'live' its nerve wrecking and itll take some getting used to before you feel comfortable. Im a trainer now, and training is usually for 3 days. I have them watch about 8 or so videos, take 3 computer tests, I go over all the paperwork with them and explain everything over and over and then we do 'mock' foodshopping and practice different scenarios.